A friend gave me this book around '88 or '89. The chapter entitled "439-year-old-Elizabeth..." is good reading. I don't beleive the person in this story is a real vampire, but what's interesting is the quick and precise responses Elizabeth gives to questions.... She either has a lot of time on her hands or she beilieves herself to be a vampire...

I stumbled upon this book in a cluttered used bookstore in Maine during the summer of '87. Light summer fare, I thought. Wrong! Dr. Kaplan takes the reader on a strange journey that just gets stranger. The good doctor is a vampirologist, and the book chronicles his research and encounters with self-proclaimed vampires, goths, blood-drinkers, whackos, and one remarkable, unforgettable indivdual who calls herself Elizabeth. She claims to be a vampire and makes a compelling case for herself over several phone conversations and letters with the author, despite his attempts to stump her. This non-fiction book is the stuff of Stephen King's nightmares. A great read for a summer or fall night (just keep plenty of garlic around).

According to Kate McCarthy, there are "convergent" pluralists and "nonconvergent" pluralists. Perhaps the best-known member of the convergent camp is John Hick, whose 1989 "An Interpretation of Religion" and 1995 followup "A Christian Theology of Religions" may be the best expressions of convergent pluralism out there.

Thinkers like S. Mark Heim ("Salvations: Truth and Difference in Religion") and Stephen Kaplan represent the nonconvergent camp (I've reviewed Heim's "Salvations" on Amazon.com, so I won't go into it here)-- pluralists uncomfortable with common-essence approaches to the questions of religion, salvation, and ultimate reality.

Kaplan's book enters the pluralism debate rather late in the game, but it's easily one of the most original philosophical contributions out there.

Like Heim, Kaplan wants to posit a model that allows for multiple salvations. Unlike Heim and Hick (and almost everyone else!), however, Kaplan takes the game further and wants to set these multiple salvations within a framework of multiple ontologies-- a plurality of ultimate realities.

Hick (1995) scoffed at the notion of numerically multiple ultimates, and one has the impression that his position is based on common sense. [NB: Hick's position on "the Real" has been described as Kantian, but it also possesses traits of advaitic nondualism, making his position more subtle than it seems at first blush.] But Kaplan thinks that it is both possible and meaningful to present a model that coherently allows for a plural ontology and soteriology.

To this end, Kaplan relies heavily on the work of David Bohm and the principles of holography to present his "holographic" pluralistic proposal. A lot of space is devoted to explaining some basics about holography in order to make the analogy more intelligible to a nonexpert.

We learn a great deal about the "implicate order" and "explicate order(s)"; we gain some insights about research into the irreducible diversity of mystical experience, as well as the ins and outs of contructivist epistemology. We see the holographic model applied to the "monistic nondualism" of Gaudapada (advaitic Hindu), the "process nondualism" of Vasubandhu (Yogacara Buddhist), and the "dualistic theism" of Richard of St. Victor (Catholic Christian), and we come to understand that these worldviews simply apprehend holographic reality in ways that prioritize certain aspects of it while deemphasizing others.

Kaplan constructs his argument well and deals ably with possible objections to his model. But does he convince?

For me, the answer is no. One grievous problem with Kaplan's model is that it relies on a linguistic gambit: you have to agree that "ultimate," far from meaning "greatest" in an exclusivistic sense, means something more like "last in a series," which harks back to an older meaning of the word. Kaplan contends that this move is necessary because then "ultimate" is understood more pluralistically: different paths take you to different summits. Kaplan doesn't truly address the philosophical issues of ultimacy in its normally understood sense; he neatly avoids them.

But there is another difficulty: while Kaplan's model propounds multiple ontologies and soteriologies, these elements remain subsumed under a SINGLE OVERARCHING METAPHYSIC (a fact Kaplan admits at several points in the book).

This, to my mind, is no different from the so-called "trap" into which John Hick has supposedly fallen. In fact, every nonconvergent pluralist who propounds a philosophical model inevitably must confess the model's hidden unitive aspect. For Kaplan, it's a NUMERICALLY single metaphysic that ties the various ontologies together. For someone like Heim, it's a single ontology with multiple soteriologies (cf. Heim's "travel analogy" in "Salvations"). In the end, people like Heim and Kaplan end up being, if you will, crypto-convergent pluralists. Their models demand that the various religions widen their playing fields to acknowledge previously inadmissible possibilities. And given most religious folks' demeanor, absolutely NONE of these models will prove acceptable... except perhaps to similarly-minded pluralists (Heim actually anticipates some of this in "Salvations").

