The Society for the Importation of Exotic Specimens and Chimerae for Imperial Amusement, better known as the Interesting Monster Society, was a loose quasi-governmental confederation of explorers, sub rosa zoologists, adventurers, spies, and imperial expansionists.

Following the death of Drevis III, Drevis IV turned his father's lesser lion breeding facility into a zoo for the benefit of the people of Uzda. However, in the wake of the disastrous reception of Beasts of the World, there was not a single zoologist within the Empire willing and able to maintain the animals. Drevis IV turned instead to his mistress of the kennels, Vahklai Ullakiini, who was given a small budget, three assistants, rights to four head of cattle a day from the imperial stores, and strict instructions not to write any books. Ullakiini proved surprisingly successful at her job, establishing a healthy and stable population of swamp lions. (Swamp lion cubs remained one of the most popular attractions until the Zoo's closing.) For the tenth anniversary of Ullakiini's appointment, one of her underlings hired three men to travel to the Kreyinte swamps to bring back a rare chumchim bird. Six months later, the surviving member of the expedition returned, bearing his prize. At the ceremony honoring Ullakiini, Drevis IV's daughter Hezid demanded and was given the "pretty birdie", and the Society was born.

In its early years, the Society was genuinely concerned solely with the obtainment of rare animals: a trip to the Solta delta to capture the chameleon monkey, previously believed to be merely a folk tale; a visit to the mountains of the southeast that brought to the Zoo a pair of kesheriti antelope (the so-called "shawl goats"); a return to the Kreyinte peninsula that obtained a x'lorn, which unfortunately died in captivity before much was learned about this rare and beautiful animal. However, when the post of Imperial Zookeeper was given to a Filmarian former cavalry officer, Col. (later Baron) Tarjakab Shears-Sheep, this changed. Tarjakab, who went by the jocular name "Toffo", saw potential in his motley group of gamehunters.

After a short-lived and ill-fated experiment in breeding war elephants was ended, Tarjakab turned his group's attention on gathering intelligence. The animal procurers were well-traveled; they generally could make themselves understood across the continent; they had plausible reasons to visit many politically or militarily sensitive areas. (It is to this end, rather than any desire for glorification, that Tarjakab authorized the publishing of the "Interesting Monster" series of novelettes despite Drevis IV's injunction; although his enemies seized upon the frequently ludicrous art and titles, it is undeniable that such works as The Interesting Monsters Society Finds a Giant Ape and Toffo vs. the Plague Dragon were crucial in establishing a cover that would be believed even in Orin and other dangerous areas.)

Within the Society, the somewhat seedy natures of both zoology and espionage fed upon on one another. Pamphlets about the sixth claw of the Orinite sloth were published by scientists who might admit in their cups admit that the Empire would be better under leaders who would let them get the job of conquering Orin over with so sensible women could get on with their work. Hard men carrying out abductions of Malese "visitors" to the great sugar plantations of the East would sneak away in search of a peasant rumored to have a breeding pair of sugar badgers. Although never formally a chit club, the Interesting Monster Society was in this period a player in the games of power, one that was politically heterodox and dedicated more to expanding the scope of the Empire than any particular loyalty to the Emperor. As such, they were associated with the Blue Club and the Hardluck Gang and frequently in conflict with the more orthodox Dynamo Club. During the regency of Zsuzsa Laughs-Twice, a Dynamo Club ally who wanted to reduce "freelancing" within the intelligence services, the Society was formally disbanded, its scientists dispatched to Imperial research stations and its spies turned over to military control. No new specimens were accepted to the Imperial Zoo until its closing under Arghar I except as a gift from Imperial provinces as a whole or from foreign heads of state.

See also:

Beasts of the World

Dynamo Club

Elephants

Filmar

Kreyinte

Lions

Novelettes

Unconquered Orin

Sugar