Monday, February 22, 2021

TODAY'S WITCHES by Susy Smith

    











Witchcraft, 1970! Susy Smith takes us on a witchy world tour ... and it sure is strange! Black magic, white magic, sex cults and death cults, witch doctors and love spells and more, put together by one of the grand dames of vintage paranormal writing.

Launching with some then-timely rubbernecking at the Manson Murders and the occult/orgy rumors that swirled around the victims, Smith makes it clear this will be a catch-all, kitchen sink volume. The next chapter on Haitian magic comes secondhand (contra the inside promotional copy) per Smith's "dynamic, attractive" friend Evelyn Hill. The rest of the book alternates with chapters of Smith's own research and dispatches from her many glamorous friends across the globe. One of the best chapters concerns Smith's own experiences with the VANDERCAR mystery of Southern Florida, wherein a local warlock left cryptic newspaper notices and played good natured pranks on the local populace.

Table of contents:

i.  Introduction (7)
1.  The United States Today (15)
2.  Haitian Holiday (29)
3.  Lee's Witch (46)
4.  Mexican Magic (56)
5.  How Not to Get Burnt! (67)
6.  Witchcraft in England (80)
7.  The Cursed Woman of Rio (86)
8.  Spells and Incantations (98)
9.  Devil Worship (109)
10. Vandercar (118)
11. Witchcraft Worldwide (133)
12. The Use of Drugs (142)
13. Toronto's High Flying Witches (149)
14. Discussions in Black and White (159)
15. Murders by Magic (170)
16. The Magic of Love (178)

Award Books, 1970

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