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Now, the classic books from the library of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry--Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages--are available in hardcover in a sturdy boxed gift set. (These books are written by J.K. Rowling herself under the pseudonyms Newt Scamander and Kennilworthy Whisp.) Finally, Muggles will have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats, and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl. The Quidditch textbook explains where the Golden Snitch came from, how the Bludgers came into existence, and why the Wigtown Wanderers have pictures of meat cleavers on their clothes. Both books, designed to look like Harry Potter's actual, used Hogwarts textbooks, feature silly scribblings from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Proceeds from the sale of this gift set will go to improving and saving the lives of children around the world. Harry Potter fans, rejoice! (All ages)
Book Description
When first released to Muggles in March 2001, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages further enlightened Harry Potter fans about the dangers and delights of the wizarding world. Now these two charming works of non-fiction are available in hardcover -- in a special keepsake slipcase edition!
Customer Reviews:
Harry Potter Schoolbooks.......2007-09-24
I really enjoyed these books. They were an enjoyable sampling of a few extra aspects of the Harry Potter universe. J.K. did a good job with fleshing out the history of quidditch and the variety of magical creatures that get mentioned throughout the HP series.
Cute and entertaining.......2007-08-29
A must read for Harry Potter fans. Quidditch Through the Ages is written to appear like a book that is actually been checked out from the Hogwarts Library while Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them is an actual textbook used by Harry and Ron. The markings written by Harry and Ron in the book are priceless.
Harry Potter Schoolbooks.......2007-08-23
It is an amusing set of books. If you have all seven books, you will also like this set. I didn't realize that Rowling had written this set around book five. The money from the sales goes to charity and the odd facts are interesting. She is creative in her description of the different beasts in the first book and the history of quidditch in the second book. The other games that predate quidditch are amusing.
Good companion.......2007-08-16
These books are good to fill in the blanks that all of the creature and quiddich references leave in the Harry Potter series. they are short enough to read in one sitting, so they are worth it for any Harry Potter fan wanting to get a little more out of the HP universe
A Great Complement to the Harry Potter Series.......2007-08-16
These two books complement the Harry Potter Series. Designed as "school books" for Harry, they explain the game of quidditch and the different beasts which inhabit the wizarding world.
If you are a serious Harry Potter fan, you need these books
Book Description
How to Draw a Dragon: "Cautiously approach the dragon, offer it a piece of candy or a little sister, and draw while it happily munches away."
From the creator of the wildly popular website NeonDragonArt.com, DRAGONART shows you how to create awesome, delightful and frightening beasts, armed only with a pencil and ink pen. You'll begin your quest by conquering a super-easy dragon that even the most foolish of ogres could draw. You'll forge onward to discover simple secrets and spiffy tricks for making creatures friendly or fierce, sorrowful or cynical… drawing them from all different perspectives, in flight or at rest (so vain, those dragons - they love to strike a pose!). You'll also learn how to incorporate various details to make each beast original.
Because dragons enjoy having others around to terrorize, disembowel and occasionally hang out with, this book will also teach you how to create a whole cast of creatures, including mythical griffins, guardian gargoyles and deadly basilisks. All this within the curiously compelling, beautifully beastly and brightly colored pages that you will soon hold in your hands, which by now are no doubt trembling with keen anticipation. So quit dragon your feet! (Ugh, wyrms hate puns!) Kindly buy this dragon favorite and make your wildest, wickedest, fire-breathingest fantasies come true!
Customer Reviews:
GREAT HOW TO BOOK.......2007-10-03
My kids have always been frustrated with "how to draw" books. I don't know what it is about how Neon explains things, but not only can they get the instructions, but the results are great! Conversational tone, can-do attitude? I'd expect something with two heads, four limbs and wings to be harder to draw than your basic horse, but they can do it! Brava!
Dragon art: How to Draw Fantastic Dragons and Fantasy Creatures.......2007-09-05
The examples in the book are very good but for the more advance young artist. The pictures would also be good for copying and using as coloring for younger artists. Would think this book is more for about 10 years and up.
Very nice book . . . .......2007-08-16
This book is wonderful. It's fun to look at even if you're not in it for the instructional value it has. What makes it unique is that it gives the reader a little history on each creature.
