Books by Gary R. Varner

An illustrated analysis of the mysterious cup-marked stones found around the world from Russia to California, Great Britain, Sardenia and Ethiopia. These ancient cup-marked stones have been created since the dawn of time. They appear on every continent and have almost identical characteristics. With so many of them still in existence and so many people aware of them one would think that current day archaeologists would know what they are-what they meant to ancient man. The sad fact is current science doesn't have anything more than theory, assumption and guess to go on. Were they used for healing? Did they signify the burial of great teachers, warriors and leaders? Were they used as star maps?

Faeries, trolls, goblins--are these simply creatures of age old stories or are they much more? Legends of these Little People are universal across time, geography and cultures. Are the origins of these stories connected to a real race of tiny humans such as those found on the Indonesian island of Flores or to some other ancient and unknown cause? Sightings of these creatures continue to be reported in our modern time from Europe and Russia to North Carolina and California. Are these reports the result of mis-identification or hallucination or are we in fact sharing the world with a number of beings from a lost age? The Folklore of Faeries, Elves & Little People - A Study of a Cultural Phenomenon looks cross-culturally at the history and folklore of these creatures as well as current areas said to be frequented or inhabited by them and gives possible explanations for the continued belief in their existence. Illustrated

One of the most ancient nations in the world, Ethiopia is a magnificent and diverse society attempting to hold on to its traditional ways in an ever changing world. The first nation to accept Christianity in the 4th century, indigenous religions and practices have been able to survive in a symbiotic relationship with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church mixing pagan beliefs and ways with the dominate Christian religion. Today, however, due to the missionary efforts of both the Evangelical Christian and Muslim factions only a small percentage of Ethiopian peoples still observe their traditional ways and beliefs. The Evil Eye and spirit possession continue to exist across the Ethiopian scene in a fascinating mixture of the ancient and modern worlds.

The symbols and strange images that we find in our cemeteries, religious structures, banks and in our parks are the same symbols that have been part of the framework of the human psyche for thousands of years. While contemporary man may think that they are simply decorative manifestations of a by-gone era, they represent the fears, dreams, ideas, beliefs and struggles that humankind has endured since we began to walk upright. This book surveys many of these icons and will give a meaning for them both in the context of ancient history and folklore as well as a meaning that is suitable for our contemporary times. Illustrated with dozens of photographs, this book will be of interest to anyone interested in historic preservation, ancient symbolism, the Green Man and the universal application of imagery. Gary R. Varner has written numerous books on ancient traditions, folklore, the environment and contemporary issues. He is a member of the American Folklore Society and the Foundation for Mythological Studies.