Creature Files: Predators


Book Description

There's no need to fly around the world to see the more fearsome predators out there Creature Files: Predators brings them straight to you! Check out incredible animals from the arctic to the savanna. Don’t make any sudden movements, because from the savanna to the snowy Arctic, vicious predators are poised to pounce! In Creature Files: Predators, you’ll take a tour around the globe, learning about hunters like the lightning-fast peregrine falcon and the elusive snow leopard. Experience the fascinating world of claws and talons through this guide filled with juicy facts to chew on—like how gray wolves can eat up to twenty pounds in one meal, and the largest land predator (the polar bear) can weigh up to 1,200 pounds. Animal lovers will find plenty of tidbits, such as which creatures are fastest, where they live, and what they eat. With beautiful photos on every page, this interactive tour also includes maps and even three realistic replica claws of some of the world’s most fearsome predators!




Creature Files: Dragons


Book Description

Whether they were real or myth, Creature Files: Dragons shows you the folklore of twenty dragons from around the world and what the people believed about them. Do you believe dragons are nothing more than the scaly stuff of myths? Or do you think they really existed? Whatever side you're on, this collection of twenty fascinating creatures is sure to spark your imagination. In Creature Files: Dragons, you’ll take a tour through the world of fire-breathing, gold-hoarding, three-headed monsters and discover where and how these magical creatures came to be. Learn the unique folklore of cultures around the globe, from China to Russia to Eastern Africa, and see how people envisioned these otherworldly beasts through lush and evocative illustrations. Included are many meaty facts to gnaw on—like which dragon had too many teeth to count, and which dragon had teeth as big as an adult’s arm—along with a realistic dragon-tooth necklace! And science lovers will also find something to sink their teeth into: facts about real-life dragons that exist today. These dragons may not breathe fire, but they share some of the same traits as their mythical brethren.




Creature Files: Dinosaurs


Book Description

Open wide! You're about to take a look into the mouths of some of the most fearsome dinosaurs to ever walk the Earth with Creature Files Dinosaurs. Grab your tools and get ready for dino exploration! What can you learn from a 250-million-year-old tooth? More than you might think! From the knife-like teeth ofTyrannosaurus rex, to the blunt rake-like teeth of the armored Euoplocephalus, to the leaf-stripping teeth of the giant Diplodocus, every bicuspid and molar has a fascinating tale to tell about the food these animals ate, the way they hunted and foraged, and even what might have led to their demise. In Creature Files: Dinosaurs, you’ll peer inside the jaws of these fearsome creatures, discovering what they really looked like, where they roamed, and what they ate, using many of the same tools thatactual paleontologists do. Can you match the three replica teeth to the prehistoric mouths they belong to? Stunning illustrations and surprising stats bring the stories of these long-extinct beasts to life.




True Stories of Real-Life Monsters


Book Description

Strange sagas of mysterious monsters and bizarre beasts have appeared all over the world for years. In this captivating volume, readers will come face to face with tales of the terrifying and just plain weird. A chronological approach addresses interest stemming from world events such as World War II, and the changing, developing research. Interviews, testimonies, photographs, and reports encourage readers to further scrutinize whether or not such strange stories are the stuff of myth or if there could be more reasonable, even scientific, explanations for the so-called unexplained.




Chased by Sea Monsters


Book Description

Color artwork and detailed captions journey underwater to capture the prehistoric world of an array of extinct animals, in the companion volume to the Discovery Channel special




Sharks and Other Deadly Ocean Creatures Visual Encyclopedia


Book Description

Swimming with sharks sounds a terrifying prospect, but not when it is from the comfort of your living room. This comprehensive visual encyclopedia takes you deep into the world's waters to meet the deadliest ocean predators - without you even getting wet! Do you know which creature has tentacles longer than a bus? Or what was the largest shark that ever lived? Where does the tiger shark get its name? Which fish has the deadliest venom? And which fish has the strongest bite of anything on Earth? Sharks and Other Deadly Ocean Creatures answers all these questions and many, many more. More than 200 fierce fish from the past and present are featured in fact-packed profiles. You'll come face to face with great white sharks, manta rays, saltwater crocodiles, giant squid, biting barracudas, and predatory piranhas all shown with exciting CGI technology and stunning photography. You'll learn about shark anatomy, behaviour, and habitats alongside fun, factual text presented in an easily accessible format.?? Whether you're a water baby or simply studying for a school project, this is your one-stop shop for sharks and other deadly ocean creatures.




Mega-Predators of the Past


Book Description

Award-winning nonfiction author and science specialist Melissa Stewart offers young readers a mega-exploration of little-known prehistoric predators that rival even the mightiest of dinosaurs! It is time for T. rex and his dinosaur cousins to step aside and let other mega-predators like the terror bird and the giant ripper lizard take the spotlight! Travel back to prehistoric times and meet some of the most impressive creatures to ever roam the Earth. You'll be amazed at the size and the fierceness of these lesser-known predators, many of them ancient ancestors of animals that we still see today. Stewart's cheeky, humorous voice—along with a comical version of the familiar "comparison man"—put these creatures in perspective. Artist and former zoologist Howard Gray brings these predators (back) to life with dynamic, humorous, and scientifically accurate illustrations. Sidebars and extensive back matter material provide more detailed information and context.




