History OurWerewolvesAreDifferent / Literature

* ''Literature/TheHowling1977'': According to Inez Polk, a person can become a werewolf if they make a deal with the Devil, by inheriting it genetically or, in rare cases, being bitten by a werewolf and surviving. Inez also states that unlike vampires, werewolves aren't undead but are just as alive as humans and have similar lifespans. In their wolf forms they resemble unusually large wolves[[note]]this [[AdaptationDeviation differs]] from the better-known [[Film/TheHowling1981 film adaptation]], which popularised the depiction of bipedal werewolves[[/note]] and they retain their sapience (albeit with [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody their more primal instincts taking over]]). As wolves, they are preternaturally strong and resilient, being able to heal from almost any injury in days or even hours. The only things that can deal fatal injuries to them are fire and silver. Unlike in Hollywood movies, the full moon has no influence on werewolf transformations; they can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turn at will]] [[NighttimeTransformation after night falls]].

* In ''Literature/TheSanguineChronicles'', werewolves can shift at any time, but they ''have'' to shift on the full moon. Their emotions are affected by the Moon -- on the full moon, they go completely feral. InUniverse, Marko is ''very'' different -- he's the only werewolf/vampire hybrid he's ever heard about (for all intents and purposes, he should not exist).

* The werewolves in ''Literature/BloodAndChocolate'' are of the genetic variety and can only breed with other werewolves. They turn into something like a dire wolf, but Vivian notes they had only adopted wolf as a convenient term and are truly known as the Loup-Garoux. They can transform at will, but transform involuntarily at the full moon, and are weak to silver in any form. They keep their minds when transformed, however, and are expressly forbidden to be seen by or kill humans, in order to maintain the {{Masquerade}}. They live in packs, with males fighting to be alpha, and females fighting to be the alpha's mate.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', lycanthropy is transmitted by bites, and results in uncontrolled transformations during a full moon. Werewolves are discriminated against by the Wizarding society despite their relative innocence. They are dangerous to humans, but not to other animals (or Animagi). [[ThereIsNoCure No cure exists]], but a Wolfsbane Potion allows them to keep control of their minds during the transformation. Good werewolf Remus Lupin takes the Wolfsbane potion to keep his, whereas the evil Fenrir Greyback doesn't care as he is bloodthirsty as a human anyway. It should also be noted that werewolves are only created when bitten by another werewolf while in wolf form. If bitten by a werewolf in human form, they may garner a few traits (a desire for bloody meat, a temper issue, etc.), but will not actually become a werewolf. In the books werewolves are Dire Wolves, with only a few superficial differences between them and real wolves. In [[Film/HarryPotter the movies]], they are {{Wolf M|an}}en that look more like were-chihuahuas than wolves. Silver won't harm a werewolf any more than anything else would, but it's indispensable for treating werewolf-inflicted bites when powdered and mixed with dittany. While it can't cure lycanthropy, the mixture allows victims to survive what would otherwise be almost assuredly fatal bites by cleaning and closing the wound when applied promptly, although many wizards would rather die than survive and suffer from the discrimination and fear directed at them.

* In Peter David's ''Howling Mad'', the main character is a wolf who is bitten by a werewolf, which causes the wolf to [[spoiler:become a human during the full moon]].

* The ''Literature/{{Belgariad}}'' has Poledra, who turns out to be a ''natural'' wolf able to shapeshift into a human, a trick she learns from patiently watching sorcerors. Belgarath meets her after he tries his hand at shapeshifting (in the early days of magic, when the sorcerors had to find out everything by themselves), and after they eventually marry, Belgarath spends a lot of his time in wolf form and starts to consider it as natural as his human form. Belgarion, the series' main character, has the time of his life when he gets invited by Poledra to try it too.

* In ''Literature/Twisted2010'', Rodney turns into an anthropomorphic, dragon-like living roller coaster under the full Moon and exhibits the usual lycanthropic like craving human flesh and even howling. Later on, he gets his roller coaster form more under control, but is still subject to rages and is forced to assume coaster form under the full Moon.

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'':

* In ''Literature/{{Twisted}}'', Rodney turns into an anthropomorphic, dragon-like living roller coaster under the full Moon and exhibits the usual lycanthropic like craving human flesh and even howling. Later on, he gets his roller coaster form more under control, but is still subject to rages and is forced to assume coaster form under the full Moon.

** Delphine Angua von {{Uberwald}} of the City Watch can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting transform into a wolf at will]] but is [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting unable to prevent herself from changing]] during a full moon. Creator/TerryPratchett delves much deeper into the psychology of the werewolf than most writers, describing what the world looks like to a creature that uses smell as its primary sense, and also developing a cultural {{Backstory}} for the werewolves, such as the term "yennork" being used to describe a werewolf that cannot change shape (and is therefore trapped in the body of either a wolf or a human) but is born to werewolf parents. The "smell as its primary sense" has to be reinterpreted by the werewolf when in human form; it is presented as synesthesia, with scent data being reinterpreted in terms of colours and sounds.
** Angua's type of lycanthropy is hereditary (infection by bite is alluded to but never actually demonstrated [[spoiler:(in the books; it does happen in ''VideoGame/DiscworldNoir'', which Pratchett worked on)]]. Pure-bred werewolves change into a normal wolf (hybrids produce other forms). At least partial control is possible, although sometimes this takes some effort. Silver and fire are a werewolf's primary weaknesses; all other damage is temporary. During the involuntary moon-induced transformation there's an irresistible urge to eat meat, but enough control is maintained for the werewolf to choose which ''kind'' of meat is consumed. Angua, who's a vegetarian when she can help it, eats chickens (and always [[NobleShoplifter leaves behind payment for them, even when forced to steal them from out of the henhouse]]).

** ''Literature/ReaperMan'' features two interesting specimens. One (Mrs. Cake's daughter Ludmilla) is, for three weeks out of the month, a young woman; the other is, three weeks out of the month, pretty much just an intelligent wolf. That fourth week, though, they meet each other halfway, and it's implied that they begin a relationship.

** In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', werewolves are evil spirits transformed into the shape of giant, monstrous wolves. Sauron, who used to be infamous for his shapeshifting powers, was at one point known as the Lord of Werewolves and turned into one in order to fight the mystic wolfhound Huan after they killed the [[MonsterProgenitor father of werewolves]] Draugluin. Later Huan and the most terrible of Draugluin's offspring, Carcharoth, [[MutualKill kill each other]]. The Silmarillion also features some magical shapeshifting, which requires the skin of the monster to be imitated.

* ''Literature/SpiceAndWolf'': Holo is a [[InsistentTerminology wise]] Dire-sized wolf who inhabits wheat that can change into a young Wolf Girl. She needs either wheat or blood to transform from one form to another. She is a wolf-god who transforms voluntarily into a human form, however, not a human who becomes a wolf.

* In the ''Literature/{{Kane}}'' story "Reflections on the Winter of My Soul", second-rate astrologer Lystric states that there are three main types of werewolves: humans that can take wolf or semi-lupine form, demons that can take wolf form, wolves that can take human form (these being the most dangerous) and lead other wolves; as well as deluded humans who only believe they are wolves but do not shift form. The BigBad of the story is a type three werewolf. He pretends to be human really well, cannot be harmed by iron, only by silver or direct violence (like strangling or breaking neck), is inhumanly strong and agile, as well as very cunning, and leads a wolf pack against humans.

* In the works of Creator/JRRTolkien:

* In ''Literature/LoyalEnemies'', werewolves are "darklings", creatures which others consider foul, if not downright evil. Werewolves, in both wolf and human forms, have super-strength, super-reflexes, a superior sense of smell, can see in the dark and can speak human in their wolf form. There's mention of there being more than one species of werewolf, with "true werewolves" (including the protagonist, Shelena) being able to change shape any time they wants to, although it's slightly {{painful|Transformation}} and their bones are brittle like eggshells during the change. It's also [[TransformationHorror not a pretty sight]] and ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing. As Shelena explains, werewolves can mate with other werewolves, humans and wolves, but the first option is usually not even wished on one's enemy because the resulting offspring gnaws its way into the world, killing the mother. Mating with wolves is considered a degenerate thing to do for any self-respecting werewolf because it produces barely sentient predators that are neither werewolf not wolf, meaning that the only viable options of procreation are mating with humans or by bite, although apparently the latter doesn't always work.

