2008 was a busy year for me with several books published by Algora Publishing, an academic publisher in New York City as well as several titles under my own imprint, OakChylde Publications, printed and distributed by Lulu Press. My latest include The History & Use of Amulets, Charms & Talismans which has been released in paper and hardcover, Mysteries of Native American Myth and Religion available now from Amazon.com and other online and brick and mortar retailers, and The Gods of Man: Gods of Nature - God of War which is also available everywhere. The Gods of Man examines the "evolution" of god from the gods of nature to the god of war. Using archaeological and historical accounts, this book shows that the Judeo-Christian god of today is a direct descendent of the god of war worshipped by the nomadic warriors of thousands of years ago and that contemporary humankind still suffers the consequences. Released in April 2008 was Gargoyles, Grotesques & Green Men which delves further into the ancient symbolism and icons which continue to exist in our architectural motiffs and contemporary cultures. It is fully illustrated and indexed. Now available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and pretty much everywhere else.
2009 is also proving to be a year to finish projects. My 2002 book, Sacred Wells: A Study in the History, Meaning, and Mythology of Holy Wells & Waters has been reissued by Algora Publishing in a second edition. My latest is a cultural history of the Owens Valley Paiute, an ancient Great Basin Indian tribe, that has a rich and fascinating history of survival and cultural complexity. The Owens Valley Paiute-A Cultural History will be available shortly.
Next month I will be traveling to Nova Scotia to explore the mythic lore and archaeology of that part of the continent.
The Owens Valley Paiute - A Cultural History is now available on most online sites for $16.95. This is an ethnographic account of the Paiute Indians who have lived for thousands of years in the arid Great Basin of California with chapters of their lifeways, religin, folklore and mythology, rock art and the Ghost Dance. Illustrated with 28 pages of photographs this one should interest anyone who finds archaeology and anthropology and Native Americans as fascinating as I do.
ISBN 978-0-557-09467-7, 244 pages paperback edition
Mysteries of Native American Myth and Religion is an analysis of Native American myth and religion, archaeological anomalies and folklore that suggests cultural diffusion with ancient cultures was not only possible in the ancient history of the Americas, but probable.
ISBN: 9781430310730. An OakChylde Publication, distributed by Lulu Press. 252 pages, Illustrated, Index, Bibliography, $19.95 retail.
Gargoyles, Grotesques & Green Men
Just Released 4/22/08
$16.95 from Amazon.om, B&N.com and other on line retailers
180 pages, illustrated, ISBN 978-1435711426
The symbols and strange images that we find in our cemeteries, religious structures, banks and in our parks are the same symbols that have been part of the framework of the human psyche for thousands of years. While contemporary man may think that they are simply decorative manifestations of a by-gone era, they represent the fears, dreams, ideas, beliefs and struggles that humankind has endured since we began to walk upright. This book surveys many of these icons and will give a meaning for them both in the context of ancient history and folklore as well as a meaning that is suitable for our contemporary times. Illustrated with dozens of photographs, this book will be of interest to anyone interested in historic preservation, ancient symbolism, the Green Man and the universal application of imagery. Gary R. Varner has written numerous books on ancient traditions, folklore, the environment and contemporary issues. He is a member of the American Folklore Society and the Foundation for Mythological Studies.
Maria Lionza: An Indigenous Goddess of Venezuela
María Lionza is at once a native girl, born in the 16th century to an Indian chief in the Venezuelan region of Yaracuy, and a goddess of nature, peace and harmony to over eight million Venezuelans in the 21st century. Her name means “Mary of the boar,” taken from her full name “Santa María de la Onza Talavera del Prato de Nivar”—a title given by the Catholic Church in the attempt to Christianize her cult. This book is María’s story, as much as can be told. Other than a few scholarly articles, the existence of María Lionza and her following is unknown in Western literature. Gabriel Ernesto Andrade of La Universidad del Zulia in Maracaibo, Venezuela wrote “If I would have to find one word to describe the María Lionza religion, it would be ‘mysterious’.” And so María, as well as her origins and how she became regarded as the goddess of the people of Venezuela, remains a mystery in many ways. And that is as it should be. An OakChylde Publication available from Lulu Press at $9.50. ID# 1329353
My latest title from Algora Publishing is Creatures in the Mist: Little People, Wild Men and Spirit Beings Around the World - A Study in Comparative Mythology. Selling at $21.95 in trade paper and $29.95 in harcover, the Library Journal gave it the following review in the August 15th issue:
Varner (The Mythic Forest, the Green Man & the Spirit of Nature) has published another volume in a series of works comparing legends and beliefs from cultures around the world. This latest covers mythological beings including fairies, giants, mermaids, horned creatures, harpies, werewolves, and vampires as well as the folklore of animals and insects. He provides an overview of creatures from ancient times to the present, incorporating examples from European, Asian, African, and Native American traditions. This global comparison emphasizes shared customs and illustrates a universal belief in these mythic beings. Though not a comprehensive look at folklore themes, this book is unique in its focus on the magical creatures of our collective imagination. It is appropriate not only for popular reading collections but also for academic research collections, as sources are cited throughout and a bibliography of resources is included. -Eloise R. Hitchcock, Western Carolina Univ. Lib., Cullowhee, NC
ISBN: 978-0-87586-545-4, Illus., Bibliography, Index
Some oy other recent titles include The Dark Wind: Witches and the Concept of Evil; Strangely Wrought Creatures of Life and Death: Ancient Symbolism in European and American Architecture; and The Mythic Forest: The Green Man and the Spirit of Nature.
ISBN: 1430318139 $15.95. Distributed by Lulu Press. Illus., Index, Bibliography
ISBN: 1430302615 $15.95. Distributed by Lulu Press. Ilus., Index, Bibliography
ISBN: 0875864341 $21.95 trade paper, hardcover $29.95. Published by Algora Publishing. Illus., Index, Bibliography
All books available from Amazon.com, B&N.com, and other fine online retailers.
