Download or read book The Complete Idiot s Guide to World Mythology written by Evans Lansing Smith and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2008 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dictionary defines mythology as a collection of ancient tales handed down over millennia, mainly dealing with gods and goddesses, that explains the way the world works, from natural events to society at large. Many people think of the deities of Greece and Rome when they think of mythology, forgetting that almost every culture has its own set of myths to interpret and explain its distinct worldview, often showing striking and fascinating similarities to the classical myths most people are familiar with. The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythologyexplores the gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, monsters and angels of the myths from every corner of the globe - the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, Asia, and more. Additionally, it explores the parallels between every culture, including Greece and Rome - striking similarities in mythic figures and the structure, action, wording, and result of the stories themselves.

Download or read book Angel Warriors written by Gregg Abello and published by Partridge Publishing Singapore. This book was released on 2016-04-26 with total page 502 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Angel Warriors is an action/adventure fiction novel about the extraordinary missions tasked by the Archangels to the chosen human beings, who are known as Innocents, in the fight against the Demons, who threaten to annihilate the human race and rule over the Angels in Heaven. Specifically chosen from the different parts of the world, the protagonists, who are eventually called the Angel Warriors, find themselves caught in many bizarre events during their earthly life, which leads to their higher calling in the afterlife, where they are prepared by the Archangels to carry out their important mission. Together with the leaders of the spiritual realm, the Angel Warriors ultimately perform their tasks but take a toll on themselves as they go through different odds against the villains in various encounters, which are full of twists and unexpected turns.

Download or read book The Book of Japanese Folklore An Encyclopedia of the Spirits Monsters and Yokai of Japanese Myth written by Thersa Matsuura and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2024-04-30 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. 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. This gorgeous package is complete with stained edges and stunning four-color illustrations. With information on their cultural significance, a retelling of a popular tale tied to that particular yokai, and how it’s been spun into today’s popular culture, this handsome tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games. Adventure, mystery, and amazing tales await in The Book of Japanese Folklore.

Download or read book The Book of Yokai written by Michael Dylan Foster and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2015-01-14 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A lively excursion into Japanese folklore and its ever-expanding influence on global popular culture through the concept of yokai. Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeled yokai, these creatures come in infinite shapes and sizes, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water spirits to shape-shifting foxes and long-tongued ceiling-lickers. Currently popular in anime, manga, film, and computer games, many yokai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. Drawing on years of research in Japan, Michael Dylan Foster unpacks the history and cultural context of yokai, tracing their roots, interpreting their meanings, and introducing people who have hunted them through the ages. In this delightful and accessible narrative, readers will explore the roles played by these mysterious beings within Japanese culture and will also learn of their abundance and variety through detailed entries, some with original illustrations, on more than fifty individual creatures. The Book of Yokai invites readers to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them. By exploring yokai as a concept, we can better understand broader processes of tradition, innovation, storytelling, and individual and communal creativity.

Download or read book Pacific Rim The Official Movie Novelization written by Alex Irvine and published by Titan Books (US, CA). This book was released on 2013-07-16 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The official novelization of the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Pacific Rim from visionary director Guillermo del Toro! When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse. "I wanted to make not a war movie, but an adventure movie, with a huge, romantic sense of adventure, a sense of grandeur, and operatic battles..." - Guillermo Del Toro

Download or read book Twisted Wonderland written by Brandy Hole and published by Dorrance Publishing. This book was released on 2023-02-10 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twisted Wonderland: A Wondrous Time? By: Brandy Hole and Jadelynn Hole Ryan and Josh are high-powered businessmen with dark secrets. Their wives, Samantha and Beth, are sisters and the best of friends. Tina, Samuel, and Shay are three best friends out to release Shay from her brutal past. And then there is Preston, a man haunted by the demons of his own horrendous past. When all three groups converge into the same cabin one stormy night, all their secrets and traumas catch up with them, and they are forced into a fight for survival against dark forces beyond comprehension. Suspicion brews among the group, and as they fray apart, they’ll have to learn to work together in order to survive the night.

Download or read book Chaotic Rain written by Tirico K. Bell and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2023-04-04 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whitespine has arrived to this world with one goal in mind. To kill and evolve. Creatures will fear his name and this world be under his control. However, will it be that simple? What do the dragons and other races have to say about this invasion?

