Product Description
When Norman Thorman knocks over his chemistry experiment he doesn't know what havoc it will cause. For one thing his hair starts to grow in a peculiar way, standing up in spikes. Also a baby tarantula, which Norman unknowingly brought back from holiday, starts to grow at a very alarming rate. ... Read more

Product Description
In a book for tarantula lovers that will intrigue owners and breeders as well as those who are just plain curious about these giant spiders, Lenny Flank covers it all--from their creepy appearance to the reality of their delicate nature as fragile creatures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Generally Informative but Lacking Specific Detail
The book tells a good deal of general information such as care, housing, substrate, feeding, handling, and conservation. However, it doesn't talk about breeding and has little information on spiderling care. There aredescriptions of 20 species of tarantulas. While they do help you decidewhich tarantula to choose and its basic description, it lacks details ontaking care of some specific species (i.e., temperature). It gives a nicebackground on the evolution of spiders and tarantula anatomy. I especiallylike the author's style of writing, which is casual and comfortable, neverboring. The book has good notes on spider behavior and psychology. Thepictures are nice, but nothing extraordinary. I like how the book gaverecommended books and internet resources as well as breeders. The book isoverall useful and a good guide for novices, however experienced hobbyistsmay find it lacking when they want to know the details of a certain speciesof tarantula. I recommend it for beginners, but experienced owners willprobably know most of the information in the book and should find a bookwith more detail in it. ... Read more

Product Description
Are you looking for an unusual pet? You may just want to consider owning one of nature s largest arachnids the tarantula. To some people, tarantulas make the best kind of pet. Sure, they re not cute and cuddly like a cat or a dog. But, they also don t make loud noises. They don t need to be taken for walks. And, they require very little attention. But, before you get a pet tarantula, it s best to learn all about them. Once you read through the pages of this text, you ll be a spider expert in no time. So, let s get started. ... Read more

Product Description
Tarantulas are gaining popularity as exotic pets. This book explains the biology, care, and feeding of tarantulas and includes color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great for Beginners
This book is great for the new tarantula owner.It has plenty of detail about keeping your new arachnid, but does not swamp you with confusing and useless material.The illustrations and color photos were very helpful when describing the anatomy of this creature.Overall, I am very satisfied with this book. It was a great resource to add to my collection of arachnid manuals. :) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

good tarantula
A tarantula is a predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey.This story is so well concocted that it had my head spinning. The usual high achiever, normal looking character with a twisted secret life, perfect for Pedro Almodovar's movie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A different animal
There's much to be learned about talking with one's pets from Dr. Pastan in this book. She doesn't, however, explicitly reveal her secret for whispering to tarantulas. I think she probably has really tiny lips.

A lot of talking but not with the animals.
The title was interesting and a grabber as I am working in animal healing/communication and wished to learn more from someone claiming they knew how to do this. I had hoped this book would assist in that process with new information. I was very disappointed as there was only minimal referrals to how to do this--only a few sentences in all. Most of the book focused on many different animals, what their human companions had done or not done and what she did, many times referring to things heard in vet school that most of the lay public would have no knowledge of--perhaps it will educate someone on these aspects, just not on the communication. This did not give a very good model on how to facilitate this process and obtain accurate results. More information really needed to be included for this to be considered a book dealing with animal communication for someone serious about including this skill in working with their animal companions. It has a good title, just no real content on the subject saddly. For the serious student there are many other books that work much better than this one.

What a disappointment
Intrigued by the title and encouraged by the rave reviews, I was not prepared for my level of disappointment with this book.It struck me that Dr. Pasten was so busy thinking of a rejoinder to everyone that I found it hard to believe she actually listened to what the animals were saying to her.Or perhaps she just related better to animals.I found her sense of humor appallingly offensive for a book of this nature.I kept waiting for her to NOT have a smart comment at the end of each story which I'm sure was meant to be humorous but was often just silly.Please, save your money.

Super
it was a really interesting book to read and is a great introduction for anyone interested in alternative animal medicine it had some good general points about communicating with animals and brought up some issues that you would have never thought of.

Absolutely Superb!
The Tarantula Whisperer brought some tears and plenty of joy and laughter to me.I got the sense that Dr. Pasten is very passionate about her veterinary work and is equally passionate about sharing the specialhuman-animal bond with her audience.Her creative writing geniouslyintertwines real-life stories about her clients and personal companions andgives simple, yet interesting approaches to making your petshappy...Happiness is what it's all about, isn't it?

