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Summary: Informative, accessible, the ultimate giant squid book!
Review: Richard Ellis takes us on a voyage of wonder and discovery in this book that is as big as the giant squid. His passion for this creature, unknown to science and a monster of folklore until recently, certainly issues from each page. Ellis's gathering of rare and old images of this beast is worth the reference nature of the work itself, but his text just makes it all that more valuable. Being a cryptozoologist myself, I highly recommend this volume as a vital and necessary addition to every public library, all students of natural history, and the cryptozoologists around the world. You will not be disappointed.
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Summary: Interesting, But Wish More Info Existed On This Beast
Review: Since childhood I've been intrigued with undiscovered places, animals, and mysteries. It was with a flush of excitement that I saw the giant pink squid complete with hubcap eye staring out at me from the nature bookshelf. It beckoned to come and read about the search for this elusive creature. Visions of the medieval woodblock of the Kraken demolishing a ship danced in my head. I am ashamed to admit that I was indeed hoping for some Benchley-esque anecdotal stories of fishermen battling against this 60 foot long monster, but of course that wasn't to be. Ellis produces a very scholarly, disciplined, non-tabloid <grin> detective novel, describing the previous sightings and ultimate resting places for the carcasses. Much of the writing is speculative since none of these animals have been captured or observed in the wild. The famous mythos of sperm whale battles at great depths are examined, as are the earliest recorded wash-ups on shore. It is a pity that more information has not surfaced about their eating and living patterns. But again, what little information there is available is presented well, and it becomes clear that Ellis is quite enamored with this mysterious denizen of the murky depths. I do agree however with some of the other reviews, that this information could have been distilled into a serialized article in a nature magazine or similar. It's rather eerie and actually scary to consider Ellis' description of these giants, hanging motionless in the dark ocean forever watching with their unblinking eyes, waiting for the chance to dine. Overall, an interesting read, which should lead one to perk up their ears if there is ever a report of one of these beasts being captured or observed in the wild.
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Summary: THE KRAKEN: MYTH OR REALITY ?
Review: The scientific quest for the Kraken or Architeutis has been ongoing for more than 400 years now. The first giant squid was seen in 1545 in Malmö, Sweden and the last apparently in Tattori, Japan. But in mythology or oral history, we have to go back to Omer. The secrecy of this monster, more than 60 feet long, contributes to its success in classic literature and the movies (from Julius Verne to Holliwood). This book is a refreshing account that mixes marine biology with science fiction and can be read as any or both....
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Summary: So-so (but exhaustive) survey of info about Giant Squid.
Review: This book covers a lot of information dating back quite far. The fact that extremely little is known about the Giant Squid makes the length of the book somewhat impressive. However, Ellis is not the best proofreader; he includes a fairly significant quote twice in three pages almost verbatim. His summary of the Squid in Literature and Film becomes fairly personal as he takes potshots at other historic authors. And his summary of Squid Models, while detailed, is a bit strange; substitute Train Models for Squid Models and the chapter becomes only slightly less relevant. This may have been included because it was a canned piece.The book is not nearly as good as I thought it would be, but it has its moments.
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Summary: Glad I read it but probably won't read it again.
Review: This interesting book was almost more than I wanted to know about our current knowledge of the giant squid. Almost.The thing that made the biggest impression on me [and it was not a good one] was the sailor who stabbed the eye of a large squid. I just don't understand that kind of reaction to something unknown. If the giant squid were a real threat to mankind no one would go near the water.I shudder when I think of the brutal ways we have treated other members of the animal world. It is a good pick-up and put-down book. I read it at night in bed and it never kept me awake.
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Summary: Not enough known to fill a book for the general public
Review: This is a disappointing book, even though I have been fascinated with giant squids all my life. Did those reviewers designating it so exciting on the cover and frontispiece actually read the book? There simply is not enough known about this animal to fill a book for the general public, and thus Ellis has to fill it out with exhaustive accounts of every carcass found, technical information on other squid genera that is only of interest to other squid specialists, and a chapter on squid display models which, well researched though it is, really is not the kind of thing one buys a book to learn about at such length. Ellis also needed a better editor -- there is a little too much repetition. Ellis' MONSTERS OF THE SEA was great, but there really isn't enough more here about Architeuthis to justify a separate book, and one cannot help suspecting that this one is designed to take advantage of the particular market value of this marvelous creature. Ellis did us a great service with the previous book; this one, however, really is not worth it unless you are a teuthologist.
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Summary: Informative, spooky, entertaining for young and old alike
Review: This is a wonderful book. It combines fascinating facts and figures on one of the world's most mysterious creatures with the spooky attraction of a ghost story. I've been intrigued by the giant squid ever since I first learned that it really existed when I was little, and I bought this book as soon as it came out. Not only is it scientific and scholarly in structure, but Mr. Ellis writes with humor and wit throughout, and in consequence you can learn and enjoy it at the same time. In fact, although the book is clearly intended for adult readers, I would not hesitate to recommend it for students and older children, since the eerie attraction of a story about a slimy monster from the deep is pretty irresistible at any age (I wish the book had come out when I was a child), and the fact that the "monster" really exists makes it all the more fascinating.
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Summary: a modern marvel and masterpiece!!!
Review: this is quit easily one of the best books ever written! squids! what more can be said! smashingly brilliant! a must read. if you love squids as much as me (and i know you do), then you must purchase several copies of this magnificient tome.<br />
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Summary: More is written about the giant squid than is known.
Review: To paraphrase someone, I thought I'd like this sort of book, since this is the sort of book I like. But I didn't. The giant squid seems like a fascinating subject to me but apparently not enough of one for the author, especially with a lack of fancy and speculation on Ellis's part. Perhaps there isn't enough known about the giant squid to fill a book. The book seems like a long, dutiful graduate paper - exhaustive and heavily referenced (40 pages!) - in short, too much to the point.
Rating: 
Summary: Mistake in Amazon.com review
Review: Your reviewer states that "some of these odd creatures... can be 10 feet long..." In fact, some of them can be 60 feet long. Quite a difference.
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