* ''Literature/DanShambleZombiePI'': There are two breeds of werewolf that don't much like each other: one of "Hairballs" that permanently resemble the Wolfman, and the other of "Monthlies" that become wolf/human hybrids under the full moon. Both varieties' conditions are transmissible to normal humans via biting or scratching, including the trivial sorts suffered in accidents or romantic foreplay; despite this similarity, the third novel in the series is mainly about the rivalry between the two types over who the "real" werewolves are.

* In ''Literature/LoyalEnemies'', werewolves are "darklings", creatures which others consider foul, if not downright evil. Werewolves, in both wolf and human forms, have super strength, super reflexes, a superior sense of smell and can see in the dark and speak human in their wolf form. There's mention of there being more than one species of werewolf, with the "true werewolf", of which protagonist Shelena is one, being able to change shape any time it wants to, although it's slightly painful and during the change their bones are brittle like eggshells. It's also [[TransformationHorror not a pretty sight]] and ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing. As Shelena explains, werewolves can mate with other werewolves, humans and wolves, but the first option is usually not even wished on one's enemy because the resulting offspring gnaws its way into the world, killing the mother. Mating with wolves is considered a degenerate thing to do for any self-respecting werewolf because it produces barely sentient predators that are neither werewolf not wolf, meaning that the only viable options of procreation are mating with humans or by bite, although apparently the latter doesn't always work.

* Creator/SergeyLukyanenko can't seem to decide the nature of werewolves in his ''Literature/NightWatchSeries''. In some books, they're just as undead as vampires. In others, there's merely the Dark equivalent of Light shifter-mages. Full moon is sometimes mentioned to cause werewolves to go into a frenzy, but nothing of the sort is mentioned for Light shapeshifters. Later books (especially by other authors) introduce other types of [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent "were-beings"]], including were-snakes (a.k.a. nagas) and a were-smilodon (a.k.a. sabertooth cat). The latter is the only living example of one, as he was born during the last Ice Age and remembers hunting mammoths; now he works in the European Bureau of the Inquisition. While both vampires and werewolves are considered to be the lowest in the Dark hierarchy, vampires can gain a measure of status and respect by becoming Higher Vampires. This either involves fully draining several dozen humans or drinking a special blood cocktail invented by a young vampire. Werewolves don't have a "Higher" status and always remain low. The above-mentioned were-smilodon is a rare aversion due to his extreme age (at least 12,000 years) and experience.

* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': The Wargs of this series are [[MixAndMatchCritters Chimera who mix human features with that of canines in general, and wolves in especial]]. Of all of the Chimera, they are the most feared. They cannot infect you, ''[[ChildByRape but they can get you pregnant]].''

* Petronius's ''Satyricon'' contains a story told about a werewolf who is a wizard, able to transform his clothing into stone and back (so that it remains undamaged while he's changed) and changing fully into a wolf at will. He does not have any kind of accelerated healing and retains his wounds when he changes back (so that a pike through the neck as a wolf becomes a grievous wound that requires a surgeon's attention as a human). (Incidentally, this segment is also well-known to Latin scholars for containing the ''hapax legomenon'' "''circumminxit''", describing the method for transforming his clothes to stone - he ''pisses in a circle around'' them).

** There are also the Wargs in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''; giant evil wolves that are sentient, have a language of their own and are allies of the Orcs, even being ridden by them. It's unclear if they're actually related to the werewolves, but some fans have speculated that they're the result of werewolves mating with ordinary wolves. At one point, Gandalf specifies that the attacking Wargs are werewolves. He says this in Elvish.

* In ''Literature/WarriorWolfWomenOfTheWasteland'', lycanthropy refers to a genetic condition shared by all the women in [=McDonaldland=], whereby every time they have sex, they change a little bit more into wolves, both physically and in their mannerisms and instincts, and as they change their sex drive only increases. This condition is not reversible, and ThereIsNoCure. As such, sex for women is restricted to within marriage, only for procreation, and is only allowed with a special license issue by the government. Once their changes become too obvious, the wolf-women are exiled into the Wasteland outside of [=McDonaldland=]. Eventually, the women transform into savage dire wolves.
* In ''Warwolf: The Centurion Warrior Book 1: The Warriors'',[[note]]The book apparently had a very small print run and is almost impossible to find, but it does have a listing in the Library of Congress -- so at least one or two copies are located there -- and a copyright number dating its publication[[/note]] the werewolf is a species within a ''species'', as the term "lycanthrope" is a blanket term here (There's mentions of [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent werecats and even a werecobra]] in one or two chapters.) The werewolves here have multiple forms that range from human to Man-wolf to full wolf, though of a much larger size than is normal, while other lycanthropes seem to have a similar set of forms. These werewolves have their own language, can also speak human languages and are part of a secret worldwide empire of various Lycanthropes that seem to encompass nearly every animal species known. No indication is given for whether they are human at the start and then change at some point in their youth or the other way around, but the main character is stated as being able to transform from the age of twelve on up at the very least and is roughly seventeen at the time of the story. According to a note at the start of the book from the [[WordOfGod author]], he wanted to create an entirely new kind of werewolf/shapeshifting world where werewolves aren't just painted as mindless monsters when they transform, so he created this book as the start of a series that came to him at some point. The eponymous character, [[MeaningfulName Warwolf]], is something of a [[GentleGiant Friendly Giant]] when not in combat and appears to be best friends with another werewolf who is definitely a DeadpanSnarker if ever there was one. This book indicates the creatures have abnormally long lifespans (One character is over a hundred years old and is expected to live at least to see two hundred), and also lists silver as a weakness for the creatures... but paradoxically some of the lycanthropes use them as part of the construction of their ''own weapons''. Warwolf is shown displaying superhuman strength, which may be an indicator that the other werewolves and assorted lycanthropes share this trait. Warwolf and his three companions are also shown to display superhuman senses. Whether or not anyone else in this society does also is unknown. Warwolf and his friends also appear to have been raised in a partially warrior-toned society before making the trek to Rome to attempt a slow attempt to get humans used to their existence to being an attempt an inter-species reunification, and it is indicated that werewolves are the most well-known type of lycanthrope and are the most feared despite the fact that they are not savage, mindless killers and can change at will, and the other lycanthropes in the book share this ability to transform at will as well. The book itself seems to be intended as a set-up to a situation apparently intended to show up in the second book, best summed up as ''werewolves vs. demons''.

* ''[=WerewolveSS=]'' by Jerry and Sharon Ahern starts off with the standard Man-Wolf or Wolf-Man bipedal death machines that change under the full moon. Given time and [[StupidJetpackHitler Nazi science]] (thus the SS in the title), the remnants of project Werewolf determine that, by using specific types of music, werewolves and their shape-shifting abilities can be controlled. This results in the neo-Nazis running about infecting people with lycanthropy and then using loudspeakers to play Wagner operas that turn them into a [[{{Ghostapo}} goose-stepping werewolf army]].

* In ''Literature/TheWolfGift'', werewolves call themselves Morphenkinder and change every night, unrelated to the phase of the moon, although they can learn to control the change with time. It is passed along by bite and results in a Man-Wolf form, and is in fact called the same in-story. Morphenkinder are attracted to evil people and driven to destroy them. Silver has no particular effect on them, and they can be killed by normal weapons, but it takes a ''lot'' of damage delivered in a short period of time or they heal it. Even in human form their senses of hearing and smell are very sharp but increase in the Man Wolf form.

* The wolves in ''Literature/WolvesOfMercyFallsSeries'' receive their ability when they are bitten by a person already infected with the werewolf disease. Unlike traditional werewolves, they turn into wolves only during the winter; in warm weather they are normal human beings. The older they get however, the longer they stay wolves, until finally one summer they don't change back at all. And they can't just move south; if they do, they only become more sensitive to temperature change, to the point where even the slightest change in temperature can cause them to shift. The first book ''Shiver'' is about a boy and a girl who try to find a way to fight this. [[spoiler:In the sequel ''Linger'', we find out that the cure from the first book might not be a cure at all -- and that the reason they change into wolves might have more to do with brain chemistry than the weather.]]

