Mythical, legendary and supernatural beings, monsters and creatures Books

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Book SynopsisFollow ten little monsters as they dress up, explore and more in this fun preschool counting book based on the classic nursery rhyme This Little Piggy.This little monster tries a treat,This little monster plays a trick . . .It's dress-up time! Ten excited children become cute and colourful monsters and an ordinary street becomes a spooky world full of surprises. Follow along with the little monsters as they go trick-or-treating, find a pumpkin patch, and explore a mysterious cave . . . before running all the way home!With ten children to find and count as you turn the pages, loads to spot along the way, and a special surprise fold-out ending, this picture book is specially developed for imaginative little preschool monsters everywhere. There is a bonus section at the end with reading tips for parents and carers, giving ideas for discussion and extra things for children to spot.This Little Monster is a riotous read-aloud preschool adventure – come and join in the fun! And for roarsome dinosaur fans, look out for This Little Dinosaur in the same series.

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Book SynopsisLet Count Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and other creepy creatures guide your tarot practice with this hair-raising tarot deck and guidebook inspired by the iconic Universal Pictures Monsters! Bring the spooky spirit of classic movie monsters to your tarot readings with this cinematic spin on the traditional tarot deck! Featuring stunning original artwork inspired by classic tarot iconography, this 78-card deck depicts spine-chilling characters, imagery, and themes from the legendary Universal Pictures monster films, from Boris Karloff's Frankenstein and Bela Lugosi's Count Dracula to the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and more! Comprising both major and minor arcana, the deck also comes with a helpful guidebook explaining the meaning of each card as well as a few simple spreads for easy readings. Packaged in a deluxe collectible box, it's a gift that will wow horror film fans and tarot enthusiasts alike!

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Book SynopsisTrolls are everywhere. They lurk on the internet; they fill the pages of popular fantasy literature; they are hunted in Norwegian film. They are the homeless in California; they are comforting or threatening characters in children's books; they are amusing dolls. Although trolls are ubiquitous today, for centuries they were confined to the landscape of Scandinavia. They were beings in nature, and their environment was a pre-industrial world in which people lived by farming and fishing on a small scale. This book is a history of trolls from their first appearances in folk tales - some people reported actual encounters with trolls, and others found such encounters plausible even if they were not sure - and follows a natural transition from folklore to trolls in other domains of popular culture. Indeed, trolls would not be interesting had they not made this jump, first to illustrations in the Nordic book market, then on to Scandinavian literature and drama, and far beyond. Since then they have never gone away, and in their various guises they continue to appeal to the imagination around the world. From the Vikings to the Moomins, the Brothers Grimm and the Three Billy Goats Gruff, this book explores the panoply of trolls and their history and their continuing presence today.Trade Review'in this clever little book, [Lindow] traces the history of trolls from their earliest appearances in Old Norse literature through the more familiar creatures of folk tale and fairy tale and right up to the latest manifestation of the malign Other, the internet pest ... Lindow writes with wit and warmth, but this is also a learned and sometimes unsettling study which brings to light some unexpected facets of the troll phenomenon more generally.' - TLS '[an] excellent overview of the history of trolls ... Trolls: An Unnatural History weighs in at only 144 pages, but never feels too brief. Lindow takes a long view of his subject matter ... To follow a thread throughout 1,000 years of history, in several different countries, is not an easy task. In the hands of someone less knowledgeable and less skilled in presenting their arguments, a book can end up as a mess. Here, Lindow avoids all those traps, instead giving us a coherent, insightful and informed exploration of a fascinating subject that deserves a wider audience.' - Fortean Times 'a fascinating read ... you likely won't find another source for such an in-depth look at trolls, internet comment sections notwithstanding.' - Spectrum CultureTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Earliest Trolls 2. Medieval Trolls 3. Folklore Trolls 4. Fairy-tale Trolls and Trolls Illustrated 5. Trolls in Literature 6. Trolls, Children, Marketing, and Whimsy Epilogue Sources and Further Reading Acknowledgements and Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisGripping, spirited and sometimes grisly, Spurling's fresh interpretations of these timeless tales bring both their heroes and their context vividly to life, reanimating Apollo, Herakles, Theseus, Perseus and Agamemnon.Trade Review'Arcadian Nights is a brilliant, riveting book that leaves its competitors behind, blinking into the distance, as surely as Theseus left Ariadne' TLS'This book shines... seamlessly interweaving personal and historical perspectives... Arcadian Nights is good fun' Historical Novels Review'Classicists and non-classicists alike will love Arcadian Nights... a great book' Oxford Today'The Greek myths are dusted off from old college readers like Edith Hamilton's Mythology and given new life in this fantastic collection... Well-written, Arcadian Nights will be difficult to put down' New York Journal of Books'An excellent read that examines the intricacies of storytelling and the complexities of human nature' Helena Gumley-Mason, The Lady'Spurling is a first-rate storyteller and this collection should delight everyone from the scholar of Greek myths to one reading them for the first time' We Love This Book

