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Vampires in Their Own Words: An Anthology of Vampire Voices /
edited by Michelle Belanger. – Llewellyn, c2007.
reviewed by Deena Hartray Butta
This fascinating collection of first-hand accounts by
members of the vampire community is a wonderful introduction to the topic. It was compiled by Michelle Belanger, who is
herself a vampire and tells her own story in the fascinating introduction.
This anthology will be useful to many audiences. It provides a balanced and concise
introduction for the general public, for scholars, and for those who suspect
they may be vampires. It will be useful
to anyone who is trying to understand the phenomenon, and what it is like to be
a vampire.
Seven sections discuss being a vampire; becoming aware of being a vampire; different
forms of feeding; aspects of the vampire community and its members; codes of
behavior, etiquette and ethics;
introductions to four major vampire traditions and their founders; and
outside observations from members who
have backgrounds in other spiritual communities such as Wicca, Paganism,
Gnosticism, and OTO.
Each section contains four to nine essays, each averaging
about four pages in length. Essays are
preceded by brief biographies of the authors; and followed by glossaries of
terms used in each essay, which provides understanding within the context of
that particular essay.
The essays are short enough to convey the essence of their
topic; but plentiful enough to provide an overview from many perspectives. The pace of the book does not bog down in a
single perspective. The result is a
diverse introduction to the subject. For
those interested in learning more, Michelle makes liberal references to books,
websites, periodicals, and organizations throughout the test.
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