From the back of the book: "The TALISLANTA series continues with the NATURALIST'S GUIDE, a compendium of selected flora and fauna native to the magical realm of Talislanta. Compiled from the notes of Tamerlin-traveler, self-styled wizard and author of THE CHRONICLES OF TALISLANTA-the NATURALIST'S GUIDE features illustrations and descriptions for over a hundred different creatures and beings, including: Ahazu: fierce, four-armed warriors from the jungles of the Dark Coast... Exomorphs: predatory beasts feared for their uncanny, chameleon-like powers... Gnomekin: diminutive, furry-maned humanoids who make their home in underground "nooks" and tunnels... Monoliths: gigantic beings of earth and stone, believed to be the oldest living entities in the world... Sardonicus: evil geniuses known as "bottle-imps," favored as familiars and sorcerous advisors... Snipes: an intelligent (and insatiably curious) species of mud-dwelling mollusk known to inhabit the Sinking Land... Vorls: Insidious creatures whose bodily forms are comprised of animate mists and vapors... plus Mandragores, Shadow Wizards, Nightstalkers, Werebeasts, and many, many more... With a separate section for fantasy role-players featuring game statistics and additional information."