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Book SynopsisTaking inspiration from the incomparably beautiful and intense poetry of Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, Spurling - a lifelong classicist and historical novelist - spins five more myths for contemporary readers.

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Book SynopsisLast Days: Zombie Apocalypse is a skirmish-scale miniatures game of survival horror. It pits players against each other in a nightmarish near-future where the dead have returned to life and are feasting on the living.Players build their own factions, representing desperate civilians, military personnel, or hardened survivors, and must explore, scavenge, and fight in order to survive another day. Rival gangs are only one of the dangers they face--mindless zombies wander the streets, driven by insatiable hunger and drawn by the sound of combat!A gang''s ability to scavenge is as vital as their combat ability, and players must ensure that they have the resources to survive in this hostile world. Scenarios and campaigns allow you to develop your gang, gain experience, and recruit new henchmen to build up your strength or replace the inevitable casualties of the zombie apocalypse.

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Book Synopsis''A magical tale of power and sacrifice, manipulation and betrayal'' Melissa Caruso Two siblings. Two nations. One war for it all. Sonya is training to be a Ranger of Marzanna, an ancient sect of warriors who have protected the land for generations. But the old ways are dying, and the rangers have all been forced into hiding or killed off by the invading Empire.When her father is murdered by imperial soldiers, she decides to finally take action. Using her skills as a ranger she will travel across the bitter cold tundra and gain the allegiance of the only other force strong enough to take down the invaders.But nothing about her quest will be easy. Her brother, Sebastian, is the most powerful sorcerer the world has ever seen.And he''s fighting for the empire.The Ranger of Marzanna begins an epic tale of warring siblings, powerful magic and daring adventures. ''This iTrade ReviewSkovron launches his Slavic-influenced Goddess War series with this intricate, well-told fantasy . . . This is epic fantasy done right. * Publishers Weekly on THE RANGER OF MARZANNA *The world-building is solid, the action is nonstop, and Skovron's overall character development is exceptional . . . An undeniable page-turner that will have readers salivating for the next volume of this projected trilogy * Kirkus on THE RANGER OF MARZANNA *The Ranger of Marzanna pits brother against sister in a bewitching, snow-swept world, where political schemes collide with the machinations of a death goddess. A magical tale of power and sacrifice, manipulation and betrayal * Melissa Caruso *

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Book SynopsisSonya has brought a foreign army to free her country from imperial rule, but her allies may have other goals in the second book of this thrilling epic fantasy trilogy from Jon Skovron. The first battle is over, but war yet looms on the horizon. Sonya and her allies - the foreign Uaine and their armies of the undead - have beaten back the imperial soldiers from the capital city. Now they have the rest of the country to free. Meanwhile, her brother, the famed wizard Sebastian, has retreated with the imperial forces to regroup and lick his wounds. Betrayed by his sister and his wife, the beautiful noblewoman Galina, he will regain control of his life and his country at any cost.Praise for the series''A magical tale of power and sacrifice, manipulation and betrayal'' Melissa Caruso''This is epic fantasy done right'' Publishers Weekly''An undeniable page-turner that will have readers salivating for the

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Book SynopsisThis title is part of a series that includes phonically decodablediverse and inclusive stories and topics, accompanied by age appropriatecontemporary photographs and humorous illustrations thatwill engage and inspire striving readers.

