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The Impossible Zoo: An encyclopedia of fabulous beasts and mythical monsters
'Leo Ruickbie's impeccably-written The Impossible Zoo is a menagerie like no other, as its exotic inhabitants are fabulous in every sense of the word. So for anyone who has ever wished that dragons and unicorns were real, for anyone who believes that they are, and for anyone who peruses bestiaries with unbridled joy, this magical, mystical, and truly memorable book is definitely for you - and for me!' Dr Karl Shuker, author of A Manifestation of Monsters
HERE BE DRAGONS! Here you will find the things that once made the woods wild and the nights to be feared; that made ancient map-makers write, 'Here be Dragons'. The Impossible Zoo is a biology of the supernatural - a study of the life of things that never lived. This world of mermaids and unicorns, now confined to fantasy, but once believed to exist, is a world of the imagination that still affects us today. Wonderfully illustrated throughout, it also provides sources as a guide to further study and exploration.
'For anyone who has ever wished that dragons and unicorns were real, this magical, mystical and truly memorable book is definitely for you - and for me!'
Dr Karl Shuker, author of A Manifestation of Monsters 'Ruickbie's level of scholarship is impressive and he presents his conclusions with great literary skill in readable and attractive prose. The results are truly fascinating. Very highly recommended.'
Revd Lionel Fanthorpe, FRSA, author and President of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena
HERE BE DRAGONS! Here you will find the things that once made the woods wild and the nights to be feared; that made ancient map-makers write, 'Here be Dragons'. The Impossible Zoo is a biology of the supernatural - a study of the life of things that never lived. This world of mermaids and unicorns, now confined to fantasy, but once believed to exist, is a world of the imagination that still affects us today. Wonderfully illustrated throughout, it also provides sources as a guide to further study and exploration.
'For anyone who has ever wished that dragons and unicorns were real, this magical, mystical and truly memorable book is definitely for you - and for me!'
Dr Karl Shuker, author of A Manifestation of Monsters 'Ruickbie's level of scholarship is impressive and he presents his conclusions with great literary skill in readable and attractive prose. The results are truly fascinating. Very highly recommended.'
Revd Lionel Fanthorpe, FRSA, author and President of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena
272 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2017
16 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Leo Ruickbie
16 books8 followersDr Leo Ruickbie is a sociologist and historian specialising in the field of witchcraft, Wicca, magic and the occult. He hold a PhD from King's College, London, for his work on modern witchcraft, and is the author of several books including Witchcraft Out of the Shadows and Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician. In 2008 and 2009 he exhibited on the subject of witchcraft in France. As well as giving public talks and writing articles for Pagan Dawn, Watkins Review and ASANAS, he also runs the WICA (witchology.com) website.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 17, 2017
This is the first in a series of posts I’m calling #libraryloot and they are discoveries from the collection of the library where I work. They are returns gleaned from stints on the Circ desk, shelving finds, recommended reads from customers, or freshly unpacked new books (best job ever). Actually, working in a library really is like working in a candy shop.
A readable, fun, and informative visit to the best zoo on the planet!
Need to brush up on you dinner party banter? Why not impress with your knowledge of the Wolpertinger, the Cynocephalus or the Jörmungandr? Better still, throw in a few facts about Yahoos, Behemoths or Jenny Hanivers.
“Here are the things that made the woods wild and the night fearsome; the things that made cartographers of old write ‘Here be dragons’ on their maps. Here in this collection are the things that natural science has ruled out, yet still find their role in history and the social sciences. This is the Impossible Zoo.”
I think you’ll find this latest gem from Dr Leo Ruickbie truly wondrous. Populating its pages are exotic creatures, many of their names unpronounceable, many of their forms well, yes, absolutely impossible but that’s part of the fun. Here you will encounter the stuff of myth and legend, the magical, the mysterious, the ritual, and the absurd.
I’m still working my way through the alphabet and seem to be drawn to the creatures of Germanic origin (probably because of my background and studies and interests). So far I’m besotted with the Wolpertinger, the Katzenknäuel, and the Tatzelwurm but honestly, it’s hard to choose from such a gorgeous array of terrible beasts.
Oh and I’m learning a lot — for instance, a Yahoo is an earlier word for the Australian Yowie and probably came from Swift’s fictional Yahoos in Gulliver’s Travels.
If there is any criticism from me it is only that I want to see pictures of all of the things!
I’ll be buying a copy of this for my own writing library and hunting around for Dr Ruickbie’s other publications which include: Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician, Witchcraft out of the Shadows, A Brief Guide to the Supernatural, A Brief Guide to Ghost Hunting.
If you love and perhaps believe in all things fantastical, bizarre and improbable including giant serpents, mermaids, unicorns, sea and dog monsters, then this is the book for you. And whether you’re a skimmer or a delver, I guarantee you’ll be hooked.
