Giants, monsters, and dragons

the long version

"The author of Giants, Monsters, and Dragons has combed through the imaginary bestiary of the world and given us a look at all of its grotesque inhabitants. Here you will meet fantastic beings from Hindu legends, Navajo religion, Scandinavian tales, Russian folklore, Lithuanian stories, Irish oral history, American tall tales, Aztec theology - even movies and the works of Lewis Carroll and other writers.". "The encyclopedia is for anyone researching the world's legendary creatures. It not only identifies and describes individual beasts in their cultural context but also groups them together across cultures and discusses common mythological strands and conceits. Each entry is followed by cross-references that guide the reader to related entries of interest. An extensive bibliography and useful appendixes facilitate further pursuit of detailed information."--BOOK JACKET.