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Walking with the Green Man
From heroic archetypes such as Robin Hood to Demigods such as Herne the Hunter; from the King of the Woods to the Jack in the Green, Walking With the Green Man examines the interconnection of man and Nature throughout history. Whether as a man amongst the trees, a man of the trees, or a symbol of Nature used to express secrets and solidarity, the Green Mans visage is traced throughout lands and cultures.
Dark Fairies
We all know about fairies—they're usually helpful, ethereal creatures in children's stories and Walt Disney films, flitting about doing good, right? Wrong! In ancient times, the concept of fairies was rather different. They were the often-dangerous embodiment of the land, dark and unpredictable spirits that watched Humanity with a jaundiced and hostile eye. And, according to conventional folk wisdom, they were to be feared rather than trusted. Indeed, in their original form, many of our "fairy tales" read more like late-night horror stories. Dr. Bob Curran investigates the folkloric roots of the fairy kind, tracing their origins from the sprites and maenads of Classical times to the saniti...
Werewolves
Presents information about the legendary werewolf, examining the mythology surrounding the feared wolf man and its place in popular culture.
Lost Lands, Forgotten Realms
“A comprehensive encyclopedia of fantastic places straddling the nebulous borderlands between fact and fantasy.” —Frank Joseph, author of Opening the Ark of the Covenant There are places that turn up in literature or in film—mystical and legendary places whose names may be familiar but about which we know little. We nod knowingly at the reference, but are often left wondering about places such as Atlantis, the lost land overwhelmed by the sea, or El Dorado, the fabulous city that vanished somewhere in the South American jungles. Other names are more evocative—Mount Olympus, the Garden of Eden, the mystic Isle of Avalon, and Davy Jones’ Locker. But did such places actually exist a...
Celtic Lore & Legend
An Irish folklorist presents a collection of little-known ancient myths, fireside tales, and modern fictions to celebrate the Celtic art of storytelling. Steeped in the oral traditions of rural Northern Ireland, Bob Curran celebrates the lore and legends of his people. This volume includes some of the oldest tales to be passed down across the centuries, as well as newer stories inspired by these Celtic roots. Celtic Lore & Legend includes tales of the heroes and gods from the Great Myth Cycles as well as stories of witches, ghosts, and fairies. This is the first anthology to seek out and record the traditions from many parts of the Western Celtic world—Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany—from as early as the seventeenth century.
Walking With the Green Man
Almost since the dawn of time, the image of the Green Man—the carven enigmatic head surrounded by leaves and foliage—has both intrigued and mystified viewers and folklorists alike. Appearing in churches, taverns, and even on stately buildings, the carving seems shrouded in supernatural obscurity. Is it merely a fertility symbol, or is it something much deeper, which calls for a response from us all? Though it seems a predominantly Celtic icon, does the concept of the Green Man also appear in other places and in other cultures? What is its relevance for the world today? In an absorbing new book, Dr. Bob Curran traces the many strands that make up this enigmatic image. Tracing its origins ...
The World's Creepiest Places
There are some places in the world where humans quite simply should not go. Not just haunted places, but sites where ancient forces still hold sway. We can recognize such locations by the responses they evoke within us—that feeling we call “the creeps.” But just where are these places, and why do they terrify us? In The World’s Creepiest Places, Dr. Curran visits some of these sites, looking at their history and traditions and exploring the creepy feeling they evoke in people who have been there. His travels range widely—from his native Ireland and through the empty deserts of the Middle East, to the misty hills of Tibet and back through Europe to America. He’s not only looking for ghosts, but also for sinister people, vampires, the living dead, doorways to other worlds—even venturing close to the Gates of Hell itself! This is not just a ghostly travel book. It’s for those who want to explore the weird, out-of-the-way locations of our planet and test the boundaries of the reality many of us take for granted. We dare you to take the journey with us!
Man-Made Monsters
Life exists all around us, in forms that we can readily and easily identify. But what if there were, lurking in the shadows, other forms of life that are not so familiar, creatures created not by Nature, but by Man? We know their names—Frankenstein, the Golem, the homunculi of the ancient alchemists; they exist in our stories and myths. But just what are these mysterious creatures, and do they actually have some basis in reality? In his fascinating and wide-ranging new book, Dr. Bob Curran explores man-made monsters and the truth behind the myths. You’ll learn fascinating details about: The 19th century scientist who tried to bring the dead back to life—the model for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein The Man of Clay who lumbered through the streets of medieval Prague at the command of early rabbis Tales of robots that may have existed in the ancient world and threatened Greek and Roman warriors. Cloning and the artificial creation of life, and what strange and mysterious areas they may be heading into. Man-Made Monsters is essential reading for anyone who wants to explore artificial beings and peer into the dark recesses of the human mind...where they may indeed be hiding.
Zombies
In the myths, legends, and folklore of many peoples, the returning, physical dead play a significant role, whether they are the zombies of Haiti or the draugr of Scandinavia. But what are the origins of an actual bodily return from the grave? Does it come from something deep within our psyche, or is there some truth to it? In Zombies, Bob Curran explores how some of these beliefs may have arisen and the truths that lay behind them, examining myths from all around the world and from ancient times including Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Celtic. Curran traces the evolution of belief in the walking cadaver from its early inception in religious ideology to the "Resurrections" and cataleptic...
