But mine comes after it and it is more about the occult, witches, vampires, and other horror-related topics.
So I am calling it Appendix O.
Pickering, D. (1996). The Cassell Dictionary of Witchcraft. Sterling Publishing Co.: New York. ISBN: 978-0304350988
If you are interested in seeing the sites on the web that I found useful or have good witch content then check out my other page Witch Links. Those pages are more temporal in nature; blog posts, Facebook, and the like. Longer-lasting resources will be linked below.
If you want to know what movies I have been influenced by to write witch, vampire, and other horror-related content then check out my October Horror Movie Challenge.
And occasionally I do make an Appendix N or Research post.
Nothing in the citations below will tell you how to play a better game of D&D, Ghosts of Albion, NIGHT SHIFT, or any other RPG.
Nor will they allow you to rebuild one of my books or classes from just the content they have. All these books and resources lead me to a place where my books could be written.
Also, this is not scholarly-level research here. I did not come up with a thesis statement, a research question, or anything like that and then carried out a systematic literature review. This is 100% books that were within my grasp at the time (eg growing up in a small midwest town with a larger than average personal and public libraries), then access to one of the largest open shelve university libraries in the state, and of course then the internet. These are titles that captured my attention at the time and then left a mark on my RPG writing.
As with all my pages here, I'll update this one periodically.
Books
Adler, M. (1979). Drawing down the Moon: Witches, druids, goddess-worshippers, and other pagans in America today (1st ed.). Viking Adult.
The, if not THE book to consult when writing about witches. Adler's research has been called into serious question since the publication of this book, but while that makes it questionable for scholarly research it makes it perfect for modern witch mythology. The witches she talks about from the past may or may not have existed, but they are wonderful for my games.
Ashley, L. R. N. (1997). The complete book of the devil's disciples. Barricade Books Inc: New York.
Bord, J., & Bord, C. (1981). Alien animals. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books.
Bridwell, N. (1976). The Witch's Catalog. Scholastic Book Services.
An odd one to be sure, but there are lot of seeds here that would later grow into the garden of my imagination for all things witchy. Not only did it break the stereotype of the child-eating witch (witches in this book protect children) it also came out in 1976 when I was 6. This is the same age that my iconic witch Larina first learned she was a witch. I have spoken at length about the Jungian connections I have with my characters.
Buckland, R. (1971). Witchcraft from the inside: Origins of the fastest growing religious movement in America. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
Buckland, R. (1986). Buckland's complete book of witchcraft. St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.: Llewellyn Publications.
Buckland, R. (2002). The witch book: The encyclopedia of witchcraft, Wicca and Neo-paganism. Detroit, MI: Visible Ink.
This encyclopedia covers less than others on my list, but goes deeper on it's topics. I like Buckland's writing style more than some of the others listed here. Gave me a lot of insight on various witch traditions.
Cavendish, R. (1970). Man, myth | an illustrated encyclopedia of the supernatural. London: Purnell
Cohen, D. (1971). Masters of the occult. New York: Dodd, Mead.
Cohen, D. (1974). Witchcraft, superstition & ghostly magic. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap.
Cohen, D. (1975). Monsters, giants, and little men from Mars: An unnatural history of the Americas. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
In my pre-teen years I ate up everything my local library had by Daniel Cohen. It was the last gasps of a world I wanted, one filled with monsters and magic, and the world I knew was actually true. But for a breif moment before the age of 10 I was enjoying the idea that there was a secret world.
Everson, W. K. (1974). Classics of The Horror Film. Citadel Press. ISBN-10: 0806504374
Finlay, A. (1999). Demons!: The devil, possession & exorcism. Blandford Books: London.
Greenwood, S., & Airey, R. (2006). The complete illustrated encyclopedia of witchcraft & practical magic. London: Hermes House.
Grimassi, R. (2000). Encyclopedia of wicca & witchcraft. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. ISBN: 978-1567182576
Another encyclopedia of all things witchy. This one focuses on more modern practices, has a very large list of contacts, email and websites. Some overlap with Guiley's book. If you are interested in the nature of the religion of witches today, then this is your book. Or at least it is a good place to start.
Guiley, R. (1999, 2008). The encyclopedia of witches and witchcraft. New York, NY: Facts On File. ISBN: 978-0816071043
More a modern spin, it still deals with a variety of topics that are of interest to the witch or occult scholar. I used this book a lot when writing Eldritch Witchery. This book also has the advantage of being much newer and still available. All around a good mix of topics, witch myth is mixed in with modern Wicca, making it difficult for the unlearned to know what is what. But for those who know a bosom from a common broom, then you will enjoy this book. If you have your own Bosom, then you might even find this book a little simple, but I found things there I did not know about, so I enjoyed it!
Guiley, R. (2005). The encyclopedia of vampires, werewolves, and other monsters. New York, NY: Facts On File. ISBN: 978-0816046843
Guiley, R. (2006). The encyclopedia of magic and alchemy. New York: Facts On File. ISBN: 978-0816060481
Guran, P. (Ed.) (2012). Witches: Wicked, wild & wonderful. Gaithersburg, MD: Prime Books.
Haining, P. (Ed.) (1972). The Witchcraft reader. London: Pan Books.
Hoke, H. (Ed.). (1958). Witches Witches Witches. New York, NY: Franklin Watts.
Illes, J. (2005). The Element encyclopedia of witchcraft: The complete a-z for the entire magical world. London: HarperElement.
