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Monsters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader
by Andrew J. HoffmanMonsters explores questions about the central concept of the monstrous: Why do we create monsters? Are they animal, human, both, or neither? Which of our fears and desires do monsters embody? What can monsters tell us about our cultural and historical moments? How do we cope with the monsters that haunt our imaginations--and our societies? Readings by classic poets, contemporary fiction writers, pop culture critics, philosophers, psychologists, occultists, veterinarians, ethicists, historians, and others take up these questions and more. Questions and assignments for each selection provide a range of activities for students to write about vampires, werewolves, zombies, mermaids, serial killers, classic horror movie monsters, and more strange things that go bump in the night. The Bedford Spotlight Reader Series is an exciting line of single-theme readers, each reflecting Bedford's trademark care and quality. An editorial board of a dozen compositionists at schools with courses focusing on specific themes assists in the development of the series. Each reader collects thoughtfully chosen selections sufficient for an entire writing course--about 35 pieces--to allow instructors to provide carefully developed, high-quality instruction at an affordable price. Bedford Spotlight Readers are designed to help students from all majors make sustained inquiries from multiple perspectives, opening up topics such as borders, food, gender, happiness, humor, language, music, science and technology, subcultures, and sustainability, to critical analysis. The readers are flexibly arranged in thematic chapters, with each chapter focusing in depth on a different facet of the central topic. Instructor support at macmillanlearning.com includes sample syllabi and additional teaching resources.
The Monsters: Mary Shelley and the Curse of Frankenstein
by Dorothy Hoobler Thomas HooblerOne murky night in 1816, on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lord Byron, famed English poet, challenged his friends to a contest--to write a ghost story. The assembled group included the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley; his lover (and future wife) Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin; Mary's stepsister Claire Claremont; and Byron's physician, John William Polidori. The famous result was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a work that has retained its hold on the popular imagination for almost two centuries. Less well-known was the curious Polidori's contribution: the first vampire novel. And the evening begat a curse, too: Within a few years of Frankenstein's publication, nearly all of those involved met untimely deaths. Drawing upon letters, rarely tapped archives, and their own magisterial rereading of Frankenstein itself, Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler have crafted a rip-roaring tale of obsession and creation.
Monsters! and Other Stories
by Gustavo DuarteNewcomer Gustavo Duarte spins wordless tales brimming with humor, charm, and delightfully twisted horror! In Monsters!, oversized beasts wreak havoc on cities in the tradition of Godzilla and King Kong. In Có!, an alien abduction disarms a gentle farmer, and in Birds, two business partners run from fate only to find themselves hopelessly unable to change the future. * In the tradition of Pixar! * Giant beasts bent on destroying the world!
The Monster's Corner: Stories Through Inhuman Eyes
by Christopher GoldenIn most stories we get the perspective of the hero, the ordinary, the everyman, but we are all the hero of our own tale, and so it must be true for legions of monsters, from Lucifer to Mordred, from child-thieving fairies to Frankenstein's monster and the Wicked Witch of the West. From our point of view, they may very well be horrible, terrifying monstrosities, but of course they won't see themselves in the same light, and their point of view is what concerns us in these tales. Demons and goblins, dark gods and aliens, creatures of myth and legend, lurkers in darkness and beasts in human clothing . . . these are the subjects of THE MONSTER'S CORNER.
Monsters Eat Whiny Children
by Bruce Eric KaplanAges 4-8. Henry and Eve are two perfectly delightful children who happen to be going through a terrible phase where they whine all day and night. Their kindly father warns them that monsters eat whiny children. Of course, they don't pay attention, until one day a monster shows up at their door. But that is just the beginning.
Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting
by W. Scott Poole<p>Salem witches, frontier wilderness beasts, freak show oddities, alien invasions, Freddie Krueger. From our colonial past to the present, the monster in all its various forms has been a staple of American culture. A masterful survey of our grim and often disturbing past, Monsters in America uniquely brings together history and culture studies to expose the dark obsessions that have helped create our national identity. <p>Monsters are not just fears of the individual psyche, historian Scott Poole explains, but are concoctions of the public imagination, reactions to cultural influences, social change, and historical events. Conflicting anxieties about race, class, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, science, and politics manifest as haunting beings among the populace. From Victorian-era mad scientists to modern-day serial killers, new monsters appear as American society evolves, paralleling fluctuating challenges to the cultural status quo. Consulting newspaper accounts, archival materials, personal papers, comic books, films, and oral histories, Poole adroitly illustrates how the creation of the monstrous "other" not only reflects society's fears but shapes actual historical behavior and becomes a cultural reminder of inhuman acts.</p>
Monsters in Performance: Essays on the Aesthetics of Disqualification
by Michael Chemers Analola SantanaMonsters in Performance boasts an impressive range of contemporary essays that delve into topical themes such as race, gender, and disability, to explore what constitutes monstrosity within the performing arts. These fascinating essays from leading and emerging scholars explore representation in performance, specifically concerning themselves with attempts at social disqualification of "undesirables." Throughout, the writers employ the concept of "monstrosity" to describe the cultural processes by which certain identities or bodies are configured to be threateningly deviant. The editors take a range of previously isolated critical inquiries – including bioethics, critical race studies, queer studies, and televisual studies - and merge them to create an accessible and dynamic platform which unifies these ranges of representations. The global scope and interdisciplinary nature of Monsters in Performance renders it an essential book for Theatre and Performance students of all levels as well as scholars; it will also be an enlightening text for those interested in monstrosity and Cultural Studies more broadly.
Monsters in the Mist
by Juliana Brandt"A tale that is chilling on more than one level… Zombie rats and ghastly ghosts galore—but the haunting comes from more than the spectral cast" — KirkusWhen 13-year-old Glennon McCue, his mom, and his fragile sister are left with their uncle at his lighthouse on Isle Philippeaux, Glennon desperately wants leave the desolate isle and return home. But his father is away, so Glennon is forced to spend his break surrounded by fog, rats, and chilling myths. Nothing seems quite right… with the island or with his family.A storm rocks the island and a ship crashes near the lighthouse, leaving behind a group of sailors. Something is off about the survivors, who seem more monster than human. Soon it becomes clear that there won't be boats to take anyone home, and Glennon and his family are trapped.It will take all Glennon's courage to save his family from the curse of the isle and the real monster in his life.Pick up Monsters in the Mist if you are looking for:A book for middle school students, 5th grade to 9th gradeMystery books for kids 9-12Chilling ghost stories and ghost books for kids (perfect for Halloween!)Praise for The Wolf of Cape Fen:"Brandt's striking debut is eerie and intriguing, set in a deftly built world that feels both cozily familiar and unsettlingly odd. A stunning seaside fairy tale that will absorb readers until the very end."—Booklist"Unfolding gradually as Eliza relentlessly pieces the past together, this intriguing mystery culminates in a startling, literally transforming climax."—Kirkus Reviews"Atmospheric...this fabulist middle grade effectively employs a dream-fueled magic system that reckons with consequences."—Publishers WeeklyPraise for A Wilder Magic:"Readers who enjoyed the Savvy series by Ingrid Law and Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve will love this little gem." —Rebecca Williams, Portland Book Review"The relationship between magic, nature, and intent adds a thoughtful level of complexity and cost to this sophomore novel by Brandt....a poignant blend of loss and optimism as readers empathize with Sybaline's rebellion against inevitable change." —Publishers Weekly"[Kids] expecting a big move may find comfort in Sybaline's eventual acceptance of her need to leave the valley." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Monsters in the Movies: 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares
by John LandisFrom B-movie bogeymen and outer space oddities to big-budget terrors, Monsters in the Movies by legendary filmmaker John Landis showcases the greatest monsters ever to creep, fly, slither, stalk, or rampage across the Silver Screen! Landis provides his own fascinating and entertaining insights into the world of moviemaking, while conducting in-depth "conversations" with leading monster makers, including David Cronenberg, Christopher Lee, John Carpenter, and Sam Raimi — to discuss some of the most petrifying monsters ever seen. He also surveys the historical origins of the archetypal monsters, such as vampires, zombies, and werewolves, and takes you behind the scenes to discover the secrets of those special-effects wizards who created such legendary frighteners as King Kong, Dracula, and Halloween's Michael Myers. With more than 1000 stunning movie stills and posters, this book is sure to keep even the most intense fright-seekers at the edge of their seats for hours!