* The titular creatures from ''Literature/{{Wolfen}}'' are not shapeshifters, but rather a freak evolutionary offshoot which is never fully explained. Though they don't swap forms, they have developed [[HumanlikeHandAnatomy fully articulated paws that act like hands]] along with human-level intellect (operating in a feral, instinctive manner), making them man-wolves of sorts. Although there isn't any supernatural element to them, the Wolfen are quite frightening, being clever enough to understand human speech, operate mechanical devices, evaluate the threat of guns and feed on us [[HiddenInPlainSight right in our midst]], having remained unseen long enough for mankind to dismissed them as fairy tales, or simply forget them altogether. Inside the text itself, one of the present-day characters (and a to him historical source) believe that the wolfen themselves are the real animal behind stories of the werewolf -- however, this is never confirmed beyond their theories.

* 100% Wolf has werewolves coming in two different types. The Fangen, who are capable of transformation, and the Weren, who are born from werewolves but don't have the transformation ability due to being mostly human. Fangen don't get the ability to transform until their one hundred-and-twenty first month (ten years and one month). The main focus of the book is that the protagonist's first transformation doesn't go well as it turns out he's a were-''poodle'' instead ([[spoiler:Strongly implied to be due to his mother getting bitten by a poodle while pregnant]]).

* In the children's book series ''Literature/AlfieTheWerewolf'', the main character becomes a werewolf because it runs in his family, but skips a generation (his grandfather is also a werewolf, but his parents are not). They can however turn other people into werewolves by biting them, and the 13th book introduces special belts which can temporarily turn people into werewolves. Werewolves in these books can both walk on four legs like a normal wolf or on two like a Wolf Man. They are not bloodthirsty monsters but most of the time retain their human minds and ability to speak, although sometimes they can get so-called werewolf hunger, which they can solve by eating meat. While young werewolves only transform during the full moon, older werewolves like Alfie's grandfather can stay in wolf form all the time.

* Laurell K. Hamilton's ''[[Literature/AnitaBlake Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter]]''. The series includes some werewolves, including one of Anita's LoveInterests, Richard. In her world, there's a ''vaccine'' for the infection; Richard caught Lycanthropy from a bad batch of the serum. Anita herself is currently a carrier (which should be impossible) for multiple strains (which should also be impossible) of the virus.\\
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The books also contain: wereleopards, werelions, weretigers ([[spoiler:including blue, red and black tigers in the recent books]]), at least 3 weredogs (their abilities are inherited not infection), weresnakes (at lest 2 species cobra and anaconda), swanmen (some are cursed others inherit their abilities like the weredogs), wererats, werebears, werehyenas and a lamia which is an immortal shapeshifter. Lastly there is Chimera, [[spoiler:a pan-were than can shape shift in to six animal forms (each with a different crazy personality)]]. And then she has [[ReallyGetsAround sex with]] [[AnythingThatMoves all of them]].

* John Hodgman's ''Literature/TheAreasOfMyExpertise'' includes handy lycanthropic transformation timetables, showing how and when different kinds of werewolves transform, and how to stop them, during each phase of the moon.

* ''Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy'' heavily implies, and then outright states, that the police of the oppressive magical regime that rules the AlternateUniverse [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire British Empire]] are werewolves. Werewolves are the result of exposing humans to transformation spells invented in ancient times. They can transform at will from human form to a giant wolf and [[SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism anything in between]]. They are stronger, larger and hardier than humans, but extremely vulnerable to silver and specialised forms of magic, and seem to be fairly simple-minded. Their human forms are noticeably tall and bulky, and they seem to be predominately male. It is apparently possible to be a werewolf and a magician, but only one example has been seen. They can be killed by mundane means, however. One dies from leaping out of a high-up window.

* In Creator/MarieDeFrance's ''lai'' ''Literature/{{Bisclavret}}'' from the 12th century, Bisclavret (for unknown reasons) must transform into a wolf every week. His wife steals his clothing, without which he can't change back, but one day, the king his friend goes hunting in the woods. Bisclavret jumps at him and paws his foot like a petitioner, and the king, impressed, grants the wolf his life. Then Bisclavret goes with the hunting party and stays at court. Everyone is so impressed by his nobility and gentleness that when his wife and her new husband appear at court, and he attacks them, the king concludes that they must have wronged the wolf and imprisons them until they confess. With his clothing back, Bisclavret can return to human form. Similarly, in a ''lai'' featuring Myth/KingArthur, ''Melion'', the wife actively transforms the husband into a wolf, but he again takes refuge in court and attacks his wife there, leading to his transformation back.

* ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'' mentions a few, but in action participates only Forvalaka -- were-leopards. [[TheUndead Undead]] were-leopards. Vicious, superhumanly fast and almost unkillable.

* The werewolves in ''Literature/{{Blood and Chocolate}}'' (which was also adapted into a 2007 film of the same name) are of the genetic variety, and can only breed with other werewolves. They turn into something like a dire wolf, but Vivian notes they had only adopted wolf as a convenient term, and are truly known as the Loup-Garoux. They can transform at will, but transform involuntarily at the full moon, and are weak to silver in any form. They keep their minds when transformed, however, and are expressly forbidden to be seen by or kill humans, in order to maintain the {{Masquerade}}. They live in packs, with males fighting to be alpha, and females fighting to be the alpha's mate.

* In Tanya Huff's ''Literature/BloodBooks'', specifically ''Blood Trail'', we meet a family of werewolves. Like real wolves, they are an extended family group who live on a well-defined territory, in this case the family farm. Their canid form resembles a large mixed-breed dog more than a pure wolf. They can transform at will, and tend to wear minimal clothing which can be shucked off at the drop of a hat (any hat), and have thus gained a reputation among neighbors a secret nudists. The book does an excellent job of giving them many psychological traits which match canid behavior, and the series's regular protagonists at times find it quite frustrating trying to get them to even temporarily give up their canid behaviors, even when their lives depend on it. They don't transmit lycanthropy through bites either. Henry explains to Vicki that humans turning into werewolves is a myth; if a werewolf bites a person, they'll bleed, but they won't turn into a werewolf themselves.

* ''Literature/BloodRed'' has two different types of werewolf show up, and refers to two others. All of them are apparently vulnerable to silver and wolfsbane.

** Members of the werewolf bloodlines gain the ability to turn into wolves after they're weaned. They retain the same body mass whether wolf or human (youngsters turn into wolf cubs), their human intellect, and normal strength. If they spend too long in wolf form, they can lose themselves in the wolf's instincts. Their change is completely voluntary, and can take place at any time as long as the werewolf isn't in sunlight. They have supernatural healing (which includes healing diseases), but only when in wolf form. Their bite does ''not'' create other werewolves.

* The protagonist in Will Shetterly's UrbanFantasy novel ''Elsewhere'' (part of the ''Literature/{{Bordertown}}'' SharedUniverse) calls an [[OurElvesAreDifferent elf]] an "Elflands bitch". She tries to turn him into a dog, but magic in Bordertown is unreliable, and he becomes a wolf man, with hair, wolf ears, and a snout that makes it impossible for him to speak.

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': In ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'', one of the two creatures to tempt Caspian to summon back the White Witch is a werewolf. Apparently it is not contagious, as it bites Caspian without transmitting its condition to him.

* In P.C. Hodgell's ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'' series, the Wolvers are inverse werewolves; they are wolves that can transform into human form. Their young cannot achieve the transformation until they reach a certain point in their development. As humans, they are still quite hairy.

* The MonsterMash neo-noir ''Literature/CityOfDevils'' and its sequels, ''Literature/FiftyFeetOfTrouble'' and ''Literature/WolfmanConfidential'' feature both werewolves (turn into large wolves) and wolfmen (who look like Lon Chaney, Jr.). Each side has a long-standing feud that manifests in their chosen career paths. Both do law-enforcement, but the werewolves work for the Sheriff's Department, while the wolfmen are regular cops.

* In Creator/AnthonyBoucher's short story "The Compleat Werewolf" certain people possessed the ability to turn into werebeasts of various species anytime they wanted by saying a magic word[[note]]simply called The Word by the author, presumably because he doesn't want to reveal it to the reader[[/note]]. You could only ever turn into one type of beast, which may or may not be practical (were-diplodocus, anybody?) and kept your human intelligence but, being incapable of speech, had to somehow get somebody else to say the magic change-back word (which was "absarka") in order to change back. And when you did, you were naked.

* Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/CycleOfTheWerewolf'' has a more traditional, man-wolf, changes-with-the-moon type. Oddly enough the victim has no idea how he started involuntarily shapeshifting, and initially not even that it is happening. He does remember picking strange flowers in a graveyard before he started having blackouts, which is one of the less known/used methods of lycanthropic infection. Even if he never realized it, readers probably picked it up as a red flag anyway.

* ''Literature/DanShambleZombiePI'' plays with this trope. There are two breeds of werewolf that don't much like each other: one of "Hairballs" that permanently resemble the Wolfman, and the other of "Monthlies" that become wolf/human hybrids under the full moon. Both varieties' conditions are transmissible to normal humans via biting or scratching, including the trivial sorts suffered in accidents or romantic foreplay; despite this similarity, the third novel in the series is mainly about the rivalry between the two types over who the "real" werewolves are.

* The Arcadian and Katagarian wolf branches of the Were Hunters in ''Literature/TheDarkHunters'' series can change between wolf and human easily and painlessly when conscious and alert. The Arcadians are humans who turn in to an animal and the Katagarians are animals who can take a human form. If injured badly or shocked with electricity they lose control of their shifting. When injured or asleep they change into their base form (human/animal) and when shocked they might shift uncontrollably for a few hours. Electricity is also used to trap a Were Hunter in one form permanently.

* In Creator/DevonMonk's ''Literature/DeadIron'', Cedar, under a {{curse}}, changes by the full moon and loses his mind, requiring him to chain himself. He pays quite dearly for a collar that lets him keep his right mind. [[spoiler:Later we learn his brother Wil is still alive and also under a curse, but while Cedar only changes during the full moon, Wil is permanently a wolf, and fortunately, can control himself all the time when not actively bespelled by [=LeFel=].]]

* In the ''Literature/{{Department 19}}'' series, [[spoiler:FrankensteinsMonster]], of all things, becomes a werewolf after getting attacked by one at the end of the first novel.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels:
** Delphine Angua von {{Uberwald}} from Creator/TerryPratchett's "City Watch" series. Angua can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting transform into a wolf at will]], but is [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting unable to prevent herself from changing]] during a full moon. Pratchett delves much deeper into the psychology of the werewolf than most writers, describing what the world looks like to a creature that uses smell as its primary sense, and also developing a cultural {{backstory}} for the werewolves, such as the term "yennork" being used to describe a werewolf that cannot change shape (and is therefore trapped in the body of either a wolf or a human) but is born to werewolf parents. The "smell as its primary sense" has to be reinterpreted by the werewolf when in human form; it is presented as synesthesia, with scent data being reinterpreted in terms of colours and sounds.\\
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Angua's type of lycanthropy is hereditary (infection by bite is alluded to but never actually demonstrated[[spoiler:in the books; it does happen in ''VideoGame/DiscworldNoir'', which Pratchett worked on]]). Pure-bred werewolves change into a normal wolf (hybrids produce other forms). At least partial control is possible, although sometimes this takes some effort. Silver and fire are a werewolf's primary weaknesses; all other damage is temporary. During the involuntary moon-induced transformation there's an irresistible urge to eat meat, but enough control is maintained for the werewolf to choose which ''kind'' of meat is consumed. Angua, who's a vegetarian when she can help it, eats chickens (and always [[NobleShoplifter leaves behind payment for them, even when forced to steal them from out of the henhouse]]).
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Werewolves are generally referred to as undead. Despite uncertainty as to whether they truly should be categorized along with zombies and vampires the consensus seems to be "they're big and scary, they come from Überwald, and if you stab them with a sword they don't die. What more do you want?" Angua and her family also act rather dog-like; they don't like the B.A.T.H. word or hearing "Vet"--Vimes at one point deliberately pauses saying Lord Vetinari's name just to mess with them--and at one point Angua laments the difficulty of walking past lamp posts without... well, you know. She also kept squeezing a dog's squeaky toy during a conversation and after she left, had to consciously come back to put it down. This is discussed in the books as a logical progression: Dogs are, essentially, wolves that were given human traits. Werewolves are wolves that are partly human. Her first few books refer to Angua's "wolf" form looking more like a pedigree wolfhound than an actual wolf (her being able to pass as one was a major plot point in ''Jingo''), although this was abandoned by the time her family was introduced.
** ''Literature/ReaperMan'' features two interesting specimens. One (Mrs. Cake's daughter Ludmilla) is, for three weeks out of the month, a young woman; the other is, three weeks out of the month, pretty much just an intelligent wolf. That fourth week, though, they meet each other half way, and it's implied they begin a relationship.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has four varieties. All four are presented in ''Literature/FoolMoon'', and Harry has to figure out which one is at large in Chicago. (It's [[spoiler:all four at once[[note]] there's dirty-cop hexenwolves, who are framing both a loup-garou and a lycanthrope biker gang, plus a good-guy werewolf pack[[/note]]]].) Together the four types cover most of the range of possibilities. None are contagious, however, as [[MrExposition Bob]] is at pains to point out.
-->"Would you get off this 'bitten and turn into a werewolf' kick, Harry?" Bob said. "It doesn't work that way. Not ever. Or you'd have werewolves overrunning the entire planet in a couple of years."
** The ''werewolf'' (as a technical term) is just a human who can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting transform into a normal wolf at will]]. They undergo no mental changes (and thus must learn how to live like a wolf), have no linkage to the Moon, and gain no special invulnerabilities. It is a learned ability, somewhat like [[MasterOfOneMagic becoming a wizard who knows only two spells, but knows those two]] ''[[MasterOfOneMagic really well]]''. Humans [[BalefulPolymorph transformed into wolves]] by ''someone else's'' magic are mentioned as a related subversion, and one that violates one of the Laws of Magic, because a person transformed in this way will, over time, lose their human mind and become no different than any normal, non-magic wolf, which is at that point considered to be murder. Aside from the ability to transform into a wolf and back, there's also one other advantage to being able to change shape: [[HealingFactor using that magic to heal yourself quickly by rapidly shifting between forms]]. However, it is a very painful process.

* In Lisa Williams' ''Literature/FamilyBites'', lycanthropy is hereditary. Sophia Rivers thinks it can ''probably'' be transmitted as well, but no-one she knows has ever tried. The Rivers family, being easy-going and friendly werewolves, are described as looking like large friendly dogs in wolf form. They can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting change shape whenever they feel like it]], although they sometimes do it at full moon without meaning to. [[LampshadeHanging A bit of a lampshade is hung]] on this and OurVampiresAreDifferent; Sophia Rivers (werewolf) and Daniel Alfonz ([[{{Dhampyr}} half-vampire]]) look each other up in the mythology books, and are completely bewildered by what they find. Then they look themselves up and get even ''more'' bewildered.

* The ''Literature/FelixCastor'' series defines weres as what happens when a human ghost possesses an animal body. The ghost moves in and [[BodyHorror redecorates]]; first timers usually create something that looks like a hunter's worst nightmare, but those with experience can make the body look downright human. It usually maintains some animal qualities, however, and the were can shift back and forth at will. If the ghost is ever exorcised from the were body, it collapses utterly, and the ghost has to go back for another round.

* The ''Literature/FearStreet'' book ''Bad Moonlight'' has a band of werewolves that use hynotism to make the protagnist more susceptible to the moonlight, which turns her into a werewolf.

* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': Featured in the ''Hawk & Fisher'' spinoff series' book 1, they're humanoid when transformed, and can change at any time while the full moon is out. They're also filled with an uncontrollable killing rage during the full moon, and heal from any wound not inflicted by silver.

** In the book ''Literature/WerewolfSkin'', werewolves shed their skin during the daytime and can only resume their werewolf form if they put on their skin during the night. Burning the skin while it's unshed will kill the werewolf, while stopping the werewolf from putting on its skin for one night cures it. ''Literature/TheWerewolfOfFeverSwamp'' features a more traditional werewolf.
** ''The Werewolf's First Night'', a short story from ''Literature/MoreTalesToGiveYouGoosebumps'', has a boy believing that all the people at his camp are werewolves. [[spoiler: It turns out he's the werewolf, and it's the full moon...]]
** The werewolves in ''Literature/TheWerewolfInTheLivingRoom'' are given a special tooth necklage that has magical powers.

