An Alp may be a creature originating from German folklore. It is sometimes related to a vampire, but it's behavior is more like that of the incubus. It's victims are often female, and it usually attacks during the nighttime, controlling dreams and creating horrible nightmares.

October 10, 1996 (Peter Gilstrap / Phoenix New Times) - It takes a certain brand of optimism and foresight to make a small-market concept work, a certain drive and, of course, the essential ability to recognize a need and fill it. Before a savvy, upward mover even begins to address such concepts as outsourcing, retrenchment and severe lower-pricing to shed high-cost capacity, he must be able to pick the right product at the right moment. Such a man is Rod Jakubik. His product is fangs.

April 19, 2007 (Independent Online / Irene Kuppan / SOUTH AFRICA) -- Paramedics on Wednesday saved the life of a man claiming to be a vampire and intent on committing suicide. The man, believed to be aged about 40, was discovered hanging on the wrong side of a bridge railing above railway lines along Argyle Road.

Any broad exploration of pre-Industrial European society cannot help but touch upon the plethora of peasant tales that both served to entertain the populace and teach morality to the children of Europe. On surface examination, at least, this function of folklore seems apparent enough. It is a perfectly valid assessment of the function of common fable--but in many respects, it is inadequate.

A collection of poetry and prose submitted to VO in 1995.