Gallery: Gallery: Be Afraid of Guillermo Del Toro's Dangerous Fairies

  • book cover
    01

    book-cover

    *Keith Thompson's creepy mural serves as cover art for* Blackwood's Guide to Dangerous Fairies*, the printed prequel to horror film* Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.
  • pooka
    02

    pooka

    *The shape-shifting Irish [pooka](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%BAca) frightens farmers and sometimes takes the form of a goblin.*
  • oak men
    03

    oak-men

    *In Britain, [oak men](http://www.batcow.co.uk/strangelands/nature.htm) protect nature by attacking interlopers with poisonous mushrooms, herbs and thorns.*
  • toothbreakers
    04

    toothbreakers

    *A darker version of the tooth fairy, the toothbreaker haunts U.K. kids, who also fear Scotland's Bloodygums and Wales' Jilly Rot Tooth.*
  • CroqueMitaine
    05

    croque-mitaine

    *French boogeyman the [croque-mitaine](http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croque-mitaine) gnaws off children's fingers and lures them at night into dark corners.*
  • kuei
    06

    kuei

    *The Chinese kuei, aka [hungry ghosts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_ghosts_in_Chinese_religion), torment the living for not paying respect at the time of their deaths.*
  • xiang yao
    07

    xiang-yao

    *The swamp-dwelling [xiang yao](http://www.mythbeasts.com/creature.php?beast=Xiang+Yao) has nine pustule-like heads whose unspoken secrets taunt strangers.*
  • morozko
    08

    morozko

    *In Russia, the ice monster [Morozko](http://russian-crafts.com/tales/morozko.html) lures young girls into his icy grasp and freezes them.*
  • lurlei
    09

    lurlei

    *Like Greek mythology's sirens, the [lurlei](http://www.memidex.com/lurlei) of Germany's Rhine River use their voices to lure people into death by drowning.*
  • coyote
    10

    coyote

    *The North American trickster known as the [coyote](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote_(mythology)) causes trouble as a charming but untrustworthy wanderer.*
Read More
Washington Won’t Be Regulating AI Anytime Soon
Even with mounting concerns about AI models going rogue, legislation appears unlikely, and the White House is outright opposed to oversight.
Hugo Lowell
The WIRED Guide to Shopping Prime Big Deal Days
Before Amazon’s October sale begins, learn how to investigate prices and track products like a pro.
Louryn Strampe
The Top New Features Coming to MacOS 27 Golden Gate to Try Out Now
Siri’s reintroduction takes center stage as Apple officially rolls out the latest version of macOS to download and install.
Luke Larsen
I Trained a Fly’s Brain to Generate WIRED Story Ideas
I used an open-source map of a fruit fly’s brain to vibe code a website called PitchFly. Its headline suggestions were delightfully bananas.
Will Knight
The 8 Best Movies to Stream This Month
The Mandalorian and Grogu, The Wild Robot, and Obsession are among the must-watch films arriving this month.
Matt Kamen
Chipotle Is Working With Palantir to Track Food Safety Risks
The burrito chain has enlisted Palantir for a platform that monitors pest incidents, employee illnesses, and other factors. The partnership comes after a nightmare summer for food safety across the US.
Kate Taylor
The iPhone 18 Pro Is for the Shutterbugs
Fun camera features help make these candy bar iPhones stand out from the dazzle of the folding iPhone Duo.
Julian Chokkattu
Don’t Buy an Android Phone Until You Read Our Guide
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.
Julian Chokkattu
Introducing the WIRED App
The app is the best way to read, watch, and listen to WIRED’s journalism.
WIRED Staff
Hackers Got Inside a Flock Camera. Its Data Shows How the System Really Works
A hacker collective pulled down a Flock camera and dumped its data. The files included thousands of videos and logs showing that the device captured 1.6 million images of 50,000 vehicles in 21 days.
Dhruv Mehrotra
The EU Plans to Ban Social Media for Under-13s
The bloc wants to curb Big Tech’s grip on children with its new EU Kids Act, but age checks, parental oversight, and privacy concerns could make its plan difficult to implement.
Isabella Ward
I Made Robot Vacuums Clean Up Cherry Juice and Cheerios. These Won
My hands-on tests reveal which models can scrub stains, reach difficult corners, and navigate a chaotic home.
Nena Farrell