* In ''Literature/TheGraveyardBook'' by Creator/NeilGaiman, [[Literature/TheJungleBook the role of Baloo]] is taken by a no-nonsense Hound of God named Miss Lupescu, who uses the Baltic version of the myth. As a Hound of God Miss Lupescu, and apparently other werewolves, pursue evil and will run to the gates of hell, or beyond, to save the innocent. She transforms into a powerful wolf and is immune to injury except from silver. She's also apparently immortal.

* In the final ''Literature/TheGuardiansOfChildhood'' novel, "Jack Frost: The End Becomes the Beginning", Jack befriends a Transylvanian Werewolf King during his travels. Though they have a fearsome reputation, his pack has sworn to protect people from the forces of darkness, having chosen to view their condition as a gift from the Man in the Moon to destroy evil. They take part in the final battle against Pitch's forces.

* ''Literature/HalfUponATime'' gives us [[TalkingAnimal The Wolf King]], who can assume a human guise as he wishes.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', lycanthropy is transmitted by bites, and results in uncontrolled transformations during a full moon. Werewolves are discriminated against by the Wizarding society despite their relative innocence. They are dangerous to humans, but not to other animals (or Animagi). [[ThereIsNoCure No cure exists]], but a Wolfsbane Potion allows them to keep control of their minds during the transformation. Good werewolf [[Characters/HarryPotterHogwartsStaff Remus Lupin]] takes the Wolfsbane potion to keep his, whereas the evil [[Characters/HarryPotterDeathEaters Fenrir Greyback]] doesn't care as he is bloodthirsty as a human anyway. It should also be noted that werewolves are only created when bitten by another werewolf while in wolf form. If bitten by a werewolf in human form, they may garner a few traits (a desire for bloody meat, a temper issue, etc.), but will not actually become a werewolf. In the books werewolves are Dire Wolves, with only a few superficial differences between them and real wolves. In [[Film/HarryPotter the movies]] they are Wolf-Men that look more like Were-Chihuahuas than wolves.\\
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Silver won't harm a werewolf any more than anything else would, but it's indispensable for treating werewolf-inflicted bites when powdered and mixed with dittany. While it can't cure lycanthropy, the mixture allows victims to survive what would otherwise be almost assuredly fatal bites by cleaning and closing the wound when applied promptly, although many wizards would rather die than survive and suffer from the discrimination and fear directed at them.

* In the ''High Moor'' series of books, werewolves come in both bipedal and quadruped varieties. 'Moonstruck' werewolves turn into uncontrollable beasts when they transform, while normal werewolves have a greater degree of control, and retain their human intellect.

* Werewolves, or Weres, in ''Literature/TheHollows'' novels are a separate race that descended from the union of demons and female humans. They can change at will into full wolves, possess enhanced strength and senses even in human form and cannot infect other humans [[spoiler:without the help of a demonic curse]]. They are organized into packs which can vary from hardcore survivalists, a baseball team or a corporation. [[FurAgainstFang They are rivals of the vampires for influence and power.]]

* In the ''Literature/{{Howlers}}'' book series, Werewolves, also known as Lupus Sapiens are humans that turn into near-invisible man-wolves only vulnerable to silver. They can even transmit the condition through bites and scratches.

* In Peter David's ''Howling Mad'', the main character is a wolf who is bitten by a werewolf, which causes the wolf to [[spoiler:become a human during the full moon.]]

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' features "muttations" which are essentially hybridized animals. One type of muttation featured in the first book are a bloodthirsty, upright-walking cross between wolves and humans [[spoiler:(specifically the tributes who have already died in the 74th Hunger Games)]].

* In the ''Literature/InCryptid'' series, lycanthropy is not a species of cryptid. It is a cryptid mutation of rabies that can affect any mammal (Though mammals weighing less than 90 pounds or so invariably die from it before they can infect anything else). It has nothing to do with the full moon, and does not work like in the movies. It is a deadly disease and treated as deadly serious [[spoiler: even when it is discovered that those infected, after the first couple changes, return to human intelligence]]. Humans thus afflicted do not become "evil" as such, but do develop short tempers and more aggressive traits as a result of their DNA and body being rewritten to wolf. [[spoiler: Even if the humans afflicted can make provisions not to infect anyone else in their uncontrollable phase, the disease is still always fatal: mammal bodies were simply not made to be shapeshifted repeatedly, and the resultant strain on the heart and nervous system will eventually result in the victim's death]].

* Indigo from the ''Literature/{{Indigo}}'' series, although her shapeshifting ability seems to be tied to her friendship with a [[TalkingAnimal Telepathic]] [[NonHumanSidekick Wolf]].

* In Ty Rhine's online novel ''Literature/InstinctRising'', werewolves stay sane in all forms, and transform voluntarily. Their natural HealingFactor is tied to their shifting; the more wolflike they are, the faster they heal. The full moon transfers some energy and subtly affects their thinking, but doesn't affect shifting (although given how rough and rowdy werewolf full moon bashes can get, it's apparently a good idea to stay in werewolf form). While they are largely unaffected by alcohol and synthetic drugs, they are strongly affected by absinthe and herbal intoxicants.

* Creator/RykESpoor's ''Literature/JasonWood'': In ''Digital Knight'', werewolves are ''very'' different, particularly in that they're powerful enough that even "the Great Demons" wouldn't lightly defy the will of the Werewolf King Virigar. Also, they devour souls. The narrator's FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire friend tells him:
-->"Their strength is immense, their cunning formidable, and their ability to shift shape, though confined to a wolflike predator on the one hand, is unlimited in the human range; they can be anyone at all. They do not fear night or day, nor does the phase of the moon have any effect on them. They also have a talent similar to my own to charm and cloud other minds... There is nothing I have seen ... that I fear more than the Werewolf King."

* In Literature/{{Kane}} story "Reflections on the Winter of My Soul", second-rate astrologer Lystric states that there are three main types of werewolves: humans that can take wolf or semi-lupine form, demons that can take wolf form, wolves that can take human form (these being the most dangerous) and lead other wolves; as well as deluded humans who only believe they are wolves but do not shift form. The BigBad of the story is a type three werewolf. He pretends to be human really well, cannot be harmed by iron, only by silver or direct violence (like strangling or breaking neck), is inhumanly strong and agile, as well as very cunning, and leads a wolf pack against humans.

* The Literature/KittyNorville series by Carrie Vaughn focuses on a werewolf heroine ironically named...[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Kitty]]. This series is closer to earth than most werewolf stories in a lot of ways.
** Rather than being a WolfMan, werewolves when shapeshifted are different from natural wolf in only three respects: vulnerability to silver, a HealingFactor for anything else and generally increased strength and toughness, and the most obvious difference is a lack of ShapeshifterBaggage. A healthy adult wolf in RealLife weighs about 80 lbs. or so, so an adult male werewolf would be twice the size of a real wolf. Werewolves can be killed without silver, they can just survive more damage than a normal human and heal faster, but being gutted or at ground zero of an IED kills a werewolf perfectly well.

** The ThemeNaming trope is subverted or just averted; the protagonist herself has a punny NonIndicativeName purely by chance, and few if any of the many other werecreatures encountered in the series have any connection between their name and what they do.

** A lycanthrope's intelligence is generally reduced to that of his or her animal form when they change, although emotional attachments[=/=]associations (i.e. friends, kin, lovers, threats, the idiot that just shot them, etc.) carry over for good or for ill. They can be trained to perform very complex actions with effort, and the human personality exerts a similar influence to that of the wolf's instincts in human form.

* ''Literature/TheLegendOfAllWolves'': First, they view themselves as wolves who take the form of humans, not the other way around. For the most part they can shift at will, but the Iron (full) Moon makes them more wild: if they are "in skin" (human form) it makes them change to "wild" (wolf), and if they're wild then they become an æcewulf - a real wolf that can no longer change. They are a separate species than human (not capable of producing children with them), and prefer to be called "wolves" or "Pack" rather than "werewolves".

* In the ''Literature/LonelyWerewolfGirl'' books, werewolves are mainly vulnerable only to silver, certain magic weapons, and other werewolves; they have accelerated healing only in werewolf form though. Speaking of werewolf shapes, they have three modes: human-looking, a wolf-man[=/=]woman half and half mode, and a full wolf mode. They must change on the night of the full moon into one of the latter, but "royal werewolves" can change at any time so long as it is dark outside. A lunar eclipse [[ShapeshifterModeLock locks]] them into their human forms, and make them ill while it passes. They are born werewolves, but normal people can be turned through a bite (Though it is a huge offense suggesting that any pure-blood should have been created this way). Having been born in wolf shape, while her mother was in wolf shape, on the night of the full moon, protagonist Kalix feels as if she lives in a permanent lunar eclipse.

* In ''Literature/LoyalEnemies'', werewolves are "darklings", creatures others consider foul, if not downright evil. Werewolves, in both wolf and human forms, have super strength, super reflexes, a superiour sense of smell and can see in the dark and speak human in their wolf form. There's mention of there being more than one species of werewolf, with the "true werewolf", of which protagonist Shelena is one, being able to change shape any time it wants to, although it's slightly painful and during the change their bones are brittle like eggshells. It's also [[TransformationHorror not a pretty sight]] and ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing.\\
As Shelena explains, werewolves can mate with other werewolves, humans and wolves, but the first option is usually not even wished on one's enemy because the resulting offspring gnaws its way into the world, killing the mother. Mating with wolves is considered a degenerate thing to do for any self-respecting werewolf because it produces barely sentient predators that are neither werewolf not wolf, meaning that the only viable options of procreation are mating with humans or by bite, although apparently the latter doesn't always work.

* In the ''Literature/MercyThompson'' series, lycanthropy is transmitted through a savage attack - most victims of werewolf attacks die of their injuries rather than turn into werewolves. Werewolves are forced to change at the full moon, but can also change more or less at will. Werewolves in human form are resistant to disease and poison, heal quickly, do not die of old age, and have ''very'' short tempers. For this reason, the average life expectancy for a wolf after becoming one is ten years. It is worth noting, however, that werewolves certainly don't ''always'' die young. The book takes place in the present day, and several wolves are thought to date from the Renaissance. There were even a few who called ''those'' young. [[spoiler:The Marrok]] is implied to have known [[spoiler:the real King Arthur (and therefore being the real Sir Marrok)]]. [[spoiler:Samuel, his son]] and [[spoiler:Asil the Moor]] are almost as old. Werewolves also have a kind of magic, called pack magic, which allows an Alpha to draw strength from his pack and control them. Pack magic also functions as a limited form of {{Glamour}}: normal people who see a shifted werewolf that isn't attacking are prone to thinking that it's just a BigFriendlyDog, which is one of the main ways that the {{Masquerade}} was maintained until the werewolves came out in the first novel. Also, particularly powerful werewolves like Adam, the pack Alpha of the Tri-Cities area [[spoiler: and Mercy's eventual husband]] have the ability to adopt a bipedal man-wolf hybrid form if they want to, but it's rarely used.

* In ''Literature/MonsterHunterInternational'', werewolves (Man-Wolf type) are some of the most dangerous and lucrative monsters to hunt. [[spoiler:And Earl Harbinger, one of the greatest Hunters alive, is one of the strongest in existence.]]

* In ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'', there are werewolves of the variety where they are forced to change at the full moon, but can change shape at will at other times; they mostly retain their human minds, although at the full moon their minds become less human. They can be hurt by silver, while the condition is semi-contagious, with about half of all bites transmitting lycanthropy.

* Creator/SergeyLukyanenko can't seem to decide the nature of werewolves in his ''Literature/NightWatchSeries'' books. In some books, they're just as undead as vampires. In others, there's merely the Dark equivalent of Light shifter-mages. Full moon is sometimes mentioned to cause werewolves to go into a frenzy, but nothing of the sort is mentioned for Light shapeshifters. Later books (especially by other authors) introduce other types of "were-beings" including were-snakes (AKA nagas) and a were-smilodon (AKA sabertooth cat). The latter is the only living example of one, as he was born during the last Ice Age and remembers hunting mammoths; now he works in the European Bureau of the Inquisition.
** While both vampires and werewolves are considered to be the lowest in the Dark hierarchy, vampires can gain a measure of status and respect by becoming Higher Vampires. This either involves fully draining several dozen humans or drinking a special blood cocktail invented by a young vampire. Werewolves don't have a "Higher" status and always remain low. The above-mentioned were-smilodon is a rare aversion due to his extreme age (at least 12,000 years) and experience.

** The story "Literature/WhatGoodIsAGlassDagger" is told from the POV of an idealistic Atlantean werewolf. The surprise bit comes when he discovers [[spoiler:that werewolves aren't people who become wolves, but rather wolves who turn into humans]].
** In the Hanville Svetz story "There's A Wolf In My Time Machine'' [[spoiler:the time-travelling main character gets sidetracked into a version of Earth where man evolved from wolves instead of apes]].

* ''NotYourOrdinaryWolfGirl'' mostly sticks to traditional depictions of werewolves, with some exceptions: Involuntary shifting can happen in one's sleep or if one is experiencing high levels of stress or anger, but werewolves can learn to control it, at which point they only change voluntarily. Not feeding enough as a wolf results in intense cravings for meat while in human form. Most unusually, it's a plot point that female werewolves, like main character Sam Lee, are pretty hard to come by: Women who are bitten often simply die from it, and those that do live tend to stay in hiding because they have some body part permanently in "wolf" form. For instance, over the course of the novel, Sam meets one girl who has one human hand and one paw, and another who is entirely wolf from the waist down (she has to wear floor-length skirts to pass, and even then something just seems slightly "off" about her posture and movement). The title comes from the fact that Samantha is a talented, platinum-winning, indie rock star.

* In ''Literature/{{No Such Thing As Werewolves}}'', Werewolves (of man-wolf variety) are caused by a genetically modified virus, and the powers granted differ based on the host's sex. They also come with a handy voice in your head. These guys are also the percfect weapons against zombies.

* ''Literature/OliverTwisted'': Werewolves are the descendants of Sköll, the banished son of the wolf god Fenris. Bill Sikes is one of them[[spoiler:, and so is his brother Bullseye, however the latter was [[ShapeshifterModeLock born unable to shift into human form]]]]. They are still weak to silver, silver bullets especially.

* In Creator/PoulAnderson's {{magitek}} reality in ''Literature/OperationChaos'', werewolves are persons with a genetic condition. Scientific understanding of the condition in the 20th century allows the werewolf to understand and receive training to keep his human motivations in wolf form (but not ''full'' intelligence). The change is permitted by having polarized light as the only light source (either moonlight or a portable "moonflash" carried on the person). The wolf-form heals at ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} speeds except when silver is involved. The hero/werewolf/narrator fought in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII as an Army Ranger and seemed to suffer no social prejudice. He was a movie star, before the war, playing a ''Rin Tin Tin'' type character.
** ConservationOfMass is also very much in effect. It doesn't affect the protagonist very much since a relatively normal-sized man will make an impressively large wolf (largest recorded wolf: 175 lbs/79 kg), but at one point he engages in battle with a were-tiger, and the man in question before he changes is described as tall and ridiculously obese in order to have sufficient mass to be a large, powerful tiger (large Siberian tiger: up to 800+ lbs/360 kg.)

* Kelley Armstrong's ''Literature/TheOtherworld'' series features werewolves that [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turn into pure wolves at will]], but the process is painful. They must Change about once a week, becoming more irritable and restless the longer they put it off, until finally their bodies take over and they [[InvoluntaryShapeshifter Change involuntarily]]. Control over their Change is a matter of teaching, practice, and willpower. All but one of the werewolves are male, and they pass the gene down to their sons (daughters need not apply). A hereditary werewolf will not have his first Change until late adolescence. Werewolves can be made by an infected bite or by injection with werewolf saliva, but most are hereditary. An infected werewolf will pass the gene down to any sons conceived after his Change. In ''Broken'', [[spoiler:Elena gives birth to male and female twins, who are both genetic werewolves and it is hinted the female will Change in adulthood. Since Elena is the first female werewolf and the twins' father is also a werewolf, it is unknown if a hereditary female gets the gene from just her mother or from both parents]].

