Mythology, legends, fantasy and science fiction all include shapeshifters — humans or other creatures able to access (“shift”) between two or more forms.
“The Epic of Gilgamesh,” often considered to be the oldest piece of written literature, hints at the gods changing their forms to interact with humans.
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886, introduced us to a doctor who transforms into a monster after drinking a serum designed to suppress his baser impulses.
In the TV show “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” Odo, the head of station security, is a shapeshifter who can take many animate or inanimate forms.
Many cultures have legends of beings who shift shape: In Greek and Roman mythology, gods and goddesses take human form. Navajo legends tell of skin-walkers — witches who can take animal form. The Japanese have tales of kitsune (fox-spirits), and the Celtic people have selkies (seal/human shapeshifters).
Of the humans who can change shape, werewolves are by far the most popular in fiction.
Although the mythos changes from author to author, in general, werewolves are humans who, against their will, change into savage wolf form during each full moon.
Some maintain human sentience, while some do not.
Most folklore holds that the only way to kill a werewolf is with bullets or blades made of silver.
Although most shapeshifter series are geared toward romantasy, there are some that are older style fantasy or horror.
Below is a list of shapeshifter books, movies and authors.
Nonfiction
- “I Know What I Saw: Modern-day Encounters with Monsters of New Urban Legend and Ancient Lore” by Linds S. Godfrey (2019).
- “The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-shifting Beings” by Brad Steiger (2012).
- “Werewolves and Shapeshifters” by Darren Zenko (2004).
Novels
- “Cycle of the Werewolf” by Stephen King (2019).
- “Red Moon” by Benjamin Percy (2014).
“The Wolf Gift: A Novel” by Anne Rice (2012).
- “The Last Werewolf” by Glen Duncan (2012).
“The Werewolf of Paris: A Novel” by S. Guy Endor (orig. pub. 1933).
DVDs
- “Werewolves Within” (2021).
- “The Twilight Saga: The Complete 5-movie Collection” (2016).
- “Underworld Collection” (2016).
- “Teen Wolf” (2014).
- “Silver Bullet” (2002).
- “An American Werewolf in London” (1981).
- “Cat People” (1942).
- “The Wolf Man” (1941).
Shapeshifter series and authors
- Mercy Thompson series, Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs.
- Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.
- Twilight Saga series by Stephenie Meyer.
- Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger.
- Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong.
- Shiver series by Maggie Stiefvater.
Beth Wood is the senior collection development librarian for the Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.