Despite my feeling that Kaplan's model is unconvincing, his book was a great read, and there's no denying it's one of the few truly innovative philosophical moves in the ongoing discussions about religious pluralism. To that extent, I recommend it highly. Like my copy of Heim's "Salvations," my copy of DPDS is full of scrawled marginalia. Yours will be, too.

In One More Border--escape from war-torn Europe, William Kaplan tells the story of his father, Igor's, escape from Europe during World War II. Igor Kaplan was a young boy when he and his family decided to leave their country for a safer place. With the help of the wonderful author, Shelley Tanaka, William Kaplan's story will intrigue readers. A few pages in the book even give detailed history of World War II. I would highly recommend this book for 9-12 year olds. Although the book isn't overly scary, children under eight may find the subject of World War II too intense, and people over 12 probably won't find the story exciting enough and may become easily bored.

If you enjoy this book, you'll probably love some of Shelley Tanaka's books!

While I just adore books that expose hoaxes, and I looked forward to this book for a long time knowing that it was in the pipelines and having heard Kaplan on Local radio in NYC, I must say that this book is really only for the serious Amityville researcher since the Author's diary-like approach repeats many statements over and over ad nusaeum and contains too many self-congratulatory comments about his own life. I found the details of his personal life an intrusion since he did not strive to make them important to the Story he was weaving of what he believes to be an elaborate but ill-planned Hoax that started out simple and got more complex the more the media grabbed onto the story. It is not particularly well-written and for someone claiming to have spent a lifetime as a researcher he does not back up some of his most startling claims with the necessary follow-through a real investigavtive Journalist would. Also, I found it completely disarming that this dedicated exposer of Hoaxers would admit to having faith in such discredited new age hoakum as "Pyramid Power" of all things. I feel you should buy the book despite it's faults simply for some of the belly laughs you'll get at the simple explanations of who Jody the pig really was ( a cat) and some of the other outragious lies perpetrated by the Lutzes. I do wish the Author were still alive , however, so he and I could go toe to toe and so I could see him have a chance to work with a better Editor and get his writing more polished. He died before the book was published at a relatively young age and although he was not a great writer, he seemed to be a good-hearted man who knew how to have fun and laugh at the sillines of mass hysteria around the Amityville Hoax. My other regret is that he did not investigate the disturbing ties between the Lutzes and the defense attorney for Ronnie De Feo who blew away his family in the house before the Lutzes bought it and supposedly that is what started their nightmare. Why would they, the new owners be so buddy buddy with De feos defense attorney? Were they trying to get him an Insanity plea via a claim of Demonic Possession? This is alleged but never explored by Kaplan and it makes the book peter out at the end with no real conclusions about why on earth the Lutzes perpetrated this Hoax.

A most exhaustive review of how a con-job is created. I felt connected with this story. The movie came out in 79, soon after I graduated from high school. My best friend at the time dated one of the girls who played a victim in the movie. Yes I live in LA. I thought the movie was silly. It was even harder to believe that it was suppose to be based on a true story. I read the book by Anson. It was sillier than the movie. I then started thinking, Wow! I can make fortune by making up stuff like this. Unfortunately I'm to honest to do such a think. O'well, I guess I'm going to have to work for a living. I first heard about Stephan, and Roxanne Kaplan through a coffee table book called " Great Mystries", by Robert Jackson. It was a one page references to the Amityville horror Hoax. I then started looking for thier writings. I found " The Amityville Horror Conspiracy" to be an exhaustive analysis of this hoax. Roxanne wrote it in such a way that I felt personally involved, as well as personaly insalted by this fraud. I've read books by Ed and Lorraine, and anybody who does battle with the Warrens is a champion in my book. they remind me of ambulance chasers of the paranormal. Mrs. Kaplan... Stephens death was a great loss for us all. I feal I knew him through your writing this book, and I wish I had met Him. An excelent book. Highly recommended for intellectuals, skeptics or anybody who thinks for a living. I also recommend "Secrets of the Supernatural, Investigating the World's Occult Mysteries". By Joe Nickell, Prometheus Press. He solves a couple of other Mysteries. Yours Truly, Kevin McLean, a Skeptic

Dr. and Mrs. Kaplan's book is THE final word on the hoax that was the "Amityville Horror," and few could finish this book with any lingering doubt as to whether this case was a fabrication. Containing factual data and quotes, interesting behind-the-scenes anecdotes, newspaper articles, radio transcripts, a slew of logical reasoning, and no small amount of humor, Dr. and Mrs. Kaplan have irrevocably refuted the avaricious fantasies (packaged as a "true story") told by the Lutzes, beyond all shadow of doubt. All one needs is an open mind and a few hours to enjoy the contents and the real story behind the multimillion-dollar industry spawned by this case is laid bare.

