Monster Science

Are monsters really out there in the big, wide world? Frankenstein, vampires, bigfoot, zombies, werewolves, sea monsters — they’re not real, right? But what if they were? How would science explain their existence? In this totally original book, these mythical creatures are put under the microscope, one by one, and the scientific principles that prove or disprove their plausibility are explained. How does electricity work, and can it ever wake the dead? What’s in our blood, and do real-life bloodsuckers exist? Find out what’s true — and what’s just legend! With frightful fun and just enough ick, the scariest monsters on earth will engage kids so thoroughly in the world of science, they’re sure to be screaming for more!

Are monsters really out there in the big, wide world? Frankenstein, vampires, bigfoot, zombies, werewolves, sea monsters — they’re not real, right? But what if they were? How would science explain their existence? In this totally original book, these mythical creatures are put under the microscope, one by one, and the scientific principles that prove or disprove their plausibility are explained. How does electricity work, and can it ever wake the dead? What’s in our blood, and do real-life bloodsuckers exist? Find out what’s true — and what’s just legend! With frightful fun and just enough ick, the scariest monsters on earth will engage kids so thoroughly in the world of science, they’re sure to be screaming for more!

A thrilling and gruesome look at the science that influenced Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential science-fiction stories of all time. Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on the gothic horror and science-fiction genres, and her creation has become part of our everyday culture, from cartoons to Hallowe'en costumes. Even the name 'Frankenstein' has become a by-word for evil scientists and dangerous experiments. How did a teenager with no formal education come up with the idea for such an extraordinary novel? Clues are dotted throughout Georgian science and popular culture. The years before the book's publication saw huge advances in our understanding of the natural sciences, in areas such as electricity and physiology, for example. Sensational science demonstrations caught the imagination of the general public, while the newspapers were full of lurid tales of murderers and resurrectionists. Making the Monster explores the scientific background behind Mary Shelley's book. Is there any science fact behind the science fiction? And how might a real-life Victor Frankenstein have gone about creating his monster? From tales of volcanic eruptions, artificial life and chemical revolutions, to experimental surgery, 'monsters' and electrical experiments on human cadavers, Kathryn Harkup examines the science and scientists that influenced Shelley, and inspired her most famous creation.

An official guide to Buffy the Vampire Slayer describes the mythology and influences behind the monsters, ghouls, and characters through interviews with the creators and details of the episodes.

Learning the steps of the scientific method doesn't have to be scary. Join Frankenstein's monster as he uncovers the importance of forming a hypothesis, conducting experiments, and communicating results. You'll give your knowledge of scientific investigation a boost with a monster dose of humor.

"Previously published as Medusa's gaze and vampire's bite by Scribner"--Title page verso.

This book visits the 'Thing' in its various manifestations as an unnameable monster in literature and film, reinforcing the idea that the very essence of the monster is its excess and its indeterminacy. Tied primarily to the artistic modes of the gothic, science fiction, and horror, the unnameable monster retains a persistent presence in literary forms as a reminder of the sublime object that exceeds our worst fears. Beville examines various representations of this elusive monster and argues that we must looks at the monster, rather than through it, at ourselves. As such, this book responds to the obsessive manner in which the monsters of literature and culture are ‘managed’ in processes of classification and in claims that they serve a social function by embodying all that is horrible in the human imagination. The book primarily considers literature from the Romantic period to the present, and film that leans toward postmodernism. Incorporating disciplines such as cultural theory, film theory, literary criticism, and continental philosophy, it focuses on that most difficult but interesting quality of the monster, its unnameability, in order to transform and accelerate current readings of not only the monsters of literature and film, but also those that are the focus of contemporary theoretical discussion.

Zombies, werewolves, and vampires may be undead but that doesn't exempt them from the laws of science! Capitalize on kids' fascination with all types of monsters and aliens with this creative, hilarious but absolutely fact filled look at important scientific concepts. Each vignette uses a monster and cool comic book style illustrations to show the hows and whys of science.