Includes index.

Foreword / Jonathan Stroud -- Introduction: What is fantasy? -- Little people: Elves and fairies -- Traps and tricks -- Celebrated fairies -- Household helpers -- Harmful little people -- Underground -- Gremlins -- Elementals and nature spirits: Elementals -- Nymphs -- Forest and woodland spirits -- Solitary forest spirits -- Dangerous water spirits -- Dangers by the wayside -- Mysterious Animals: Apemen of the mountains -- In lakes -- In the sea -- Fabulous Beasts: Dragons in the East -- Dragons in the West -- Unicorn -- Fantasy horses -- Fire and feather -- Giant birds -- Dangerous beasts -- Hydra and the Nagas -- Guardians of worlds and doors -- Mythical beings: Beautiful but dangerous -- Hideous and dangerous -- Part-man, part-beast -- Riddles and prophecies -- Giants in the land -- Ogres and trolls -- Sea beings -- Mermaids -- Magic and spells: Witches and wise women -- Famous witches and enchantresses -- Spells, cauldrons, and familiars -- Wizards and magicians -- Notable wizards -- Sorcerers and necromancers -- Portals and rings -- Amulets, talismans, and charms -- Shape-shifters: Werewolves -- Undead: Vampires -- Count Dracula -- Skeletons and symbolic heads -- Mummies, zombies, and golems -- Ghosts and spirits: Djinn or genies -- Messengers of death -- Ghouls and evil spirits -- Ghosts and hauntings -- Poltergeists -- Ghost ships and eerie beasts -- Wild hunt -- List of creatures by area -- Glossary -- Index -- Acknowledgments.