I wouldn't consider this a 'beginners' book as some of the techniques are slightly advanced, but I think anyone can benefit from what this book offers.
This book would be very beneficial to tattoo artists.
Dragonart: How to Draw Fantastic Dragons and Fantasy Creatures.......2007-07-24
Great book... I have not used it that much yet but it has helped with side views of characters.
Amazing book!.......2007-06-26
This is a beautiful and amazing book. The pictures are of excellent quality and the pages are colorful, thick and glossy. I purchased this book as a gift for a 13 year old girl who likes dragons, but who has no training in drawing or art. When this book arrived at my house, I wanted to keep it for myself I was so impressed with it! When the girl unwrapped this book, her face immediately lit up! The next day, her mom reported to me that she'd been up until 3 a.m. going through the book! The following weekend, the girl had drawn several nice pictures of dragons and she was still carrying the book around. We went to another kind of party with lots of kids, dancing, music etc. etc. But I could hardly believe my eyes an hour into the party. Because the vast majority of the young people at the party, aged 11-18, were all sitting at a table, quietly going through the book and drawing dragons! There they sat, enthralled for hours on end. It was like magic! I think that any kid (aged 10+ maybe?) or any adult who likes fantasy creatures would enjoy this book. The book contains information about fantasy creatures (the different kinds etc.) which is why I think the concept works so well. It mixes informational content about the art of sketching, with the anatomical features of dragons and fantasy creatures. So kids (and people interested in fantasy creatures) are as interested in the text and the skill involved, as they are in the actual pictures. And boy do I feel great about getting the right gift for a 13 year old girl. Do you realize how hard they are to buy for?
Average customer rating:
- this is a great book
- little too violent
- Dig this gem
- Fantastic Mr.Fox
- Great and FUN story - but I would recommend talking with your kids about it too!
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Fantastic Mr. Fox (Puffin Novels)
Roald Dahl
Manufacturer: Puffin
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The Magic Finger
ASIN: 0141301139 |
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In the tradition of The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, this is a "garden tale" of farmer versus vermin, or vice versa. The farmers in this case are a vaguely criminal team of three stooges: "Boggis and Bunce and Bean / One fat, one short, one lean. / These horrible crooks / So different in looks / Were nonetheless equally mean." Whatever their prowess as poultry farmers, within these pages their sole objective is the extermination of our hero--the noble, the clever, the Fantastic Mr. Fox. Our loyalties are defined from the start; after all, how could you cheer for a man named Bunce who eats his doughnuts stuffed with mashed goose livers? As one might expect, the farmers in this story come out smelling like ... well, what farmers occasionally do smell like.
This early Roald Dahl adventure is great for reading aloud to three- to seven-year-olds, who will be delighted to hear that Mr. Fox keeps his family one step ahead of the obsessed farmers. When they try to dig him out, he digs faster; when they lay siege to his den, he tunnels to where the farmers least expect him--their own larders! In the end, Mr. Fox not only survives, but also helps the whole community of burrowing creatures live happily ever after. With his usual flourish, Dahl evokes a magical animal world that, as children, we always knew existed, had we only known where or how to look for it. (Great read aloud for any age; written at a 9- to 12-year-old reading level)
Book Description
Mr. Fox is surrounded! He's going to have to come up with a truly fantastic plan to dig himself out of trouble this time. Roald Dahl is one of the most beloved storytellers of all time, and his books have been children's favorites for generations. Puffin is proud to offer a strong new look for nine of our classic Roald Dahl titles. The distinctive cover treatment, with new art by Quentin Blake, will make these books easily recognizable. In addition, Quentin Blake's funny, quirky illustrations now appear in all of the books. So turn the page and you'll be sure to have a Dahl-ectable summer!
Customer Reviews:
this is a great book.......2007-04-18
this is a good book because it makes you want to know what happens next. you will like this book if you like adventure books. there is some saspensfull parts in the book! you want to see what mr. fox's plan is. becuse three hunters are trying to to kill mr. fox for steeling there food that they hunted for like chickens and ducks. if you read this book will love the ending.
thanks for reading
little too violent.......2007-01-18
when the young foxes fearfully ask their daddy, the fantastic mr fox, how will we die? will there be dogs? I decided it was not for my 3 year olds. he's clever allright but this is probably a tale best told ( edited by you) and not read.