Monsters, Movies & Mayhem
by Kevin J. Anderson&“A fun, nostalgia-filled anthology of twenty-three original, lighthearted horror tales riffing on the movie monsters of both modern cinema and B-movie favorites.&” —Publishers Weekly Lights! Camera! Monsters? Sometimes you go to the movies. And sometimes, the movies—and their monsters—come to you. At any moment, without notice, monsters once relegated to the screen become a reality. Aliens and demons, dragons and ghosts, werewolves, vampires, zombies, and seemingly ordinary people who are just plain evil. Join award-winning authors Jonathan Maberry, Fran Wilde, David Gerrold, Rick Wilber and others for twenty-three all-new tales of haunted theaters, video gods, formidable demons, alien pizza, and delirious actors. Each story takes you to the silver screen with monstrous results. Funny or grim, unsettling or cozy . . . You&’ll laugh! You&’ll sigh! You&’ll scream! Grab popcorn—and good running shoes—and enjoy the show.
The Monsters of Templeton
by Lauren GroffIn the wake of a disastrous affair with her older, married archeology professor at Stanford, brilliant Wilhelmina Cooper arrives back at the doorstep of her hippie mother-turned born-again-Christian's house in Templeton, NY, a storybook town her ancestors founded that sits on the shores of Lake Glimmerglass. Upon her arrival, a prehistoric monster surfaces in the lake bringing a feeding frenzy to the quiet town, and Willie learns she has a mystery father her mother kept secret Willie's entire life. The beautiful, broody Willie is told that the key to her biological father's identity lies somewhere in her family's history, so she buries herself in the research of her twisted family tree and finds more than she bargained for as a chorus of voices from the town's past- some sinister, all fascinating- rise up around her to tell their side of the story. In the end, dark secrets come to light, past and present day are blurred, and old mysteries are finally put to rest. A fresh, virtuoso performance that will surely place Groff among the best young writers of today.
The Monsters of Templeton: A Novel
by Lauren Groff"The day I returned to Templeton steeped in disgrace, the fifty-foot corpse of a monster surfaced in Lake Glimmerglass." So begins The Monsters of Templeton, a novel spanning two centuries: part a contemporary story of a girl's search for her father, part historical novel, and part ghost story, this spellbinding novel is at its core a tale of how one town holds the secrets of a family. In the wake of a wildly disastrous affair with her married archaeology professor, Willie Upton arrives on the doorstep of her ancestral home in Templeton, New York, where her hippie-turned-born-again-Baptist mom, Vi, still lives. Willie expects to be able to hide in the place that has been home to her family for generations, but the monster's death changes the fabric of the quiet, picture-perfect town her ancestors founded. Even further, Willie learns that the story her mother had always told her about her father has all been a lie: he wasn't the random man from a free-love commune that Vi had led her to imagine, but someone else entirely. Someone from this very town. As Willie puts her archaeological skills to work digging for the truth about her lineage, she discovers that the secrets of her family run deep. Through letters, editorials, and journal entries, the dead rise up to tell their sides of the story as dark mysteries come to light, past and present blur, old stories are finally put to rest, and the shocking truth about more than one monster is revealed.
Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies
by Brian A. SharplessHorror movies can reveal much more than we realize about psychological disorders—and clinical psychology has a lot to teach us about horror. Our fears—mortality, failure, loneliness—can be just as motivating as our wishes or desires. Horror movie characters uniquely reveal all of these to a wide audience. If explored in an honest and serious manner, our fears have the potential to teach us a great deal about ourselves, our culture, and certainly other people. From psychologist, researcher, and horror film enthusiast Brian A. Sharpless comes Monsters on the Couch, an exploration into the real-life psychological disorders behind famous horror movies. Accounts of clinical syndromes every bit as dramatic as those on the silver screen are juxtaposed with fascinating forays into the science and folklore behind our favorite movie monsters. Horror fans may be obsessed with vampires, werewolves, zombies, and the human replacements from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but even many medical professions may not know about the corresponding conditions of Renfield's syndrome, clinical lycanthropy, Cotard's syndrome, and the misidentification delusions. Some of these disorders are surprisingly common in the general population. For instance, a number of people experience isolated sleep paralysis, a disorder implicated in ghost and alien abduction beliefs.As these tales unfold, readers not only learn state-of-the-art psychological science but also gain a better understanding of history, folklore, and how Hollywood often—but not always—gets it wrong when tackling these complex topics.
Monsters We Have Made: A Novel
by Lindsay StarckA poignant and evocative novel that explores the bounds of familial love, the high stakes of parenthood, and the tenuous divide between fiction and reality.Thirteen years ago, Sylvia Gray's young daughter, Faye, attacked her babysitter in order to impress the Kingman, a monster she and her best friend had encountered on the Internet. When the now twenty-three-year-old Faye goes missing, leaving her toddler behind, Sylvia launches a search that propels her back into the past and back into the Kingman's orbit. With the help of her estranged husband and a sister she hasn't spoken to in years, Sylvia draws dangerously closer not only to Faye, but also to the truth about the monster that once inspired her. Will Sylvia be able to reach her daughter before history repeats itself? Or will it be Sylvia, this time, who loses her grip on reality and succumbs to the dark powers of this monstrous fiction?Both literary and suspenseful, Monsters We Have Made confronts the terrors of parenthood and examines the boundaries of love. Most importantly, it reminds us of the power of stories to shape our lives.
The Monster's Wife
by Kate HorsleyA startling new sequel to Mary Shelley's classic novel Frankenstein. Told from the perspective of the girl Victor Frankenstein transformed into a Bride for his monster. To a tiny island in the Scottish Orkneys, peopled by a devout community of twenty, comes Victor Frankenstein, driven there by a Devil's bargain: to make a wife for the Creature who is stalking him across Europe. In this darkly-wrought answer to Frankenstein, we hear the untold tale of the monster's wife through the perspective of the doctor's housemaid. Oona works below stairs with her best friend May, washing the doctor's linens and keeping the fires lit at the Big House. An orphan whose only legacy is the illness that killed her mother, Oona knows she is doomed. But she is also thirsty for knowledge, determined to know life fully before it slips away. As tensions heighten between Victor and the islanders, Oona becomes the doctor's trusted accomplice, aiding in secret experiments and seeing horrors she sometimes wishes to forget. When May disappears, Oona must face up to growing suspicions about the enigmatic employer to whom she has grown close - but the truth is darker than anything she could imagine.A literary gothic, in the tradition of Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea and Valerie Martin's Mary Reilly.
Monstros à luz do dia
by Lislaine M. Oliveira Sarah DaltonEu sempre achei que meus demônios se revelassem de dia, em vez de à noite. Nunca tive medo do escuro. Só sempre tive medo de coisas reais: ficar doente, tomar injeção, dor física... morte. Esses são meus monstros, não fantasmas ou vampiros ou o que quer que se esconda debaixo da sua cama à noite. Eu estava errada. O escuro torna tudo pior. Quando o psiquiatra de Mary aconselha um curto período em uma unidade psiquiátrica, seus piores pesadelos são confirmados. Como ela pode melhorar em um lugar que a enche de pavor? Quando ela encontra outros pacientes, começa a juntar alguma esperança, até perceber que o número de mortes no hospital está aumentando sem explicação. Algo sinistro está à espreita nos corredores e, talvez, ela seja a única que pode impedir isso... Mary tem que confrontar as Coisas que vê se é para eles terem alguma chance. Mas será que vai sobreviver a um confronto com a própria morte?
