World Folklore

In A Vulgar Art, Ian Brodie uses a folkloristic approach to stand-up comedy, engaging the discipline's central method of studying interpersonal, artistic communication and performance. Because stand-up comedy is a rather broad category, people who study it often begin by relating it to something they recognize - "literature" or "theatre"; "editorial" or "morality" - and analyze it accordingly. A Vulgar Art begins with a more fundamental observation: Someone is standing in front of a group of people, talking to them directly, and trying to make them laugh.

The worst blight in five hundred years has been defeated But that was only the beginning... Now, after banishing a necromantic scourge, young master Roscoe Coats and his gang of magites and hunters must face a new threat. The Ordal - the lifestream of the world's mana - is changing. Perverted and twisted, a new energy pervades. As magites everywhere find their powers waning, the Light increases. They are drawn - man and creature alike - to a distant fire in the sky. Building ever quickly, mutating every day, digesting the clouds themselves. No living being can resist. Except they must. ...

Almost everyone is familiar with names like Thor and Loki from movies, comics and other corners of the media world today, but where do they come from? That's exactly what this book looks at. You'll dive for a while into the origins of these familiar names of Norse mythology. You'll not only get an overview of the scientific sources if you desire to further investigate more specifically than what is presented here, you'll also get a short but concise introduction to the mythological world created in a pre-Christian time.

Tell the truth and shame the Devil. Seren never thought she'd be working for the Devil, but when a Demon starts impersonating Lucifer on Earth, prompting humans into heinous acts, she finds herself doing just that. This Demon isn't breaking any of Anu's laws, so King Lucifer doesn't have the right to punish him. At the same time, he can't let such an insult go unanswered. Although Seren couldn't care less about the Devil's humiliation, she does care about the humans who are being manipulated and hurt. But the further into the mission she gets, the less sure she is about what the mission is ...

In the tradition of Calvino’s Italian Folktales, Greg Sarris, author of the award-winning novel Grand Avenue, turns his attention to his ancestral homeland of Sonoma Mountain in Northern California. In 16 interconnected original stories, the twin crows Question Woman and Answer Woman take us through a world unlike yet oddly reminiscent of our own: one that blooms bright with poppies, lupines, and clover; one in which Water Bug kidnaps an entire creek; in which songs have the power to enchant; in which Rain is a beautiful woman who keeps people’s memories in stones.

Evolutions brings to life the latest scientific thinking on the birth of the universe and the solar system, the journey from a single cell all the way to our human minds. Reawakening our sense of wonder and terror at the world around us and within us, Oren Harman uses modern science to create new and original mythologies.

We have been connected to cats for more than 30 million years. To our prehistoricancestors cats were deadly predators of the night, and because of this ancient memory etched onto our DNA, cats epitomize our fear of the dark. Yet in addition to their connection to the dark and the shadows, their intelligence, sophisticated physical abilities, and finely tuned senses also led many cultures to view cats as connected to the spirit world.

From the ancient indigenous narratives of "The Dreamtime" in Australia to the classical founding tales of some of the greatest empires of Western antiquity, these accounts are at once creative works of art as well as valuable sources of early history and sociology. Terri-ann White has brought together a range of fascinating stories from around the world. Each reflects familiar and universal themes such as humor, fear, lust, familial love, romantic love, mortality, a reverence for the divine, and a preoccupation with the meaning of life.

Collected from storytellers on snow-capped mountains, and in eerie forests, opulent palaces and countries near and far, the captivating folk tales in this book have mesmerized generations. Injected with freshness, mystery, adventure and magic, Geeta Ramanujam retells her all-time favourite stories with a song here and a twist there.

Step into a world where history and magic intertwine with The Mystical World of Legendary Artifacts: A Guide to History’s Most Powerful Relics. This comprehensive guide takes you on an extraordinary journey through time, revealing the secrets behind the world’s most legendary magical artifacts. From the mythic sword Excalibur to the elusive Philosopher’s Stone, these powerful relics have shaped the course of history, inspiring awe and wonder. Each artifact carries its own unique powers, mystery, and legend, influencing the fates of those who seek them.

