Compendium Monstrum

''Perfect for those spooky lantern-lit forays into ancient graveyards''

2011-01-26T10:52:00.000-08:00

Renaissance Magazine (Issue Number 75) comments on our book! ''Neatly encapsulates all things VW&Z... chock full of fun facts, creepy illustrations, places for your own record of sightings...compiled from the research of two vaguely Germanic VW&Z experts, this brilliantly conceived tome is perfect for those spooky lantern-lit forays into ancient graveyards. Or better yet, snuggling under the covers at night with a flashlight. Boo!''

''A vast discovery''

2011-01-10T06:44:00.000-08:00

The latest issue (#32) of the faszinierend Gothic Beauty Magazine includes a favorable review of the Compendium! ''A vast discovery has been made! The papers of 19th-century monstrologies: Herr Doktor Max Sturm and Baron Ludwig Von Drang have been found...a new generation may benefit from the information carefully constructed by these gentlemen....This...informative guide is sure please any die-hard monster hunter at heart.'' Danke, beautiful Gothic ladies!

''Adorable''

2011-01-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

Wonderschön! We are so excited to be included in legendary fantasy and horror editor Ellen Datlow's Christmas list! Ms. Datlow says, ''And if you must have something more of vampires, werewolves, and zombies you could do worse than picking up (or giving as a gift) the adorable...Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies: A Compendium Monstrum from the papers of Herr Doktor Max Sturm & Baron Ludwig Von Drang.... This just could be the perfect stocking stuffer.''

''Perfect...quick reference in case you bump into the undead and need to brush up''

2010-12-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

The Zombie Command review: ''Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies (oh my!) Three of the most famous monstrosities in history make up the meat of the Compendium Monstrum (CM). Alas, considerable focus is given over to vampires (about half the book) with the remainder being 60/40 split werewovles and zombies, respectively. Given that this is Zombie Command however, means we will focus on the zombies (they’re more interesting anyhow.)''

''May be one of the cheekiest and the most entertaining...''

2010-12-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

Says Book Legion, ''There are a lot of recent book releases that take a humorous angle with horror. You have the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies series and the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Not to mention all types of ‘How to Survive a Zombie Attack’ type of books. This one may be one of the cheekiest and the most entertaining....

''What is the COMPENDIUM MONSTRUM? It’s a great pocket-sized book. . . [that] serves as a reference or field guide to monsters. It gives everything from history to practical advice for dealing with monsters to maps of their known whereabouts. It's like a supernatural travel guide. The inside appearance of the book gives it the aged look of a vintage book . . . This just adds to the fun factor. This is basically your little black book guide to the world of the super-weird and supernatural! It’s a fun item to have lying around to flip through. It’d fit in your purse or your pocket. 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! Instructions on what to do and not to do if you meet a Vampire face to face? The COMPENDIUM does! Go buy it, you know you want to.''

''Perfect size to tuck into your vampire killing kit or carry-on''

2010-12-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

''[It’s] one of those books that once you get it, you don’t know how you lived without it . . .,'' Says Dahlia Jane of Upon a Midnight Dreary. ''The book is a digest of centuries of wisdom passed down about vampires, werewolves, and zombies. I’m astonished with how much information is packed into such a small volume. About six inches long and four inches wide, it’s the perfect size to tuck into your vampire killing kit or carry-on.''

''Useful information should you...need to defend yourself against the Big Three''

2010-12-23T06:39:00.002-08:00

''Compendium Monstrum is full of useful information, should you get yourself into a situation where you need to defend yourself against the ''Big Three''...[it] is a field guide into the world of the paranormal, sorta like a travel guide…not like you’d want to travel to some of these places. Right? *shudders* There’s even times when to and when not to visit Transylvania.'' Wicked Little Pixie

''Your pocketable encyclopedia of baddies.''

2010-12-23T06:39:00.001-08:00

''Sized for travel and filled with the type of information usually reserved for travel and birdwatching guides, Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies: Compendium Monstrum is your pocketable encyclopedia of baddies. Spanning 160+ pages, this helpful guide includes sections on the aforementioned monsters, including a special section dedicated to travel within Transylvania, and features illustrations, maps, and historical images throughout to better illuminate the potentially life-saving text within.'' Uncrate, The Buyer's Guide for Men

''Like something Van Helsing might have dropped while hunting Dracula''

2010-12-23T06:38:00.001-08:00

“A little black book . . . very old-fashioned looking," Fang-tastic Books says, ''like something Van Helsing might have dropped while hunting Dracula.”

''Are you looking for adventure?''

2010-12-23T06:36:00.000-08:00

''Are you looking for adventure? Collecting history, accounts, myths, stories, and legends, this book is set to appear as though it has been assembled throughout the centuries from papers and documents of monstrologists. With fold-out maps, sketches, and more, this is something no horror fan should be without.'' Necessary Cool, The Premier Guide to All That Is Cool

''Worth packing for easy reference on your next fateful mission''

2010-12-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Grim Reader comments, ''Beautiful...illustrations, plus an extended Transylvania travel section make this pocket-sized monster compendium worth packing for easy reference on your next fateful mission." Rue Morgue Magazine's Ninth Circle, Issue #101.

''Stephen King's dream journal?''

2010-12-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

The Fire Wire ponders the Compendium and calls it an ''engrossing, fact-filled handsome pocket sized reference guide to the fanged, the lupine, and the undead.''

Explore the Carpathian Garden

2010-11-19T06:28:00.000-08:00

"Exquisite look and feel." That's what our friends at VisitRomania.com say about the Compendium Monstrum. They are so excited about the book they offered it as a contest giveaway from September through November 2010 and received over 800 entries! Explore the wonders of Romania and Transylvania on their site and find out more about the real Count Dracula here .

Image of Ceahlau Mountain, Eastern Carpathians, courtesy of the Romanian Tourist Board.

Film School Rejects: Coroner's Report

2010-11-16T07:12:00.000-08:00

Our friends at Film School Rejects' Coroner's Report discuss our book!

''What I love about the book and really enjoy is its presentation. The paper looks aged and the book is compact enough to be stored in a pocket, bound like a Moleskine notebook. It includes large, fold out maps and a section in the back for you to fill in your own monster sightings.

Kills: Instructions on how to kill vampires, werewolves, and zombies.

Ills: Plenty of sketches, though nothing to turn your stomach.

Lust: This is an all ages reader, so no.

Learning: Class is in session on monster hunting. Silver is your best friend.

Review: Light hearted, with great presentation and plenty of awesome illustrations.''

''It's delightful!''

2010-11-13T15:09:00.001-08:00

We are so pleased that internationally renowned Dracula scholar Dr. Elizabeth Miller finds the Compendium ''delightful!''

Dr. Miller is editor of the Journal of Dracula Studies and maintains the Dracula Research Centre.

Image of the first edition of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

''Get lost in the mythology''

2010-11-13T15:00:00.001-08:00

Asks Cool Material:''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.''

The Awesomer

2010-11-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

''Collected from the papers of 'monstrologists,' Compendium Monstrum is a pocket-sized volume with '19th century' sketches, maps, and notes on vampires, werewolves, and zombies,'' says The Awesomer.

Welcome

2010-11-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring!

Image courtesy www.fromoldbooks.org