Monstrous
by Jessica LewisForced to spend her summer in her aunt's strange small town, a teen girl discovers dark secrets hidden in the woods. From the author of Bad Witch Burning comes another pulse-pounding novel perfect for fans of Supernatural and Lovecraft Country.Don't go outside past dark. Come straight home after church. And above all—never, ever, go into Red Wood.These are the rules Latavia's aunt gives her when Latavia arrives in Sanctum, Alabama for the summer. Though, weird as they are, living in Sanctum does have its pros. Mainly, the cute girl who works at the local ice cream shop. But Sanctum is turning out to be as strange as the rules—and the longer Latavia&’s in town, the more suspicious she is that the people there are hiding something. And the more clear it is that she&’s an outsider. Everyone&’s nice enough, but they seem determined to prove everything is normal.But it's not. Because there&’s something in Red Wood that the towns&’ people are hiding. And if Latavia doesn't follow her aunt&’s rules, she might not be able to leave Sanctum. Ever...
Monstrous Affections
by David Nickle“Stark and creepy, Stoker winner Nickle’s first collection will delight the literary horror reader [with] 13 terrifying tales.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review A young bride and her future mother-in-law risk everything to escape it. A repentant father summons help from a pot of tar to ensure it. A starving woman learns from howling winds and a whispering host, just how fulfilling it can finally be. Can “it” be love? Here is the classic debut collection of creepy tales from David Nickle, the award-winning author of such celebrated works as Volk: A Novel of Radiant Abomination and Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism. One of the foremost practitioners of Canadian Gothic fiction, Nickle is widely acclaimed for his evocative prose and sui generis imagination. This edition features an introduction by Michael Rowe.
Monstrous Affections: Stories
by David Nickle&“Rich characters and a love of unique twists top off a captivating and sometimes gruesome collection of nightmares&” from the award-winning author of Volk (Corey Redekop, author of Husk). Winner of the Black Quill Reader&’s Choice Award, Monstrous Affections heralded the appearance of a thrilling new writer on the horror scene, praised by the National Post as &“a worthy heir to the mantle of Stephen King.&” David Nickle&’s debut collection features &“13 terrifying tales of rural settings, complex and reticent characters and unexpected twists that question the fundamentals of reality. All are delivered with a certain grace, creating a sparse yet poetic tour of the horrors that exist just out of sight. Standout stories include &‘Janie and the Wind,&’ where a battered, abandoned woman does what she needs to survive; &‘Other People&’s Kids,&’ a disturbing examination of the razor-thin moment dividing childhood from maturity and the hand holding that razor; and &‘The Pit Heads,&’ a phenomenal story about the cold remnants of a Canadian mining town and the true cost of beauty. This ambitious collection firmly establishes Nickle as a writer to watch&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). &“Brilliant . . . You&’d think that you were reading a book full of what you had always expected a horror story to be, but Nickle takes a left turn and blindsides you with tales that are not of the norm, but are all the more horrific because of the surprise twists, darkness and raw emotion.&” —January Magazine, &“Best Books of 2009&” &“David Nickle writes &’em damned weird and damned good and damned dark. He is bourbon-rough, poetic and vivid. Don&’t miss this one.&” —Cory Doctorow, New York Times–bestselling author
Monstrous Beauty
by Elizabeth FamaIn alternating chapters, tells of the mermaid Syrenka's love for Ezra in 1872 that leads to a series of horrific murders, and present-day Hester's encounter with a ghost that reveals her connection to the murders and to Syrenka.