It's been nearly a century since Thomas Rimor last battled Yvag knights. In that time his wife and daughter have grown old and died, and he discovered that he ages not at all. The elven world believes him dead. In his grief, he has retreated to the depths of Sherwood and Barnsdale Forests and become a hermit. But when a dying outlaw arrives on his doorstep with items stolen from an Yvag skinwalker, it sets in motion events that thrust Thomas back into the world and force him into combat with Queen Nicnevin's soldiers.

For the last nine centuries, Hawaiian tradition has used the wickedness of the Maui king Hua to depict the consequences of sacrificing righteousness for superficial political gains. His reign was known for its pointless warfare, waste of resources, and corruption. Condemning his dutiful high priest to death under false pretenses, Hua and his subjects finally earn the wrath of the gods. Drought and famine decimate Maui. The lush countryside of Hana becomes a wasteland. As they flee, the curse follows. Atonement resides with the sons of the murdered priest. If they can be found.

Embark on a thrilling adventure into the mysterious Whispering Woods with Hikaru, a curious and compassionate blacksmith's son determined to save his village from calamity. Delve into the rich folklore of Japan as Hikaru learns ancient rites, confronts the formidable Oni, Kagutsuchi, and uncovers dark secrets buried in his picturesque village, Hanamura. Will Hikaru restore balance and teach his fellow villagers about the importance of respecting the spirits of the land? Unravel the truth in this immersive tale of courage, growth, and redemption.

Uncover tales of ancient beasts, in this beautiful anthology of mythologies. This book introduces children to the thrilling mythological beasts from ancient civilizations. Through the incredible storytelling you can learn about fantastic creatures such as the Japanese Baku, which had the power to devour nightmares, the wise Egyptian Sphynx, and the fearsome Minotaur who went head-to-head with Theseus in Greek mythology.

Ever since he was given a copy of Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World for his ninth birthday, Dom has been obsessed with the world of cryptozoology—monster hunting—and in Scary Monsters and Super Creeps, he heads to six completely different destinations to investigate local monster sightings. Are the monsters all the product of fevered minds, or is there a sliver of truth somewhere in the madness? Either way, the search gives Dom an excuse to dive into six fascinating destinations on a gloriously nutty adventure.

This audiobook is crafted not just for myth enthusiasts but for anyone seeking to understand the profound impact of these ancient stories on our modern world. Embark on your Viking journey today. Don't let the sagas of old remain a mystery.

In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki. The islanders return this gift with a monument of four boulders in their honor, which the Mahu imbue with healing powers before disappearing. As time passes, foreigners inhabit the island and the once-sacred stones are forgotten until the 1960s. Though the true story of these stones was not fully recovered, the power of the Mahu still calls out to those who pass by them at Waikiki Beach today.

Siroccos, Santa Anas, chinooks, monsoons...the wind has as many names as moods. Few other forces have so universally shaped the lands and waters of the earth, the plants and animals, the patterns of exploration, settlement, and civilization. Few other phenomena have exerted such a profound influence on the history and psyche of humankind. Wind touches all of us every day of our lives, yet remarkably little has been written about it except as a component of the weather.

For centuries, beautifully illustrated fairy-tale volumes have rested innocently on kids' night tables around the world, long ago relegated to the dubious honor of being branded as "children's literature". But every story is a file packed with information, and Cinderella, Snow White, Puss in Boots, and Bluebeard have always intimated that perhaps they have more to tell besides "beautiful" stories, the same ones that animated the minds of several generations of children.

It goes unappreciated by modern Egyptologists, but it is embraced by those who savor the concept of a “hidden history” of humanity, and those who approach all human knowledge from the perspective of the esoteric. Gerard Massey’s massive Ancient Egypt: The Light of the World–first published in 1907 and the crowning achievement of the self-taught scholar–redefines the roots of Christianity via Egypt, proposing that Egyptian mythology was the basis for Jewish and Christian beliefs.