October Special - Shapeshifters!

Here's a contribution to our Halloween celebrations from guest blogger Eric.

Werewolves are the best known shapeshifters in film and fiction, from Stephen King's Cycle of the Werewolf graphic novel to Canada's own Gingersnaps film trilogy.

But world mythology is full of other creatures who sometimes pose as human.

These are just a selection of the creatures one could find posing as human.

Lai, Larissa. Salt Fish Girl. Sci-Fi and fantasy meet in an immortal, were-woman / snake / fish, whose story spans from 19th century China to future West coast Canada.

Hendrix, Howard V. Empty Cities of the Full Moon. Humanity has changed... shapeshifted even. So much so that civilization fell apart and beast-people inherited the empty world.

Pierce, David M. Elf Child. A gay changeling finds more than love and excitement in San Diego. He finds himself...and trouble.

Briggs Patricia. Moon Called. First in a series of urban fantasy about a were-coyote and herrelationships. With vampires, werewolves, and even worse.

Hamilton, Laurell K. Lunatic Cafe. Shapeshifters feature in many of her novels, but this particular book describes the culture of were-rats, -cats, and even -swans!

Marcia, Collette. Unstable Environment. Family struggles, an abandoned baby, a clan war, and were-cheetahs round out this unique novel.

Whitfield, Kit. The Benighted. Prejudice is the theme of this book, about a world where shapeshifting is normal, and those who can't are second class citizens.

Johnson, Kij. The Fox Woman. A story of a Kitsune, a female fox spirit, who falls tragically in love with an all too human lord, set in romantic feudal Japan.

Dalkey, Kara. Little Sister.

A teen novel about a middle sister in ancient Japan who befriends a troublemaking Tengu, or were-raven.

Jackson, Melanie. The Selkie. Another paranormal romance between an innocent woman and a handsome, mysterious stranger. In this case, he's prince of the Selkies, or were-seals.