Man-Made Monsters: A Field Guide to Golems, Patchwork Solders, Homunculi, and Other Created Creatures
Book Review by the CareTaker
Many of the fears that most of faced as children involved “things” like ghosts and monsters. Some of the scariest creatures imagined were more likely to be thought of as creations of humans rather than being of supernatural origin. Even still, a creature such as a golem or a “Frankenstein’s Monster” is very often thought of as being demonic or “of the Devil”. The idea was that such constructs could not have a soul from God therefore the life they feigned must have come from something evil.
Man-Made Monsters is full of interesting information and tidbits about the monsters that have been created by mankind ~ at least in our minds, myths and lore. I am sure there are those who believe the story of the so-called Frankenstein monster was based more in truth than others. And perhaps there was more than just a kernel of truth in the story after all.
What about the Golem or the Homunculi? The golem is most well known in Jewish folklore, it was formed from mud or clay and animated to appear alive. Homunculi means “little human,” in Latin and refers to the idea of a miniaturized though fully-formed human or human-like monster.
Man-Made Monsters
Man-Made Monsters is a pretty cool book, it gives you a lot of details and background information on the monsters of mankind and the men who created them. A great addition to your reference library.
From the Publisher:
Life exists all around us, in forms that we can readily and easily identify. But what if there were, lurking in the shadows, other forms of life that are not so familiar, creatures created not by Nature, but by Man? We know their names – Frankenstein, the Golem, the homunculi of the ancient alchemists; they exist in our stories and myths.
But just what are these mysterious creatures, and do they actually have some basis in reality?
In his fascinating and wide-ranging new book, Dr Bob Curran explores man-made monsters and the truth behind the myths.
You’ll learn fascinating details about:
# The 19th century scientist who tried to bring the dead back to life – the model for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
# The Man of Clay who lumbered through the streets of medieval Prague at the command of early rabbis
# Tales of robots that may have existed in the ancient world and threatened Greek and Roman warriors.
# Cloning and the artificial creation of life, and what strange and mysterious areas they may be heading into.
Man-Made Monsters is essential reading for anyone who wants to explore artificial beings and peer into the dark recesses of the human mind…where they may indeed be hiding.
Man-Made Monsters: A Field Guide to Golems, Patchwork Solders, Homunculi, and Other Created Creatures is available from New Page Books or wherever books are sold.
Dr. Bob Curran
About the author:
Dr. Bob Curran was born in a remote area of County Down, Northern Ireland. Since leaving school, he has traveled throughout the world, fascinated by the myths and stories that he has found. He has written a number of books looking at culture and lore including Vampires; Lost Lands, Forgotten Realms; Zombies; Encyclopedia of the Undead: A Field Guide to the Creatures that Cannot Rest in Peace; and Werewolves, all for New Page Books. He lives in Northern Ireland with his wife and family.
More Ghost Stories and the Paranormal | |||
 Coast To Coast Ghosts: True Stories of Hauntings Across America |  Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story |  The Ghost Next Door: True Stories of Paranormal Encounters from Everyday People |  The Oxford Book of Victorian Ghost Stories |
 Classic Ghost Stories: Eighteen Spine-Chilling Tales of Terror and the Supernatural |  The Best Ghost Stories Ever (Scholastic Classics) |  The Mammoth Book of Modern Ghost Stories |  This House: The True Story of a Girl and a Ghost |
![Image of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61419vkvboL._SL110_.jpg "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [Blu-ray]")
I’m confused. Why are you using this site to sell your books?
We are not using the site to sell our books. If anyone purchases this book we do not make anything from the sale. The book is not “mine”. This is a book review. I read a lot and from time to time I write small reviews about some of them. If you check the “Books” category you will see that I have been doing this for awhile.
I only write about truly useful and interesting books that I personally own a copy of and have read. There are a lot of folks out there besides me who like to buy books and my reviews might help someone decide on a particular book or other.
My inquiry was not accusing *you* of selling books. The way the story/review is posted, I assumed it was done so by the author since it doesn’t indicate that you are providing a review….no signature from the CT. That was what drove my question.
Understood, I can see your point and will take action in the future to make that understood. Thanks for pointing that out as I am sure there will be others who may think similar thoughts about it.
Now have a Spam sandwhich and leave CT be.
CT Thankyou for the Book Review!! I also am an Avid reader and am anxious to read this Book. Ive always thought Legend and Myth are based on some kind of truth somewhere. Just like the Thomas Harris character Hannibal Lecter, was depicted from real life serial killers. Very interesting to me. Thanks Again! Happy Reading to you. Steph
Excuse me if Im wrong but in response to Kind Skeptic.. At the top of the Review it does say Book Review given by CareTaker does it not? Or am I mistaken?
Stephie, I added that after Kind Skeptic made their comment. I actually agree with K S that a book review should be identified as such so as not to appear to be a “regular” story.
0k Thanks for clearing that up for me CT. Thought maybe that you had but was’nt sure. Keep the Book Reviews coming please as I am sure Im not the only one who finds them interesting. Take Care!!
Thank you! I am a huge fan of reading. I love books and am always adding more to my shelves.
Why do we need “man made monsters” and from my grandma “it’s the living that will kill you not the dead – germany 1943″……………………………
With all the research and engineering going on with genetics these days who knows what may be lurking in some lab somewhere just waiting to escape. We may have monsters all about us – some microscopic and some not
think about it…