Proof that "The Amityville Horror" was anything but a true story can be found in several concrete examples from the book. One is Dr. Kaplan's description of an interview with author Jay Anson, who admitted he wrote "The Amityville Horror" based on tapes made by the Lutzes and that he did not verify anything, for the Lutzes "seemed like nice people" and he didn't think they would lie. Another example is a series of statements from individuals such as Sergeant Pat Cammoroto of the Amityville Police Department, reporters Steve Bauman and Marvin Scott, and the priest known in "The Amityville Horror" as Father Mancuso (real name Father Pecoraro), all of whom attest they did not observe or uncover certain paranormal phenomena despite claims by the Lutzes in their book. A third instance involves an analysis of the house itself which reveals that the supernaturally-based damage reported by the Lutzes, the spookiness of the so-called "red room," the alleged history of dead and dying Indians on the property, and the supposed uninhabitability of the place due to malevolent forces were all fabrications. A fourth example is based on the scrutiny of the seemingly countless revisions the Lutzes made to their story, as reported through various mediums including television, magazines, and the hardcover/paperback editions of "The Amityville Horror." A fifth consists of a word-for-word account from attorney William Weber describing how he and the Lutzes cooked up this fairy tale. Last but not least, one of the most powerful examples of proof appears in the form of public confessions from George Lutz himself that many of the details of this ghost story either did not happen the way they were told or did not happen at all (my personal favorite was his statement that everything in the house was just fine until the last week or so, rendering the bulk of his claims false). How anyone could continue to believe in this tale after not only seeing the number of times it evolved but also observing several false pretenses crumble under examination is a mystery. Regardless, the proof about this fraudulent ghost story is all here for anyone who cares to examine it; I have only mentioned a few of the many compelling illustrations.

Most readers will rightfully applaud the Kaplans for closing the book on an enduring myth that disrupted a real town on Long Island for 25 years and allowed scoundrels such as the Lutzes and Warrens to profit to this day from shameless deception. However, it seems there is a contingent of loyal believers who feel quite threatened by the possibility that a story they faithfully subscribed to for years was in actuality a fabrication. Rather than thank Dr. and Mrs. Kaplan for offering the truth from behind the scenes, some have engaged in a childish smear campaign against Dr. Kaplan - which only serves as a testimony to the efficacy of the Kaplans' arguments. Dr. Kaplan has been harshly portrayed as either out for money (quite hypocritical given the untold amounts made by the Lutzes' version of the story) or revenge that he wasn't included in the original investigation (which he was... until he warned George Lutz if there was any sign of a hoax he would expose it, causing Lutz to end his association with Dr. Kaplan). However, neither of these juvenile accusations can change the veracity of the information he and his wife provided in their book.

I couldn't help but notice the comments of those who insisted "Kaplan was not a parapsychologist" (he was), "Stephen Kaplan did not hold a doctorate" (he did, from Pacific College) and "There are even a few spots in the book where, if you do your own investigative work, Kaplan just plain lies" (Examples, please?) never contributed any data of their own to address any specific claims by the Kaplans. One reviewer even announced, "Well, actually it has been proven that this book is the real hoax." (By whom?) It's a rather sad commentary on the mindset of the "true believer," who ignores the facts that debunk the Lutzes' lies and instead tries to smear the opposition, usually with the assistance of the load of malarkey provided about Amityville on the Warrens' website. It's not hard to see why there is such desperation by some to change the subject from the facts; throughout the many years this case has endured there has never been a single molecule of factual evidence to support the claims of the Lutzes. People have lived in this house with absolutely no paranormal activity (and no professional investigators of the paranormal other than the Warrens detected any as well) in the quarter-century that has passed since the Lutzes "fled." The original motive for their departure? Severe financial problems caused by their purchasing a house too expensive to afford, despite it's reduced price tag. Those financial problems motivated the Lutzes to release a number of obnoxiously false book sequels (still titled "A True Story," of course) - which all on their own stand as a perfect testament to the Lutzes' lack of credibility.

In summary, this book presents a wonderfully entertaining insight not just towards this case but the world of paranormal investigation, publishing and television. I think it will greatly appeal to those interested in the true story behind the "true story."