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We all know "there's no such thing as monsters," but our
imaginations tell us otherwise. From the mythical beasts of ancient
Greece to the hormonal vampires of the "Twilight" saga, monsters
have captivated us for millennia. Matt Kaplan, a noted science
journalist and monster-myth enthusiast, employs an entertaining mix
of cutting-edge research and a love of lore to explore the history
behind these fantastical fictions and our hardwired obsession with
things that go bump in the night. "The Science of Monsters" tackles
the enduring questions that arise on the frontier between fantasy
and reality. Did dragons really exist? What inspired the creation
of vampires and why are we so drawn to them? Are we close to making
"Jurassic Park" a reality by replicating a dinosaur from fossilized
DNA? Kaplan takes readers to the forefront of science, where our
favorite figures of horror may find real-life validation.
Modern audiences do not find dragons frightening. Fascinating as
mythical creatures, yes, but terrifying, no. Yet, present them with
a story about a virus that can kill a healthy adult in hours and
they will have nightmares for weeks. The difference between the two
is believability. Monsters are at their most frightening when they
carry characteristics that tie them to the real world in some way.
Preposterous as they might seem today, dragons were no different in
ancient times. Humans long ago stumbled upon skeletons that had
sharp teeth and talon-like claws. These fossils were real and some
were frighteningly large. Those who looked at them could only guess
at how dangerous the animals that they belonged to must have been.
From such interactions, dragons were born. Yet, in spite of ample
physical evidence that dragons existed, none were ever seen in the
flesh. Dragon bones were ultimately proven to be the bones of huge
predatory dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex, but before the mystery
was solved, they were the makings of frightening beasts that
managed to evade human sight by lurking deep within the shadows of
the wild. The Science of Monsters will explore monsters that have
haunted humanity throughout the ages, from Medusa to sea serpents,
giants, and vampires. In each chapter Kaplan uses scientific
principles, current research, and his thorough knowledge of the
natural world to explain why specific monsters came to be and what
it was about them that was so terrifying to the people who brought
them to life.
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