Dig this gem.......2006-09-25
This is one of those backyard gardens tales, featuring the ever so clever and resourceful Mr. Fox who frequently outsmarted three most unpleasant farmers, namely Boggis, Bunce and Bean, each time he went up to their farms to get his family dinner everyday. The farmes did whatever he coud so they could catch Mr. Fox but everytime they failed.
One day, they ended up fed up with their failures on catching Mr Fox, so they tried to get him at their entrance hole to the Foxes den. Their plan wa sto shoot and kill as Mr. Fox shows himself, but the plan changed to digging him up. In result, they trapped Mr. Fox and his family and other "diggers" starve by the farmers action. Mr Fox could only make this up to his family and the rest of his friends by digging his way out of trouble. While he digs out his brilliant plan, the thre farmers just sits patiently at the gates.
Once again, an awesome story for kids, not quite a morally uplifting book but it's an awesome book I enjoyed reading and I be placing this in the list of books I would be reading to my future kids for them to enjoy this gem. Got to love the front cover. Interesting characters and great plots for kids to actually enjoy.
Fantastic Mr.Fox.......2006-06-17
Ever wanted to read a book with suspense and comedy. Well then the book "Fantastic Mr.Fox" by Roald Dahl is just the book for you it is about a fox and his family who steal food from farmers until one day the farmers got fed up with it. They made a plan. They went hunting for Mr.Fox and his family. If you want to know if Mr.Fox and his family survive read the book.
My opinions for this book are that it is really interesting and easy to read. Also very fun for kids.
Great and FUN story - but I would recommend talking with your kids about it too!.......2006-06-03
I *LOVED* this book as a kid and re-read it as an adult to preview it for my neice and nephew. I was a little surprised about the story I remembered and the story that *is*. It's honestly brutal about farm life (shooting the foxes) and fantastical all in the same breath - which is fun. The three human characteres are almost exact charactures of alcholism, gluttiny, etc. Mr. Fox definately isn't a role model in his stealing to survive...because it was his stealing that got him in the stitch he is now...but, the story is very very fun and moves fast. I still recommend it, but think that it also might be a great way for moms/dads to talk with their kids about right/wrong...especially after the part where Mr. Fox is confronted by one of the other animals about their stealing. Still a great story and I still recommend it! I love the idea of a little underground village where all the little animals live in relative peace with no fear or threat and outsmarting the mean farmers (which is what I remember about the book from my childhood)!
Book Description
Dragons are popular as never before—and here they pop up in fire-breathing action!
Five dramatic dragon stories from around the world, including Beowulf and the Firedrake, St. George and the Dragon, and those from ancient China and Japan come to life, literally flying from the pages. Dynamic paper-engineering has these magnificent dragons snapping their jaws, casting fire, and flapping their massive wings. A book sure to be a hit with dragon-lovers of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
Cool pop-up book... lots of teeth, fangs and scales.......2007-04-06
The fantasy-oriented D&D types among us will revel in this boldly illustrated pop-up book... The dragons literally leap out at you, all tooth, claw and leathery, scaly skin. There are abbreviated versions of several famous dragon stories -- St. George, Maud & The Wyvern, The Sea King's Daughter, Beowulf, etc. -- and flashy artwork to match. The pop-up elements are relatively simple, which also means they are more durable than some of the more clever, complicated other books. If you're a dragon fan, you'll dig this book... a lot!
Love these dragons!.......2007-03-27
This is a great book of dragons; the pop ups are excellent! My niece loves it - she is a big dragon fan. I'd recommend it highly!
Pop-Up Book.......2007-03-10
I purchased this book for my 6 year old grandson. He just loved it. He was so excited about the book that he took it to school the next day to share it with his classmates. The book just sparks the imagination.
A Wonderful Adventure!.......2007-02-21
This is truly a wonderful adventure for adults and children. I did a whole series of reading on castles, knights, kings,queens,...a month of "Royal Reading"! I ended with "Dragons: A Pop-Up Book",and each page brought "ooo's and ahh's" from the class, and LOTS of discussion at the end of the book.This book paved the way to some very creative writing from students that normally had very little to say. Thank You Keith Moseley and Amazon!
