Ologies Series: Interactive Fantasy Encyclopedias
On this page: Introduction | FAQ | List of Ology Books
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Introduction
The Ologies series includes many volumes of beautifully illustrated fictional encyclopaedias on various topics, mostly concentrating on fantasy themes.
Each of the books is given a fictional author, and is presented as a “lost” journal of these fictional investigators. The large-format books contain many items of ephemera, from removable maps and postcards, to letters that can be unfolded, and other tactile items such as “fairy wings” or “dragon scales”.
FAQ
How many Ology books are there?
There are 15 main volumes in the Ology series (listed below), starting with Dragonology in 2003, and the most recent publication was Ghostology in 2020. However, if you also take into account the companion books produced for several of the volumes, there are well over 30 titles to collect.
Who writes the Ology books?
The Ology books are usually presented as lost diaries that have been written by a fictional author or special investigator in the field of study. The books are illustrated by different artists, including Wayne Anderson, Ian P. Andrew, Douglas Carrel, Chris Forsey, Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Nick Harris, John Howe, G. Hunt, J.P. Lambert, R. Sella, Nghiem Ta, Carole Thomann, Tomislav Tomic, Helen Ward, and A. J. Wood.
Who publishes the Ology books?
The Ology books are published by Candlewick Press in the United States, Templar Publishing in the United Kingdom, and Five Mile Press in Australia. The covers can differ slightly between countries, but the content is largely the same except for spelling conventions. Several books in the series have had companion volumes printed as well.
Which is the best Ology book?
All of the books are well made, and fun to read. The first book, Dragonology, has been the most popular and stayed on the New York Times children’s bestsellers list for over three years!
What is meant by “ology”?
“Ology” is a suffix used at the end of English words to indicate it is the study of that branch of knowledge.
Is there a TV or movie adaptation?
Talks have been ongoing about the film rights for several of the books for years; however, there is nothing currently in development. Universal Studios acquired the rights to Dragonology in 2008, Century Fox talked about making an animated film based on Alienology in 2012, and most recently, Paramount announced a plan to make a franchise centred on all the books with seven interconnecting films in 2018.
Is there a difference between the UK and US editions? What about the anniversary editions?
US editions are published by Candlewick and UK editions are published by Templar. Editions are almost identical, except for some minor spelling changes. The 20th anniversary editions appear to have the same content as well, apart from a small “20th anniversary” logo on the front cover.
How many books? Is there a reading order? Are the author pseudonyms a joke?
There are 15 books in the series. All of the books can be read independently. Yes, most of the author names are an inside wink to something else. The publication order (with my notes on the authors) is below.
- Dragonology – “Dr Ernest Drake” (a drake is a mythical dragon-like creature)
- Egyptology – “Emily Sands” (over 25% of Egypt is covered in sand)
- Wizardology – “Master Merlin” (Merlin is the famous wizard of Arthurian legend)
- Pirateology – “Captain William Lubber” (lubber used to mean to sail badly)
- Mythology – “Lady Hestia Evans” (Hestia is the Greek Goddess of the hearth and home)
- Monsterology – “Dr Ernest Drake” (see above)
- Spyology – “Spencer Blake / Agent K” (George Blake was notorious British MI6 officer who became a Soviet double agent during the Cold War. Captain Spencer was an alias used by Mansfield Cumming, the founding chief of MI6)
- Oceanology – “Zoticus de Lesseps” (Ferdinand de Lesseps was a French explorer)
- Vampireology – “Archibald Brooks” (may be a nod to the fictional vampire killer Blade / Eric Brooks)
- Alienology – “Alpha Allen Gray” (wordplay on the ‘gray aliens’ associated with Roswell)
- Illusionology – “Albert D. Schafer” (may be a play on the modern day mentalist Daniel C. Schaffer)
- Dinosaurology – “Raleigh Rimes” (Walter Raleigh was a famous English explorer)
- Dungeonology – “Volo Geddarm” (a character from the D&D Forgotten Realms campaign)
- Knightology – “Lancelot Marshal” (a blend of the Arthurian Lancelot and ‘England’s Greatest Knight’ William Marshal)
- Ghostology – “Lucinda Curtle” (mostly this volume plays on the author “ghostwriting for a ghost”, but could also be a nod to curdle from bloodcurdling)
The Books
List of titles in alphabetical order: Alienology | Dinosaurology | Dragonology | Dungeonology | Egyptology | Ghostology | Illusionology | Knightology | Monsterology | Mythology | Pirateology | Oceanology | Spyology | Vampireology | Wizardology
The detailed list of titles that follows is in publication order:
Dragonology
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons (2003) by “Ernest Drake” – edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Helen Ward, Wayne Anderson, Nghiem Ta, Chris Forsey, AJ Wood and Douglas Carrel
The book is ostensibly written by nineteenth-century dragonologist Dr. Ernest Drake. The subject matter is dragons; where to find them, information about different species, how to work with them and several tactile “samples” of dragon material, including their wings, scales and skin.