I'm anxiouslyawaiting her next book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

book
just what I wanted thanks alot.I had one of the first ones wayyy back but lost it in a house fire in 82.Thanks again ... Read more

Product Description
SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: THE VAMP continues the story of Wesley Dodds, the Sandman, and his soon-to-be paramour, Dian Belmont, as they become entangled in the mystery of THE VAMP. When a group of young Ivy League graduates begin dying in a series of bizarre, blood-draining attacks, Dian notices a connection between the men and a group of her old Vassar classmatesone bewitching brunette in particular, whose inclinations lean towards the scandalous. But what could this bob-haired vamp have to do with such vicious murders? And more important to Dian, what does she want with Wesley Dodds? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Before the Lord Of The Dreams....there was Wesley Dodds
During the late 80s and well into the 90s, Neil Gaimans "Sandman" series was the talk of the comic collecting community.Spinning off of that series was Matt Wagners "Sandman Mystery Theatre".In this series, Wagner and artist Guy Davis brought back the original golden age Sandman, Wesley Dodds.However, unlike the Golden Age stories, these were much darker, violent, and graphic tales of crime.Wagner also brings back a former "Adventure Comics" Sandman villain...The Tarantula. However, Wagners version of Tarantula is far more horrific than anything one could see in a 1940s comic book.

This trade collects the first, four chapter story arc titled "The Tarantula".This story re-introduces Wesley Dodds, The Sandman.However, this isn't the handsome, square jawed hero of the golden age, just an average looking guy who, unlike everyone else, can actually see the evil in the world while others seem to be sleepwalking past it.Dodds and the police are on a paralleltrail to find a violent criminal known as the Tarantula who is kidnapping well to do young women.
Also concerned is daughter of the DA, Diane Belmont.One of her friends has been kidnapped and this awakens something in Diane.She slowly starts a journey of self awareness, her head no longer in the sand.Dodds has already taken this journey and is fully awake to the evil and corruption that surrounds them all.Armed with his sleeping gas gun, a WW1 era gas mask and an uncanny ability to avoid being seen by others, Dodd's uncovers layer after layer of evil on his path to confront the Tarantula.

Wagners writing is excellent.Evocative of some of the best pulp crime stories of the 30s, Wagner weaves a layered and complex tale that really draws in and involves the reader.While Guy Davis' art initially seemed adequate, his style suits the story and he draws characters going through physical changes as they become more "aware" of the evil around them and by the end of the story, Davis style had won me over completely.The trade has a great analytical introduction by Dave Marsh.

It's a story that you'll want to read more than once.You'll see things that you didn't catch the first time around.Chances are that you'll want to read the rest of the Mystery Theatre volumes and follow these very intriguing characters that Wagner takes on a suspenseful, intense and dangerous journey.

1990s Update of Golden Age DC Character
The Sandman was a cult comics character in the 90s and The Sandman Mystery Theatre was an update of the Golden Age 1930s version of The Sandman but made in the 90s to keep it fresh. This first entry in the graphic novel series gets the series going. The title character is depicted with trench coat, gas mask and gas gun, listed in the DC heroes game with godlike psychic powers. An interesting, addicting twist on 90s gothic comics that keeps serious readers interested with an aura of mystery and suspense. Recommended for mature readers, contains at times nudity and swearing, but kept classy and non violent.

Excellent set up to an excellent series
I confess: I only collected this book off and on during it's run, more off than on unfortunately, and now, after reading this trade and another, sorely regret my decision. This was one of the inaugral offering from DC's Vertigo imprint, and some probably felt that it was made to ride on the coat tails of the mega-popular Sandman book, but Sandman Mystery Theater stands on its own, mainly because it (for the most part) skews the fantasy elements of Gaiman's series, and instead opts for a noir, hard-boiled feel. The stories here are firmly grounded in the real world (save for Wesley's dreams). The writing is tight and focused, setting up and resolving the mystery in four parts (compare that with the ponderous storylines of today). Along the way, we're escorted into a world of vice, corruption and decadence. And it's absolutely beautiful.

Totally different but totally good
First of all let me say that people who are looking for a title themed like Neil Gaimans Sandman, this book is not it. This title ties in a little bit every now and then but that's it for comparisation, it's a totally different ball-park, a totally different sort of comic. What this is is a very fine (non-supernatural) detective story (this particular book collects #1-4, the complete "Tarantula" story-arc) based around "The Sandman", a revamped character from the early days of DC. The Sandman is a guy with a secret identity dressed in a John Constatine coat, an Al Capone hat, a gasmask and a gaspistol, who acts as a secret detective and tries to solve crimes his way.

About the story: An anonymous kidnapper who calls himself 'The Tarantula, is on the loose and he claims his vistims rapidly. He shows to be extremely violent and not fearing any act of brutality to show he's meaning business in getting what he wants. The police are without a clue and don't know where to start. And does the Tarantula really pick his victims so randomly ? Meanwhile the commisioners daughter has taken an interest in a young man named Wesley Dodds who seems remarkably interested in the case, and there's also the mystery of the man who's going all over town wearing a gasmask and carying a gaspistol, attacking people who seem possibly related to the Tarantula.

Like I said, it's not a Gaiman's Sandman type of book but more of a detective book set in a time about 60 years back. While reading it you'll really get the feeling you're watching a police detective series on TV. People who enjoy titles like Sin City and possibly even Top Ten lovers (provided they don't have a problem with this book not involving characters that aren't out of the ordinary) will have a very good time with it. It's a complex story which requires some attention while reading but it's very much worth it in the end. Try it out sometimes because the fact this book was never a big hit doesn't say anything about it's quality.

