Book-footed vampire?

November 7, 2008 9:39 PM

Where did I read about a book footed vampire?

When I was very young, I often read short horror anthologies for children, and about vampire legends from around the world. I distinctly remember one account of a vampire with books for feet that sucked blood out of people's toes.

Googling "book-footed" doesn't seem to help very much, nor do the other searches I can think of. Maybe this was just a crazy dream I've carried over as a real memory? It's certainly an absurd image to base a legend around...

posted by brownbat to society & culture (3 comments total)

I poked around a bit and found

Owenga/Oweng/Ovengua: (Guinea) Had books for feet and became a vampire by sucking the thumb of a sleeping person.

Close, eh? And the Goth Bible mentions a book-footed Asanbosam, in the company of other illustrious vampires like the cruel Bavarian Nachehrer who ties cows' tails together!
posted by moonmilk at 9:50 PM on November 7, 2008

But wait - other references say the asanbosam has HOOKS for feet. (And bites people on the thumb.) Maybe that makes a little more sense!
posted by moonmilk at 12:12 PM on November 8, 2008

You are my hero.
posted by brownbat at 1:24 PM on November 13, 2008