Dragons: A Pop-Up Book of Fantastic Adventures.......2007-02-07
The pictures are great and the stories bring the animals to life.
Average customer rating:
- The best book in the series!
- nicolas's review
- One of the Greatest Books Ever Written
- Great series
- An exciting look into Martin's past and a wonderful read that takes a look at big issues. Highly recommended
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Martin the Warrior (Redwall, Book 6)
Brian Jacques
Manufacturer: Ace
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Mattimeo: A Tale From Redwall
ASIN: 0441001866 |
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Bedrang the Stoat has his evil eyes set on ruling over his own empire, and will do anything to make sure that his ultimate fantasy is fulfilled. But little does he realize that the quiet, nameless mouse he is holding captive will one day turn out to be the heroic and fearless Martin the Warrior.
Brian Jacques uses the full force of his stunning storytelling talent to unravel the mystery and adventure that unfolds in this tale of Redwall as a quiet little mouse refuses to bow down to a tyrant and bids to fight for freedom at any cost. Brimming with cutthroat skullduggery and intellectual intrigue, Martin the Warrior is a mountainous tale that introduces the ethos and passions of Redwall with a host of well-drawn characters, each with their own Achilles' heel, making them feel as real as they are magical. --Susan Harrison
Book Description
On the shore of the Eastern Sea, in a cold stone fortress, a stoat named Badrang holds dozens of innocent creatures as slaves, part of his scheme to build an empire where he will rule as unquestioned tyrant. Among those slaves is a mouse named Martin who has a warrior's heart and a burning desire for freedom—freedom not only for himself, but for all of Badrang's victims. There is no risk he will not take, no battle he will not fight, to end the stoat's evil reign and in the process regain the sword of his father, Luke the Warrior—the sword that Badrang stole from him when he was but a lad!
Customer Reviews:
The best book in the series!.......2007-09-29
I pretty much said it all in the title! This book is awesome! It's got the most action, battles, and the coolest bad guys! It's great! Read this book!
nicolas's review.......2007-05-07
A fantastic story from the Redwall series, Martin the Warrior, is a mix of friendship and battles against a ruthless rat clan. This "National best seller" from Brian Jacques is about a mouse named Martin, who gets captured in the rat's prison. This story is full of foxes, lizards, moles, rats, and of course, mice. Most fantasy lovers and animal lovers will keep rereading this fantastic book about how friendship can help others in times of conflict. As most good stories are, all Brian Jacques books are well more than worth reading. And all animals have human characteristics.
One of the Greatest Books Ever Written.......2007-03-19
I have to admit that when I first heard of the Redwall series, I had my doubts. I mean, a book about animals? However, I decided to give them a chance and now they are my favorite books of all time.
Martin the Warrior is my favorite out of the series. I love how the characters interact with each other in a way that makes you want to be more like them. They stuck together through everything, and in the end the slaves were freed and the sword that once belonged to Luke was returned to it's rightful owner, Martin the Warrior.
I recommend this book, as well as the whole series to kids of all ages. If you like the Redwall books, you will probably also like Brian jacques' other series, the Castaway series.
Great series.......2006-10-18
Great series for young and old looking for a mental shut-down for bed book.
An exciting look into Martin's past and a wonderful read that takes a look at big issues. Highly recommended.......2006-09-25
The sixth Redwall novel, Martin the Warrior is the story of young Martin's imprisonment by, escape from, and war against the Badrang the Tyrant, ruler of Marshank. Martin is a young mouse, the son of Luke the Warrior. He is captured and enslaved by Badrang, and one night, after violent insurrection, tied up to suffer through a raging storm. It is then he meets Rose, a maiden mouse from the peaceful sanctuary of Noonvale whose brother Brome has also been captured by Badrang. Martin, Rose, and Brome arrange from an escape from Marshank, promising the other slaves that they will one day come back to free them all and to destroy Badrang and his fortress forever. With the help of a roving band of circus performers and a mass of willful slaves, and across a journey through the coastal lands, Brome and Martin each struggle to stay alive, build an army, and return to destroy Badrang. This is a throughly enjoyable installment of the Redwall series, Martin the Warrior provides anxiously-awaited background to Martin's character as he discovers and refines his fighting spirit, experiences peace in Noonvale, and forms a deep friendship with Rose. The book is exciting, the characters (particularly those of Martin, the warrior Felldoh, and the peaceful Brome) are realistic and inspiring, and the book tackles some of the ethical and personal problems of war and the warrior's life that the other Redwall books overlook. It is a great read, a logical lead up to later Redwall books and to the building of Redwall itself, and one of the better books in this series.
Fans of Redwall will of course recognize Martin as the mouse that freed the woodlanders in Mossflower and passed on his sword in Redwall. The chance to read about Martin's life before coming to Mossflower should interest all fans of the series. The center of this book is Martin's coming of age as he changes from youth to an experienced warrior. He also sees his first glimpse of peace when he visits Noonvale with Rose, and it is that journey that will later inspire him to hang up his sword for good in Redwall. This prequel gives insight into Martin's character, his history, and what events created the freedom-loving, peace-desiring Warrior that plays such an important part in other books and remains at the heart of the entire Redwall series.
Martin the Warrior does a spectacular job dealing with war, peace, and factors that drive an individual towards one or the other. Character like Martin, Brome, and Felldoh run a full gamit from peaceful healer to righteous fighter to vengeful warrior, and the book forthrightly deals with issues such as war, death, and peace. Many of the other Redwall books take issues such as these for granted, and no where else in the series are they explored in such depth. These topics give the book great meaning, encourage thought about morals and justice, and create complex and meaningful characters and storylines, especially in the case of Martin.
Beyond these new aspects, the usual parts of a Redwall book are all present: unique and amusing character, good food, exciting journeys, evil enemies, large battles, cleverness, and a mixture of humor and fierce determination. Between two and three storylines run concurrently throughout the text, keeping the action moving along; Badrang and the secondary bad guy Clogg make for a challenging, ruthless enemy that the reader will love to hate. Above all, Martin is realistic, powerful character that is easy to love and to root for. Martin the Warrior is an enjoyable text to read and to reread, and one of the best of the Redwall novels. I highly recommend it.
Book Description
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull as imagined by the Marx brothers." That's one take on "Frisco Pigeon Mambo," an uproarious new comic novel by C.D. Payne. When a flock of alcohol- and tobacco-addicted lab pigeons are liberated in San Francisco, the whole city turns topsy-turvy. Our feathered heroes dance into bars, stick up liquor stores, spy on socialites, swipe a van full of cats, and even dodge a murder rap. Soon they have a price on their heads, cops on their trail, beer on their breath, and amour on their minds. Call them "America's Most Wanted," but don't call them pigeons. These swashbuckling outlaws think they're human.
Customer Reviews:
Very amusing.......2007-09-18
My wife and I have widely different reading tastes, but we both enjoyed this book. The style has some similarities to Orwell's Animal Farm, but is lighter in nature. The plot is clearly outlined elsewhere on this page, so I won't bore you by repeating it.
Frisco Pigeon Mambo pokes fun at a wide variety of human institutions (eg. research laboratories, the media, city hall) and proclivities, but it also has some very funny one-liners.
So much fiction published is genre fiction, clearly fitting into a box of being romance, fantasy, thriller, etc.: it is nice for a change to read something well written that is different. The Killer Pigeons make for a killer of a fun read!
it's stupid, but it's fun..........2006-03-27
When some pigeons are 'liberated' from a San Fran lab they have one hell of a time adjusting to the outside world, especially as they think they are humans.
Narrated by Robin, one of the pigeons, this is a very silly book but written with such verve and vigour that you ignore the ludicrous plot devices and just revel in the fun.
Payne's plot jumps don't always take the reader along with them (on a couple of occasions characters seem to come out of nowhere) but that is a minor gripe.
Pure escapism, sit back and enjoy.
Loved It!.......2003-06-30
As a resident of SF, I found the book absolutely hysterical. It's a must read for anyone who has ever lived or loved in this city.
