J. Gordon Melton, a nationally known author, lecturer, and scholar, is the Distinguished Professor of American Religious History at Baylor University and serves as the director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion. Dr. Melton is best known for his work on religious cults, and he is considered America's senior scholar in the field of new and unconventional religions, having studied them for more than 40 years. Simultaneously, he has emerged as a leading scholar of vampire and Dracula studies and previously served a tenure as the American president of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula, an international association of vampire and Dracula scholars. He has authored multiple books in the field, two of which received the Lord Ruthven Award as the best nonfiction book in vampire studies. He currently resides in Waco, Texas, with his wife, Suzie.
"If it's vampire-related, it's in here. Top Paranormal Books of
2010" About.com
"Another creepy classic of encyclopedic proportions, recounting
more documented tales of frightening eyewitness being encounters
that covers the gamut of such dark mysteries, from your more
mundane cryptozoological Bigfoot fanfare to supernatural beasties
like the Little People or the Shadow People, with every shade and
variety of non-people in between. Brad's book will have you riveted
to each page from beginning to end." Alternate Perceptions
magazine
"Written by religious scholar and fearless vampire authority
Melton, this updated edition is a thorough guide for all things
relating to vampires. Sure to be popular with readers whose
interest in vampires has been sparked by the current trend."
Booklist
"Without doubt, the vampire myth inspires continued fascination and
is currently all the rage with television programs and films
devoted to the topic. The new edition is completely update and no
doubt is the most comprehensive collection of vampire lore
available." Bookviews
"The most comprehensive collection of vampire lore, with entries on
everything from African Vampires to Yama, the God of Death."
Chicago Tribune
"An excellent reference. This remarkable amalgam of the popular and
the scholarly is highly recommended." Choice
"...a significant expansion of the second edition published in
1999, with updated information on vampires in books, movies,
television, and popular culture." College & Research Libraries
News
"The best assembled and most complete compendium of all things
vampire. Author J. Gordon Melton's impressive resume lends credence
to a tome of vampires that is both scholarly and exciting." Fate
magazine
"Anything and everything you ever wanted or needed to know about
vampires is found within this massive 900-page reference. The mere
writing of such a massive undertaking as this book would be a
seemingly impossible task, but the author pulls it off nicely ... I
highly recommend this book." Horror Classics Book Review
"The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead is one of the
most valuable books I use in the prep work I do. I use this
encyclopedia as a survey book to guide me to other sources because
it's the most definitive and broad reference-- and certainly the
most up to date-- that I know of." Jason Henderson, author of Alex
Van Helsing series
"This impressive compendium is a valuable addition to the library
of anyone interested in researching vampires or vampirism."
Journal of American Folklore
"...the most inclusive, up to date, and thorough resource book for
both academians and fans." Lexington Vampire Examiner
"This wide-ranging resource includes entries relating to [vampire]
lore from around the globe. The book features more than 500 clear
and succinct articles. Melton’s handy volume provides the most
comprehensive coverage currently available." Library Journal
"The third edition of this comprehensive encyclopedia of vampires
and vampire lore is exhaustive. Readers who really want something
to sink their teeth into will find this indispensable." Publishers
Weekly
"Melton's handy volume provides the most comprehensive coverage
currently available for general collections. But note: readers
should be on spoiler alert when perusing book and film entries."
School Library Journal
"The Vampire Book by J. Gordon Melton, Ph.D. This
uber-comprehensive Encyclopedia of the Undead will surely make your
vampire fan show her fangs with happiness." The Bookworm Sez
"… a massive reference work, and it is good to see that there is a
comprehensive index as well as the individual alphabetical entries
- an absolute essential …" – Magonia Review of Books
"A comprehensive survey of all things vampiric, this massive volume
belongs on the shelf of every Goth you know, including fans of
Bitten, Buffy, True Blood, Twilight, Ann Rice's Lestat books and
Dracula himself." The Toronto Globe and Mail
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