This book takes the reader on a vast, alphabetic tour of the psychosexual, macabre world of the blood-sucking undead. From Vlad the Impaler to Barnabas Collins to Dracula and Lestat, it supplies nearly 500 exhaustive essays illustrated with more than 250 photos. A very thorough unearthing of the vampire through the ages, this guide relies on a collection of 2,000 titles on vampires, digging deep into the lore, the myths, and the reported realities of vampires and vampire legends from around the world.
Three horror icons come together in one indispensable tome—with an introduction by Stephen King. “Within the pages of this volume you will come upon three of the darkest creations of English nineteenth-century literature; three of the darkest in all of English and American literature, many would say…and not without justification…These three creatures, presented together for the first time, all have a great deal in common beyond their power to go on frightening generation after generation of readers…but that fact alone should be considered before all others.”—From the Introduction by Stephen King A diabolical, bloodthirsty Count draws an unsuspecting young man into a world of terrors. A scientist oversteps the bounds of conscience and brings to life a tortured creation. A man of medicine explores his darker side only to fall prey to it. These three legendary tales have held readers spellbound for more than a century. The titles alone—Dracula, Frankenstein, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—have become synonymous with horror. They are part of a universal language that serves to put a monster’s face on the good-and-evil duality of our very human nature. Inventive and subversive, these classic tales of terror can shake even the modern reader with something far more profound than fear....
Meet the strangest people who ever lived! Read all about: · the notorious love affairs of midgets · the strange sex lives of Siamese twins · the dwarf clown's wife whose feet grew directly from her body · the mule-faced woman whose son became her manager · the unusual amours of Jolly Daisy, the fat woman · the famous pinhead who inspired Verdi's Rigoletto · the tragedy of Betty Lou Williams and her parasitic twin · the midget, only 34 inches tall, who was happily married to a 264-pound wife · the human torso who could sew, crochet, and type · and bizarre accounts of normal humans turned into freaks-either voluntarily or by evil design! Originally printed in a small edition and withdrawn by the publisher after one month, this book (out of print for nearly 20 years), is brought back to eye-popping life with many new photos. Daniel P. Mannix, now enjoying a cult revival, is the author of noir classics such as Those About to Die, The History of Torture, The Hell-fire Club, Memoirs of a Sword Swallower, The Beast (the first biography of Aleister Crowley to enjoy wide readership), and many others. A former sword-swallower, fire-eater, fakir and world traveler, Mr. Mannix still lives on the family farm with his falcon, miniature horses and reptile collection.