Movable ephemera in the book include a sealed envelope enclosing dragon-calling spells, dragon riddles, a “letter” from Dr. Drake, a number of illustrations, mostly in colour, detailing dragons and their anatomy, and a foldout map showing dragon locations throughout the world.
Re-released 20th anniversary edition in 2023.
→ Buy US edition from Amazon | B&N | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
→ Buy UK edition from Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
Companion books:
- Working with Dragons: A Course in Dragonology (2004)
- Dragonology Chronicles (series beginning in 2004 with The Dragon’s Eye)
- Dragonology: Tracking and Taming Dragons (2006)
- The Dragonology Handbook (2006)
- The Frost Dragon (2008)
- Drake’s Comprehensive Compendium of Dragonology (2009)
- Dragonology: The Colouring Companion (2016)
★ Bonus: Download a free Dragonology activity sheet from Candlewick Press
Egyptology
Egyptology: Search for the Tomb of Osiris (2004) by “Emily Sands” – edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Nghiem Ta, Ian P. Andrew, Nick Harris and Helen Ward
The book is supposedly the journal and scrapbook of Emily Sands from 1926, an Egyptologist who, with a team, is trying to find the tomb of Osiris. The original journal was supposedly delivered to the Press by her great-niece. According to the book, they may have actually found the tomb, but in doing so they disappeared never to be seen again.
Movable ephemera in the book include a piece of mummy cloth, a booklet on hieroglyphs and a playable Senet game (board, rules, pieces).
→ Buy US edition from Amazon | B&N | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
→ Buy UK edition from Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
20th anniversary edition re-release (2014).
→ Buy Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
Also in the series:
- Wonders of Egypt: A Course in Egyptology (2005)
- The Egyptology Handbook (2005)
- An Egyptologist’s Writing Kit (2006)
Wizardology
Wizardology: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin (2005) by “Master Merlin” – edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert, John Howe, Tomislav Tomic, Helen Ward, Nghiem Ta
The book is marketed as having been written by the wizard Merlin, and filled with useful spells and magical information.
Movable items include a hidden-symbol secret message, a world map of wizards, tactile samples of a fairy flag and phoenix feather, booklets on spells/familiars/potions, a removable dragon pendant, eight fortune-telling cards, and a divination mini-book.
20th anniversary edition re-release (2026)
→ Buy UK edition from Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
Also in the series:
- A Wizard’s Code Writing Kit (2006)
- A Guide to Wizards of the World (2007)
- The Wizardology Handbook: A Course for Apprentices (2007)
★ Bonus: Download a free Wizardology activity sheet from Candlewick Press
Pirateology
Pirateology: A Pirate Hunter’s Companion (2006) by “Captain William Lubber” – edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Ian Andrew, Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Helen Ward, Nghiem Ta
Purports to be the 1720 work of Captain William Lubber, Pirate Hunter General to the Admiralty, who is hot on the trail of wicked pirate Arabella Drummond, her cut-throat crew of sea dogs and her ship’s cat, the redoubtable Mr Teach.
