REVIEWS

Real Zombies - Reviewed By Nick Redfern

Real Zombies Come To Fate Magazine

5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Fascinating Read

May 13, 2010

By Midwest Book Review

This review is from: Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse (Paperback)

The zombie has captivated the American imagination, but where is the basis in reality? "Real Zombies: The Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse" journeys through history into accounts of real zombies. Witchcraft, voodoo, necromancy have all been practiced in someway around the world, and Brad Steiger argues that there may be more to it than many think. From relation to vampires and mummies, to the zombie army of Hitler, many out there theories and ideas are presented, making "Real Zombies" a truly fascinating read.

Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse
By Brad Steiger

Reviewed by Brent Raynes

Real Zombies, really?? When we think of zombies we generally think in terms of Hollywood horror films of complete and unadulterated fictional content, not at all in terms of anything remotely resembling reality itself, in any way, shape, or form. Unless, that is, it falls within the category of Voodoo practices wherein unsuspecting victims are drugged, hypnotized, or brainwashed somehow. But, alas, that masterful genius of realms dark and mysterious, the legendary Brad Steiger himself, once again illuminates and educates our impoverished mentalities and imaginatively deficient belief systems with a comprehensive historical and global perspective on the "zombie" reports, issues and beliefs that the vast majority of us didn't even realize could be found on the real side of the fence.

Naturally, "real zombies" do not simply fall into a single category at all. Brad documents and explores multiple multicultural case histories from multiple perspectives. Zombie type traditions can be found from all over the world, in China, Japan, the Pacific islands, even India and Persia. Brad shares with us spell-binding supernatural tales of the restless dead, of assorted hideous monsters and beasts, of curses, hexes, exorcisms, demonic possessions. There are a good number of first person eyewitness accounts.

Brad's frightening narratives include the Devil Baby of Bourbon Street, complete with horns and a tail; Black Mama Couteaux and the great zombie war; Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte, Kind and Queen of the Zombies; from the bayous of Louisiana the swamp child of Mama Cree; and a multitude of others.

Not recommended for reading just before bedtime.

http://www.mysterious-america.net/

Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Rd., #414
Canton, MI 48187-2075
2010, 300 pages, US 19.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-57859-296-8

Review: Real Zombies
Steiger's Real Zombies A Real Bloodshot Eyeball-Opener

Zombies, as a rule, are corporeal bodies that should be dead but are not. Like every good monster, the zombie has accumulated a host of stereotypical characteristics: in this case a craving for brains, lack of motor coordination, and a tendency to fall apart ­ literally -- in a crisis.

What I like about Brad Steiger's new book, Real Zombies, the Living Dead and Creatures of the Apocalypse (besides its gonzo title), is that he refuses to be limited by Shaun of the Dead-style zombie convention. Steiger is known for his encyclopedic exploration of ghosts, vampires and werewolves, and he lends the same exacting scrutiny to this look at reanimated corpses -- and more.

Although he begins with a thorough grounding in the zombie's Voodoo origins, including recipes for anti-zombie potions (got toad?), he makes forays into the related territories of grave-robbing ghouls, devil-babies, funerary customs and even cannibalism. Some sections, such as a speculative chapter on a possible ancient wolf cult in Kentucky, veer even farther from the title's implied subject matter, but I like that the book works as an informative mother lode for researchers (read, me) as well as providing some truly chilling narrative.

I'm still feeling creeped out, for instance, by the story of Creole Voodoo woman "Black Cat Mama Couteaux" who was rumored to keep hundreds of human souls in clay jars in her New Orleans basement in the 1800s. Brrr.

Steiger has been writing about mystical things for fifty years and nobody does it better.  And if you need another reason to put this book on your personal shelf, just think of those anti-zombie recipes. You won't want to be without them when the creatures of the Apocalypse come.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&fr
iendId=130763151&blogId=533830884

Review Of REAL ZOMBIES By Haunted America Tours

 

Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse

 

By Brad Steiger

 

http://astore.amazon.com/hauntedamer05-20/detail/1578592968

 

In ... Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse, Brad Steiger [presents] more then just a comprehensive and unsettling study.

 

Steiger directly addresses, explores and brings forward into the spotlight the many strange traditions too often shrouded in secret throughout the world.

