(15)
(16)Otaku: Nerd; geek or fanboy. Originates from a polite second-person pronoun meaning "your home" in Japanese. Since the 1980s it's been used to refer to people who are really into Japanese pop-culture, such as anime, manga, and videogames. A whole generation, previously marginalized with labels such as geek and nerd, are now calling themselves otaku with pride.
The Otaku Encyclopedia offers fascinating insight into the subculture of Cool Japan. With over 600 entries, including common expressions, people, places, and moments of otaku history, this is the essential A to Z of facts every Japanese pop-culture fan needs to know. Author Patrick W. Galbraith has spent several years researching deep into the otaku heartland and his intimate knowledge of the subject gives the reader an insider's guide to words such as moé, doujinshi, cosplay and maid cafés. In-depth interviews with such key players as Takashi Murakami, otaku expert Okada Toshio, and J-pop idol Shoko Nakagawa are interspersed with the entries, offering an even more penetrating look into the often misunderstood world of otaku. Dozens of lively, colorful images--from portraits of the interview subjects to manga illustrations, film stills and photos of places mentioned in the text--pop up throughout the book, making The Otaku Encyclopedia as entertaining to read as it is informative.
(3)This introduction to Chinese and Western astrology puts the worldAand the stars beyondAat your fingertips, allowing you to foretell the future, understand yourself and friends, read symbols, and interpret charts. With straightforward explanations and a glossary of terms, gaining important insights into your own nature is easy, whether it’s with regards to personality, appearance, behavior, work habits, love and sex, friends and partners, leisure interests, or health. Guaranteed for hours of entertainment, this pocket-sized reference might just lead to a better-balanced life. Use the valuable wisdom inside as a tool for living harmoniously with your genuine characterAwhatever your sign.
(7)At once handbook, reader, and guide to the literary tastes and wisdom of poets, An Exaltation of Forms is an indispensable resource certain to find a dedicated audience among poetry lovers. The editors invited over fifty contemporary poets to select a poetic meter, stanza, or form, describe it, recount its history, and provide favorite examples. The essays represent a remarkably diverse range of literary styles and approaches, and show how the forms of contemporary English-language poetry derive from a wealth of different traditions.
(5)This issue includes Two-Hour version for the following projects: Applique, Beaded, Cross-Stitch, Mini-Quilts, Fruits & Nuts, Herbs, Nature Crafts, Soaps, Painted Wood, Silk Ribbon Embroidery, Fruits & Vegetables, Pansies & Diamons, Extraordinary Designs.
(1)Providing a comprehensive introduction to physical geography, this encyclopedia explores our world's most dramatic features. Clear photographs and graphic illustrations help children to explore the structure of the earth.
(7)Over a decade in the making, Medieval Folklore offers a wide-ranging guide to the lore of the Middle Ages--from the mundane to the supernatural. Definitive and lively articles focus on the great tales and traditions of the age and includes information on daily and nightly customs and activities; religious beliefs of the pagan, Christian, Muslim, and Jew; key works of oral and written literature; traditional music and art; holidays and feasts; food and drink; and plants and animals, both real and fantastical.
While most books on medieval folklore focus primarily on the West, this unique volume brings together an eclectic range of experts to treat the subject from a global perspective. Especially remarkable are the surveys of the major medieval traditions including Arab-Islamic, Baltic, English, Finno-Ugric, French, Hispanic, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Scandinavian, Scottish, Slavic, and Welsh.
For anyone who has ever wanted a path through the tangle of Arthurian legends, or the real lowdown on St. Patrick, or the last word on wolf lore--this is the place to look.
The contributors:
Ulrich Marzolph -- Arab-Islamic
Thomas A. DuBois -- Baltic
John McNamara & Carl Lindahl -- English
Thomas A. DuBois -- Finno-Ugric
Francesca Canadé Sautman -- French
Samuel G. Armistead -- Hispanic
Éva Pócs -- Hungarian
Joseph Falaky Nagy -- Irish
Giuseppe C. Di Scipio -- Italian
Eli Yassif -- Jewish
Stephen A. Mitchell -- Scandinavian
John McNamara -- Scottish
Eve Levin -- Slavic
Elissa R. Henken & Brynley F. Roberts -- Welsh
(21)A fabulously entertaining work with over 100 delightful illustrations--Library Journal calls Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins its "favorite work of 1996."
In more than 2,000 alphabetically arranged entries, readers will meet angels, demons, elves, encantados, fairies, familiars, keremets, nats, nymphs, and many other strange beings from around the world. Carol Rose introduces the reader to the little--and not so little--folk, delightfully various and, at the same time, strikingly similar from country to country. Wherever humans have lived, the supernatural beings have dwelt alongside us. People serve to explain the unexplainable--the strange disappearance of a traveler in a dark wood, that odd thumping in the attic, the fresh cream turned sour overnight. Often they reveal the stoic humor with which human societies have faced their difficulties. But whatever their source, our guilts, fears, dreams, or imaginations, the spirits have fascinated and enchanted us through the millennia. Chosen by Library Journal as a Best Reference Source.
(5)This long-awaited dictionary provides an extensive list of ancient, beautiful Sanskrit names, along with their significance and spiritual meanings. Numerous references to the classical scriptures of India are included to help in research and further study of a name. The spiritual qualities associated with each name, such as particular aspects of God, character traits, and spiritual virtues are highlighted with cross-references to other names having the same quality. The Dictionary of Sanskrit Names is very helpful in naming babies, understanding spiritual names, and as a resource book on Hindu mythology for scholars and researchers.
A Brontë Encyclopedia is an A- Z encyclopedia of the most notable literary family of the 19th century highlighting original literary insights and the significant people and places that influenced the Brontës’ lives.
(18)Science Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Literary & Epic Fiction
From the largest state Alaska to the smallest Rhode Island to the first state Delaware and the 50th Hawaii, there’s so much to know about the United States! Show Me the United States has more than 100 facts and definitions about the United States.
