There are vampires among us in a shadow world that has its subtle hooks into organized crime itself, as well as practically every major business, governmental, cultural, and religious institution in existence. Subtle, influencing rather than controlling, and ancient, it predates most if not all of the present-day institutions it influences. And evil. No shades of gray here. No redeeming social merit. Most of these vampires are educated, refined and charming, but as pure in their evil as the foulest of their bloodsucking kindred whose transformed faces match their twisted souls. A world of shadows; shadows of evil. When a maverick who prefers the twisted, bloodsucking condition of the classical vampire becomes too powerful to be controlled, a wave of evil is unleashed.

In The Soul of Popular Culture, leading writers and critics, many of them influenced by the thought of C. G. Jung, draw upon the insights of depth psychology to delve into the meanings of TV programs like Star Trek and Fawlty Towers, movies such as The Piano and The Silence of the Lambs, and other contemporary media, as well as the public preoccupation with such issues as abortion, AIDS, the O.J. Simpson trial, and our enduring fascination with Elvis.

Drakul. Nosferatu. Upyr. Vampyre. There have been many names for what we know today as the vampire. For over a century, literature, television, cinema and many other areas in our daily lives cannot be imagined without the appearance of this fictional character. Almost everyone is familiar with the image of the walking undead that creeps out of its coffin at night and sucks the blood out of humans. The undead has always been appealing to its audience. It is the ‘otherness’ of such monsters, their frightful darkness and exoticism that makes them so interesting. This book deals with the figure of the vampire regarded as the ‘unknown other’ and how it is fictionally represented in the American TV series True Blood (2008 - ). Considering both psychoanalytical concepts as well identity theory, the author depicts the literary and cinematographic development of the fictional figure of the vampire since the late nineteenth century, and analyzes different representations of the vampire and its “otherness” as well as their appeal to the audience in the True Blood.

Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King, is back with an epic YA tale of ambition and love in The Shadows Between Us... “They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.” Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power: 1) Woo the Shadow King. 2) Marry him. 3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself. No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it. But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen? “Tricia Levenseller’s latest, The Shadows Between Us, is a decadent and wickedly addictive fantasy, full of schemes and court intrigue, and delightful descriptions of food, which I am always a fan of.” —Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series

Not only do vampires exist, but they walk among us! Paranormal researcher extraordinaire and author of hundreds of books on the mysterious and unknown, Brad Steiger, reveals that real vampires are not immortal, do not have fangs or sleep in coffins, and have no fear of sunlight or crucifixes. A chilling chronicle of the often-ignored history of vampirism, Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Darkside is a shocking account of occultist rituals and the inhuman forces that influence these immortal beasts. From spine-tingling classic tales—Vlad the Impaler, the Countess of Blood—to stories of famous mass-murderers and their shocking, cannibalistic, and vampire-like behavior—Jack the Ripper, the Zodiac Killer, Jeffrey Dahmer—to hair-raising testimony from ordinary people who’ve encountered vampires, and finally to interviews with modern vampires themselves, this frightening collection covers them all. Not for the faint of heart, you’ll encounter 163 terrifying tales of the hideous wraiths and creatures that lurk in shadow, including . . . the Mexican prostitute who mesmerized an entire village, convincing them she was an Incan goddess who required human sacrifice for her magic. the three teenagers who left a trail across the South as they conducted blood-drinking rituals with animals. the mysterious Lady in Black, who draws psychic energy from men who dare approach her as she wanders through city streets and parks. the young bride-to-be possessed by an evil spirit pretending to be her recently deceased uncle. the college student who thought that he had gotten lucky when he was invited to a party by a gorgeous woman—until he found out that the other partygoers seemed to want blood in return for their beer. Shining a light on the horrifying truth, Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Darkside dispels many myths but also confirms the truth behind several traits of real vampires. You’ll encounter loathsome slashers, rippers, and murderers who do not promise immortality with their “bite,” only a painful death. The numerous photos and illustrations bring the text to life!

Monsters and shape-shifters have always held a special fascination in mythologies, legends, and folklore the world over. From ancient customs to famous cases of beasts and vampires and their reflections in popular culture, 600 entries provide definitions, explanations, and lists of suggested further reading.

