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.

The wildly popular G.I. Joe universe has entertained kids since the 1960s, whether it be through a cartoon or an action figure. As G.I. Joe's stories expanded, so did the characters, and everyone had their favorite, be it Hawk and Duke fighting against evil or Cobra Commander and Destro bent on nothing less than world domination.

For the first time ever, all the characters from the G.I. Joe multiverse--even those from outside the U.S. market--are gathered together in one location. Presented in field guide format, this book includes a history of the toy and comic lines as well as a thorough description of every action figure and character from the Cobra and G.I. Joe animated films, comics, and Hasbro-authorized fan fiction. With the addition of photographs from the private collection of Tommy Wyckoff, this book is a must-have for toy collectors and a chance for long-time G.I. Joe fans to recapture their favorite memories.

From the earliest days of oral history to the present, the vampire myth persists among mankind's deeply-rooted fears. This encyclopedia, with entries ranging from Abchanchu to Zmeus, includes nearly 600 different species of historical and mythological vampires, fully described and detailed.

Fairies have been revered and feared, sometimes simultaneously, throughout recorded history. This encyclopedia of concise entries, from the A-senee-ki-waku of northeastern North America to the Zips of Central America and Mexico, includes more than 2,500 individual beings and species of fairy and nature spirits from a wide range of mythologies and religions from all over the globe.

The heavens and hells of the world's religions and the far, far away legends cannot be seen or visited, but they remain an integral part of culture and history. This encyclopedia catalogs more than 800 imaginary and mythological lands from all over the world, including fairy realms, settings from Arthurian lore, and kingdoms found in fairy tales and political and philosophical works, including Sir Thomas More's Utopia and Plato's Atlantis. From al A'raf, the limbo of Islam, to Zulal, one of the many streams that run through Paradise, entries give the literary origin of each site, explain its cultural context, and describe its topical features, listing variations on names when applicable. Cross-referenced for ease of use, this compendium will prove useful to scholars, researchers or anyone wishing to tour the unseen landscapes of myth and legend.

Here there be dragons--this notation was often made on ancient maps to indicate the edges of the known world and what lay beyond. Heroes who ventured there were only as great as the beasts they encountered. This encyclopedia contains more than 2,200 monsters of myth and folklore, who both made life difficult for humans and fought by their side. Entries describe the appearance, behavior, and cultural origin of mythic creatures well-known and obscure, collected from traditions around the world.

Curious about the chains that bound Fenriswulf in Norse mythology? Or the hut of Baba Yaga, the infamous witch of Russian folklore? Containing more than one thousand detailed entries on the magical and mythical items from the different folklore, legends, and religions the world over, this encyclopedia is the first of its kind. From Abadi, the named stone in Roman mythology to Zul-Hajam, one of the four swords said to belong to the prophet Mohammed, each item is described in as much detail as the original source material provided, including information on its origin, who was its wielder, and the extent of its magical abilities. The text also includes a comprehensive cross-reference system and an extensive bibliography to aid researchers.

Every culture has in its folklore and mythology beings of immense size and strength, as well as other preternatural humanoids great or small who walk among us, serving the divine or fulfilling their own agendas. This book catalogs the lore and legends of more than 1,000 different humanoid species and individual beings, including the Titans, Valkyries, Jotnar, yōkai, biblical giants, elves, ogres, trolls and many more.

Of all the anomalous phenomenon reported, ghost sightings are by far the most common. The words ghost and spirit are used interchangeably in American English but in other cultures the lingering souls of the departed are not to be confused with ancestral spirits, demonic spirits, numens or poltergeists. This encyclopedia lists hundreds of entities of the spirit realm--from aatxe to zuzeca--from world mythology and folklore.

Historic Greensboro, North Carolina, is infested with ghosts. Go behind the scenes to meet some of the city's most famous haunted areas. You'll learn the history surrounding each haunting and hear frightening eyewitness accounts. Find out why nothing has grown in the Devil's Tramping Ground for more than 200 years. Learn the connection between the famous Lydia ghost and the phantom hitchhiker that has been scaring drivers since the 1920s, or is the phantom even older? Tremble as you hear the stories of the vampire beast's killing sprees. Read about ghostly Revolutionary soldiers, a piano player and miner spirits, poltergeist, and other unsettled souls that call the city of Greensboro home. Stop by for a visit...if you dare.

History is steeped in wonderful and strange folklore. Here, premier storyteller Cynthia Moore Brown tells 17 old-timey favorites, each one including a special home style recipe connected to the story. As for the lore, avoid a brush with death in Wait Until Spring, discover the dark secret a little bunny is hiding in Bee Keeper, root for Jack and his animal friends as they come face to face with Wild Hair Willy in Jack and the Robbers, and rediscover a mountain classic, told as only Cynthia can tell, in Simple Jack. This series of folktales is beautifully put to paper by mythologist, Theresa Bane, with a foreword presented by Etta Skaggs Reid, genealogist and historian. Drawings are by T. Glenn Bane, winner of a silver medal in the national Benjamin Franklin awards. So bake a batch of biscuits or brew some Southern Brunswick Stew as you curl up to some mighty exciting stories heard for generations!

Folklore and ghost stories from the Piedmont area of North Carolina come to life as told by the region's favorite performer, Cynthia Moore Brown. Hear the sad tale of The Gentleman Ghost of Uwharrie Mountain in Asheboro; Lydia, the phantom hitchhiker of Jamestown; and the real-life account of Lexington's very own hero, Valentine Leonard. Rediscover fan favorites, such as the humorous God in the Lake, the eerie tale of The Woman with the Basket, and Old Salem's very own whistling Little Red Man. Appearing for the first time in print, 21 spine-tingling ghost tales from the region's renowned storyteller, including four original tales composed by Cynthia herself, perpetuate the history of tradition in and around Piedmont. Each story is beautifully written out by co-author Theresa Bane to capture every blood-chilling moment of the story-telling experience. This book will delight readers of all ages and quickly become a family favorite.