Why sourcing is important: Vampires (Dunn-Mascetti)

Vampires:
the complete guide to the world of the undead
by Manuela Dunn-Mascetti
(ISBN: 0670846643)



Most vampire books end up being like this one. Be warned, these types of materials tend to multiply in dark corners and bargain bins. A little bit of everything...and ultimately nothing. I already have a title to dote on like a spoiled child--I don't need another one.

So what makes this book so wince-worthy? First and foremost, lack of sources. Never trust something that calls itself an authoritative work if the author doesn't name where he or she got the information. By naming that information source, the author tells the book's audience what he or she used to substantiate claims or make points. For example, If a book on psychic vampirism uses Michelle Belanger's Psychic Vampire Codexas a source, you know it's a reliable source because of the author's reputation. However, if the author sources The Psychyk Vampyr Dark Cult of Jim Bob, you may want to investigate Jim Bob's works. Poor sources lead to poor information. If you don't source anything in your supposedly fact-based work, why bother even linking it to facts at all? Unsourced nonfiction is fiction.

Down off my soapbox now.

That said, this is a fluffy read. It mixes fact and fiction freely. Convinced that the chapter on the knight Azzo involves a historical figure? He's actually a character from a 19th century anonymous German novella. Intrigued by the mysterious Golden Age of Hollywood vampire starlet? It's a short story written for a pulp magazine. And, of course, the usual tropes are along for the ride: how to become a vampire, how to live with and around vampires, how to kill vampires, etc. Everyone from Montague Summersto folks trying to make a buck off popular sparkly honeychilesput that crap into print.

Okay, so I never really got down of the soapbox. Again, a little bit of everything, and ultimately nothing.