Guiley has written many books within the context of folklore, myths, and religion and is considered one of the leading authorities on the paranormal. Her web site (www.visionaryliving.com) provides a wide variety of information on the topics explored in her books. The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca (2008) and The Encyclopedia of Angels (2004), both published by Facts On File, represent some of her more traditional writing. Moving into the paranormal, this encyclopedia delineates beliefs about demons and demonology. The text emerges from an exploration of the darker aspects of folklore, myths, culture, and religion, covering major issues, people, and events in a historical and phenomenological perspective. Its over 400 A-to-Z entries cover topics such as demons in different cultures and religious traditions, possession, exorcism, and demon types. With cross-references, brief bibliographies at the end of a major treatment of a topic, a general bibliography, a general index, and 80 black-and-white images, the work strives to be seen as scholarly, and much research has been done to bring it to life. Still, the inclusion of specific indexes—a name index, a chronological index of events, and an index listing demons alphabetically—as well as a glossary would have boosted its reference value. BOTTOM LINE Clear, concise, and balanced, this will attract a range of nonscholarly audiences, especially those interested in the occult, paranormal, folklore, myths, and religion. A solid addition to public libraries.—Marianne E. Giltrud, Catholic Univ. of America Libs., Washington, DC
