Raiju

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.

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.

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.

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 provides a lively excursion into Japanese folklore and its ever-expanding influence on global popular culture. It also 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.

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

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.

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?

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…