Encyclopedia Gothica: A Novel Hardcover – October 31, 2011

I liked how it was alphabetized, and also really appreciated the music "tree" in the back. Very cool and definitely took me back ! Thanks so much

I lay no claim to be a Goth, even an Elder Goth, but I do admit to being Goth-curious (don't know what those mean? That's why you need this book!) For those looking for a way to learn more about them without having to put on fishnet, striped tights or eyeliner, Liisa (that's how the book spells it, no matter what Amazon says...) Ladouceur gives almost 300 pages of definitions of all things Goth (not Gothic - an important difference, although she does mention the Visigoths and their Ostrogoth cousins in passing). The scope is world-wide, although outside the U.S. she devotes little space to anything besides the UK, Germany and Japan - isn't there a Goth scene in Russia by now? She also does so with a outrageous humor that is totally at odds with the usual media image as Goths as cheerless souls who hang around in dark corners obsessing about the sadness of life. There is even a subset called Perky Goths, Liisa informs us, who wear pink and are relentlessly cheerful (the black-clad corner lurkers, she says, are a subset known as Mopey Goths). There are also Trad Goths (who don't believe anything Gothic post-dates 1990), Cyber Goths (who are obsessed with technology, natch) and Faerie Goths (usually found chilling out at Renaissance Fairs), and so on. The book also gives a pretty good fast summary of the "progressive music" scene from the beginnings of punk to more-or-less the present, although obviously she concentrates on the groups of most interest to Goths. The book's one drawback is that it was complete up to 2011, when it was published - nothing changes faster that popular culture, and by 2014 it is in need of an update!

To distill an entire subculture into one book isn't any easy task. In the case of "Encyclopedia Gothica," it's even harder as Goths are constantly asking the question "What is Goth ?" and reinventing the definition. Surely, there will be at least one Goth who reads this book and exclaims "They included Band X ?! They're not Goth !" or "Why wasn't Band Y included ? They're G.A.F.!" (Exclamation #2 was my refrain when I discovered that the band This Ascension was missing an entry. By the way, if you don't know what G.A.F. is, you need this book.)Nevertheless, the author does an admirable job of including the right stuff and leaving out the superfluous. Enduring Goth stuff and stuff that Goths have loved forever (Sisters of Mercy; Kambriel, the fashion designer; Hammer Horror films; Snakebite cocktails, etc.) are included while flash-in-the-pan micro-trends and the promising-but-too-new are not. (Sorry, Coilhouse magazine.)What elevates Encyclopedia Gothica above other reference works are the wry opinions of the author. With typical Goth snarkiness, what could have been a dry reference work becomes much more entertaining, even if you don't agree with the author's viewpoints. (Personally, I didn't think Winona Ryder was all that bad in "Bram Stoker's Dracula," although she was upstaged by Sadie Frost. )In any case, Encyclopedia Gothica, in short order, has earned a place on my bookshelf right next to my copies of Baudelaire's "Flowers of Evil" and Voltaire's "What Is Goth ?" and "Paint It Black: The Guide To Gothic Homemaking." All dark hearts should get a copy. . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have been a fan of Gothic music since 1987 and apparently the author is close to my age so we have experienced many of the same things as far as Goth goes. Most of the stuff in the book was nothing new to me but the author wrote in such a witty way it was still very enjoyable. However, there were some things that she covered that had somehow bypassed me over the long years of enjoying this wonderful subculture. Most of it was in regards to Goth fashion retailers and companies out there that sell clothing for Goths. However, being a Rivethead, I am not really that huge into fashion anyway. There were a few things that were annoying about her viewpoints but everyone has an opinion and she warns the reader in the introduction that she would not be totally seriously and would be inserting her own opinion on the topics that she writes about. This would be a great introduction for anyone new to the world of Goth.

I purchased this and was amazed how much information was in it. The author compiled a good collection of Goth things - the best part of the book was the music map in the back that puts the Goth bands into special family trees.