 

His mission I believe is to dispel the normal sordid beliefs and misunderstandings and the more then just common depictions of what we believe to be the real zombies today.

 

In this book I feel Mr. Steiger has set a high precedent for others to dare only to follow.

 

I believe that this book will be the standard by which many new zombie trends will emulate and be measured.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Brad Steiger is what I call the Grande Master of the Paranormal world with his more then many excellent works over the years that have touched the publics haunted curiosity bone.

 

Oh and of course Brad Steiger has his finger on the true exact pulse of all that is naturally paranormal, extraterrestrial and supernatural.

 

Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse is not an exception to this rule. If you have not read this more then excellent book, I suggest you do so today.

 

Through Steiger's many well researched and respected volumes over the years of real eye opening insights, he has brought many new researchers and supernatural investigators to the popular front of the paranormal community today. Including myself.

 

In a recent radio interview the American Necromancer and student of the Occult Lisa Lee Harp Waugh stated:

 

"In his very well written newest best selling definitive book, Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse, Visible Ink Press." "Mr. Steiger tears down the myths and taboo's and plainly opens the doors to what many actually fear concentrating the real endeavors of those that practice the black arts of voodoo hoodoo zombification."

 

"Steiger explores the real truths and legends in the world of real human zombie research of today."

 

"And I am more then glad I personally could contribute the tales I have learned over the years, because they needed to be told before they became lost in history forever."

 

"This more then just exceptional exquisite work. The pages filled with art and tales that actually features many chilling first hand accounts and passed down stories of reported real-life zombie encounters from past and present."

 

"And in reading this you might just start be come a true believer in what real reported Zombies are all about."

This more then fascinating assorted collection includes the stories by Haunted America Tours Senior writer Alyne Pustanio of the evil spawn of Satan, The elusive supernatural "Devil Baby of Bourbon Street", a monstrous creature complete with sharp horns and a long pointed tail that still lurks in the shadows of the New Orleans dark haunted alleys and neighborhood streets.

 

Black Mama Couteau the often thought of as very strange and real evil Texas Voodoo Queen and the stories of her and the great zombie war, this tale is told by by Lisa Lee Harp Waugh the well known American Necromancer.

 

In Waugh's recounting of these Texas tales and obscure stories that she heard growing up in the very haunted town of Marshall, Texas. Waugh relates a curios snippet of an army of many hundreds of zombie soldiers battling for the supremacy of their queen.

 

True or not such urban zombie legends will make you think twice about what the real power of Texas Voodoo Hoodoo Can do.

 

And don't forget to investigate the swamp child of Mama Crete, who still roams the bayous of Louisiana.

 

In addition to the stories, a variety of zombie-related facts are directly explored and laid bare, including strange weird ceremonies to create such beings and actual initiations, zombies throughout history, sacred zombie and voodoo-related sites, and zombies and monsters of the Bible.

 

The book also contains great eye popping artwork by none other then the always wonderful talented mind and ... dark artistic endeavors of the great Bill Oliver, as well as the intense macabre masterpieces of Ricardo Pustanio, who is also a top designer for New Orleans Mardi Gras Float for the New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade Krewe Of Mid City and a contributing artist for hauntedamericatours.com.

 

The methodical and very strong works of the unforgettable team of father and son Wm. Michael Mott and Ryan Mott are also featured.

 

The featured well written contributions of Alyne Pustanio.

 

The always lively American Necromancer, the always controversial Lisa Lee Harp Waugh.

 

HPI's lead investigator, an avid paranormal world explorer extraordinary, Paul Dale Roberts, and HPI's lovely superstar the ever beautiful Shannon McCabe.

 

And special attention should be paid to to the beliefs, tales and understandings of real zombie lore of Chris Holly, the one and only Laurie lee Mistycah, The ever aware Angela Thomas, The insights of Pastor Robin Swope, The art of Jackie Williams, the enlightened Julie Cole, and the extraordinary talented psychic medium Tuesday Miles.

About the Author 

Brad Steiger

Is the award-winning author of more than 100 books, including Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Houses; Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Darkside; and The Werewolf Book. He is a regular radio guest on the Allan Handelman Show, Coast to Coast, and Jeff Rense's Sightings. He lives in Forest City, Iowa.

His direct no nonsense approach and genius in Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse raises the bar to a height that is certainly hard for other undead books to try and hurdle.