The Best Werewolf Book Ever

[melannen]

What would you say is the Single Best Werewolf Novel Ever Written?

Feel free to rec even if you haven't read all that many; I haven't read that many either. Also: short stories, plays, poems, nonfiction, etc. are okay. I am not looking for TV, movies, or werewolf AU fanfic though.

But Dream's Library-style descriptions of the Best Werewolf Novel you wish had been written but haven't found yet are also okay. :D

Comments

[shanaqui]

Liar, by Justine Larbalestier. Mind you, I haven't read many others -- it's the only one that springs to mind.

[shanaqui]

Oh, and I do love Bisclavret, by Marie de France, but that's because I'm a geek and it's a Breton lai, and I've read queer theory stuff about it.

[foxfirefey]

For me it's a tossup between Liar and Benighted. I think Benighted is definitely the most unique werewolf take I've ever read, for sure.

[melannen]

Ooh, Benighted sounds interesting too. Thank you!

[melannen]

Huh, you know, I heard all sorts of stuff about Liar on the fannish grapevine when it first came out, but nobody mentioned it had werewolves...

And Bisclavret I did already know about, though I haven't read the actual lai. Is there a Modern English version you'd recommend?

[shanaqui]

Well, it's a bit complicated, with Liar. The title might give you an idea as to why...

I read it in the Penguin Classics version which translates all Marie de France's lais. I had a link to an online version at one point, but it seems to have vanished. If I can dig it up, I'll send you it.

[holyschist]

Not just the best, but the ONLY werewolf novel I have unequivocally liked, but...I think a lot of people think mentioning that werewolves (might) be involved is a spoiler (TBH, being "spoiled" on that front is the main reason I read it, and I didn't feel like it harmed my reading experience, although I otherwise consider it one of the few novels where going in mostly unaware actually makes a difference).