A FINALIST FOR THE 2020 WORLD FANTASY AWARD • Unearth the enchanting origins of fantasy fiction with a collection of tales as vast as the tallest tower and as mysterious as the dark depths of the forest. Fantasy stories have always been with us. They illuminate the odd and the uncanny, the wondrous and the fantastic: all the things we know are lurking just out of sight—on the other side of the looking-glass, beyond the music of the impossibly haunting violin, through the twisted trees of the ancient woods. Other worlds, talking animals, fairies, goblins, demons, tricksters, and mystics: these are the elements that populate a rich literary tradition that spans the globe. A work composed both of careful scholarship and fantastic fun, The Big Book of Classic Fantasy is essential reading for anyone who’s never forgotten the stories that first inspired feelings of astonishment and wonder. INCLUDING: *Stories by pillars of the genre like the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Mary Shelley, Christina Rossetti, L. Frank Baum, Robert E. Howard, and J. R. R. Tolkien *Fantastical offerings from literary giants including Edith Wharton, Leo Tolstoy, Willa Cather, Zora Neale Hurston, Vladimir Nabokov, Hermann Hesse, and W.E.B. Du Bois *Rare treasures from Asian, Eastern European, Scandinavian, and Native American traditions *New translations, including fourteen stories never before in English PLUS: *Beautifully Bizarre Creatures! *Strange New Worlds Just Beyond the Garden Path! *Fairy Folk and Their Dark Mischief! *Seriously Be Careful—Do Not Trust Those Fairies!

Meet the monsters in this who’s who of the baddest of the bad! Like those supernatural beasts everyone knows and fears—the bloodsucking vampire, Count Dracula, and that eight-foot-tall mash-up of corpses, Frankenstein’s Monster. Or that scariest of mummies, Cheops, who scientists revived after 4,700 years—big mistake! Or more horrifying yet, the Horla, an invisible, havoc-wreaking creature that herds humans like cattle and feeds of their souls. Drawn from the pages of classic books and tales as old as time, this frightfully exciting collection features 25 of the creepiest creatures ever imagined, from witches and werewolves to dragons and ghosts. Every monster is brought to life in a full-size full-color portrait that captures the essence of the beast, and in lively text that recounts the monster’s spine-tingling story. With sidebars that explore the history and the genre of each sourcebook, The Big Book of Monsters is an exciting introduction to literature and language arts.

Explore the world of cryptozoology in this first-ever trivia book all about the folklore, study, and eye-witness testimonies of cryptids like the Jersey Devil, Yeti, and more! You’ve heard of Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch) and the Loch Ness Monster (aka Nessie). But these famous beasties are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fantastic beasts, real and imagined, out there in the wild. These creatures are called cryptids: animals that some think exist but for which there is no concrete scientific evidence. In The Big Book of Cryptid Trivia, you’ll learn all about cryptozoologists and ufologists like Loren Coleman and John Keel, as well as about real-life sightings and interesting tales of famous and lesser-known cryptids all over the world, including: Tahoe Tessie Mokele-Mbembe Ahool of Java Georgia Bigfoot Piltdown Man Hogzilla Pope Lick Monster Loveland Frog And more! Whether you are a seasoned skeptic, a budding cryptozoologist, or something in between, this book is sure to include facts and oddities that intrigue, educate, and entertain. Perhaps you'll find out if you want to partake in a bit of cryptid tourism. Loch Ness, anyone?

Quite possibly the greatest science fiction collection of all time—past, present, and future! What if life was neverending? What if you could change your body to adapt to an alien ecology? What if the pope were a robot? Spanning galaxies and millennia, this must-have anthology showcases classic contributions from H. G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, Octavia E. Butler, and Kurt Vonnegut, alongside a century of the eccentrics, rebels, and visionaries who have inspired generations of readers. Within its pages, you’ll find beloved worlds of space opera, hard SF, cyberpunk, the New Wave, and more. Learn about the secret history of science fiction, from titans of literature who also wrote SF to less well-known authors from more than twenty-five countries, some never before translated into English. In The Big Book of Science Fiction, literary power couple Ann and Jeff VanderMeer transport readers from Mars to Mechanopolis, planet Earth to parts unknown. Immerse yourself in the genre that predicted electric cars, space tourism, and smartphones. Sit back, buckle up, and dial in the coordinates, as this stellar anthology has got worlds within worlds. Including: · Legendary tales from Isaac Asimov and Ursula K. Le Guin · An unearthed sci-fi story from W. E. B. Du Bois · The first publication of the work of cybernetic visionary David R. Bunch in twenty years · A rare and brilliant novella by Chinese international sensation Cixin Liu Plus: · Aliens! · Space battles! · Robots! · Technology gone wrong! · Technology gone right!