Predator: Eyes of the Demon


Book Description

A brand-new anthology with fifteen exclusive short stories offering taut and dramatic tales set on Earth and in dark reaches of space, featuring the ultimate hunters, the Yautja—also also known as Predators. The diverse lineup of authors includes Stephen Graham Jones, Linda Addison, Jonathan Maberry, Scott Sigler, Peter Briggs, and many more. Fifteen original, never-before-seen short stories set in the expanded Predator universe from the first film, featuring the ultimate hunters, the Yautja from the movie Predator. Set in the recent past, the present, and the future, these edge-of-your-seat adventures by many of today's top SF and horror authors take place on Earth and in the dark, unforgiving reaches of space. The diverse, multi-ethnic group of authors includes New York Times bestsellers, Stoker Award winners, and acclaimed contributors to the Alien and Predator universes. Included in this volume are Native American award-winning horror author Stephen Graham Jones, Linda Addison— the first African American to win the Stoker Award, Peter Briggs, screenwriter for Hellboy, New York Times bestselling author and visionary podcaster Scott Sigler (Aliens: Phalanx), award-winning author Ammar Habib (The Heart of Aleppo), New York Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry, Emmy nominated writer Joshua Pruett of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Tim Lebbon, author of the Aliens vs. Predators “Rage War”, and many more. Featuring Stephen Graham Jones, Linda Addison, Jonathan Maberry, Scott Sigler, Peter Briggs, Tim Lebbon, Nancy A. Collins, A. R. Reddington, Robert Greenberger, Ammar Habib, Gini Koch, Kim May, Yvonne Navarro, Joshua Pruett and Bryan Thomas Schmidt. © 2021 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS




The Monster Hunter Files


Book Description

For well over a century, Monster Hunter International has kept the world safe from supernatural threats small and large—and in some cases very, very large. Now, join us as MHI opens their archives for the first time. From experienced Hunters on their toughest cases, to total newbies' initial encounters with the supernatural, The Monster Hunter Files reveals the secret history of the world's most elite monster fighting force. Discover what happened when Agent Franks took on the Nazis in World War Two. Uncover how the Vatican’s Combat Exorcists deal with Old Ones in Mexico. And find out exactly what takes place in a turf war between trailer park elves and gnomes. From the most powerful of mystical beings to MHI’s humble janitor, see the world of professional monster hunting like never before. Featuring seventeen all new tales based on Larry Correia’s bestselling series, from New York Timesbest-selling authors Jim Butcher, John Ringo, Jessica Day George, Jonathan Maberry, Faith Hunter, and many more. Contributors: Larry Correia Jim Butcher Mike Kupari Jessica Day George John C. Wright Maurice Broaddus Brad R. Torgersen Faith Hunter Jody Lynn Nye Quincy J. Allen Alex Shvartsman Kim May Steve Diamond John Ringo Bryan Thomas Schmidt & Julie C. Frost Sarah A. Hoyt Jonathan Maberry About Larry Correia and the Monster Hunter International series: “[E]verything I like in fantasy: intense action scenes, evil in horrifying array, good struggling against the darkness, and most of all people—gorgeously flawed human beings faced with horrible moral choices that force them to question and change and grow.”—Jim Butcher “[A] no-holds-barred all-out page turner that is part science fiction, part horror, and an absolute blast to read.”—Bookreporter.com “If you love monsters and action, you’ll love this book. If you love guns, you’ll love this book. If you love fantasy, and especially horror fantasy, you’ll love this book.”—Knotclan.com “A gun person who likes science fiction—or, heck, anyone who likes science fiction—will enjoy [these books] . . . The plotting is excellent, and Correia makes you care about the characters . . . I read both books without putting them down except for work . . . so whaddaya waitin’ for? Go and buy some . . . for yourself and for stocking stuffers.”—Massad Ayoob “This lighthearted, testosterone-soaked sequel to 2009's Monster Hunter International will delight fans of action horror with elaborate weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, disgusting monsters, and an endless stream of blood and body parts.”—Publishers Weekly on Monster Hunter Vendetta About Mission: Tomorrow, edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt: “This themed anthology . . . will appeal to a wide range of readers, who will appreciate the diversity of stories . . . a solid introduction to a classic genre.”—Kirkus “Editor Schmidt adds grandmasters to a mix of newer established names and balances the tragic with the humorous.”—Publishers Weekly About Shattered Shields, edited by Jennifer Brozek and Bryan Thomas Schmidt: “In this well-built anthology, seventeen original stories cut to the heart of military fantasy, diving directly into the most exciting moments of dramatic bravery, grand battles, and life-changing heroism. . . . Readers who prefer to cut straight to the action, but want more depth than pure hack-and-slash, will find these offerings appealing.”—Publishers Weekly “An inventive and thought-provoking set of tales that capture the bravery and terrors of battle. Carries the banner of military fantasy proudly.”—John Marco, author of The Bronze Knight Series About The Raygun Chronicles, edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt: “Fans of sf should enjoy this stylistically varied homage to a genre as old as the fiction . . . ”—Library Journal The Monster Hunter Memoirs series by Larry Correia and John Ringo: Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge Monster Hunter Memoirs: Sinners The Monster Hunter series by Larry Correia: Monster Hunter International Monster Hunter Vendetta Monster Hunter Alpha Monster Hunter Legion Monster Hunter Nemesis




Action Selection Methods Using Reinforcement Learning


Book Description

Abstract: "The Action Selection problem is the problem of run- time choice between conflicting and heterogenous goals, a central problem in the simulation of whole creatures (as opposed to the solution of isolated uninterrupted tasks). This thesis argues that Reinforcement Learning has been overlooked in the solution of the Action Selection problem. Considering a decentralised model of mind, with internal tension and competition between selfish behaviors, this thesis introduces an algorithm called 'W-learning', whereby different parts of the mind modify their behavior based on whether or not they are succeeding in getting the body to execute their actions. This thesis sets W-learning in context among the different ways of exploiting Reinforcement Learning numbers for the purposes of Action Selection. It is a 'Minimize the Worst Unhappiness' strategy. The different methods are tested and their strengths and weaknesses analysed in an artificial world."