Hilarious homage to San Francisco.......2002-02-28
Note: It would be helpful to be familiar with "The Maltese Falcon" before reading this book. A familiarity with San Francisco and the area also helps greatly.
The first few pages of this book didn't immediately capture me, but I slogged through, and it was worth it: This book is funny! Even if you hate pigeons, or don't want to hear a story from an animal's point of view, if you are an intelligent person, read this book! Payne's vocabulary continues to astound, and he is the master of unexpected plot twists. He'll have you seeing things from a bird's eye view in no time. Even if these birds weren't convinced that they were human, I have a feeling they'd still think they were pretty hip, continuing to trash talk, sleep around, smoke and drink. They're living the life some people dream about! ...
Just the thing when you need a funny book!.......2001-09-16
I read this hilarious tale in less than two days, it was just the thing I need to distract me from the horrible events of this week (9/11/01 terrorism attacks on US). I wasn't quite sure an author could pull off a whole book about pigeons who believed they were human, but Payne did it. Now to order Payne's other books....
Book Description
The newest entry in the popular Element Encyclopedia series spans the globe and the ages to present a feast of magical beasts, both familiar and rare. Populating this ultimate reference is a host of marvelous creatures, many of which have stirred our imagination since childhood; they come from fairytales and myths, and from beloved writers such as the Brothers Grimm, Lewis Carroll, J.R.R. Tolkien, and J.K Rowling. Each entry delves into folklore and history to reveal such secrets as why dragons guard the weather, how to make mermen laugh, and how a slow lizard cost humans the gift of eternal life. From Chinese dragons to Norwegian sea monsters, banshees to griffins, cherufes to lampaluguas, every fantastic figure gets its due.
Customer Reviews:
Ok, great............2007-09-06
So here I have (what I thought) to be the perfect reference for magical beings, etc. Also, here I have our second bedroom that I just redecorated into a study/guestroom with a magical theme (it's decorated with vintage magic posters), and I have a seven-year old stepson who will be sleeping in said room. The vintage magic posters are of Carter, Herrman, Blackstone, Houdini, Kellar, etc. Of course, they all have IMPS in them. I thought I'd show my son what imps are with this book so he wouldn't be afraid... Well, I thought I'd just pull out my trusty encyclopedia, but NO. There's every possible being you could ever imagine, except IMPS.
Bollocks I say... Just when you need a good reference book. NOT.
It is what it is..........2007-05-14
a comprehensive research volume. Personally, I have found it extremely valuable in my work, and will even pick it up on occasion for an aimless perusal. It does cry out for a few illustration, though I am sure many of the creatures in the book are loath to have their likenesses set down.
Not for the very young, but a must for the serious cryptozoologist.
The Care And Feeding of Dragons: An Illustrated Guide to Alternative Pet Maintenance, Book One
wheres the pictures??????.......2006-08-02
I bought this book to read and look at with my [...] son who is in love with dragons and creatures one look at the cover and we were excited to get it here however one would think an ENCYCLOPEDIA would have a picture or two not one damn picture in the whole book!!!! Yes it is an indepth read for an older person who still enjoys the magical world and i will be devouring this book by myself it was just disappointing we had great expectations of fantastical artwork and information to go with it.
Some Interesting Information--But Has Research Gaps and Innacuracies.......2006-07-19
"This book is a zoology of the imagination more than it is a natural history. It follows the myths of magical creatures wherever they show themselves, myths that are primal stories encoding understandings that we grasp by means of metaphor rather than with any literal-mindedness. Where will these creatures lead us?"
The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures is a 682-page, flexibound compendium of fantastic beings from myth, magic, and urban legend. (Flexibound is somewhat between a hardcover and a paperback). Arranged alphabetically for easy reference, hundreds of entries are culled from literature, sacred texts, history, legends, cryptozoology, and movies. Mythical stories pertaining to animals, fowl, and insects are also provided. Entertaining and informative, this book sparks both imagination and curiosity. Indeed, it's hard to read "just one" entry in this unique book.
