Imaginary animals: the monstrous, the wondrous and the human

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 th.;Cover; Imaginary Animals; Imprint Page; Contents; 1. The True Unicorn; 2. Animal Encounters; 3. What is an 'Imaginary Animal'?; 4. Every Real Animal is Imaginary; 5. Every Imaginary Animal is Real; 6. Monsters; 7. Wonders; 8. Creatures of Water; 9. Creatures of Fire and Air; 10. Creatures of Earth; 11. Shape-Shifters; 12. Mechanical Animals; Conclusion; References; Further Reading; Acknowledgements; Photo Acknowledgements; Index.