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Book SynopsisEnter the world of faery and discover the amazing possibilities that come from living and working with the Good Folk. This remarkable book is both a folkloric resource and guide to residing near our magical neighbours.Trade ReviewThis promises to be the fairy book of the year. Simon Young, secretary of the Fairy Investigation Society

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Book SynopsisA stylishly designed pocket guide to Faery with colour illustrations throughout by bestselling illustrator Siolo Thompson.

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Book SynopsisThe second terrifying instalment in the Night Warriors series from master of horror Graham Masterton.DON''TThere is something stalking the dream world. While people are sleeping, and at their most vulnerable, it infiltrates their minds and drives them to do terrible things.GOIts next target is a young boy who quickly becomes the unwilling vessel of an unstoppable demonic force. His family cannot save him. How can you fight against something that only exists in your head?TO SLEEPTheir only hope is the Night Warriors, conquerors of dreams. But demons like this have power far beyond what they have seen before, and it is about to erupt from the world of dreams into the waking world where the Night Warriors are powerlessPraise for Graham Masterton:''One of the most original and frightening storytellers of our time'' Peter James''Suspenseful and tension-filled... all the finesse

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Book SynopsisThe fourth terrifying instalment in the Night Warriors series from master of horror Graham Masterton.THEY FIGHT TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE.The Night Warriors are an ancient order set to protect us in our dreams, when we are our most defenceless and there is nothing more vulnerable than a child.When they learn of two monstrous apparitions that are attempting to enter the dreams of expectant mothers, sending demons to embed themselves into the minds of newborn babies, they know they must do something.The only way to stop such a powerful force is to uncover their true motive for targeting children. They have faced evil before but nothing as cruel and horrific as this...Praise for Graham Masterton:''One of the most original and frightening storytellers of our time'' Peter James''Suspenseful and tension-filled... all the finesse of a master storyteller'' Guardian''One of Britain''s finest

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Book SynopsisWe've all got demons. Some of us choose to color them.Stock up on holy water, wield your colored pencils like wooden stakes, and enjoy some me time with The Exorcist's Coloring Book. This devilishly fun coloring book puts you face-to-face with spawns of Satan, body-snatching aliens, pizza-stealing zombies, bloodthirsty grannies, possessed toddlers, and villainous vampires. All you have to do is attack them with a powerful array of color to send them screaming back to their rightful place in hell.- More than 35 chilling illustrations and campy designs showcasing the best in horror- Single-sided printing makes it easy to finish off one monster at a time- Perforated pages let you tear out your demons and burn themor mount them on your wall like trophiesWith original illustrations from your darkest nightmares, The Exorcist's Coloring Book is an absolute scream.

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Book SynopsisColor a magical land of enchanted fairy dwellings!Tiny Worlds: Fairy Homes offers a peek at the charming cottages and pint-size villages of pixies, elves, and fairies. With more than 45 illustrations of mystical settings that inspire the imagination, prepare to renew your sense of wonder and possibility. Add a brilliant rainbow of color to an adorable hidden universe where a teacup is a cozy townhome, a mushroom is a garden-view mansion, and a book is a welcoming fairy library. Let your inner artist soar as you add your unique touch to each miraculous home and its tiny winged inhabitants.- Visit whimsical worlds in more than 45 fantastic illustrations- Express your creativity and indulge your love of all things mini- Take a relaxing, mindful coloring break anytime you need it

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Book SynopsisA football-loving princetakes ona trollin this hilarious colour-illustrated early reader bySally Prue. Perfect for children learning to read.Prince Sam doesn''t like being a prince his ''How-to-Be-a-Good-Prince'' lessons are boring and it''s hard to play football with a crown on. But then aBIG BAD TROLL turns up and the people of Flat Town needPrince Sam to save them! Willhedefeat the troll, or will he get squashed flat??The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It's the first step towards a lasting love of reading.Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories.Clear typeUp to 8 lines per pageBright, appealing pictures for added interestA variety of sentence structuresA wider range of vocabularyStrong themes and charact

