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There are three basic versions of the werewolf. 3nodding


1. Classic horror movie version- Turns into a wolf or a half wolf, half human at every full moon. Usually has no control over it’s instincts and kills anything around it. One becomes this type of werewolf by being bitten by another werewolf and somehow not getting eaten by it. This werewolf can be killed with a silver bullet. If one is turned into this type of werewolf then one must kill the werewolf that bit one before the next full moon, or one is doomed to be a werewolf forever. Classically the one that has been bitten will show one sign of being a werewolf-an upside-down pentagram on one’s hand. (Thanks Hollywood for once again making us look like the bad guys >.<)

2. Modern werewolf twist- Turns into a werewolf at will. Usually keeps all of it’s ‘human’ instincts, although the werewolf instincts are usually present, and can hunt what and when it decides to. Usually this hunting instinct grows much stronger during the full moon, but has no ultimate ‘control’ as with the classic type. This is currently the most popular type amongst authors and role-players. Most werewolves of this version are born into it, and cannot ‘create’ others as the classic type can. There is usually no indication that one is a werewolf, and one can pass off as completely normal as long as one can sneak out once in a while to hunt.

3. Born-again wolf- This version is of the ‘past life’ variety. This is a person that claims to have been a wolf in a past life, and some of the tendencies ‘carry over’ into the present life. This variety usually has no claim to ‘turn’ into a wolf, although you do get the ‘phantom limbs’ phenomenon. This is when one can feel a limb that is not present in the body, such as a tail. Usually this Varity has some wolf-like characteristics and tendencies. Usually these people like their stakes cooked-or shall I say uncooked-to rare or medium rare at the most.

In folklore there are accually a few other ways of becoming a werewolf, sucha as drinking water from a wolfs pawprint or donning magic clothing. One way that people found out who was a werewolf and who was a normal person was to injure said werewolf in it's beast form, The human could have a coresponding wound on them when they tranformed into humans again. Silver is generally useless

In some Native American legends Werewolves are wolves who turned into men to populate the earth, and then acted as gaurdians against Vampires. These fall more closely into the Modern Werewolf category.

As for the Born again Wolf how they like their steaks aren't an indicator, unless they don't cook it at all. But some factors are a keen sense of smell a throaty voice, bark like laugh or a peculiarly strong connection to wild dogs.

As for the horror movie guys, they just irritate me. The wolf/man hybrid should just be called wolf man sence, well i see a werewolf as being a man/woman who transforms into a wolf all the way, not just partially. But that's just me.

One of the modern writers who (I think) has created an amazing portrayal of werewolves is Kelley Armstrong. Her books are amazing! The main character in the first few is a female werewolf called Elena, in these books the werewolves can have concious control but also can struggle to keep control over their changes and wolf-like instincts. I'm too tired to go into too much detail, but she's a fantastic author and the world she weaves of modern life intermixed with "mythical" worlds and fantasy makes for a great read. Oh, a lot of more adult content in there (nicely handled, but still quite erm, how can I put this... sexual?) maybe not for the younger teens... no offense to you guys, it's just I doubt you'd want to read that stuff anyway! (I ain't a fan of it, but the books are so good I don't mind!) So besides that, great books mrgreen such a great sense of humour too (they're in the horror section usually btw) Series starts with Bitten if anyone is interested.

Hum... have to make a stop by the library some time this week... look into these books. 3nodding I love to read about werewolves, they capture my imaganation quite well, but there are very few books that I actuley LIKE about the subject, most are not written well, or are showing the werewolves in a bad light. One book I like is 'The Blooding' by Patricia Windsor. That book was the one that sparked my interest in werewolves in the first place. 3nodding

^_^ I ordered The Blooding off of amazon, and it should get here wendsday or so. ^_^

Also, I have the Kelley Armstrong books that are out, but I'm waiting until they are all out to read them. I read fast and do NOT like to be interrupted. Therefor the series must be compleate before I begin.

Haha, I also read fast, I went through a book a night on the Kelley Armstrong ones sweatdrop I couldn't put them down!! I do tend to wait for graphic novels though as they hardly take a few mins to get through sweatdrop

Once you've read them, you should visit her official website, she's got short stories on there about the characters and a bit more about parts of the story... some SERIOUS spoilers in there though, so read all the books first!!! She's also started an online graphic novella, the first page is up in Feb this year I think (it's an adaptation of her first book, Bitten, so it should be fab)

any of you guys seen the movie dog soliders