Monster, Inc.

Many are looking for the Loch Ness Monster - and they failed.

Loch Ness is the second largest freshwater lake in Scotland, but scientists point out that the habitat isn't big enough for a huge reptile. They also argued that the loch was completely frozen hundreds of years ago. But curiosity prevailed.

Nessie, as the Scots fondly call the reptile, is one of the main attractions of Scotland. There have been other lakes in this part of Britain, and there have also been sightings of similar monsters. But none captured the public imagination like Nessie. Robert Kenneth Nelson shot to fame in 1934, when his supposedly black-and-white photo of the creature appeared in Daily Mail. It turned out that "Surgeon's Photograph" was a hoax, but many couldn't accept the fact that the Loch Ness Monster was nothing more than a part of Scottish folklore.

There's something about Nessie

"Nessie has surprised and scared a lot of people, but it has never tried to drown or eat anyone. So it's no surprise that Nessie is the most popular of all cryptids."

- Rick Emmer ("Loch Ness Monster: Fact or Fiction", 2010)

"The Water Horse" is probably the most popular novel about the Loch Ness Monster. Dick King-Smith tweaked Scottish folklore, telling the tale of a curious lad and a mysterious creature next door. The story was targeted for the kids, but anyone would understand the virtue of human kindness. This was legend turned reality, where readers would be in a wistful mood.

Steve Alten's "The Loch" is an intriguing sci-fi story about Nessie, the descendants of the Knights Templar, and other secrets that became part of the urban legend (in Scotland). Zachary Wallace, a marine biologist, had a near-death encounter with giant squids in the Sargasso Sea. He would drink to forget the horrific experience, only to come out of stupor when his half brother told him about Angus, their old man. He was charged for murder. The stories surrounding the monster came back to haunt Zach. Alten didn't put a new spin into the legend, as the story has something to do with squids.

Nessie could also be found in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". J.K. Rowling described her as the biggest kelpie that have ever been, as Hogwart students know some stories about her. Perhaps there's a filmmaker who is interested to adapt the book to the big screen.