Download or read book Strange Japanese Yokai written by Kenji Murakami and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2023-05-23 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since time immemorial, Japan has been inhabited by supernatural creatures, spirits, monsters and demons…Here's your chance to meet them up close and personal! Strange Japanese Yokai assembles an extraordinary collection of mysterious creatures in every possible shape and size, each with their own unique back story. Some are well-known, others obscure. The one thing they share in common is that they are creepy and weird! The 122 different Yokai described in this book include: The Kappa: A dangerous creature who lives in lakes and rivers and attacks passers-by The Nurarihyon: A mysterious Yokai with a huge head who steals food, tobacco and alcohol The Yadokai: A mischievous former monk who wanders at night vandalizing and being a pest The Ohaguru:A scary Yokai with black teeth who looks like a beautiful woman from afar until she gets closer, smiles, and reveals herself And over 100 more! Yokai expert Kenji Murakami identifies each Yokai, explains the history, where they commonly appear, and their strange powers. The book is illustrated with hundreds of full-color drawings showcasing the fascinating features of these strange creatures. Every monster here, no matter how disgusting, is part of the rich cultural legacy of Japan. *Recommended for readers ages 14 & up*

Download or read book The Book of Yokai Expanded Second Edition written by Michael Dylan Foster and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2024 with total page 479 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Revised and expanded, this second edition of The Book of Yōkai features an all new yōkai picture gallery-with dozens of stunning color images-tracing the visual history of yōkai across centuries. With additional entries and fifty new illustrations, Michael Dylan Foster unpacks the history and cultural context of an even larger cast of yōkai, interpreting their varied meanings and introducing people who have pursued them through the ages. Monsters, spirits, fantastic beings, and supernatural creatures haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeled yōkai, they appear in many forms, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water sprites, to shape-shifting kitsune foxes and long-tongued ceiling-lickers. Popular today in anime, manga, film, and video games, many yōkai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. The Book of Yōkai invites readers to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them"--

Download or read book Malevolent Tuners The Arsenic Atonement written by James R. Hill and published by James R. Hill. This book was released on 2020-10-12 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Banished, disgraced and discriminated against, Raiden cannot catch a break. While trying to salvage what little of his former persona he can, he encounters Kurama, a nine-tailed fox yokai known as a kyuubi, informing him that he is one of seven Resonators, destined to bring peace to the land of Orasträdd. Unfortunately, belonging to a segregated society can lead to irresponsible decisions with one such decision leading Raiden down a chaotic path. Joined by Kurama & fellow Resonators Kalin, Haruka, Daichi and Ayase, a journey of redemption and self-discovery awaits Raiden on this dark and riveting adventure.

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures written by Theresa Bane and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2014-01-10 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This exhaustive volume catalogs nearly three thousand demons in the mythologies and lore of virtually every ancient society and most religions. From Aamon, the demon of life and reproduction with the head of a serpent and the body of a wolf in Christian demonology, to Zu, the half-man, half-bird personification of the southern wind and thunder clouds in Sumero-Akkadian mythology, entries offer descriptions of each demon's origins, appearance and cultural significance. Also included are descriptions of the demonic and diabolical members making up the hierarchy of Hell and the numerous species of demons that, according to various folklores, mythologies, and religions, populate the earth and plague mankind. Very thoroughly indexed.

Download or read book Hollow Regalia Vol 1 light novel written by Gakuto Mikumo and published by Yen Press LLC. This book was released on 2023-03-21 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Four years ago, a dragon filled the sky, the nation of Japan fell, and Japanese people around the world were wiped out. Yahiro, a survivor of the tragic event, works as a salvager who obtains Japanese artwork and artifacts for foreign buyers. Not many are willing or able to brave the ruins, which are crawling with monstrous beasts called Moujuu. But Yahiro’s the best man for the task. After all, thanks to his regenerative abilities, he can’t really die. He’s approached about a job to search for the Kushinada, which is capable of controlling the Moujuu, but it will require delving into the most dangerous parts of the city. This is the story of a dragon girl and a dragon slayer.

