Man-Made Monsters

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 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.