The prose poem is the literary sphinx, the literary chimera, minotaur, gryphon–part one thing, part another and at their best, they’re magical, mythical. Fantastic Imaginary Creatures collects the best contemporary prose poems that demonstrate the potentiality and plasticity the form allows. Some of these poems have been previously published, and some are brand spanking new. The Contributors: Valerie Bacharach, Ujjvala Bagal-Rahn, Ned Balbo, Madeleine Barnes, Michelle Boczek Evory, Rick Campbell, Joseph Capista, Gary Ciocco, TS Coody, Jim Daniels, Anthony DiMatteo, gary fincke, Jeff Friedman, Molly Fuller, Joy Gaines-Friedler, George Guida, Luke Hankins, Gretchen Heyer, Tom Hunley, Anna Jacobson, Peter Johnson, Richard Jordan, Elizabeth Kerlikowske, Gerry LaFemina, Joseph Lerner, Geri Lipschultz, Lorette C. Luzajic, Gary McDowell, Kathleen McGookey, Jennifer Militello, Robert Miltner, Erin Murphy, kerry neville, Robert Perchan, Christine Rhein, Jane Satterfield, Katherine Smith, Joshua Michael Stewart, Virgil Suárez, Matthew Thorburn, Eric Torgersen, Patricia Valdata, Elinor Ann Walker, Greg Watson, Cathy Wittmeyer, George Yatchisin, Michael T. Young
An extraordinary menagerie of fantastical and unreal beasts featuring hundreds of illustrations, from griffins to dog-men, mermaids, dragons, unicorns, and yetis. Fire-breathing dragons, beautiful mermaids, majestic unicorns, terrifying three-headed dogs—these fantastic creatures have long excited our imagination. Medieval authors placed them in the borders of manuscripts as markers of the boundaries of our understanding. Tales from around the world place these beasts in deserts, deep woods, remote islands, ocean depths, and alternate universes—just out of our reach. And in the sections on the apocalypse in the Bible, they proliferate as the end of time approaches, with horses with heads like lions, dragons, and serpents signaling the destruction of the world. Legends tell us that imaginary animals belong to a primordial time, before everything in the world had names, categories, and conceptual frameworks. In this book, Boria Sax digs into the stories of these fabulous beasts. He shows how, despite their liminal role, imaginary animals like griffins, dog-men, yetis, and more are socially constructed creatures, created through the same complex play of sensuality and imagination as real ones. Tracing the history of imaginary animals from Paleolithic art to their roles in stories such as Harry Potter and even the advent of robotic pets, he reveals that these extraordinary figures help us psychologically—as monsters, they give form to our amorphous fears, while as creatures of wonder, they embody our hopes. Their greatest service, Sax concludes, is to continually challenge our imaginations, directing us beyond the limitations of conventional beliefs and expectations. Featuring over 230 illustrations of a veritable menagerie of fantastical and unreal beasts, Imaginary Animals is a feast for the eyes and the imagination.
Delve deep into a magical world of Kev Walker, and learn how to draw 30 fascinating, beautiful and curious creatures that wander through it. A renowned comic book artist and illustrator, Kev Walker will help you master the art of sketching and illustrating a collection of marvellous beasts through his how-to-art exercises, accompanied by his fascinating advice and the techniques used by professionals like himself. From elementals that stalk you at night or the beasts that lurk beneath the water to the sand creatures that wander the lonely deserts of North Africa, there is a whole world of terrifyingly beautiful monsters to learn of and inspire you. Find stunning finished illustrations along with exciting ideas, hints, and practical lessons on how to recreate the monster yourself, including suggestions for adding movement and texture. From there, morph this precious-looking book into your very own sketchbook-journal and record and design your own fierce creations on the interactive pages inside. Stick and paste inspiring photographs and drawings onto the pages, work little sketches onto the plain sheets, and paint the amazing minute details that appear on your own beast's form - this will be your personal and ultimate notebook journaling your dark adventures. With dozens of imaginative illustrations to inspire, discover this captivating bestiary now and create your own inky keepsake of these legendary creatures to treasure and share.
Meet fire-breathing dragons, magical fairies, ancient monsters, and shapeshifting spirits as you take a journey through the fantastic realm of legend, myth, and folklore. From the blood-sucking vampire and the three-headed dog Cerberus to the beautiful unicorn and the powerful centaur, a myriad of fantasy creatures from across the globe and many different cultures are brought to life in this large-format volume bursting with detailed full-color images. Fascinating facts accompany each illustration, so you can find out why looking at a basilisk means certain death, where to find a Yeti, and why you should never disturb an ogre. DOZENS OF FANTASY CREATURES: Learn about 36 giants, spirits, demons, and monsters. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Vibrant, detailed images bring these creatures of myth, folklore, and legend to life. FASCINATING FACTS: Includes hundreds of fascinating facts in an easy-to-read format that will enthral mythology lovers of all ages. CLASSROOM TO COFFEE TABLE: This beautiful volume is equally at home on a school bookshelf to support student learning as in a living room to be enjoyed by the whole family. COLLECT THE SERIES: More fascinating compendiums for all ages include The Magnificent Book of Monsters, The Magnificent Book of Dragons, The Magnificent Book of Extinct Animals, and The Magnificent Book of Sharks, and more!
Fantasy has its roots in reality A magical realm awaits you—an enchanted world of imaginary beings to inspire a treasure of your own extraordinary drawings and paintings. And your journey begins, oddly enough, with the ordinary things that surround you every day. With Creating Creatures of Fantasy and Imagination, discover how to use your own photographs and other true-life inspiration to make fanciful artwork that beautifully transcends reality. Best-selling author Claudia Nice shows you how to build upon real-life references to draw and paint countless creatures from your imagination, including: faeries and sprites elves, brownies, dwarfs and gnomes trolls, ogres, goblins and gremlins dragons, sea monsters and sea serpents centaurs, fauns, satyrs, mermaids and mermen unicorns, Pegasus, phoenixes and griffins Inside this invaluable guide you'll find complete step-by-step instruction and many captivating examples in pen and ink, watercolor and acrylic, plus the legend behind each mythological creature. Let this book be your entry to the realm of fantasy, where the only limit is your imagination!
Like its companion volume, "The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction", this massive reference of 4,000 entries covers all aspects of fantasy, from literature to art.
Drawing on historical sources, myth and folklore, Fantastic Creatures in Mythology and Folklore explores the roles of fantastical beasts - particularly the unicorn, the mermaid, and the dragon - in a series of thematic chapters organised according to their legendary dwelling place, be this land, sea, or air. Through this original approach, Juliette Wood provides the first study of mythical beasts in history from the medieval period to the present day, providing new insights into the ways these creatures continue to define our constantly changing relationship to both real and imagined worlds. It places particular emphasis on the role of the internet, computer games, and the cyberspace community, and in doing so, demonstrates that the core medieval myth surrounding these creatures remains static within the ever-increasing arena of mass marketing and the internet. This is a vital resource for undergraduates studying fantastic creatures in history, literature and media studies.