A genre-defining—and redefining—collection of the boldest, most rebellious, and most prescient speculative fiction, featuring stories from all over the globe. “The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.” Almost forty years ago, William Gibson wrote the line that began Neuromancer—and a movement that would change the face of science fiction. Award-winning anthologist Jared Shurin brings together over a hundred stories from more than twenty-five countries that both establish and subvert the classic cyberpunk tropes and aesthetic—from gritty, near-future noir to pulse-pounding action. Urban rebels undermine monolithic corporate overlords. Daring heists are conducted through back alleys and the darkest parts of the online world. There’s dangerous new technology, cybernetic enhancements, scheming AI, corporate mercenaries, improbable weapons, and roguish hackers. These tales examine the near-now, extrapolating the most provocative trends into fascinating and plausible futures. We live in an increasingly cyberpunk world—packed with complex technologies and globalized social trends. A world so bizarre that even futurists couldn’t explain it—though many authors in this book have come closer than most. As both an introduction to the genre and the perfect compendium for the lifelong fan, The Big Book of Cyberpunk offers a hundred ways to understand where we are and where we’re going.

L. Frank Baum originally wrote 14 full length books set in 'Oz'. 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' being the first. Here we present the second in our 'Big Book of Oz' series containing Oz books 7 - 14. Classic tales still sure to delight all ages. Giant 8.5" x 11" book

Welcome... Fáilte... Croeso... Fair faa ye... to the United Kingdom! The Big Book of the UK introduces readers to customs and culture of the United Kingdom. Learn about the sport of "dwile flonking" and find out where black diamonds come from. Meet the supernatural animal that haunts the Scottish Highlands and discover the British sweets that helped Hillary and Tenzing scale Everest. Filled with facts about wildlife, food, sports, geography, language and some very silly place names, this book will help you uncover national secrets and unearth local legends from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Presents over three thousand questions and answers about American subjects, covering such topics as geography, history, entertainment, people, and culture.

"What a fascinating book! From theory to practice, it's all here. . . . This book will be a treasured addition to any magickal library."--Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, author of Grimoire for the Apprentice Practical, inspirational, and comprehensive, The Big Book of Practical Spells is a useful tool and resource for beginners and experienced devotees of the magical arts. Here in one majestic volume is a basic introduction to magic; a psychic glossary; a primer on the four elements, colors, and magical supplies (including minerals and botanicals); and a compendium of spells for any situation you may face. With Judika Illes as your guide, you will learn how to enhance your psychic power, cleanse your aura, protect yourself from malevolent powers, and create and use a wide variety of spells. There are spells for marriage, fertility, pregnancy prevention, babies and children, money, healing, and transitioning to the next life. These are spells that will help make life easier, more productive, and stress free. "Judika Illes underscores the fact that magic is real and available to everyone. As she says: "Magic is your birthright." And there is no negative magic included--nothing harmful to you or anyone else. Now you have no excuse not to use it."--Raymond Buckland, author of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft

From Atlantis to Nostradamus, Masons to Templars, Lionel and Patricia Fanthorpe have explored some of the greatest mysteries ever known in this world and beyond. Now, in The Big Book of Mysteries, the Fanthorpes attempt to answer, among other questions: What are the origins of blood-sucking creatures such as vampires? Do Yeti and Sasquatch truly exist on mountains in Canada and Nepal? Who actually built the Sphinx and the Pyramids and why were they erected? What strange, dangerous powers lay hidden in the Ark of the Covenant? Is the Bermuda Triangle really a deathtrap for ships and planes? Secret societies, lost treasures, and legendary monsters all have been carefully researched by the Fanthorpes, many investigated in person, and now presented with illustrations and photographs in one super-sized collection to satisfy everyones curiosity. If youve ever felt the burning desire to know more about lifes great mysteries, then The Big Book of Mysteries is for you no element of the unknown is safe from the Fanthorpes scrutinizing eyes.