Movable items include a real compass set into the cover, a hidden treasure map, a working sun-dial, a page of foiled, embossed doubloons and pieces of eight and a final jewel.
Mythology
Mythology: Greek Gods, Heroes, & Monsters (2007) by “Lady Hestia Evans” – edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Helen Ward, Nick Harris, David Wyatt and Nicki Palin
Written by Lady Hestia Evans in 1825, ‘Mythology’ is the record of her travels through Greece, discovering the wonders of ancient Greek myths, the world of mighty gods and fearless heroes who battle the merciless beasts of legend.
Movable items include a card game of the Twelve Olympians, an oak-leaf oracle of Zeus, a pop-up Pandora’s box, a booklet retelling Odysseus, a piece of the Golden Fleece, and an obolos coin.
- The Mythology Handbook (2009)
★ Bonus: Download a free Mythology activity sheet from Candlewick Press
Monsterology
Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Beasts (2008) by “Ernest Drake” – edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Wayne Anderson, Helen Ward and Douglas Carrel
A lavish exploration of fantastical beasts, from yetis to unicorns. The intrepid Dr. Ernest Drake turns his inquisitive gaze from dragons to other so-called mythical creatures.
Movable ephemera includes a removable letter from Dr. Drake, textured “samples” of sea serpent skin and a feather from a winged horse, sundry booklets – including riddles to tell a sphinx – and a cabinet of curiosities containing yeti fur, a hippogriff feather, and more.
★ Bonus: Download a free Monsterology activity sheet from Candlewick Press
Spyology
Spyology: The Complete Book of Spycraft (2008) by “Spencer Blake” – edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Ian Andrew, Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Helen Ward, Tomislav Tomic, and Jonathan Lambert
Agent K took on a mission to foil the criminal gang CODEX. The mission succeeded, but Agent K was believed to have perished in the process. Six months later, the personal notes of Agent K mysteriously arrived at the MI6 headquarters. This text contains these personal notes, as well as a training guide to international espionage.
Movable ephemera include a filtering device / red cipher wheel, a Cryptocron decoder, secret compartments, a business card, and a final hidden message in the back compartment.
Oceanology
Oceanology: The True Account of the Voyage of the Nautilus (2009) by “Ferdinand Zoticus de Lesseps” – edited by Emily Hawkins, illustrated by Ian Andrew, Wayne Anderson, Gary Blythe, and David Wyatt.
What if a sixteen-year-old assistant traveled aboard the storied Nautilus, the narwhal-shaped submarine of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? And what if he were the sole survivor of the ill-fated voyage and went on to relay his adventures to a certain… Jules Verne? A tale of an 1866 voyage of discovery that investigates diving bells and shipwrecks; coral reefs and ice canyons; sharks, giant octopi, and luminous sea monsters; underwater volcanoes, and the legendary island of Atlantis.
Movable ephemera include maps, schematics, samples of sea life, and removable booklets.
★ Bonus: Download a free Oceanology activity sheet from Candlewick Press
Vampireology
Vampireology: The True History of the Fallen Ones (2010) by “Archibald Brooks”, edited by Nicky Raven, illustrated by Gary Blythe
This book reveals the history of vampires who have lived among us and preyed on humans since the beginning of time. Written in 1900 by the world’s Protector, Archibald Brooks, the unpublished manuscript falls into the hands of our detective, Kraik, when Brooks is murdered in 1920. Kraik is given the task of publishing the book.
Movable ephemera include booklets, letters, drawings and a lenticular postcard.
Alienology
Alienology: The Complete Book of Extraterrestrials (2010) by “Professor Allen Gray”, edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Gary Blythe, Douglas Carrel, Jonny Duddle, Fred Gambino, Helen Ward
Apparently written in 1969, ‘Alienology’ is a tongue-in-cheek training manual for S.P.A.C.E. (the Society for the Promotion of Alien Contact with Earth). It gives advice on identifying alien species, as well as eye-opening facts about our universe.
