- ISBN13: 9780393322118
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
We have always conjured up creatures never seen in nature, from flying horses and two-headed birds to fire-breathing dragons and enormous killer skunks, as well as fantastic distortions of our own image, from giants to nubile maidens. In these pages you will meet extraordinary beings from Hindu and Navajo religions, Scandinavian tales, Russian folklore, Lithuanian stories, Irish oral history, American tall tales, and Aztec myth. Just some of the monstrous entourage:… More >>
Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth
I’m not sure if this is Carol Rose’s fault or her publisher’s, but this book cost me eighteen dollars brand new with the older cover. This was only a few months ago. While this is an excellent reference book, one of the best I have seen, the price is a bit steep for casual readers.
Rating: 5 / 5
This book has all merfolk, Paul Baunyan, and dragons. It even has jabberwocky.
-Dom :-D
Rating: 5 / 5
As others have mentioned, this book is an encyclopedia and as such contains mostly facts. The stories and legends mentioned in the book are briefly surmised. The pictures are all in black and white. Most beings mentioned in the book are not pictured. Having no other similar book to compare this to, I’d say it’s pretty complete. I’ve never heard of most of the creatures listed. I did find a few beings missing that I think are important and sometimes there are multiple entries for the same subject, under different and sometimes very similar names.
This book would be useful as a reference for a research paper and is a nice addition to anyone’s library.
Rating: 3 / 5
I was really pleased with this book. You could get lost for hours just reading about each creature. I would reccommend this book to any person who likes to read about monsters.
Rating: 4 / 5
Encyclopaedias have always enjoyed favour as a means of presenting subject matter in a condensed and accessible form. There are a number of books that treat giants, monsters and mystery animals none however seems to cover the entire lot in one book including symbolic elements. In alphabetical order giving basic descriptions of each creature as well as its activities, region, culture and historical period. In addition to the basic description and explanation of the origins the author explains parallels to other cultural icons, common heritages and manifestations pertaining to modern popular culture. My only disappointment in this book would be the pictures although there were a number of sketches they were all black and white a bit of colour would have improved the visual effect of this encyclopaedia greatly. We have after all grown accustomed to artistically drawn and designed books.
Mythical creatures have always generated popularity of immense proportion in literary works, film, t/v and the most basic beginning story telling. They are legendary creatures believed at one point in our past history to be real beings. Mythical creatures can easily be divided into two groups ones that actually existed ones that are a composition of imagination gone wild in a time where imagination played a large part of existence. Over time these stories become legends they are then transferred into modern day mythological beings or creatures through film and majestic art work. Each country has their own mythical and magical creatures, monsters and legendary heroes brought to life in a continuum. We are constantly searching and wanting to know more about these myths, they are forever haunting our imagination and will forever continue to run along the imaginary mind. Movies, books on superheroes are forever bringing these mythical beings back to life.
Rating: 4 / 5