With entries that range from specific works to authors, folklore, and popular culture (including music, film, television, urban legend, and gaming), this book provides a single-volume resource on all things ghostly in the United States and in other countries. The concept of ghosts has been an ongoing and universal element in human culture as far back as recorded history can document. In more modern popular culture and entertainment, ghosts are a popular mainstay—from A Christmas Carol and Casper the Friendly Ghost to The Amityville Horror, Ghostbusters, Poltergeist, The Sixth Sense, and Ghost Whisperer. This book comprehensively examines ghost and spirit phenomena in all its incarnations to provide readers with a holistic perspective on the subject. It presents insightful information about the contribution of a specific work or author to establish or further the evolution of ghost lore, rather than concentrating solely on the film, literature, music, or folklore itself. The book focuses on ghosts in western culture but also provides information about spirit phenomena and lore in international settings, as many of the trends in popular culture dealing with ghosts and spirits are informed by authors and filmmakers from Germany, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom. The writers and editors are experts and scholars in the field and enthusiastic fans of ghost lore, ghost films, ghost hunting, and urban legends, resulting in entries that are informative and engaging—and make this the most complete and current resource on ghost and spirit lore available.

A fascinating read for anyone from general readers to hardcore fans and scholars, this encyclopedia covers virtually every aspect of the zombie as cultural phenomenon, including film, literature, folklore, music, video games, and events. The proliferation of zombie-related fiction, film, games, events, and other media in the last decade would seem to indicate that zombies are "the new vampires" in popular culture. The editors and contributors of Encyclopedia of the Zombie: The Walking Dead in Popular Culture and Myth took on the prodigious task of covering all aspects of the phenomenon, from the less-known historical and cultural origins of the zombie myth to the significant works of film and literature as well as video games in the modern day that feature the insatiable, relentless zombie character. The encyclopedia examines a wide range of significant topics pertaining to zombies, such as zombies in the pulp magazines; the creation of the figure of the zuvembie to subvert decades of censorship by the Comics Code of Authority; Humans vs. Zombies, a popular zombie-themed game played on college campuses across the country; and annual Halloween zombie walks. Organized alphabetically to facilitate use of the encyclopedia as a research tool, it also includes entries on important scholarly works in the expanding field of zombie studies. Provides comprehensive coverage of topics about or relating to zombies in film, literature, folklore, and popular culture Features work from contributors who are dedicated scholars, authors, or fans in the zombie genre of work Supplies dates with all names and works to give readers a sense of the historical context and evolution of zombie lore Includes concept entries-for example, comedy, free will, and weapons-that place works in a logical, thematic context

Hundreds of new horror titles are described and organized according to reading preferences in this new volume of Fonseca and PulliaM's award-winning readers' advisory guide. Focusing on titles published in the last decade, along with a few older classics, the authors cover more than a dozen popular subgenres of horror fiction, including vampires and werewolves, techno-horror, ghosts and haunted houses, and small town horror. Lively annotations and commentary help you find the right book for your most demanding horror fans. More than 500 annotations are new to this edition.

Hundreds of new horror titles are described and organized according to reading preferences in this new volume of Fonseca and PulliaM's award-winning readers' advisory guide. Focusing on titles published since 2002 and broadly accessible to library users, along with a few older classics, the authors cover more than a dozen popular subgenres of horror fiction, including vampires and werewolves, techno-horror, ghosts and haunted houses, and small town horror. Lively annotations and commentary help you find the right book for your most demanding horror fans. More than 500 annotations are new to this edition.

Background information on current trends, the history, and appeals of the genre are also offered, along with lists of pertinent resources.

Hundreds of popular horror fiction titles are described and categorized according to their underlying appeal features, and under topics and themes you'll never find in the library catalog: the plot thickens (complex plots), fear factors (truly terrifying), big city horror, over-the-top weirdos, and many other themes that appeal to horror readers and fans. Use these unconventional, sometimes whimsical reading lists to identify read-alikes rooted in shared appeal features or in the specific characteristics on which the lists are based. Post individual lists on your library Web site, put them in your newsletter, or use them for patron handouts to encourage circulation and reading. Horror fiction readers and fans looking for new reading material will enjoy browsing through this book and using it to create checklists or reading plans. Readers' advisors who wish to better acquaint themselves with the genre and its newer publications, particularly in terms of appeal features, will find a treasury of ideas here as well. Looking for a new way to find suggestions for readers seeking that great new horror read? How about some fresh ideas for that Halloween horror fiction display? You've come to the right place. Read On…Horror Fiction categorizes hundreds of popular horror fiction titles—not according to standard subgenres and themes, but according to their underlying appeal features, and under topics and themes you'll never find in the library catalog. Choose the plot thickens (complex plots), I'm too sexy for my fangs (erotic horror), graffiti and gore (big city horror), favorite monsters, or any of the many other themes that appeal to horror readers and fans. The book includes approximately 350 of the best and most current horror fiction titles, and a few popular classics as well, offering bibliographic information and brief, punchy plot summaries designed to spark reader interest and capture the appeal connection. These unconventional, sometimes whimsical reading lists can be used to identify read-alikes rooted in shared appeal features or in the specific characteristics on which the lists are based. Post specific lists on your library Web site, put them in your newsletter, or use them for patron handouts to encourage circulation and reading. Horror fiction readers and fans looking for new reading material will enjoy browsing through this book, and using it to create checklists or reading plans. Readers' advisors who wish to better acquaint themselves with the genre and its newer publications, particularly in terms of appeal features, will find a treasury of ideas here as well. Libraries may wish to order multiple copies—one for the readers' advisor and reference desk and one to the circulating collection. desk, and one for the circulating collection.