Monster Folklore

Traditional interpretations of the creatures of the Bible have sanded down their sharp, unsavory edges, transforming them into celestial beings of glory and light—or chubby, happy cherubs. Those cherubs? They're actually hybrid guardian monsters, more closely associated with the Egyptian sphinx than with flying babies. And the seraphim? Winged serpents sent to mete out God's vengeance. Demons aren't at war with angels; they're a distinct supernatural species used by Satan and by God. The pattern is chilling. Most of these monsters aren't God's opponents—they're God's entourage.

Jackson and Dustin have faced horrors together that would break lesser men, saving each other’s lives more times than they can count. Their bond, forged in blood and fear, is unshakable. When Jackson’s girlfriend, Doli, vanishes during a visit to Black Mesa, he knows he needs Dustin’s help. Rumor has it that a skinwalker—a creature of legend and nightmares—has taken her. Even though Dustin’s wife, Ash, is eight months pregnant, he leaves her in the care of Lux and his mother to stand by Jackson’s side once again. Ben, grateful to Jackson for saving Lux’s life back in ...

Welcome to the United States of Cryptids, where mysterious monsters lurk in the dark forests, deep lakes, and sticky swamps of all fifty states. From the infamous Jersey Devil to the obscure Snallygaster, travel writer and chronicler of the strange J. W. Ocker not only uncovers the bizarre stories of these creatures but investigates the ways in which communities have embraced and celebrated their local cryptids.

Troy Turner is a writer living in a secluded cabin in the Rocky Mountains. He believes his new home in the peaceful valley, miles away from the busy resort town of Hawthorn, is the perfect setting for his work. When two of Troy's closest friends join him on a hunting trip, they are caught in an unexpected snowstorm. Eager to reach the safety of the cabin, they are suddenly and viciously attacked by a terrifying creature they never believed existed. Separated from his friends and badly injured, Troy tries to leave the mountain to seek help. The winter storm made the drive down the mountain ...

In the sixth book of the United States urban legend series we head up to Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts and Michigan. Inside you will read about the legends and folklore from these beautiful states. Some of these stories you may have heard, ut most are only known to the locals. This book contains some of the wildest stories and legendary beasts from these states. You will also learn the locations and read eyewitness accounts from people who have had personal encounters with these legends. Read about, witches, werewolves, vampires, demons, unknown creatures, phantom hitchhikers, ghosts, ...

Lou has spent her whole life running. Now, after a crushing blow from Morgane, the time has come to go home - and claim what is rightfully hers. But this is no longer the Lou her friends knew. No longer the Lou who captured a chasseur’s heart. A darkness has settled over her, and this time it will take more than love to drive it out.

Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. With information on their cultural significance, and how it’s been spun into today’s popular culture, this tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games.

As a witch in the walled city of Chernograd, Kosara has plenty of practice treating lycanthrope bites, bargaining with kikimoras, and slaying bloodsucking upirs. There’s only one monster she can’t defeat: her ex, the Zmey, known as the Tsar of Monsters. She’s defied him one too many times and now he’s hunting her. Betrayed by someone close to her, Kosara’s only choice is to trade her shadow—the source of her powers—for a quick escape.

When Nathan goes to visit his grandma, Nali, at her mobile summer home on the Navajo reservation, he knows he’s in for a pretty uneventful summer, with no electricity or cell service. Still, he loves spending time with Nali and with his uncle Jet, though it’s clear when Jet arrives that he brings his problems with him. One night, while lost in the nearby desert, Nathan finds someone extraordinary: a Holy Being from the Navajo Creation Story - a Water Monster - in need of help.

When socialite Madeleine Saint-Leon reports her fiancé, Benoit Devereaux, missing—claiming he was taken by the Loch Ness monster—the authorities are skeptical. Desperate, she turns to renowned cryptozoologist Dr. Chelsea Buckley. Realizing her limited experience with the Loch Ness monster, Chelsea assembles a top-tier team: Ben Markarios, Gabe Norwich, Dustin McCord, Ash McCord, Francois LeFebvre, and Lux Branson. As the team gathers in Edinburgh, Lux takes charge, uniting this diverse group with unique skills. Venturing to the misty shores of Scotland, they prepare to confront Nessie ...

