Rating: Summary: Not the truth, and not an original work Review: Most of the content of this book has been printed elsewhere: Anyone familiar with Montague Summers' "The Vampire in Europe" will recognize stories that this scholar set down, almost word for word, reprinted in this book. And anyone familiar with Dion Fortune's "Psychic Self-Defense" will recognize that esteemed occult scholar's theories on psychic vampirism lifted out of her works wholesale, without much elaboration on the part of the author. For example, why is Konstantinos so prejudiced against psychic vampires? (He even says at the start of Chaptre 9, "These are the darkest of creatures." Well, thanks for that value judgement there, buddy. What, did a psivamp run over your dog or something?) Because Dion Fortune is, in her defense theory. She came from a less tolerant time period, when psychic vampires hadn't come out of the closet yet and were a poorly understood phenomenon. Even Fortune's original descriptions were mainly of unconscious temporary energy drainers or of non-vampiric occultists stealing energy from others on purpose. Had Dion Fortune gotten the chance to meet one of our century's modern, self-aware and well-adjusted psychic vampires, she may have changed her analysis. So what's Konstantinos' excuse? Where's this hate coming from? Does he even know what modern psychic vampires are up to these days? The phrase "armchair anthropologist" comes to mind. "Vampies: The Occult Truth" fails to deliver on any of its promises: "many" never-before published case histories? Not many, really. Letters by modern-day vampires? If you believe in Real Vampires (tm) you won't recognize any of the key giveaways here. However, if you're familiar with real-life role-players, you'll recognize Konstantinos' "vampires" immediately. And there is no fail-safe way to protect yourself from a psychic vampire. Give that up right now, Kon. Nearly everything in this volume was published before, and the author does nothing to bring the varying sources together, or update them - it's more the Cliff's Notes or Bathroom Book version of works which happen to be foundation material for what we know about vampire folklore and occult practice. Go back to the originals; it will serve you better. Get the roots FIRST, and then start exploring the less well-known corners of vampirism.
Rating: Summary: Thank you Konstantinos Review: Oh my god.... how can I even begin to describe what this book has done for me. Konstantinos really delves into the world of vampires and really cleared up some misconceptions I had about vampires. I myself have been the victim of numerous psychic vampire attacks in Great Neck Long Island. If you are reading this Konstantinos, email me at cheeseburger2000@hotmail.com.
Rating: Summary: I wish I could give this one 0 stars Review: Rarely have I felt ripped off after reading a book, but Konstantinos managed to make me feel that way.
What he offers in this book is a pseudo-scientific approach to the topic of vampires, one that reads like a high school paper that I doubt would garner a C.
He starts off by redefining the term vampire, one that in common parlance refers to an immortal blood drinker who can't face the sunlight or get destroyed, to include mortals who drink blood. I don't know about you, but as for me, a human who drinks blood is someone who I would not label as "vampire" but as "in need of some professional counselling."
Later he presents letters from what he describes as "possible vampires". Several of those letters are from individuals who profess to being mortal, eating (yes, garlic too), and only having a spoonful of blood occasionally because 'they need it'. When a letter like this comes from what sounds like a deeply disturbed teen then I wouldn't present it as "a letter from a possible vampire", but toss it in the recycle bin. When a person presents himself in one of those letters as being a vampire and in the next breath claim not to experience any harm from sunlight, and seeing his reflection in the mirror, and not needing blood to survive--you'd say Konstantinos would have had the common sense to not include a letter like that, but no.
So, those letters offer as far as I am concerned nothing that indicates that vampires actually exist, and everything that indicates that some people responded to Konstantinos's add, one that requested vampires to send letters to him and tell about themselves, in order to have some fun and see if they could fool Konstantinos. Maybe they fooled him, or maybe it was Konstantinos who fooled us, the readers. I am inclined to believe that the first is possible since his entire presentation has "immature" all over it. Then again, the possibility exists that he simply saw a way to make an easy buck. Regardless of whether or not Konstantinos was sincere in his attempt to proof that vampires exist, in my eyes he failed thoroughly and lost all credibility in the process. I'll make certain to stay away from his other books.
Rating: Summary: Vampires in review Review: The book Vampires--the occult truth is a very intresting piece. The discusses that facts and the falsidies of the common blood-sucker. The book also includes a look at the diffrent types of vampires.It also gives true on hand accounts of diffrent vampires. In my opionon it is a very good book. Check it out.
Rating: Summary: Vampires for the layman Review: This book by Konstantinos contains some of the most original ideas on vampirism I've seen in a long time. This was one of his first books in print, but certainly not his least. His descriptions and ideas on the subject of vampirism is one of the things which led me to believe that some of our modern illnesses like Chronic Fatigue might in some way be connected to cases of psychic vampirism as illnesses like consumption (tuberculosis) were linked to vampirism in the 18th and 19th centuries.
His book is an invaluable resource for those interested in the various kinds of vampirism (and defense against them). Unlike other resources, his words are couched in a conversational tone and he does not fall into the trap of relying too heavily on outdated folklore. Some of the letters from the "real" vampires are a bit far-fetched, but it should be easy for any discerning reader to pick out the truth from the hockum.
Rating: Summary: The Real Truth Review: This book clearly explains and gives detailed information about the Occult truth of vampires. He begins the book by separating fact from fiction, and tells a little bit about folklore. When I think of vampires, my mind might take me to the movie Interview with the Vampire. The movie makes immortals look like exotic creatures that lead a pleasant life. But according to Konstantinos, immortal vampires were not (maybe still are not) like this at all. His version of immortals were ones that were animated by demons and ones that were humans back from the dead. His stories of them are quite convincing. He gives his opinion from both sides. The book itself is divided into four parts, Immortal Blood Drinkers, Mortal Blood Drinkers, Intentional Psychic Vampires, and Unintentional Psychic Vampires. When you start reading about the mortal vampires, you will come across interesting letters written from vampires around the country. You will see that average Americans lead a normal, everyday life only with a desire to drink blood. Making them harmless, just with a desire to drink blood. There's also a letter from someone who claims he's immortal, the letter is more than enough to convince me that immortals may still live today. The accounts and cases of psychic vampirism are also attention-keepers. I recommend this book to anyone who feels like they want to expand their knowledge about vampires and life itself.
Rating: Summary: Kobolds Laying the Smack-Down at Burgermaster Review: This book is the ultimate Vampire Manual, the first is the best. It gives you specific details on monsters. Being that I only have 2 hit points, I have to pick my monsters carefully. Once, while at Burgermaster, a kolbold threw a burger at me with his sling. He rolled a 20, a critical hit, and the burger did 2x the normal damage, knocking me out for 2 hp! As I lay unconcious, a gelatinous cube slowly slimed my burger and fries up. When I came to, I saw him slowly digesting my burger and fries and I exclaimed "How rude!" But the Gelatinous cube just rumbled his gelationous bulbous stomach at me. I would have kicked it's ass, but luckily the Monster Manual told me that would've been a bad idea to use my hands. So instead I used my bic lighter and he apologized for eating my combo #1.
Rating: Summary: Really mind opening, great for separating fact from fiction! Review: This book really gave a good insight on the different types of vampirism.Also included was actual references to vampire deities not made up fictional characters.One word somes it all up BRILLIANT!
Rating: Summary: Vampire fact or fiction, with proof going in any direction Review: Within this book, a detailed history of vampirism explains folklore and the belief in such people of the 20th century. Both sides of the arguments are given and lets the reader figure out which seems to be the best answer to follow....It is either a well written occult truth, or a good fictionous story to read. Either way, I liked it!
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