For gamers and mythology fans: the Mythical Creatures Mixology Chart.

A review of “On the Origin of Stories: Evolution, cognition and fiction”, a book written by by Brian Boyd, professor of English at the University of Auckland, which examines the role of creating and telling stories or legends, and how they shaped “human cognition, cooperation and creativity”.

Elsewhere, though, Boyd does acknowledge that stories need both creators and audiences, and he analyses their different evolutionary roles. Taking a cost/benefit approach, he argues that the process of creating a story may be expensive in terms of time and energy but is intrinsically rewarding because it appeals to our brain’s love affair with pattern. It also reshapes the mind, promotes a creative approach to problem solving and increases the storyteller’s social status. The audience, meanwhile, pay a price in their time, but in return acquire a deeper insight into society and the minds of other individuals.