On February 13, Adventures Unlimited Press will be publishing the book Things and More Things: Myths, Mysteries and Marvels! by Ivan T. Sanderson. If you're not already acquainted with Sanderson's work, this will be a great introduction for you. An essential purchase!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
"Things" and More "Things"
On February 13, Adventures Unlimited Press will be publishing the book Things and More Things: Myths, Mysteries and Marvels! by Ivan T. Sanderson. If you're not already acquainted with Sanderson's work, this will be a great introduction for you. An essential purchase!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Man-Monkey Invades Uncanny Radio
On the night of February 13 (sadly it's not Friday the 13th...) I'll be speaking about my book Man-Monkey: In Search of the British Bigfoot on the forthcoming Uncanny Radio show with Linda Godfrey and Stephen D. Sullivan. Here's the link where you can find details (scroll down the page and you'll come to the relevant section). Check out Uncanny Radio's new blog, too.
Big Cats in Britain
If you're interested in learning all about the latest news, sightings and theories pertaining to sightings of mysterious big cats in Britain, then this is definitely the conference for you!
The Weird Weekend: The Latest
Here's the latest news (plus You Tube clips from last year's event) on the CFZ's forthcoming Weird Weekend 2008. As per usual, it will be held in the village of Woolfardisworthy, Devon, England. And, as you'll see from the link above, the speakers and their subject matter are both wide and varied. If you can make it, get along to the WW: it's always a great time for one and all!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Uncanny Radio: Coming Next Week!
This is great news: Uncanny Radio, with Linda Godfrey (author of The Beast of Bray Road and Hunting the American Werewolf) starts next week. Here's a blurb from the official website:
The strange, the unfathomable, the peculiar, and the downright uncanny -- you'll find them all on Uncanny Radio with Manwolf and Linda. Uncanny Radio will cover all aspects of the strange -- from UFOs to unicorns, werewolves to weird places, to the just plain eccentric people who live among us. Hosted by award-winning authors Linda Godfrey and Stephen D. Sullivan, Uncanny Radio brings you the latest creature reports, a consumer's guide to paranormal and sci-fi TV and movies, and conversations with fascinating and unusual people. Based in America's Strangest Town, Burlington, Wisconsin, but covering the galaxy. Wednesday nights 8-9 pm Central on 89.1 FM -- or streaming live on http://www.wbsdfm.com/
http://www.uncannyradio.com/
The strange, the unfathomable, the peculiar, and the downright uncanny -- you'll find them all on Uncanny Radio with Manwolf and Linda. Uncanny Radio will cover all aspects of the strange -- from UFOs to unicorns, werewolves to weird places, to the just plain eccentric people who live among us. Hosted by award-winning authors Linda Godfrey and Stephen D. Sullivan, Uncanny Radio brings you the latest creature reports, a consumer's guide to paranormal and sci-fi TV and movies, and conversations with fascinating and unusual people. Based in America's Strangest Town, Burlington, Wisconsin, but covering the galaxy. Wednesday nights 8-9 pm Central on 89.1 FM -- or streaming live on http://www.wbsdfm.com/
http://www.uncannyradio.com/
Monsters on Pirate Cat Radio
On Saturday I was interviewed about my Memoirs of a Monster Hunter book on Pirate Cat Radio. An MP3 of the show will be available, courtesy of the show, for the next 6 weeks and here's the link: http://www.nerdnetworks.org/pcr/Kittywhore-20080126.mp3
Exotic Pets - Issue 3 Out Now
Issue 3 of the Center for Fortean Zoology's latest magazine, Exotic Pets, is out now. Contact the CFZ at http://www.cfz.org.uk/ for details of the magazine, cost, etc. Here's the list of page numbers, contents and contributors:3. EDITORIAL6. THE NEWS: Year of the Frog (guest editorial);
10. ZOO NEWS11. Ryedale A.S Christmas Tree project;
12. CRYPTO NEWS;
13. THE BUGNATION COLUMN;
14. CLUB NEWS: British Cichlid Association; Phasmid Study Group;
17. RIO CAUCA CAECILIANS: Lure of the Black Worm by Jon Downes;
20. TALES FROM THE BUSH: BBC bloke in Guyana by Stephen Backshall;
23. DECIDUOUS DARLINGS: Dead leaf mantids by Graham Smith;
26. CLIMBING PERCH: Fish out of water by David Marshall;
30. AMAZING ANURANS: Horned frogs by Corinna Downes;
33. VELVET UNDERGROUND: Peripatus by Matt Baillie;
36. A CHANCE IN A LIFETIME: Behind the scenes at Durrell Wildlife by Ben Tapeley;
40. TREVOR’S TALES;
41. EMONIC LUCY;
42. A SILK PURSE: Trapdoor Spiders by Hugh Jeal;
45. RAMPANT RODENTS: Pouched rats by Oll Lewis;
48. PECULIAR PHASMIDS: Leaf insects by Janice Holt50. THE EYES HAVE IT: Ocellated skinks by Graham Smith;
52. KILLER IN THE HOME: Assassin Bugs by the Bug Doctor;
55. HELP: I need somebody;
57. BOOKSHELF CONTRIBUTORS Jon Downes, Graham Smith, Graham Inglis, Corinna Downes, Janice Holt, Richard Freeman, David Marshall, Shaz Hagan, Dr. Darren Naish, Stephen Backshall, Oll Lewis, David Phillips, Matt Baillie, Lucy Henson, Trevor Smith, The Bug Doctor, Hugh Jeal, Ben Tapeley.