Jong, E., & Smith, J. A. (1999). Witches. New York, NY: Abradale. ISBN: 978-0810981577
More of a coffee table book than an in-depth treatise on witches or witchcraft. Heavy on the feminist side (esp. Second-Wave Feminism), but not man-bashing (it is an Erica "Fear of Flying" Jong book afterall) it is visually stunning. An oversized book, so if you look for it in the library you might have to check the oversized selves. My local library (or a patron) cut out some of the more risque pages. So I bought my own copy.
Jung, C. G. (1983). Man and his symbols: By C.G. Jung et al. New York, NY: Doubleday.
I always liked Jung. His psychoanalytic theory always sat better with me than Freud's. This book deals with many of the archetypes we deal thing at an unconscious level, the witch is one of many types of female, or anima, archetypes. Jung is one of the greatest thinkers of the modern era, and this is one of his masterpieces (along with Synchronicity).
K., A. (1998). Covencraft: Witchcraft for three or more. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn. ISBN: 978-1567180183
A nice a well-written book for witches and lay-people (cowans) to understand what a coven is and does. This is not a primer to witches, witchcraft, or wicca, this book assumes you know what you need to know and works on what you may not know. It is concise and intelligent and a good read, even for non-witches. Maybe especially for non-witches, so that others can finally learn what witches do. One of the many I have read from Llewellyn Publications.
Kaye, M. (1989). Witches & Warlocks, Tales of Black Magic, Old & New. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Kaye, M., & Kaye, S. (1987). Devils & demons: A treasury of fiendish tales old & new. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Kaye, M., Kaye, S., Stoker, B., Sturgeon, T., Turgenev, I. S., Highsmith, P., . . . Tolkien, J. R. (1985). Masterpieces of terror and the supernatural: A treasury of spellbinding tales old & new. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Marvin Kaye's collections of short stories from some of the biggest names in horror, fantasy, and sci-fiction were a gold mine for me in my later high school and early college years. Many of these tales influenced my games, especially my Ravenloft games directly and had a serious impact on what I wanted for my witches.
Kriss, M. (1970). Witchcraft past and present. New York, NY: Award Books.
L'Engle, M. (1962). A Wrinkle in Time. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
Lehane, Brendan. (1984). The Enchanted World: Wizards and Witches. Time-Life Books: Alexandria, VA. ISBN 0-8094-5204-9
Leiber, F., & Maguire, R. (1953). Conjure Wife. New York, NY: Lion Books.
Lindsey, H., Carlson, C. C. (1981). Satan is alive and well on Planet Earth. Toronto: Bantam Books.
Medici, M. (1990). Good Magic. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall.
Michelet, J. (1995). Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Superstition. Citadel Press, Carol Publishing Group: New York. ISBN: 978-0806516868
A good book that deals with the witch craze of the middle ages. Discussion range from early "faerie stories" to pagan religions, to the church-sanctioned murder of thousands. Sometimes muddled, the book has a few rare gems. Plus it delves into the sociology of fear, why these people did what they did. Gets as far as the Salem witch trials. Very little to do with modern witchcraft.
Morrison, S. L. (1971, 1986). The modern witch's spellbook. Books I & II. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group.
I read this, along with Book I, years ago, towards the very first drafts of my witch class. It has spells that can supposedly really cast. Never tried. But it is a good insight into how some witches view or can view magic. A picture of me reading this book over the top of my glasses (Thomas Dolby style, THAT's long ago it was!) made my High School newspaper!
Mysteries of the Unexplained. (1982). Pleasantville, NY., NY: Reader's Digest Association.
Another in a series of encyclopedia/dictionaries about witchcraft. A very good beginner's guide.
Ravenwolf, S. (2005). To ride a silver broomstick: New generation witchcraft. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Pub.
Another Llewellyn Publication. Similar in nature to Adler's book above, this book deals with modern wicca and witchcraft. Ravenwolf is very much a witchcraft supporter and her point of view shows through in this book, for good and ill. A good place to start and then return to when you know a little more.
Generally speaking, I am not a huge fan of Silver Ravenwolf, but at the same time I am not really her target audience, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt.
She has similar fare in her other books, To Stir a Magick Cauldron and To Light a Sacred Flame.
Robbins, R. H. (1959). The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology (1st ed.). New York: Crown.
This book has been long out of print, and I got mine at a used bookstore, but it is the indispensable work on witches, the witch craze, and demonology. The book takes a very pro-witch point of view as it frankly discusses the murder of women, children, and even men in the name of god. Not to be missed, this book has been THE source for most of my writings. Several editions are out there, mine is the 1959 edition. I have seen them on eBay as well.
Rolleston, T. W. (1917/1990). Celtic myths and legends. Dover Publications Inc.: Mineola, NY.
Seymour, S. J. (1996). Irish witchcraft and demonology. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble.
1996 Edition of the 1913 book by St. John D. Seymour.
Also avaible at Project Gutenberg.
Schwartz, S. eds. (1982). Hecate's cauldron. New York, NY: DAW Books.
Strange stories, amazing facts: Stories that are bizarre, unusual, odd, astonishing, and often incredible. (1978). Pleasantville, NY: The Reader's Digest Association.
Summers, M. (1956). The history of witchcraft. Secaucus, NJ: University Books.
Wilson, C., & Wilson, D. (2000). The mammoth encyclopedia of the unsolved. Philadelphia, PA: Running Press.
Updated a few books and posted some commentary.
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