In Monsters of the Sea, Richard Ellis casts his net wide in search of the most unusual aquatic creatures, from mermaids to manatees to the Loch Ness Monster and the mythical sea serpent for whom the giant squid has frequently been mistaken. Ellis examines the literary sources of sea-monster lore, from The Odyssey to Jules Verne to Peter Benchley. Highly entertaining, packed with curiosities, and backed by the author's impeccable scientific credentials.