Monstrous Matchmakers (Witches of Peculiar #3)
by Luna GravesTwin witch sisters Bella and Donna play matchmaker in this third book in the middle grade series that&’s Wizards of Waverly Place meets Halloweentown.When Bella and Dee notice Yvette, the principal of YIKESSS (Yvette I. Koffin&’s School for Supernatural Students), is particularly cranky lately, they think a little romance in her life will cheer her up. And who could be a better match for her than Arnold, their vice principal?
Monstrous Maud: Big Fright (Monstrous Maud Ser. #1)
by A. B. SaddlewickWhen Maud’s pet rat, Quentin, escapes in the middle of science class, it’s the very last straw. While Primrose Towers is full of decorous young ladies, Maud is ungraceful and prefers her pet rat to all other company She never quite fit in with the rest of the students and has been a nuisance one too many times. Maud is transferred from prim and proper Primrose Towers to dark and mysterious Rotwood Middle School—much to the delight of her teacher, classmates, and her perfect twin, Milly—but what is in store for Maud at Rotwood? There is something strange about the students and teachers. Everyone is dressed as if it’s Halloween and the school motto is “Because We Scare.” Maud learns two very important things on her first day at Rotwood: first, all of the students and teachers are monsters and second, she’s finally found a place where she feels like she belongs. While Primrose Academy rejected Maud’s differences, Rotwood allows her to embrace them. Even though she’s not a monster, Maud must make everyone believe she is in order to stay at Rotwood with her new friends. Monstrous Maud: Big Fright is a great alternative to princess books for middle grade readers. It is full of silliness and monster fun—along with likeable characters and a great twist at the end.
The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless
by Ahmet ZappaBeware! Only those who are McFearlessly brave may read from the pages of these monstrous memoirs. Crack open the "creature-skin" cover--if you dare--and enter the monsterminating world of 11-year-old Minerva McFearless, her brother Max, and their mysterious coyote friend, Mr. Devilstone, as they battle the evil army of the king of all monsters--the dreaded Zarmaglorg! This one-of-a-kind novel features full-color illustrations throughout and offers "scientific" data on all the terrifying things that go bump in the night, as well as recipes for keeping the bloodthirsty beasts at bay. First-time author Ahmet Zappa delivers a horrifying and hysterical tale that will be sure to bewitch readers of all ages.
Monstrous Regiment: A Novel Of Discworld (Discworld #31)
by Terry Pratchett“Wickedly satirical . . . nothing short of brilliant.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett explores the inanity of war, sexual politics, and why the best man for the job is often a woman in this acerbically funny and poignant Discworld novel.In the small country of Borogravia, there are strict rules citizens must follow. Women belong in the kitchen—not in offices, pubs, nor pants. And certainly not on the front lines when war comes to Discworld.Polly Perks took over running her family’s humble inn when her brother, Paul, marched off to war. But it’s been more than two months since his last letter home, and the news from the front is bad. To find her missing brother, the resourceful Polly cuts off her hair and joins the army as a young man named Oliver.As Polly closely guards her secret, she notices that her fellow recruits seem to be guarding secrets of their own. And before they’ve learned to properly march, Polly and her fellow raw recruits find themselves in the thick of a losing battle. All they have on their side is the most artful sergeant in the army and a vampire with a lust for coffee.No matter, it’s time to make a stand. . . .The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Monstrous Regiment is a standalone.
Monstrous Stories #1: Night of the Zombie Goldfish (Monstrous Stories #1)
by Dr RoachFunny, light-hearted monster stories that are perfect for young readers, brought to us by the esteemed Dr. Roach. Judd Crank and his friend Zak are two ordinary boys, in an ordinary town, with some very ordinary goldfish. Judd never thought much about his pet fish, besides sometimes needing to feed them. But when a science experiment accidentally gets mixed in with their food, these regular pets start becoming a lot more interesting. With a series of bubbles and pops, the slimy fish start growing and changing. Then they step right out of their tank -- and begin marching towards town.