Download or read book Resistance written by Samit Basu and published by Titan Books (US, CA). This book was released on 2014-07-08 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2020, eleven years after the passengers of flight BA142 from London to Delhi developed extraordinary abilities corresponding to their innermost desires, the world is overrun with supers. Some use their powers for good, others for evil, and some just want to pulverize iconic monuments and star in their own reality show. But now, from New York to Tokyo, someone is hunting down supers, killing heroes and villains both, and it’s up to the Unit to stop them…

Download or read book The Legend of Akikumo written by Dani Hoots and published by FoxTales Press. This book was released on 2020-09-15 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ketsueki would give anything to find out why her mentor Akikumo, the last wolf in Japan, abandoned her. He left her with other kitsune at the Inari Shrine, but she doesn’t fit in. And now the other kitsune are bullying her and saying Akikumo is dead. After causing trouble for the hundredth time, the Inari, instead of punishing her, has given Ketsueki a task: she must find out what happened to Akikumo. She quickly agrees, not realizing the delinquent son of the shrine’s head priest must accompany her. Will Ketsueki be able to make peace with a human? Or will her years of resentment make this partnership impossible?

Download or read book The Soul Sacrifice written by Megan Linski and published by Crystallite Publishing LLC. This book was released on 2020-07-06 with total page 810 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fire and Water make the ultimate sacrifice. Sophia The final battle has arrived. We’re prepared to face the Elders, but we can’t do it without the Azaimperiai. The ancient artifact will summon the ancestors to fight beside us. It’s our only hope at winning this war. But first, we must find the Familiars the Elders stole— before they can slaughter them and kill our people. We’ve finally discovered the true meaning of the prophecy, but it’s nothing like we expected. The prophecy says I’ll lose my life to save the tribe. Nothing could ever prepare me for leaving my daughter behind. Liam At the end of the world, things have never looked better just as they’re falling apart. My daughter gives me hope for the future, but there won’t be a future for her if the Elders continue to rule. To defeat them, we have to make a last stand. The fate of the Hawkei will be determined in the greatest battle of our time. If the rebellion falls, our people will be lost forever— as well as our magical creatures. Yet the prophecy is clear. To prevent the Elementai from going extinct, a sacrifice must be made. Sophia and I have to choose between saving our tribe... or saving our family. ** The Academy of Magical Creatures series comes to a breathtaking conclusion in the final book of this magical fantasy saga. This series takes place in the Hidden Legends Universe, along with the University of Sorcery series, the College of Witchcraft series, and the Prison for Supernatural Offenders series. The Hidden Legends universe features college-aged protagonists attending magical academies, dual points-of-view, disabled and diverse main characters, and steamy, empowering romances. Each series stands on its own and can be read in any order. This is a full-length novel over 400 pages. Recommended reading age 18+ Experience the fantastic finale and order today!

Download or read book Romance of the Imperial Capital Kotogami written by Yamori Mitikusa and published by Cross Infinite World. This book was released on 2021-05-31 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A retro-modern romantic fantasy set in the age of the Kotogami! After a fearsome beast burns down her company lodgings, Akari finds herself homeless and out of a job. Luckily, the handsome yokai who rescued her from the beast offers her a job as a live-in custodian at a manor in the city. Needing a safe place to sleep, Akari accepts Tomohito’s offer but soon finds that living in a house full of eccentric Kotogami spirits isn’t exactly the sweet deal she was hoping for. With no alternative, Akari resigns herself to cohabiting with her idiosyncratic new roommates. And so begins the heartwarming tale of the trials, new friendships, and blossoming romance of a hard working young woman, living in an age where the Kotogami spirits walk among humans.

Download or read book Helping People Club written by Robert Ziefel and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2014-07-05 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dean Chesterfield, having just finished his second year at the only supernatural high school on Earth, figures he might have a few days to relax before summer classes begin. He does not expect to see the principal of the school on his doorstep, a young Elizabeth in tow. His request: work out a plan to get her powers back! As school begins, Dean puts his plan to start helping his fellow students into action, forming the Helping People Club. It seems the students of Demongate High have more problems then even he thought were possible. Naturally, Dean has some problems of his own. Elizabeth is hanging around, and she seems to have a crush on him, much to the dismay of Yasui. Chaos is growing in the world, making things go bananas all over the Earth. And to top it all off, he starts hearing a voice, which calls itself Order, which begs to be found before it's too late. Too late being the destruction of the school by nuclear missile, stolen by demons and primed to fire!