In TOUCHED (BOOK #2 OF THE SHADOW VAMPIRES), Keira Blaine is on the run with her new love, Cooper. Having just finished vanquishing the first wave of Shadow Vampires, the small town of Everstock is no longer a safe place for them. They have to flee, and search for a safe haven together. Keira can't return home anyway, especially after running away from her parents to be with Cooper. As they embark on their journey together, Cooper tells Keira about his long-lost mother and her tribe, The Torches, a race of positive vampires, rival enemies to the Shadow Vampires. Separated from her at birth, Cooper is determined to find his mother, and to follow the clues and his magical ring that will lead him to her. Keira is determined to find out more about who she is becoming, too, and where her new powers are coming from mysterious powers that are growing by the day. Is she a vampire, too? Where is her strength coming from? What is her destiny? Keira and Cooper continue on their fantastical journey to mysterious islands in Lake Michigan. They manage to find Cooper's mother and her tribe but once there, Keira has to confront a beautiful young Torch woman, Tua, who falls in love with Cooper and is determined to make him her own. Keira is forced to face danger alone at a club in Chicago, and to go back home and face her family and her old high school where she realizes that she is no longer welcome. Worse, the Shadow Vampires won't let them rest. They hunt them down, and enlist their most gorgeous soldier the teenage Percy to seduce Keira's sister, Amanda, and have her lead them to her. Amanda, despite herself, falls deeply in love, and Percy finds himself feeling unexpected feelings of his own. Will he have to betray his tribe? Keira and Cooper, too, are falling more deeply in love with each other but life circumstances seem determined to pry them apart. Will their love withstand the test? Will Keira find out who she really is? And will the Shadows hunt them down before they can each fulfill their mission? TOUCHED is Book #2 of the Shadow Vampires (following SAVED), and yet it also stands alone as a self-contained novel.

Whether preparing us for economic recovery after the zombie apocalypse, analyzing vampire investment strategies, or illuminating the market forces that affect vampire-human romances, Economics of the Undead: Zombies, Vampires, and the Dismal Science gives both seasoned economists and layman readers something to sink their teeth into. Undead characters have terrified popular audiences for centuries, but when analyzed closely, their behaviors and stories—however farfetched—mirror our own in surprising ways. The essays collected in this book are as humorous as they are thoughtful, as culturally relevant as they are economically sound, and provide an accessible link between a popular culture phenomenon and the key concepts necessary to building one’s understanding of economic systems big and small. It is the first book to apply and combine economics and our society’s fascination with the undead, and is an invaluable resource for those looking to learn economic fundamentals in a fun and innovative way. Contributions by: Kyle William Bishop, Eleanor Brown, Ian Chadd, Darwynn Deyo, Steven Horwitz, Daniel Farhat, Jean-Baptiste Fleury, Enrique Guerra-Pujol, Brian Hollar, Sebastien Lecou, Joseph Mandarino, Alain Marciano, Fabien Medvecky, David T. Mitchell, Michael O’Hara, M. Christine Phillips, A. Lynn Phillips, G. Michael Phillips, Lorna Piatti-Farnell, Robert Prga, Hollis Robbins, Sarah Skwire, Ilya Somin, David Tufte, Mary Jo Tufte, and Charlotte Weil

A fun and accessible guide to foreign television series that were later broadcast in or adapted for the U.S., including popular favorites such as The Office and Doctor Who. In Broadcast in the U.S.: Foreign TV Series Brought to America, Vincent Terrace delivers a wonderful resource of over 400 foreign television shows broadcast in the United States, along with their American adaptations. From British comedies like Fawlty Towers and Keeping Up Appearances to the Australian fantasy series The Girl from Tomorrow and the Japanese cartoons Astro Boy and Kimba, the White Lion, this book explores an often-overlooked side of American television and popular culture. Each entry includes details regarding the cast, genre, episodes, U.S. and foreign networks, broadcast dates, storylines, and trivia. Containing information not easily found anywhere else, such as unsold script proposals, internet TV series, and unaired pilots, this first and only guide to foreign television series broadcast in the U.S. is a valuable reference for all fans of television history.