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Book SynopsisDom Joly sets off round the world, but this time he''s not looking to holiday in a danger zone - he''s monster hunting. Ever since he was given a copy of Arthur C. Clarke''s Mysterious World for his ninth birthday Dom has been obsessed with the world of cryptozoology - monster hunting - and in Scary Monsters and Super Creeps he heads to six completely different destinations to investigate local monster sightings. He explores the Redwood Curtain in northern California in search of Sasquatch; in Canada he visits Lake Okanagan hoping to catch a glimpse of a thirty-foot snake-like creature called Ogopogo; and near Lake Tele in Congo he risks his life tracking the vegetarian sauropod Mokele-mbembe. Naturally he heads to Loch Ness - but for this hunt he has his family in tow; he treks across the Khumbu Valley in Nepal looking for Yeti; and in the hills above Hiroshima in Japan he enlists the help of a local man to find the Hibagon, a terribly smelly ''Trade ReviewEngaging and entertaining, the sort of book that makes you want to one day share a long-haul flight with Dom, if only to joust elbows with him -- Tim Butcher, bestselling author

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Book SynopsisA fantastical coloring experience, this is the perfect creative outlet. This new pocket-sized coloring book for adults by award-winning artist Jim Shore is filled with 32 stunning designs of his original and best-selling fantasy artwork in his iconic folk-art style. Each illustration captures imaginative scenes inspired by fairy tales, myths, legends, and other fantastic adventures and stories, making this coloring book a magical and creative experience! Each line art design is printed on a single side of high-quality paper with perforated edges for easy removal and display.?

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Book Synopsis'A great storyteller' Madeline Miller, author of CirceIn this powerful new collection, Charlotte Higgins foregrounds Greek mythology's most enduring heroines. Here are the myths of Heracles and Theseus, the Trojan war, Thebes and Argos and Athens. They are stories of love and desire, adventure and magic, destructive gods, helpless humans, fantastical creatures and resourceful witches. In this telling the female characters take centre stage as Athena, Helen, Circe, Penelope and others weave these stories into elaborate imagined tapestries. In Charlotte Higgins's thrilling new interpretation of these ancient stories, their tales combine to form a dazzling, sweeping epic of storytelling. With a series of original drawings by Chris Ofili.Trade ReviewHiggins is a wonderful scholar, and a great story teller. I've been loving these retellings, cleverly centered around the theme of myths told in tapestry. -- Madeline Miller, author of THE SONG OF ACHILLES and CIRCE[Higgins] leads us through the labyrinth of interconnected stories in a startlingly fresh way. It throws radiant new light on their meanings... This excellent book should delight many generations of story lovers to come. -- Edith Hall * Guardian *[An] erudite and exhilarating collection... luminous, astute retellings. -- Hephzibah Anderson * Observer *[A] scholarly, capacious reimagining... Higgins makes you feel for these tormented, accursed mortals afresh. -- Claire Allfree * The Times *We are in the hands of a fine, fluent storyteller... Higgins, like the bards who first unspooled these tales, creates the illusion of spontaneity and handles suspense brilliantly... Chris Ofili's drawings complement the lyricism of the prose descriptions. Higgins depicts art mediating life - the reason, I think, that we read books... I loved this book. -- Sara Wheeler * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisZombies: A Cultural History, now available in paperback, sifts materials from anthropology, folklore, travel writing, colonial histories, long-forgotten pulp literature, B-movies, medical history and cultural theory to give a definitive short introduction to the zombie, exploring the manifold meanings of this compelling, slow-moving yet relentless monster.Trade ReviewLuckhurst s wide-ranging history of this cult phenomenon is a richly detailed and eminently readable, nuanced, and rigorous story. He outlines the different shapes the complex, colonially driven monster takes in its century-long journey through the imperial American sub-Zeitgeist including its surprising global resurrection in the new millennium. Everyone from Zora Neale Hurston to 1950s pulp comics to esoteric space scientists and Kirkman had a hand in fashioning the imaginary creature we know today as the zombie. --Victoria Nelson, author of Gothicka and The Secret Life of Puppets"

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Book SynopsisYou have probably heard many stories of magical creatures of myth. From the deadly dragon to the musical mermaid, the fiery phoenix to the unique unicorn... Could any of these fantastic animals really exist? Well, that is for you to decide!