© Paula Grunseit 2017
More reviews on my blog over at Wordsville www.paulagrunseit.com
A readable, fun, and informative visit to the best zoo on the planet!
Need to brush up on you dinner party banter? Why not impress with your knowledge of the Wolpertinger, the Cynocephalus or the Jörmungandr? Better still, throw in a few facts about Yahoos, Behemoths or Jenny Hanivers.
“Here are the things that made the woods wild and the night fearsome; the things that made cartographers of old write ‘Here be dragons’ on their maps. Here in this collection are the things that natural science has ruled out, yet still find their role in history and the social sciences. This is the Impossible Zoo.”
I think you’ll find this latest gem from Dr Leo Ruickbie truly wondrous. Populating its pages are exotic creatures, many of their names unpronounceable, many of their forms well, yes, absolutely impossible but that’s part of the fun. Here you will encounter the stuff of myth and legend, the magical, the mysterious, the ritual, and the absurd.
I’m still working my way through the alphabet and seem to be drawn to the creatures of Germanic origin (probably because of my background and studies and interests). So far I’m besotted with the Wolpertinger, the Katzenknäuel, and the Tatzelwurm but honestly, it’s hard to choose from such a gorgeous array of terrible beasts.
Oh and I’m learning a lot — for instance, a Yahoo is an earlier word for the Australian Yowie and probably came from Swift’s fictional Yahoos in Gulliver’s Travels.
If there is any criticism from me it is only that I want to see pictures of all of the things!
I’ll be buying a copy of this for my own writing library and hunting around for Dr Ruickbie’s other publications which include: Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician, Witchcraft out of the Shadows, A Brief Guide to the Supernatural, A Brief Guide to Ghost Hunting.
If you love and perhaps believe in all things fantastical, bizarre and improbable including giant serpents, mermaids, unicorns, sea and dog monsters, then this is the book for you. And whether you’re a skimmer or a delver, I guarantee you’ll be hooked.
© Paula Grunseit 2017
More reviews on my blog over at Wordsville www.paulagrunseit.com
August 20, 2021
A very Euro-centric look. Only a few entries here and there to the beasts of the other continents. Some entries are just based on the reference of one writer of antiquity. Many were just variants from regions - the different versions from various parts of England, or Wales, or Scotland, or Ireland, or the island groups offshore of these. It got very boring after only part way through.
August 6, 2017
Quite remarkable, really. I'm fascinated by the things we create in our minds. As a creative person, this book was a gateway to inspiration. Creatures I had never heard of, nor even imagined could exist, were explained. Cue the story ideas.
May 24, 2023
This a book that you could skim through, picking what animals you want to read about.
The drawings included are interesting yet funny at how people of the past thought of creatures.
Did any of these exist or DO exist? Some I hope so.
Very excited to see my beloved Kappa included.
The drawings included are interesting yet funny at how people of the past thought of creatures.
Did any of these exist or DO exist? Some I hope so.
Very excited to see my beloved Kappa included.
June 26, 2020
Aika pintapuoliseksi hakuteokseksi tämä jäi. Kolme tähteä siitä että kirjassa oli kryptidien ja myyttisten otusten lisäksi sangen kattava selvitys erilaisista "Jenny Hanivereistä".
September 6, 2022
A fun book to flip through, if not to read cover to cover.
March 14, 2025
An interesting book but large parts were quotes from other literature with little addition from the author.
September 22, 2017
In the bookshop, the cover of 'The Impossible Zoo' immediately caught my attention and I was delighted when I picked it up and read what it was about. It was like picking up an actual school book from Harry Potter.
I must say I haven't read it all front to back. First I looked up some creatures that interested me, but soon I found that the references to similar beasts made sure that I would never get bored with this book in my hands. Journeying through the pages, I've learned a lot and was reminded of inspiring myths that I'd read before. As a writer, it's a joy to get to know the more obscure monsters as well. I love every one of the illustrations and am very glad I picked this up.
However, if you want to know all the legends about a certain creature, you'll have to use other sources next to this. The fact that only historical sources are used and that there's only a small 'cage' of text for each beast makes it rather limited, but it's a great starting point to become inspired.
I must say I haven't read it all front to back. First I looked up some creatures that interested me, but soon I found that the references to similar beasts made sure that I would never get bored with this book in my hands. Journeying through the pages, I've learned a lot and was reminded of inspiring myths that I'd read before. As a writer, it's a joy to get to know the more obscure monsters as well. I love every one of the illustrations and am very glad I picked this up.
However, if you want to know all the legends about a certain creature, you'll have to use other sources next to this. The fact that only historical sources are used and that there's only a small 'cage' of text for each beast makes it rather limited, but it's a great starting point to become inspired.
July 14, 2020
Very interesting but set out like a dictionary, so not great to read in one go.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews