Insectopedia is a stunningly original exploration of the ties that bind us to the beautiful, ancient, astoundingly accomplished, and unfathomably different species with whom we share this world.

For as long as humans have existed, insects have been our constant companions. Yet, we hardly know them, not even the ones we're closest to: the insects that eat our food, share our beds, and live in our homes.

Organizing his book alphabetically, with one entry for each letter, Hugh Raffles weaves together brief vignettes, meditations, and extended essays. He embarks on a mesmerizing exploration of history and science, anthropology and travel, economics, philosophy, and popular culture, showing us how insects have triggered our obsessions, stirred our passions, and beguiled our imaginations.

Raffles offers us a glimpse into the high-stakes world of Chinese cricket fighting, the deceptive courtship rites of the dance fly, the intriguing possibilities of queer insect sex, and the vital and vicious role locusts play in the famines of West Africa. He also explores how beetles deformed by Chernobyl inspired art, and how our desire and disgust for insects have prompted our own aberrant behavior.

Deftly fusing the literary and the scientific, Hugh Raffles has given us an essential book of reference that is also a fascination of the highest order.

The Dunwich Horror and Others is a collection of chilling tales by the master of horror, H.P. Lovecraft. This anthology includes some of Lovecraft's most renowned works, offering a journey into the macabre and the fantastical.

Contents:

• In the Vault - A tale of terror from the depths.
• Pickman's Model - Discover the horrifying inspiration behind a painter's work.
• The Rats in the Walls - A descent into madness and ancestral curses.
• The Outsider - A haunting story of identity and isolation.
• The Colour Out of Space - An eerie account of otherworldly phenomena.
• The Music of Erich Zann - The haunting melodies of a mysterious musician.
• The Haunter of the Dark - Darkness and dread in a forbidden church.
• The Picture in the House - A chilling discovery in a remote dwelling.
• The Call of Cthulhu - Unravel the mysteries of an ancient cosmic entity.
• The Dunwich Horror - A tale of cosmic terror and ancient rituals.
• Cool Air - A chilling story of life and death.
• The Whisperer in Darkness - Secrets from the stars and their earthly consequences.
• The Terrible Old Man - A short, eerie narrative of an enigmatic figure.
• The Thing on the Door-step - A tale of possession and sinister forces.
• The Shadow Over Innsmouth - Delve into a town's dark secrets.
• The Shadow Out of Time - A journey through time and memory.

Immerse yourself in these timeless tales of horror and wonder, where Lovecraft's imagination knows no bounds.