History OurWerewolvesAreDifferent / Literature

** 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, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome it is a very painful process.]]

** A ''loup-garou'' is a human, subject to a powerful curse (which in at least one case was hereditary). Under the full Moon, he transforms into a demonic man-wolf with enormous speed and strength, as well as immunity to injury by virtually any source except ''inherited'' silver. The demon takes over all control during this time, with the human personality completely submerged. There is no known cure, and the only spells capable of perfectly restraining them are similar to what one would need to contain an ''archangel''.

* 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). 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.\\

* 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 there is no cure. 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 ''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. 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.

* The werewolves in ''Literature/{{Blood and Chocolate}}'' (which was also made into a [[Film/BloodAndChocolate 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.

* The werewolves in ''Literature/{{Blood and Chocolate}}'' 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.

* The Young adult novel ''Literature/BloodAndChocolate'' (which was also made into a [[Film/BloodAndChocolate film of the same name]]) centers around a sixteen year old high school student who is a member of a werewolf pack.

* Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/CycleOfTheWerewolf'' has a more traditional, dire 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.

** In the book ''Werewolf Skin'', 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. ''The Werewolf of Fever Swamp'' features a more traditional werewolf.
** ''The Werewolf's First Night'', a short story, has a boy believing all the people at his camp are werewolves. [[MandatoryTwistEnding It turns out he's the werewolf, and it's the full moon...]]
** The werewolves in ''The Werewolf in the Living Room'' are given a special tooth necklage that has magical powers.

** Werewolves, called "shapeshifters," are protectors of the Quileute, the Native American tribe of western Olympic Peninsula. It is a genetic trait, and all shapeshifters seen in the series are descended from either Ephraim Black, Levi Uley, or Quil Ateara II, who awoke their shapeshifting gene to defend their tribe from the vampires, whom they call the "Cold Ones." For a long time, it's believed that only men can inherit the shapeshifter gene, but ''Eclipse'' disproves this by revealing that Leah Clearwater has also realized her powers. The shapeshifters first manifested their powers [[PubertySuperpower in their late teens]], and afterwards will be organized into a pack, led by an alpha, who can instill order to the pack. The shapeshifters have formed a non-aggression pact with the Cullens, the current vampire coven of the area, promising not to attack them under the condition that they will not attack humans, which serves them well because the Cullens only eat animals. They are faster than vampires, but are weaker, and they need to work in a group to overwhelm them. It's said that as long as they regularly shapeshift, shapeshifters will never age.
** ''Breaking Dawn'' mentions that the Quileute shapeshifters are different from actual werewolves. Called the "Children of the Moon," they cannot control their shapeshifting, and can only pass on their powers by biting humans, instead of procreating. Also, they are ''much'' stronger than shapshifters and vampires. Volturi leader Caius once encountered one and barely survived by the skin of his teeth. Fearing their powers, the Volturi staged a genocide of werewolves centuries ago, and since then they are rarely seen and believed by many to be a myth.

** Werewolves, called "shapeshifters," are protectors of the Quileute, the Native American tribe of western Olympic Peninsula. It is a genetic trait, and all shapeshifters seen in the series are descended from Ephraim Black, who awoke his shapeshifting gene to defend his tribe from the vampires, whom they call the "Cold Ones." For a long time, it's believed that only men can inherit the shapeshifter gene, but ''Eclipse'' disproves this by revealing that Leah Clearwater has also realized her powers. The shapeshifters first manifested their powers [[PubertySuperpower in their late teens]], and afterwards will be organized into a pack, led by an alpha, who can instill order to the pack. Since Jacob is a direct descendant of Ephraim Black, he is considered the rightful alpha, but he initially refuses the position, hence why Sam Uley, as the eldest, leads them. The shapeshifters have formed a non-aggression pact with the Cullens, the current vampire coven of the area, promising not to attack them under the condition that they will not attack humans, which serves them well because the Cullens only eat animals. They are faster than vampires, but are weaker, and they need to work in a group to overwhelm them. It's said that as long as they regularly shapeshift, shapeshifters will never age.

* In ''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. 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 that descent 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 wars (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.

* In ''Literature/TheShadowspawn'', werewolves and vampires are one and the same, a non-undead WitchSpecies capable of both blood-drinking and shapeshifting. They drink blood and can turn into any animal whose DNA they've sampled, live for centuries, use magic based on altering probabilities and are, except for DefectorFromDecadence Adrian, AlwaysChaoticEvil.

* In ''Literature/MonsterHunterInternational'', werewolves 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 the ''Literature/{{No Such Thing As Werewolves}}novel, 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.

* In the ''Literature/{{Deathless}}' book series, 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.

* In the ''Literature/Deathless'' book series, 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.
\\

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]]).\\

* 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.

* 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 Franchise/{{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.

* 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 ''FilmTheWolfMan1941''), 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.

** 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 yes on top of the scary smart wolves in your city, there might also be real werewolves too).

** 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, [[RealityEnsues it is a very painful process.]]

* In the ''Literature/InCryptid'' series, lycanthrope is caused by a virus that can infect any mammal. There's a bizarre and horrifying point in one character's backstory where they encounter a ''horse'' that was bitten and was in the midst of transforming.