Moving ephemera include an outer-space map, a detecting mirror, and various puzzles.
Illusionology
Illusionology: The Secret Science of Magic (2012) by “Albert Schafer”, edited by Emily Hawkins, illustrated by David Wyatt, Levi Pinfold, Tomislav Tomic and Nghiem Ta
Illusionology reveals the practical science of magic. Purportedly written in 1915 by one of America’s top scientists, William Schafer, the book is an expose of the tricks of the masters for new initiates of the Illusionists’ Guild. As well as revealing inside info about many famous tricks – levitating a lady, making things disappear and mind-reading, among others – and providing instructions, it gives explanations of the science that makes the magic possible. In the course of the book, we learn that Schafer has been perfecting a machine that exploits ‘radiant matter’ to effect the full dematerialization of a person.
Movable ephemera includes a magical “dematerializer,” trick playing cards, disappearing-spot paddles, and a levitating card.
Dinosaurology
Dinosaurology: The Search for a Lost World (2013) by “Raleigh Rimes”, edited by Emily Hawkins; illustrated by Gary Blythe, Douglas Carrel, Nicki Palin, Helen Ward, and David Wyatt.
In 1912 Arthur Conan Doyle published his widely acclaimed novel, The Lost World. Little did his fans know that his tale of a South American plateau where dinosaurs had survived was based on the real-life adventures of his friend Percy Fawcett. In this long-lost expedition journal, readers are introduced to a wealth of living, breathing dinosaurs, as our intrepid explorers study them in their natural habitat.
Movable ephemera includes booklets, a sample of dinosaur skin, a pouch of ground stegosaurus horn.
Dungeonology
Dungeonology by Matt Forbeck – made in collaboration with Dungeons & Dragons (2016), art is drawn from numerous D&D artists
Volo Geddarm takes you on an unforgettable journey to the Forgotten Realms. From the dreaming spires of Waterdeep to the frozen majesty of Drizzt Do’Urden’s Icewind Dale and from the despicable Underdark to the mysterious Underchasm you’ll learn the history, secrets and wonders of this incredible world.
Movable inserts include a sealed introductory letter from Elminster, a Novice’s Spell Book, a pop-up Sword Coast map, an unfolding pinwheel about extradimensional containers, and Volo’s Guide booklet.
Knightology
Knightology: A True Account of the Most Valiant Knights (2017) by Sir Lancelot Marshal; edited by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Fabio Leone, Ollie Cuthbertson, and David Demaret.
The book tells of tough tournaments, castle construction and defence, weapon mastery, going on Crusades amongst other knightly pursuits. Explore exceptional knights from both history and legend. The author, Sir Lancelot Marshal (a descendent of the most famous knight – Sir William Marshal), has left the book to his squire as he sets off on a quest to discover the true burial site of King Arthur and his infamous sword Excalibur. Can the tales within the book be true? And why was the true location of King Arthur and his sword kept secret?
Ghostology
Ghostology: A True Revelation of Spirits, Ghosts and Haunting (2020) by “Linda Curtle” – edited by Dugald Steer, and illustrated by Garry Walton, Doug Sirois and Anne Yvonne Gilbert
Within the book’s weathered pages you’ll hear of a headless French pirate in search of his missing noggin, a vanishing pair of young trickster twins, a ghostly woman who screams for attention, and other communications from the “fun side.” Readers who wish to plumb the mysteries of the paranormal will find some hands-on challenges to lift their spirits, along with tips on a range of spectral subjects, such as what to pack in a ghostologist’s field kit, how to distinguish the types of ghosts, the best ways to hunt them, and spotting the unfortunate fakes and frauds.
→ OOP. Buy US edition from Amazon | Abes | eBay
→ Buy UK edition from Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells | Abes | eBay
