Do krakens really lurk below the ocean waves? Do griffins command the air above? In a fascinating new discovery sure to rival the ground-breaking Dragonology, the intrepid Dr. Drake turns his inquisitive gaze from dragons to other so-called mythical creatures. For anyone who has ever wondered whether legendary beasts still wander among us, this lush look at an astounding array of creatures offers everything a true believer would want to know.
And, as far as true believers go, there are plenty of them. Since Dragonology was first published in 2003, followed by four other major OLOGY volumes and related spinoffs, the series has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. The series includes Dragonology, Egyptology, Wizardology, Pirateology, Mythology, and the new MONSTEROLOGY, as well as the Ology handbooks, Dragonology Pocket Adventures and The Dragonology Chronicles middle grade fiction series.
Dragonology remains the bestselling to date; 2.5 million copies have been sold in the U.S. alone including the related guidebooks and fiction releases, proving that young readers have an insatiable desire for monstrous creatures--and very powerful imaginations. In fact, the deluxe and rich picture book format first developed by the OLOGY series creators has spawned an entire new genre of illustrated children's books that include built-in novelties, pops and paper engineering never before seen in children's publishing.
The OLOGIES brand continues to grow, with several major multimedia projects in development including the launch of a Nintendo Wii and DS game series by Codemasters in fall 2008, and the announcement of a film option deal with Universal Studios for possible theatrical release in 2011. The book's own destination website, www.ologyworld.com, boasts 20,000 registered members able to access audio, video, and game extras as well as collectable knowledge cards, activities, and admission to a secret "cryptobox" for devoted fans to unlock further secrets about the books.
About the "Author"
Dr. Ernest Drake was born in 1822 in St. Leonard's Forest in Sussex, England. As a boy he was fascinated by paleontology, thanks to the fossil mania that had been sparked by Gideon Mantell's discovery of the Iguanodon tooth near Cuckfield in Sussex the year Ernest was born. When he was eight years old he had his first encounter with the knucker named Weasel, thinking it must be some kind of dinosaur. Nobody believed his story until he met then Dragon Master Ebenezer Crook at a meeting of the Sussex Archeological Society when he was fourteen years old. After he graduated from university in 1843, Drake studied dragonology under Ebenezer Crook, becoming a Dragonologist First Class in 1852, which enabled him to assume the title of "Doctor of Dragonology" after completing a ground-breaking scientific work on the migratory habits of Frost Dragons. He then set up a shop in the Seven Dials in London called Dr. Drake's Dragonalia as a modern front for the much older Secret and Ancient Society of Dragonologists. There he taught dragonology to a few select pupils. His magnum opus was a book called Dragonology, which was initially published on a print run of only 100 copies in 1896, but he also produced several other works related to dragons. All of these books stress the recurring themes that dragons ought to become objects of scientific study and that, as they are scarce, it is the responsibility of dragonologists to conserve and protect them wherever they may be found.
About the "Editor"
Dugald Steer was born in 1965 and lives in London. His love of books and reading led him to study English Literature and Philosophy at Bristol University where he was an avid contributor to the Poetry Society Magazine. After stints working for Friends of the Earth and the Duchy of Lancaster Office, Dugald trained to teach English and spent the next five years in Spain, living in Galicia and Andalucía, writing in his spare time. Dugald Steer now works as a freelance author for Templar Publishing, for whom he worked as an in-house writer and editor for ten years. He has written a large number of books, including Mythical Mazes, Scary Fairies, An Accidental Christmas, Just One More Story and The Night Tiger among others.
Dugald Steer is the author of the hugely successful Ology series (published by Candlewick Press is the U.S.) that includes Dragonology, Egyptology, Wizardology, Pirateology, Mythology, and the new MONSTEROLOGY, as well as the Ology handbooks, Dragonology Pocket Adventures and The Dragonology Chronicles middle grade fiction series. Dugald has also penned the Genuine and Moste Authentic Handbook series including, Knight and Explorer.
MEET DR. ERNEST DRAKE
Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Borders
LaGrange