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Book SynopsisEDUCATIONAL FUN: children learn best through play, this game is ideal for practising key stage 1 maths skills10 GAMES IN 1: for 2-4 players aged 5+INCLUDES PARENTAL GUIDANCE in the rulebook, plus 52 playing cards featuring fun monstersPERFECT STOCKING FILLER or birthday presentWhen the monsters declare a Monster War, start a Monster Race or mix up their order in the Monster Line... can you play by the rules and sort them out? Develop maths skills as you play 10 fun games in 1 with Monster Maths.

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Book SynopsisColor the hair-raising and frightening monsters and other things that go bump in the night in Zombies, Werewolves, Monsters & Horror. This coloring book will delight hardcore horror fans and those fascinated by all creatures of the night. Whether your affinity for horror began with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the stories of H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King, classic films like Nosferatu and Night of the Living Dead, slasher flicks like Halloween and Scream, or modern thrillers like Get Out and M3GAN—there is something for you to color in Zombies, Werewolves, Monsters & Horror. Inside, you’ll find more than 120 pages to color. Each design features detailed illustrations of monsters from disturbing legends, grim stories, an

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Book SynopsisStories about demons are rising in pop culture, but accounts of their manifestations have been bubbling up throughout history.

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Book SynopsisRead 24 chilling stories, from two paranormal investigators, about reportedly true encounters with monsters in New England and the Northeast. Vampires prey upon family members from beyond the grave. A monstrous dog with glowing eyes seems to vanish into thin air. A giant, red-eyed beast terrorizes homeowners while helping itself to beloved pets—for dinner. The Northeast’s history includes several unimaginable encounters with legendary creatures. This collection of “ghost stories” presents the creepiest, most surprising tales of monsters in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Authors Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler are active paranormal investigators with a shared fascination for things that go bump in the night. The professional writers spent countless hours combing the region for the strangest and scariest run-ins with the unexplained. Horror fans and history buffs will delight in these 24 terrifying tales. They’re based on reportedly true accounts, proving that the Northeast is the setting for some of the most unsettling monster tales ever told. The short stories are ideal for quick reading, and they are sure to captivate even the most reluctant of readers. Share them with friends around a campfire, or try them alone at home—if you dare.

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Book SynopsisMonstrous textuality emerges when Gothic narratives like Frankenstein reflect the monstrous in their narrative structure to create narratives of resistance, and allows writers to meta-narratively reflect their own poetics and textual production, and reclaim authority over their work under circumstances of systemic cultural oppression and Othering. This book traces the representation of other Others through Black feminist hauntology in Toni Morrison's Beloved (1987) and Love (2003); it explores fat freak embodiment as a feminist resistance strategy in Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus (1984) and Margaret Atwood's Lady Oracle (1976); and it reads Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy (2003-13) and Shelley Jackson's Patchwork Girl (1995) within a framework of critical posthumanist and cyborg theory. The result is a comprehensive argument about how these texts can be read within a framework of critical posthumanist questioning of knowledge production, and of epistemological exploration, beyond the exclusionary humanist paradigm.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Teratologies Troubling Genealogies: Monstrous Textuality and Narratives of Resistance in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein I: What Moves at the Margin 2 Haunted Narratives 3 Monstrous Narratives II: A Female Monster Larger Than Life Introduction 4 Reframing Narratives 5 Corporeal Discourses 6 'A Female Monster Larger than Life': Fatness and Resistance III: Hideous Progeny Introduction 7 Posthuman Reading Practices 8 Posthuman Writing Practices 9 Posthuman Bodies in/as Narrative Conclusion Conclusion: 'The Promises of Monsters' Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWhy were the Anglo-Saxons obsessed with monsters, many of which did not exist? Drawing on literature and art, theology and a wealth of first-hand evidence, Basilisks and Beowulf reveals a people huddled at the edge of the known map, using the fantastic and the grotesque as a way of comprehending the world around them. For the Anglo-Saxons, monsters helped to distinguish the sacred and the profane; they carried God’s message to mankind, exposing His divine hand in creation itself. At the same time, monsters were agents of disorder, seeking to kill people, conquer their lands and challenge what it meant to be human even. Learning about where monsters lived and how they behaved allowed the Anglo-Saxons to understand their place in the world, as well as to apprehend something of the divine plan. It is for these reasons that monsters were at the very centre of the Anglo-Saxon worldview. From map monsters to demons, dragons to Leviathan, we neglect them at our peril.Trade Review'Uncharted territories were not valued for their splendour, but feared for the malign forces they hosted. Tim Flight’s book covers the range of creatures that, in the Anglo-Saxon imagination, make their home in such landscapes. From the mysterious blemmyes, headless men with eyes on their chest, to cynocephali (literally, “dog-headed”), human-canine hybrids with cannibalistic tendencies, it shows how the monstrous is associated with the “corruption of God’s design” – or, to put it another way, creatures that are almost like humans or animals, but not quite . . . Flight’s book is at its best when it explores this early medieval obsession with reinforcing and policing boundaries, and how it feeds into imperial and colonial projects of the time. Demon-fighting is compared with colonial expansion; defending the self against monsters becomes a matter of national security.' – TLS; 'Monsters abound in the literature and art of Anglo-Saxon England. From the most famous work of Old English literature, Beowulf, which relates the adventures of a monster-slaying hero, to hagiographies that narrate encounters between saints and devils, strange creatures are everywhere in England's early Middle Ages. In Basilisks and Beowulf, Tim Flight describes these monsters and analyses their role in the Anglo-Saxon worldview . . . it's well worth the time of anyone interested in the history of monsters.' – Fortean Times; 'A bold and wide-ranging expedition into the wildest corners of the early medieval mind; Flight skilfully conjures the primal fears and ancient wonders that once lurked in England’s shadowed groves and hollows.' – Thomas Williams, author of Viking Britain: A History; 'Although he wears his learning lightly, Tim Flight covers an impressive amount of ground to bring us his thoughtful, stimulating account of monsters in the early medieval world. Moving from Beowulf’s historical context, through maps, wolves, dragons, devils, and the Grendelkin to present-day fears, Basilisks and Beowulf opens up a strange and yet hauntingly familiar world to anyone who has read the poem or any of its multitudinous offspring.' – Dr Jennifer Neville, Royal Holloway, University of London; 'Immensely readable, thought-provoking and entertaining, this book is a splendid introduction to the though-world of the early English.' – Carolyne Larrington, BBC History Magazine; 'In this exploration of Anglo-Saxon monsters, Flight exhibits a deep knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon corpus and brings together a broad assortment of texts. Flight focuses on the dichotomy between wilderness – the domain of monsters – and civilization. In engaging prose, he explores how the boundaries between these domains shaped Anglo-Saxon perceptions of monsters. Whereas scholarly consideration of Anglo-Saxon monsters generally focuses on Beowulf, Flight includes works in which monsters are featured less conspicuously, such as the sea life in The Seafarer, St. Cuthbert’s battles against demons, and the etchings of curious monsters on Franks Casket (an early-eighth-century chest). But Flight certainly does not neglect Beowulf. He offers insight into symbolic representations of the dragon and the Grendelkin; the latter infiltrate the peace at Heorot and are, like St. Christopher in the Nowell Codex, part human. Flight also considers the hero Beowulf himself, whose size and strength render him akin to, though not part of, the realm of monsters. Other topics include wolves, map monsters, dragons, and whales, and a concluding chapter brings into discussion modern monsters such as Bigfoot and big cats in the UK. Recommended.' – ChoiceTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION I THE MAP MONSTERS II OF WOLF AND MAN III HIC SUNT DRACONES IV SAINTS AND SATANAS V THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA VI MEARCSTAPAN, PART ONE: THE GRENDELKIN VII MEARCSTAPAN, PART TWO: BEOWULF AND OTHERS CONCLUSION REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PHOTO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INDEX

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Book SynopsisDevon has a long and rich folkloric heritage which has been extensively collected over many years. This book consolidates more than a century of research by eminent Devon folklorists into one valuable study and builds on the vital work that was undertaken by the Devonshire Association, providing insightful analysis of the subject matter and drawing comparisons with folklore traditions beyond the county. The first major work on Devon's folklore since Ralph Whitlock’s short book published by the Folklore Society in the 1970s, this volume brings the subject into the twenty-first century with consideration of internet memes and modern lore, demonstrating that ‘folklore’ does not equate to ‘old rural practice’. With chapters covering the history of Devon's folklore collecting, tales from the moors, the annual cycle, farming and the weather, the devil, fairies, hauntings, black dogs, witchcraft and modern lore, this will remain the standard work for many years to come.Trade ReviewWhat joy! ...It is a treat to have West Country tales, legends, and traditions comprehensively covered, and be shown distinctive ways in which folklore can be contextualised, made relevant and retold. -- Helen Cornish, Fortean TimesA feast of old tales, customs, superstitions, rhymes and songs. -- John Foxen * What’s Afoot *A most enjoyable ramble through Deb’n folklore. -- Jo Gibson * Northern Earth *Although this is a scholarly book, it is not a tough academic tome. It is a lively, easily readable, often humorous account of a living world of story and belief... Hugely recommended to every Fortean! -- Richard Samuels * Magonia Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Folklore Collection in Devon 2. Stories from the Moors 3. The Calendar Year 4. Farming and the Weather 5. The Devil in Devon 6. Fairies in Devon 7. Some Devon Hauntings 8. The Black Dog 9. Witchcraft 10. Modern Folklore Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisYou have probably heard many stories of magical creatures of myth. From the deadly dragon to the musical mermaid, the fiery phoenix to the unique unicorn, could any of these fantastic animals really exist? Well, that is for you to decide!

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Book SynopsisNo one in Imirath had ever seen a dragon, until five eggs long thought fossils hatched in the presence of their young princess, Elowen Atarah. Fearing the power his daughter would wield through her soul-bond with the creatures, King Garrick imprisoned her for many years, desperately trying to break the bond that united them, until a daring rescue saved Elowen from his clutches - but left her five precious dragons at his mercy.Years later, Elowen is now a woman determined to free her dragons. Having established a queendom of her own, she is ready to do whatever is necessary to save her people from starvation and seek vengeance against her father. Even if that means leaving the home she built for herself. Or having to align herself with the Commander of Vareveth, Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms of Ravaryn and her father's sworn enemy.

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Book SynopsisWhat is the difference between a ghost and a ghoul? How do you tell a good Jinn from a bad one? Where would you find a chimera or a manticore? What did Herodotus have to say about werewolves? In this enchanting little book, television producer and mythozoologist Tam OMalley explores the rich world of mythological animals, from banshees to harpies, griffins to vampires. These ancient beasties still intrigue us today, filling popular novels, screens and imaginations. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 The Banshee 2 Basilisk and Cockatrice 4 Blemmyae and Sciapods 6 Centaurs and Satyrs 8 Chimera 10 Cyclopes 12 Dragons and Wormes 14 Fairies, Elves, Goblins, Pixies and Gnomes 16 Ghouls 18 The Gorgons 20 The Griffin 22 Harpies and Sirens 24 Hydra and Cerberus 26 Jinn 28 Lamassu and Manticore 30 Leviathan, and Kraken 32 Mandrakes and Dryads 34 Mermaids and Fishmen 36 The Minotaur 38 Nagas and Naiads 40 The Phoenix 42 The Sphinx 44 Trolls 46 Typhon 48 Unicorns 50 Vampires 52 Werewolves and Anubis 54 Living Myths 56 Modern Myths 58