* In Gail Carriger's ''Literature/TheParasolProtectorate'' series, werewolves are very nocturnal. Only Alphas can assume any but a regular wolf form, being able to become the WolfMan. Also, because Alphas tend to be larger and stronger in their human form, their wolf form tends to look more Dire than normal. Like vamps, the existence of werewolves is common knowledge and they have an ambassador to the Queen's court. Werewolves are just as dead as vampires, and while they can tolerate the sun ''eventually'', younger werewolves suffer severe burns and even death from exposure to sunlight. They are vulnerable to silver, and [[WeaksauceWeakness just as allergic to basil as vampires are to garlic]]. Raw meat is a required part of their diet [[HealingFactor and necessary for them to heal]], [[TrademarkFavoriteFood though Professor Lyall is known to prefer fish]]. They can only change at night, with the ease of change being directly proportional to the phases of the Moon, up until the full Moon when transformation is inevitable and maddening, and younger ones are often forced into their wolf form a few days before the full Moon. Alphas possess a PartialTransformation called "Anubis Form" which is necessary to convert new pack members. Most see their full moon madness as a curse, which leads them to regard [[TheSoulless Preternaturals like Alexia]] as "Cursebreakers" where other supernaturals [[PowerNullifier see them as a dire threat]].

* ''Literature/RedMoonRisingMoore'': Lacking the traditional weaknesses, these [[PhantasySpelling werewulves]] are naturally short and stocky, and lack any healing abilities beyond a [[{{Muggles}} normal human]]. Their bite does not transform humans into wulves, they only reproduce through offspring (although they are [[HalfHumanHybrid compatible with humans]]).

* In ''Rehepapp'', people can become werewolves free-willingly after consuming some kind of mixture. They look like normal wolves, but retain human intelligence.

* ''Literature/ReturnOfTheWolfMan'': Played with when the novel addresses some of the inconsistencies and oddities in the films. The book establishes that Talbot becomes the Wolf Man on the days immediately before and after a full moon, thereby explaining his strangely frequent transformations in the movies. The idea that lycranthropy effects different people in different ways is also brought up, hence why Bela Lugosi's character in ''Film/TheWolfMan1941'' turned into a four-legged wolf.

* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': The Wargs of this series are [[MixAndMatchCritters Chimera who mix human features with that of canines in general, and wolves in especial.]] Of all of the Chimera, they are the most feared. They cannot infect you, ''[[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil but they can get you pregnant.]]''

* ''Literature/TheSanguineChronicles'' explain that werewolves can shift at any time, but they ''have'' to shift on the full moon. Their emotions are affected by the Moon--and on the full moon, they go completely feral. InUniverse, Marko is ''very'' different--he's the only werewolf/vampire hybrid he's ever heard about (for all intents and purposes, he should not exist).

* In the WeirdWest novella ''Literature/SheepsClothing'', the character of Wolf Cowrie is [[HalfHumanHybrid half skinwalker]], and is essentially a werewolf in everything but name, with keener senses, super-strength and agility, and the ability to change into a wolf-like creature. He is not required to shift during the full moon, but silver burns him on contact, and a wound from a silver dagger nearly kills him. At no point is he referred to as a werewolf, though, because the term wasn't in common use in the old West of 1874.

* In Creator/DanielPinkwater's ''The Literature/SnarkoutBoys and the Baconburg Horror'', a werewolf is created by eating food containing the Marifesa plant that has been implanted with a mind-control technology. The werewolf itself is rarely seen in full, but seems to be almost ghostlike, with the ability to destroy property. It also writes [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment terrible, terrible poetry]].

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': "Wargs" are people who can telepathically borrow the bodies of animals in dreams. They're not limited to wolves, but these are seen as good candidates for several reasons -- generally, they're social enough to be able to adapt to working with other wolves or a warg's human allies, and as pack hunters they're similar enough in mentality to humans to reduce friction between the minds; the only animals easier to "borrow" are domesticated dogs. Their human body stays the same, although if it is killed while their spirit is within an animal they will be trapped there. All of the Stark children are wargs with a special connection to their pet direwolves. This ability manifests only in worshippers of the Old Gods descended from the first people that populated Westeros. In the south, where people worship the Seven (a CrystalDragonJesus centralised religion) the folk memory of wargs has been mythologised and perverted over time, leading southerners to believe that wargs (if they exist at all) do physically transform into wolves, have a craving for human flesh, and can transform others into wargs with a bite.

* ''Literature/TheSookieStackhouseMysteries'' has Weres, who can change at will, but tend to give into the animal instincts and predatory tendencies on the night of the full moon. They can also be shielded from the light of the moon to help them, but they are tense, more easily agitated, and prone to violence and uncontrolled bloodlust during the full moon. Though it's not spelled out explicitly, werewolves may go over entirely to animalism during the full moon if they give into the change or are otherwise provoked into it. Additionally, the Were trait is hereditary and can be passed on to children.\\
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In addition, the series has {{shapeshift|ing}}ers, who can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting change at will]] into various animals, but most choose one animal form and stick with it, for ease and comfort of transformation. [[spoiler:Sam, Sookie's boss, turns into a friendly collie.]] On the full moon, they ''must'' change into their animal form. One shifter in New Orleans turns into an Owl and looks the part slightly even as a human. They maintain human intelligence the entire time, so far. The Shifter trait is hereditary and can be passed on to children. Unlike [[OurVampiresAreDifferent the vampire population]], the Were and Shifter populations are not known to humankind at large. There is [[FantasticRacism friction]] between the shifters and the weres; the weres consider themselves superior, but to everybody else, they are something akin to blue collar workers.\\
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Those bitten by weres have a chance at becoming a demonic monster form of that animal. [[spoiler:Jason, Sookie's brother, becomes a werepanther.]]

* In ''Literature/SummerInOrcus'', werewolves are wolves who turn into other creatures, and not always at full moons; mention is made of one who turns into a skylark on solstices. The one Summer meets turns into [[spoiler:a cottage, and is in peril from house hunters]].

%%* The novel Tamed features werewolves as pets.

* In ''Literature/ThereShallBeNoDarkness'', Dr. Lundgren claims that lycanthropy is the result of a mutation in the pineal gland of the afflicted person's brain, they don't show up in photographs, and they're capable of transformation at will as well, apparently. Also, the sign of the pentagram doesn't mark the werewolf's victim (as in ''Film/TheWolfMan1941''), but the witch who is to first be their accomplice and then betray them. However, even among all these differences Blish added, one thing remains the same: {{silver bullet}}s are still fatal to them and silver in general is something they don't like.

** There are also the Wargs in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''; giant evil wolves that are sentient, have a language of their own and are allies of the Orcs, even being ridden by them. It's unclear if they're actually related to the werewolves, but some fans have speculated that they're the result of werewolves mating with ordinary wolves.
*** At one point Gandalf specifies that the attacking Wargs are werewolves. He says this in Elvish.

* In Miranda Leek's ''{{Literature/Twisted}}'', Rodney turns into a anthropomorphic, dragon-like living roller coaster under the full Moon and exhibits the usual lycanthropic like craving human flesh and even howling. Later on, he gets his roller coaster form more under control, but is still subject to rages and is forced to assume coaster form under the full Moon.

* In ''{{Literature/Vampirocracy}}'', we see Karl the werewolf police detective use his "Beast" to amplify a suspect's fear and anger in the hopes of getting him to slip up during questioning. A "rubber-band effect" causes Karl to nearly lose control when he leaves the interrogation room.

* In ''{{Literature/V-Wars}}'', werewolves (man-wolf type) are a subspecies of vampires born from the ice virus. Examples of these lycans include: the Loup-Garou, a romanian scienstist woman turned into a fox-like wifwolf and werewolf/vampire hybrids like the mjertovjec, the lobishomen and the farkaskoldus.

** The final section of the first book in ''Literature/GotrekAndFelix'' series, ''Trollslayer'', had the Children of Ulric. Long thought to be a myth, the Children of Ulric were believed to be the decedents of Ulric, god of wolves, war and winter, who could walk as both man and beast. A family of the Children are encountered by the titular heroes but they were apparently wiped out in the same story.