The folklore that has shaped our dominant culture teems with frightening female creatures. In our language, in our stories (many written by men), we underline the idea that women who step out of bounds - who are angry or greedy or ambitious, who are overtly sexual or not sexy enough - aren’t just outside the norm. They’re unnatural. Monstrous. But maybe, the traits we’ve been told make us dangerous and undesirable are actually our greatest strengths.

Join any Pride march and you are likely to see a glorious display of papier-mâché unicorn heads trailing sequins, drag queens wearing mermaid tails and more fairy wings than you can shake a trident at. But these are not just accessories: they are queer symbols with historic roots. Queer as Folklore is an exhilarating journey across centuries and continents which reveals the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling, magic and fantasy.

Explore the world through its most unlikely creatures: Cryptozoology, the study of hidden, monstrous, and legendary animals, is truly the art of discovering the unknown. Richard Freeman, Zoological Director of Centre for Fortean Zoology, has explored the corners of the five continents on the search for creatures that many people believe are non-existent. In this book, he shares the exciting stories of his investigations of the Yeti, Mongolian Deathworm, Loch Ness Monster, Orang-Pendak, Ninki-Naka, and more.

The human mind needs monsters. In every culture and in every epoch in human history, from ancient Egypt to modern Hollywood, imaginary beings have haunted dreams and fantasies, provoking in young and old shivers of delight, thrills of terror, and endless fascination. In Monsters: Evil Beings, Mythical Beasts, and All Manner of Imaginary Terrors, anthropologist David D. Gilmore explores what human traits monsters represent and why they are so ubiquitous in people's imaginations and share so many features across different cultures.

In a world where rational, scientific explanations are more available than ever, belief in the unprovable and irrational - in fringe - is on the rise: from Atlantis to aliens, from Flat Earth to the Loch Ness monster, the list goes on. It seems the more our maps of the known world get filled in, the more we crave mysterious locations full of strange creatures. Enter Colin Dickey, cultural historian and tour guide of the weird.

With this book you will hear about heroic stories of gods and goddesses, mythical creatures, fairy tales, and epic tales of love and betrayal. Misty rolling hills, lochs, rugged mountains, and mysterious creatures form the grounds for the myths and legends. This audiobook covers all this and much more, including Celtics beliefs, ways of worship, and rituals; the mysterious tombs of the Celtics and how they aligned with the stars; how nature and her sacred creatures have shaped Celtic culture; and more.

The dark gods of my people are back, and they’re hunting the shadow-winged — like me. Being a bush pilot is the third most dangerous job in the world. I’m Piper Tikaani, and I take that in stride. As an Inupiaq Raven Clan shapeshifter—flying is second nature, whether in my supernatural form or tackling the skies in my Super Cub. Strong winds, rugged terrain, and rough clients are all the excitement I need. But when a family friend is found dead on the roof of his wilderness cabin, I find myself caught in a world of hidden treasure and a new, dark reality. Now the people I love hide ...

Sometimes, the questions can be more interesting than the answers. The Search in Extraterrestrial Intelligence [SETI] has recently hotted up, with a whole new wave of research going to show that we will always be fascinated by what we don't understand. Was 'The Wow Signal' a radio transmission from deep space? Or was it the resonating frequency of a passing comet? Often, it can feel as if professional explainers of all stripes want to put an end to anything mysterious in life.

Following a life of suffering and unbearable pain an old man died with his heart full of grievances. He eagerly welcomed death, anticipating the relief it would bring. Instead he discovered that the afterlife was not what he had imagined it to be. Rather than the total annihilation he expected, he entered the river of souls. Instead of obliteration, his death gave him a chance to relive his life and amend the mistakes that had haunted him. Baird’s soul transmigrated to the body of his younger self and he found that the world of his previous childhood was more enigmatic and dangerous than ...

Leo Braudy, a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, has won accolades for revealing the complex and constantly shifting history behind seemingly unchanging ideas of fame, war, and masculinity. Continuing his interest in the history of emotion, this book explores how fear has been shaped into images of monsters and monstrosity.