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Book SynopsisMonsters. Real or imagined, literal or metaphorical, they have exerted a dread fascination on the human mind for many centuries. They attract and repel us, intrigue and terrify us, and in the process reveal something deeply important about the darker recesses of our collective psyche. Stephen Asma''s On Monsters is a wide-ranging cultural and conceptual history of monsters--how they have evolved over time, what functions they have served for us, and what shapes they are likely to take in the future. Asma begins with a letter from Alexander the Great in 326 B.C. detailing an encounter in India with an enormous beast--larger than an elephantthree ominous horns on its forehead. From there the monsters come fast and furious--Behemoth and Leviathan, Gog and Magog, the leopard-bear-lion beast of Revelation, Satan and his demons, Grendel and Frankenstein, circus freaks and headless children, right up to the serial killers and terrorists of today and the post-human cyborgs of tomorrow. Monsters embody our deepest anxieties and vulnerabilities, Asma argues, but they also symbolize the mysterious and incoherent territory just beyond the safe enclosures of rational thought. Exploring philosophical treatises, theological tracts, newspapers, pamphlets, films, scientific notebooks, and novels, Asma unpacks traditional monster stories for the clues they offer about the inner logic of an era''s fears and fascinations. In doing so, he illuminates the many ways monsters have become repositories for those human qualities that must be repudiated, externalized, and defeated. Asma suggests that how we handle monsters reflects how we handle uncertainty, ambiguity, insecurity. And in a world that is daily becoming less secure and more ambiguous, he shows how we might learn to better live with monsters--and thereby avoid becoming one.Trade ReviewAsma's wide-ranging study is accessible and the monsters are fascinating. * Alexander Blasdel, Times Literary Supplement *Hugely entertaining book. * Philip Jacobson, Daily Mail *Absorbing, entertaining survey...an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. * Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman *Eloquently produced, wideranging study. * Christopher Hawtree, The Independent *A terrific read: cogent and witty and thought-provoking fom start to finish. * Daily Telegraph, Toby Clements *His book is irresistable. * John Carey, Sunday Times *A very readable and surprising history of every sort of monster, from the Biblical to the biotechnical. * Audrey Niffenegger, The Guardian *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Extraordinary Beings Part 1 - Ancient Monsters 1 Alexander Fights Monsters in India 2 Monsters Are Nature's Playthings 3 Hermaphrodites and Man-headed Oxen 4 Monstrous Desire Part 2 - Medieval Monsters: Messages from God 5 Biblical Monsters 6 Do Monsters Have Souls? 7 The Monster Killer 8 Possessing Demons and Witches Part 3 - Scientific Monsters: The Book of Nature is Riddled with Typos 9 Natural History, Freaks, and Nondescripts 10 The Medicalization of Monsters 11 Darwin's Mutants Part 4 - Inner Monsters: The Psychological Aspects 12 The Art of Human Vulnerability: Angst and Horror 13 Criminal Monsters: Psychopathology, Aggression, and the Malignant Heart Part 5 - Monsters Today and Tomorrow 14 Torturers, Terrorists, and Zombies: The Products of Monstrous Societies 15 Future Monsters: Robots, Mutants, and Posthuman Cyborgs Epilogue Notes Index

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Book SynopsisReinhold Messner is known as one of history's greatest Himalayan mountaineers. He was the first person to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks, many of them solo. Climber, writer, photographer and filmmaker, Messner has published more than 30 books. He is currently an MEP, based in Brussels. He lives in Austria.

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Book SynopsisA thrilling and heart-pounding journey through a high-stakes video game world. Now in paperback! Now safely back at home, Ian and Lilli are free to return to normal life. Except there's a major problem: Ian keeps seeing the big bad boss dragon Atreus everywhere, and he can't tell whether it's real or in his imagination. So the internet is no longer an option. That's right. Ian, king of online gaming, is out on the soccer court instead. When Atreus shows up . . . everywhere, he knows he needs his sister. But he's legally obligated to never say Dra-er, the name of the game, so how is he supposed to ask for help?When Ian and Lilli finally sign back online, it's clear that Atreus has truly been released on the open web—and even worse, Ikumi has been kidnapped and imprisoned in a video game. It's back into virtual reality, but this time it's to Mech Ops, a futuristic world of zombies and evil robots—and the game's not

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