Some of the fantastical beasts, monsters, and demigods listed in this book include:
* Bunyip
* Lorelei
* Puck
* Sasquatch
* Chupacabras
* Thoth
* Quetzalcoatl
* Elves
* Bastet
* Leviathan
* Dryads
* Lilith
* Ouroboros
* Mothman
* Fire Drake
* Golem
* Banshee
* Satyr
* Basilisk
* Thunderbird
* Scapegoat
While many entries are familiar, I found the majority obscure--having never heard of them. I was intrigued to find that Dobby, the house elf from the Harry Potter books, is actually a genus of British house fairies--known mostly in the north of England. Supposedly, the Dobby/Dobie makes ridiculous mistakes or is easily confused. When I read the entry for the Brownie (pronounced "broony"), I was surprised to read that the sure way to get rid of a brownie is to give him a piece of clothing--just like the house elves in the J.K. Rowling series. (Unfortunately, the authors didn't cross-reference Dobby to Brownie for some reason, so I stumbled upon the entry quite by accident. Or, due to obscene curiosity, I suppose).
At times, the authors speak at length about Potter references in relevant entries. However, the entry for the Stag fails to mention Harry Potter's Patronus, which is a luminous white stag that Harry conjures in his times of need.
Some of the research seems sketchy at best and inaccurate at worst. For example, under the Mothman entry, there's a mention of the movie The Mothman Prophecies. The entry states "starring Kevin Costner", but Costner isn't in the film. The star of the movie is actually Richard Gere. I have to wonder: if the authors include a mistake like this--on a fact that is easily researchable--how accurate is the other information in this book?
One of the first entries I looked up was "tulpas", a concept that fascinates me. Unfortunately, there is no mention or entry for this phenomenon. Yet, there was information on the Golem, which is similar--but of Jewish/Kabbalistic origin.
While the authors explained that Fawkes is a pet Phoenix of Dumbledore in the Potter series, they fail to mention a more common mythological connection: the Phoenix is connected to the sign of Scorpio, and is considered a higher expression of this Zodiacal sign. Another "miss" was the entry on Salamanders. There is no mention that this creature is a spirit connected with the fire element in magical Hermeticism and some Pagan traditions. (Not to mention that the Salamander is a somewhat common theme among the fire suits in Tarot, most notably the Wands.) So I looked up Gnome (associated with the earth element), and *did* find a brief mention of salamander, gnome, undine, and sylph in terms of hermetic practice and Paracelsusian philosophy. Thus, the cross references in this book seems to be shoddy.
While some of the information in The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures is downright fascinating, I was a bit disappointed to see what I considered glaring gaps in the research, not to mention inaccuracies. I didn't go looking for these, but discovered them early in my explorations of this book as I followed my interests and curiosity. That, and the fact that many of the entries were entirely unfamiliar to me, makes this a so-so book for me.
Granted, it's an overwhelming undertaking cataloguing hundreds of fantastical creatures from a myriad of sources--so kudos certainly go to the authors for doing a decent job as far as breadth goes. Moreover, I suppose I can't be *too* hard on the book, considering that it's an encyclopedia--not necessarily and exhaustive reference. Perhaps I am spoiled by Judika Illes' breadth *and* depth in The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft (not to mention her book on 5,000 spells).
If you're curious about the likes of mermen and griffins, sirens and orcs, The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures will probably delight you. I can see this book being especially good reference for sci-fi and fantasy writers. However, if you want comprehensive information on several creatures, you may be better off getting a book that is devoted specifically to such a subject. (Note: after only an hour or so of reading this book, the pages began to pull away from the glue binding. Unfortunately, the flexibound cover/binding isn't as sturdy as the two previous hardback installments of the Element Encyclopedia series. Thus, it's not a good idea to read the book flat--but this hefty volume makes it almost impossible to read any other way without experiencing discomfort.)
Average customer rating:
- Mediocre Illustration
- Depends on your purpose
- well, it's a start
- one of a kind, but not very special.........................
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Treasury of Fantastic and Mythological Creatures: 1,087 Renderings from Historic Sources (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)
Richard Huber
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0486241742 |
Book Description
Vast compilation of copyright-free images from many cultures and eras — from prehistoric rock paintings to Max Ernst, from the masks of black Africa to the gargoyles of Notre Dame.
