The Mythic Bestiary: The Illustrated Guide to the World's Most Fantastical Creatures Hardcover – October 7, 2008

This is quite a nice guide book, and features many of the popular (and many lesser known and unknown to me until I got this) mythic beasts that are in the realm of fantasy. It includes popular staples like Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, Bigfoot (or Apeman, as it is called in the book, although it sights many different apemen), the Chimera, the Unicorn, the Minotaur, the Hydra, Leviathan...the list goes on. There are also references to some monsters that are similar to other monsters in the works, such as the golem being somewhat like the Tupilak Devil Dolls, as both were created as instruments of revenge. Some of the lesser known monsters in here are include Catolopas and Mara (Maras, from the way they are described, I know them as Night Mares in some video games, and in Louis Lowry's Gossamer as Sinisteeds. And even explains that there are male sphinxes that were seen with reverence by the Egyptians, rather then the classic one we know of the Greek origins, the vicious, riddle-loving, female one. It also includes Sirens as bird-like (although many cultures see them as fish-like) and even explains the contest between them and the muses (which ended badly for the Sirens) and the list from there and all the data I could relate to you can go on and on. This is quite well done and one of the best books of its kind. It does also include Elves and Faeries-in different sections, which I love, and also includes the Orcs from the Lord of the Rings!!!

came fast in great shape

It is a very well defined book about mythical beasts and is filled with very intricate information .

I just love this book. The book is exactly as it appears in the image, though unfortunately the viewer cannot see the splendid illustrations inside. The author of this title, Tony Allan, has written numerous books of similar kind and so is very well informed in studies of the mythological - this results in a GREAT wealth of (interesting) information and where necessary there are references to contemporary incarnations of some of the mythological creatures in the book, such as those in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and Rowling's "Harry Potter". I highly recommend this title to anyone with even the vaguest interest in mythology.Hope this review is helpful =]GorJess

A very interesting book, but this was a gift for my 7 yr old son and, unfortunately, it's not appropriate for young children. While I was prepared for some mild nudity in depictions of mermaids and sirens, I was not prepared to explain why succubi "visited men (particularly monks) at night, giving them impure thoughts and wet dreams." (p. 180) Still, with the appropriate audience, it's an interesting read that explains who all these creatures are the keep popping up in both classic and modern literature.

I've been looking for a book that's detailed about mythological creatures and their lifestyles, yet the descriptions are not too wordy and boring to the point where you feel intimadated by the writing. The pictures are so beautiful and precise as if the artist actually saw one of these creatures themselves. I'd deffently recommend this book to anyone interested in mythology, or would like to teach someone about mythology.

This book came to me in pristine condition. I was beyond pleased with the price and the condition.

It gives creatures according to air, land and water, so it's very organised like that. It draws from various literature, current and not, and has little details like appearance, abilities, habitats, as an aside to each creature

Just the right amount of info on each beast/ creature for a leisurely, pick it up, put it down read. A great coffee table book. Beautifully illustrated. Lots I had never heard of but very interesting. Highly recommended.

It has some amazing stories in there and the illustrations are great. One of my favourites was the thunder bird and the picture of it carrying this huge whale looked so cool.