The Vampire Slayers'

Field Guide to The Undead

by Shane MacDougall

Review by James R.Cain

This is simply a brilliant guide to everything vampiric and should appeal to fans of the genre and researchers alike.  It's thick, a whopping 668 pages, soft-cover, wonderfully illustrated with b/w photos and illustrations - and a colour gallery featuring the artwork of some of the world's foremost contemporary vampire artists.  Illustrations are crisp and clear.

So, what's the book all about?  Basically, it's an A-Z study of vampiric lore from around the world, country by country.   The Field Guide catalogues obscure and common vampire lore, and lists when and where it's been translated onto film (correctly or incorrectly).  Intermingled with this, is advice on the budding vampire hunter on what and what not to do.  

The writing is smooth and I found it an enjoyable read.  As a horror writer, it's a refreshing addition to my shelves and I'm anticipating this book will invigorate vampire fiction.  The genre is a popular one, but all too often, contemporary writers rely on the same old legends and lore to base fiction on - most often that portrayed on television or in the movies.  I think the Vampire Slayer's Field Guide will change that.  No serious vampire fan's collection would be complete with out it.       

The Vampire Slayers' Field Guide to The Undead by Shane MacDougall
With original illustrations from artists around the world, including Lilian Broca, Robert Patrick O'Brien, Jason Lukridge, Marie Elena O'Brien, Breanne Levy, and others!

Publisher: Strider Nolan Publishing, Inc

ISBN: 1-932045-13-9