If Raymond Chandler wrote comics....
I think he would have come up with this character. The Sandman was always, amongst the Golden Age heroes, something of an anamoly - when others dressed in brightly colored spandex, the Sandman wore a gas mask, businesssuit, fedora, & cape. Matt Wagner & Guy Davis come up with one ofthe most unique "re-inventions" of the character, creating ahorrific image straight out of WWI (with an appropriate gas mask) andputting a unique hero amongst a word where corruption and prestige walkhand in hand. This arc - which may or may not be a "rewriting" ofa Golden Age classic (the Tarantula was, believe it or not, the Sandman'sfirst foe) also has the trademarks of classic pulp fiction, including theseedy goings-on of a prominent family, a kidnapping, severalmurders....

OK, this proves that comics aren't just for adults, andpersonally, I wish they would release more graphic novels (including the"Man of the Hour" arc, which had a unique take on Hourman).However, let this be your introduction into a unique series that, althoughnever was a million seller, had a charm all its own. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, enemies, and habitats of the biggest and hairiest spiders. ... Read more

Product Description
LA TARANTULA!The most agile gypsy in all of Spain. Like her dreadednamesake, she lined her home with silks and satins, lacesand shawls. And in that home she would ensnare men fascinatedby her beauty in the oldest trap in the world--Lust! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

HOT
This book is STEAMY. Not for the squeamish. No way this book has some raunchy things in it. If you're open-minded and into kinky stuff you will LOVE this. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book successful keepers share their knowledge and expertise in the fast growing movement of keeping and breeding tarantulas and scorpions in captivity. Chapters provide information on housing, diet, reproduction, and care of the young. Individual species accounts provide common and scientific names, country of origin, housing, diet, sexing, breeding, and more. Full-color photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

For Beginners only
This book is for beginners, or someone considering Tarantulas or scorpions as pets and I give this book a lower rating for a few small reasons. For one, you will read this book through in one sitting, especially if you are not interested in scorpions as the back portion of the book is dedicated to a fair amount of info and species accounts of scorpions, however if you are interested in both, this book is for you! Also, although the front cover says "professional breeders series" it hardly offers much in the line of breeding info or methods on Tarantulas and it really cannot anyway, as breeding tarantulas has only been attempted since somewhere in the 80's, and very little info is available on the techniques needed to breed many but the most popular species. This book does however have a nice bunch of photos and species accounts of the more popular species for enthusiasts, however I would suggest acquiring more books on the subject if one was to get serious about these creatures as a hobby or pet. ... Read more

Product Description

Think cats and dogs are for the birds?

Customer Reviews (1)

50 Really Exotic Pets
This book is excellent for the person contemplating
the purchase of an exotic pet. The author describes
the optimum environment and feeding for the animals
described. Sample pets are:
o The African Clawed Frog
o Leopard Gecko
o Bearded Dragon Lizards
o The Milk Snake
o Rough Green Snake
o The Leaf Insect

The acquisition would be perfect for the pet
enthusiast in your house. ... Read more

Product Description
Another new title in Carmen Bredeson s Zoom In On Animals! series, this book showcases the largest spiders in the world, tarantulas. Learn how these amazing animals live and eat through easy-to-read text and exciting up-close photographs on every spread. This full-color book supports the National Science Education Standards for K 4 Life Science and is perfect for early readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you are a "spiders and snakes" sort of person you'll love this close up view of tarantulas!
Perhaps you've seen a tarantula in a pet store and thought you might like to own one.This is not a book about what to do if you do happen to purchase one, but all about them in the wild.Tarantulas are the largest spiders in the world and they tend to "live in warm places."They live in different types of homes.Some live in logs, some in trees and others live in ground holes.Most kids know that an insect has six legs and a spider eight. Tarantulas have "eight, long hairy" ones, each equipped with "two tiny claws on the end."These little claws are also hairy and aid in climbing.

Near their mouths they have two palps that are "like little arms."These help the tarantula help hold its food or, in some instances, actually cut it.Tarantulas cannot see very well and only can see in shades of light and dark and can detect movement.This is surprising considering it has eight eyes!The hairs on a tarantula serve a special purpose.These hairs have sharp points on the ends and when the spider tosses them off the "hairs fly through the air and sting" their enemy. This book will also tell you what they eat, about their fangs and venom, their special skin, their spiderlings and their life cycle.

This is a nice compact, concise book on tarantulas. The writing and amazing close up photography will either make the young reader cringe or want to head to the pet store.In the front of the book there are a list of "words to know" and a photograph of a tarantula with lines pointing to its parts.In the back of the book is an index and additional recommended book and web site resources to browse.If you are a spiders and snakes sort of person, you'll enjoy this "Zoom In on Animals!" book of amazing tarantulas! ... Read more