Shapeshifters: A History

There is something about a shapeshifter – a person who can transform into an animal – that captures our imagination; and causes us to want to howl at the moon or flit through the night like a bat. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and other weird creatures appeal to our animal nature, our dark side, and our desire to break free of the bonds of society and proper behaviour. Rituals in early cultures worldwide seemingly allowed shamans, sorcerers, witches, and wizards to transform at will into animals and back again.

Today millions of people believe that shapeshifters walk among us and may even be world leaders. Real or imaginary, shapeshifters lurk deep in our psyches and remain formidable cultural icons. The myths and magic surrounding shapeshifters are brought vividly to life in John B. Kachuba’s compelling and original cultural history. Featuring a fantastic and ghoulish array of examples from history, literature, film, TV, and computer games, Shapeshifters explores our secret desire to become something other than human.

Shapeshifters: A History will be available to buy on the night.

John B. Kachuba is an award-winning author and Creative Writing instructor at Ohio University. He has investigated over one hundred haunted locations worldwide; his books include Ghosthunters (2007) and Dark Entry (2018).