This is a beautifully presented, lovingly-written account of the who's who, what's what, origins, and history of the Gothic arts. Less "Goth for Dummies" than a well-organized and comprehensive guide to the wonderfully dark underworld by one who has obviously lived it. The lovely cover art makes this a great (Halloween) gift for your favourite night person. It would fell right at home on the shelf amongst the Poppy Z. Brite and Ann Rice or displayed on the mantle or coffee table.

Love this book it’s one of my fives it’s hard to sit and read since it’s like a dictionary but it’s so informative. Book looked bad at first till you realize it was printed to look that way for astetic

Amazing book, I loved it!! I’m a fast reader so as soon as I got it I started reading and finished it in 1 day!! I’m very pleased with the book it has amazing artwork. I 100% recommend!

Alphabetisch geordnet sind alle Begriffe, die man in der Schwarzen Szene braucht. Hintergrund-Informationen, Filme, Musiker und allgemein ALLES, was dazu beigetragen hat, diese Subkultur zu etablieren.

If you love the dark things in life or love someone who does, you need this book. This work of gothic genius distills elements of a complex subculture that revels in escaping definition and pins it to the wall like a Victorian bug with a pin....It does what it says on the cover- this is an encyclopedia, traditionally arranged as an A-Z of elements of the Gothic and the gothic. And if you don't know the distinction, its further proof you need to buy this- so there!Liisa Ladouceur has done a superb job, blending facts, wit, sarcastic wryness and genuine education into one beautiful bundle. I am so glad I have this book. Part of the joy is reading what another lover of the genre/scene makes of things you adore or detest. Part of the excitement is finding new things to collect or be mesmerized by, exclaiming in delight over new finds- and I think Ms Ladouceur has done such a great job, I am confident almost all of you (yes, even YOU, you Gother-Than-Thou, lurking at the back) will find something new.The writing style treads that wonderful line between deeply erudite scholar and snarky whippersnapper. One can imagine the author skipping in perky-goth style, freely from one side of the line to the other with an almost audible clicking of pointed button boot heels in delight.Beautifully written, cleverly constructed, dizzyingly and totally cross referenced, this was one of the best books I've read this year and one I will keep on hand to dip into again and again. It is, in my opinion, richer, more genuine, more accessible and more authentic than the critically acclaimed yet dry 'Goth Bible' by Nancy Kilpatrick. It is more scholarly than the entertaining and heart warming intro to Goth for babybats that is Jillian Venters 'Gothic Charm School'. Both of these are also good reads though for those interested in the culture, along with 'Goth Chic' by Gavin Baddeley. If this a subject you wish to know more about I recommend all of them. But Ladouceur's book, in my opinion tops them all, covering history, music, literature, clothing, lifestyle, humour- all pervaded with a sublime G.A.F anti-authority (check page 114). If you only buy one book in this vein, make it this one.One final note on the production values for this little gem- the cover is lovely; the typeface gorgeously in keeping, the illustrations by Gary Pullin nothing short of sublime. His aged pen and ink drawings of typical and novel gothic elements add to the already impressive whole and are worthy of considered adulation. To top it all, the pages are all rich, quality paper with aged ragged cut edges that add a beautiful feel and are totally in keeping with the aesthetic sensibilities of the subject matter. Well done ECW press- this is as gorgeous without as it is within. Don't you DARE go cybergoth and buy the kindle version!!Thank you Ms Ladouceur. This is a wonderful gift to the genre. For those interested to know more, both Lissa Ladouceur and Jillian Venters are a snarky, dark delight on twitter. Recommended wholeheartedly.

Kann ich wirklich keinem empfehlen. Das ist ein Haufen nutzloser Informationen, stumpf aneinandergereiht. Nichts, was man nicht so schon wüsste. Dann lieber das Geld für die Sisters Of Mercy rereleases ausgeben!

The design, the pictures, the way of writing is exiting!! This book let the Goths from other countries to feel like American)

This was great