Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies: Compendium Monstrum

The situation is grave. Vampires are vamping. Werewolves are shape shifting. And zombies are lurching into the garden. Is this modern-day ferment of paranormal activity, ah, normal? Learn all about it in this nifty new pocket guide to man's best fiends: VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, ZOMBIES: Compendium Monstrum.

Collected from the papers of 19th-century monstrologists, this intriguing book includes:

• ''Notes and sketches,'' arranged with some updating
• Transylvania travel section
• Fold-out maps
• ''Tracking the Beasties'' visual aid
• ''For Further Investigation'' resource list
• Index
• ''Sightings Record Pages,'' in which readers can record their own encounters, location, moon phase, weapons, etc.
• Red ribbon marker
• Covers feature foil-enhanced accents
• Gothic/Victorian-style endpapers

Fascinating facts revealed in the book include documented ''sparkling vampires'' in 19th-century folklore (page 26), why wolfsbane is sometimes known as ''Dumbledore's Delight'' (page 92), and much more.

Illustrated by Bruce Waldman, cartography by David Lindroth, additional historical images throughout.

Four sections:

• Vampires: There Will Be Blood
• A Vampire Hunter's Guide to Transylvania: The Land Beyond the Forest
• Werewolves: What Big Teeth You Have!
• Zombies: They. Are. Coming.

Maps:

• Vampires Around the World
• Transylvania
• Were-creatures of the World
• Zombies Around the World
• Additional in-text maps

Handsome, pocket-sized volume is perfect for gift-giving! 4-1/4 inches x 5-3/4 inches.

''It's delightful!'' --Dr. Elizabeth Miller, renowned Dracula scholar

''Adorable.'' --Ellen Datlow

''Exquisite look and feel.'' --Romania (Transylvania) Tourist Board

''Who can keep track of whether or not vampires burn or sparkle in the sun and how many zombies there has to be before you've officially got a horde on your hands? VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, ZOMBIES: Compendium Monstrum is a collection of 19th century papers by monstrologists with notes and sketches, fold-out maps, and a Transylvania travel guide. Get lost in the mythology with old world styled maps, hand-written notes, Gothic/Victorian style endpapers and one of those old school red ribbon bookmarks.'' --Cool Material

''There are a lot of recent book releases that take a humorous angle with horror...This one may be one of the cheekiest and the most entertaining...What is the COMPENDIUM MONSTRUM?...It's like a supernatural travel guide. The inside appearance...gives it the aged look of a vintage book...This just adds to the fun factor...Definitely the sort of thing you'd give as a gift to someone. What, you want to give someone a dictionary or encyclopedia? Yeah, but do they have a 'Vampire Hunter's Guide to Transylvania?' I think not!...Go buy it, you know you want to.'' --Book Legion

Herr Doktor Max Sturm, Ph.D., B.A.T., has held the title of Professor Emeritus, Unterwelt University, for five hundred years. An esteemed monstrologist and contributing editor of The Journal of Comparative Creature Studies, Dr. Sturm lives in a coffin beneath a schloss outside Hotzenplotz.

Artist and adventurer Baron Ludwig Von Drang had a creature change in his childhood that led to an ongoing preoccupation with the supernatural. ''Mad'' Ludwig lives in a wood near a castle in Bavaria.