* In ''Literature/WarriorWolfWomenOfTheWasteland'', lycanthropy refers to a genetic condition shared by all the women in [=McDonaldland=], whereby every time they have sex they change a little bit more into wolves, both physically and in their mannerisms and instincts, and as they change their sex drive only increases. This condition is not reversible, and ThereIsNoCure. As such, sex for women is restricted to within marriage, only for procreation, and is only allowed with a special license issue by the government. Once their changes become too obvious, the wolf-women are exiled into the Wasteland outside of [=McDonaldland=]. Eventually, the women transform into savage dire wolves.

* In ''Warwolf: The Centurion Warrior Book 1: The Warriors'' (It apparently had a very small print run and is almost impossible to find, but it does have a listing in the Library of Congress- so at least one or two copies are located there - and a copyright number dating it's publication), the werewolf is a species within a ''species'', as the term "lycanthrope" is a blanket term here (There's mentions of [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent werecats and even a were''cobra'']] in one or two chapters). The werewolves here have multiple forms that range from human to Man-wolf to full wolf, though of a much larger size than is normal, while other lycanthropes seem to have a similar set of forms. These werewolves have their own language and can also speak human languages, and are part of a secret worldwide empire of various Lycanthropes that seem to encompass nearly every animal species known. No indication is given for whether they are human at the start and then change at some point in their youth or the other way around, but the main character is stated as being able to transform from the age of twelve on up at the very least and is roughly seventeen at the time of the story. According to a note at the start of the book from the [[WordOfGod author]], he wanted to create an entirely new kind of werewolf/shapeshifting world where werewolves aren't just painted as mindless monsters when they transform, so he created this book as the start of a series that came to him at some point. The eponymous character, [[MeaningfulName Warwolf]], is something of a [[GentleGiant Friendly Giant]] when not in combat and appears to be best friends with another werewolf who is definitely a DeadpanSnarker if ever there was one. This book indicates the creatures have abnormally long lifespans (One character is over a hundred years old and is expected to live at least to see two hundred), and also lists silver as a weakness for the creatures...but paradoxically some of the lycanthropes use them as part of the construction of their ''own weapons''. Warwolf is shown displaying superhuman strength, which may be an indicator that the other werewolves and assorted Lycanthropes share this trait. Warwolf and his three companions are also shown to display superhuman senses. Whether or not anyone else in this society does also is unknown. Warwolf and his friends also appear to have been raised in a partially warrior-toned society before making the trek to Rome to attempt a slow attempt to get humans used to their existence to being an attempt an inter-species reunification, and it is indicated that werewolves are the most well known type of Lycanthrope and are the most feared despite the fact that they are not savage, mindless killers and can change at will, and the other Lycanthropes in the book share this ability to transform at will as well. The book itself seems to be intended as a set-up to a situation apparently intended to show up in the second book best summed up as ''Werewolves vs. demons''.

* Pulp author Manly Banister wrote four werewolf stories for ''Weird Tales'' magazine, and invented his own tropes, such as werewolves needing to be submerged in water to transform, and female werewolves always being white.

* In the "Wereapocalypse" novel series, Lycanthropy the result of a virus that cause the infected to mutate into savage bipedal humanoid wolf-like beasts.

* ''Literature/{{Werenight}}'' by Creator/HarryTurtledove has lots of different varieties of werebeast, including at least one who's hideously impaired by his transformation because he's a ''were-salmon'' on dry land, and one enormous barbarian chief who transforms into an equally enormous sabre tooth. Also, the world it's set in has four moons, which adds some wrinkles to the whole "when the moon is full" business. The titular werenight was a night when all four were full at the same time, which caused everyone with even the slightest hint of lycanthropy in their blood (as the condition is apparently hereditary) to transform.

* GuyEndore's 1933 novel ''Literature/TheWerewolfOfParis'' ( a tale of a 19th century French Werewolf) is one of the most important Werewolf novels.

* In ''[=WerewolveSS=]'' by Jerry & Sharon Ahern, you start off with the standard Man-Wolf of Wolf-Man bipedal death machines that change under the full moon. Given time and [[StupidJetpackHitler Nazi science]] (thus the SS in the title), the remnants of project Werewolf determine that, by using specific types of music, werewolves and their shape-shifting abilities can be controlled. This results in the neo-Nazis running about infecting people with lycanthropy and then using loudspeakers to play Wagner operas that turn them into a [[{{Ghostapo}} goose-stepping werewolf army]].

* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' series by Robert Jordan has 'wolfbrothers', men with the ability to communicate telepathically with wolves. Wolfbrothers gain greatly enhanced senses, as well as golden eyes which people remark as resembling those of wolves. Wolfbrothers are prone to acquiring wolf instincts, and in some cases have been known to completely lose touch with their humanity, becoming essentially wolves in men's clothing.

* ''Literature/WolfBreed''. Think ''Manga/ElfenLied'' in Middle Ages Europe with werewolves and you have the basic plot of this book series. The titular Wolfbreed are man-wolf/dire wolf shapeshifters that can change at will, have a rapid healing factor, age normally and are vulnerable to silver. UsefulNotes/TheTeutonicKnights tries to use them as {{Super Soldier}}s. Since this is an {{Expy}} of ''Elfen Lied'' their attempt doesn't work out so good.

* In ''Literature/{{Wolfen}}'' by Whitley Strieber, the titular creatures are not shapeshifters, but rather a freak evolutionary offshoot which is never fully explained. Even though they don't swap forms, they have still developed fully articulated paws that act like hands along with human level intellect (operating in a feral, instinctive manner), making them man-wolves of sorts. Although not having any supernatural element to them, the Wolfen are quite frightening... being clever enough to understand human speech, operate mechanical devices, evaluate the threat of guns and feed on us [[HiddenInPlainSight right in our midst]], having remained unseen long enough for mankind to dismissed them as fairy tales, or simply forget them altogether.
** Inside the text itself one of the present day characters (and a to him historical source) believe the wolfen themselves are the real animal behind stories of the werewolf. However this is never confirmed beyond their theories. (So on top of the scary smart wolves in your city, there might also be real werewolves too).

* In Creator/AnneRice's ''Literature/TheWolfGift'', werewolves call themselves Morphenkinder and change everynight, unrelated to the phase of the moon although with time they can learn to control the change. It is passed along by bite and results in a Man Wolf form. In fact it is called that in story. Morphenkinder are attracted to evil people and driven to destroy them. Silver has no particular effect on them and they can be killed by normal weapons but it takes a ''lot'' of damage delivered in a short period of time or they heal it. Even in human form their senses of hearing and smell are very sharp but increase in the Man Wolf form.

** The protagonist, Greg, has something entirely different and altogether more mysterious. Dogs begin following him and leaving him gifts, he sees a wolf standing serenely in midair out of a second-story window, and he has blackouts that last only a few minutes or hours but during which he apparently lives out years in a wolf's body. While in wolf form, Greg is also immune to bullets, but though the effect of silver is discussed on occasion (and he can't handle even a few [[UnitConfusion angstroms]] of silver in a cup of water) we never get to find out if it would actually hurt him or not. It's suggested that [[spoiler:he has developed some psychic connection with a real, actual, wolf somewhere out there, which then seeked him out physically, confronted him, and then somehow began transforming his body]] - but there are a few holes in that theory as well, and a lot of it is left deliberately unexplained.

* In Charles de Lint’s ''Wolf Moon'', the main character, Kern, was born as a werewolf. He has control of his transformations, but had to hide what he was most of his life. The first time he revealed himself to his family and a lover, they nearly killed him for it. He gets better luck the second time around, but only after he’s nearly killed by a hunter with a harp and they try to turn everyone he’s recently befriended against him.

* The wolves in ''Literature/WolvesOfMercyFallsSeries'' receive their ability when they are bitten by a person already infected with the werewolf disease. Unlike traditional werewolves, they turn into wolves only during the winter; in warm weather they are normal human beings. The older they get however, the longer they stay wolves, until finally one summer they don't change back at all. And they can't just move south; if they do they only become more sensitive to temperature change, to the point where even the slightest change in temperature can cause them to shift. The first book ''Shiver'' is about a boy and a girl who try to find a way to fight this. [[spoiler:In the sequel ''Linger'', we find out that the cure from the first book might not be a cure at all -- and that the reason they change into wolves might have more to do with brain chemistry than the weather.]]

* From ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'' comes Prince Jeremy, introduced in ''Zombie Lover''. He's a voluntary shapeshifter who's telepathic in wolf form. He winds up wedding Jenny Elf.