Customer Reviews:
Mediocre Illustration.......2006-11-06
These illustration are mediocre at best and I wish I had realized that they were an artists interpretation of monsters from historical sources, not direct images. Darn.
Depends on your purpose.......2005-11-18
Satisfaction with this purchase will very much depend on your purpose. It certainly does not have much text in the book to accompany the illustrations. Personally, I wasn't expecting any having purchased other Dover publications for artists and craftspeople. Which then left the illustrations. There is a diverse range here across different parts of the world. I was expecting different 'ages' rather than different 'locations'; only because some pictorial archives (especially costume ones) start with the oldest period and work forwards.
As someone looking for different animals and creatures for use in collage art, altered books and card making, this is a good book to add to my collection. There are certainly all manner of creatures contained within.
If you are looking for an informative archive through text, then this is certainly not the book for you. If like me, you are looking for a range of creatures; then this book has something to offer.
well, it's a start.......2002-12-28
On the one hand, the book does offer wide-ranging coverage. There isn't a region of the world that isn't covered to some extent.
On the other hand, the textual information provided is sparse and occasionally *wrong*, and some of the inclusions are questionable.
Each illustration has a one-sentence caption, varying considerably in detail provided. Some give you all the information you would need to find the source of the original illustration, some are a single word identifying the type of creature, others are somewhere in-between. It's unclear how much of this dearth of information is because of the reliance on secondary rather than original sources, and how much of it is because the author and/or his editor over-did the cutting.
Also, some of the captions are mis-assigned. Going through the book, I easily spotted several occasions where two of the illustrations on the same page were clearly given each other's captions. I only spotted this a few times but it begs the question, how many other such errors are there in the book that I didn't spot?
Finally, some of the illustrations included really don't belong. Details from Bosch paintings make sense, they're demons ("fantastical and mythological creatures") from hundreds of years ago ("from historic sources"). But there are some figures from modern art included that don't seem to belong, particularly a Picasso that's just an abstract rendering of a normal human.
It may well be more useful for its bibliography than for its content.
one of a kind, but not very special................................2000-04-04
at first, i was terribly dissapointed at the simple black and white renderings and 1 sentance descriptions. however, i learned to appreciate it as a one of a kind book. it is not very insightful, special, creative, or informative, and i want to let let it be known that this book is not going to be good for a little kid who just likes little baby fairy tales or other things like that. this is especially for the advanced fan of mythological and fantastic creatures. i know that i tresure my copy though! love ya'!
Customer Reviews:
Don't Do It!.......2007-01-22
This has to be one of the most overpriced and under-satisfactory books ever. Nearly $20 for an ultra thin book the size of a Dr. Seuss story, completely devoid of pictures, but because it has Rowling's name on it, they feel compelled to overcharge the unknowing public. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK, and if you do, don't pay full price. Absolutely and completely NOT worth it.
Every Hogwarts student should own a copy.......2006-09-30
Ever wanted to learn more about FANTASTIC BEASTS but were afraid to open your "Monster Book of Monsters?" This handy little reference book will help you pass your Care of Magical Creatures class without the bites and scratches associated with the alternative.
Easy to use A-Z reference, with Misistry of Magic classification codes, and a special forward by Albus Dumbledore.
Please note that this copy once belonged to a previous 3rd year student, Harry Potter. Any information provided in the margins by Mr. Potter has not been authorized by Newt Scamander or by the Ministry of Magic.
Great book, but..........2006-03-18
The one problem with this fabulous little book is that many of the creatures are difficult to envision without an illustration, of which there are very few (and when there are, they are merely black and white sketches.) It can be quite hard to tell if you're picturing the animal correctly. Fortunately for me, my favorite of the beasts is illustrated. This book definitely convinced me to get myself some Fwoopers--birds of African origin with vivid orange, yellow, green or pink plumage.
Short & Sweet.......2005-09-11
A quick, fun read filled with humor, wit and perhaps even some insights.
Harry Potter Fan.......2005-09-06
Very cute and for a good cause. More information on magical creatures found in the books. Worth the short read.
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Fantastic Mr Fox and Other Animal Stories
Sophie Dahl
Manufacturer: Puffin Books
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- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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