Call of the Wild
Over the course of the last couple of years, the Center for Fortean Zoology has been diligently publishing, in the form of bound volumes, copies of the early, hard-to-find editions of its magazine on all-things-cryptozoological: Animals & Men.
The new volume, Call of the Wild, that places issues 11 to 15 under one cover, has just been published and includes some great material.
Here's the Amazon link to purchase it, and here's Jon Downes to tell you all about it:
"At the beginning of the 21st Century monsters still roam the remote, and sometimes not so remote, corners of our planet. It is our job to search for them.
"The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] is the only professional, scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. Since 1992 the CFZ has carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all over the world.
"We have carried out expeditions to Sumatra (2003 and 2004), Mongolia (2005), Puerto Rico (1998 and 2004), Mexico (1998), Thailand (2000), Florida (1998), Nevada (1999 and 2003), Texas (2003 and 2004), Illinois (2004), Gambia (2006), and Guyana (2007) .
"Since 1994 we have been publishing the world's only dedicated cryptozoology magazine, Animals & Men.
"This volume contains facsimile reprints of issues 11 to 15 and includes articles covering out of place walruses, feathered dinosaurs, possible North American ground sloth survival, the theory of initial bipedalism, mystery whales, mitten crabs in Britain, Barbary lions, out of place animals in Germany, mystery pangolins, the barking beast of Bath, Yorkshire ABCs, Molly the singing oyster, singing mice, the dragons of Yorkshire, singing mice, the bigfoot murders, waspman, British beavers, the migo, Nessie, the weird warbling whatsit of the westcountry, the quagga project and much more...
"PLUS: Preface by Graham Inglis and an introductory essay by Jonathan Downes, notes putting each issue into a historical perspective, and a history of the CFZ. This is a special collectors' edition."
The new volume, Call of the Wild, that places issues 11 to 15 under one cover, has just been published and includes some great material.
Here's the Amazon link to purchase it, and here's Jon Downes to tell you all about it:
"At the beginning of the 21st Century monsters still roam the remote, and sometimes not so remote, corners of our planet. It is our job to search for them.
"The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] is the only professional, scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. Since 1992 the CFZ has carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all over the world.
"We have carried out expeditions to Sumatra (2003 and 2004), Mongolia (2005), Puerto Rico (1998 and 2004), Mexico (1998), Thailand (2000), Florida (1998), Nevada (1999 and 2003), Texas (2003 and 2004), Illinois (2004), Gambia (2006), and Guyana (2007) .
"Since 1994 we have been publishing the world's only dedicated cryptozoology magazine, Animals & Men.
"This volume contains facsimile reprints of issues 11 to 15 and includes articles covering out of place walruses, feathered dinosaurs, possible North American ground sloth survival, the theory of initial bipedalism, mystery whales, mitten crabs in Britain, Barbary lions, out of place animals in Germany, mystery pangolins, the barking beast of Bath, Yorkshire ABCs, Molly the singing oyster, singing mice, the dragons of Yorkshire, singing mice, the bigfoot murders, waspman, British beavers, the migo, Nessie, the weird warbling whatsit of the westcountry, the quagga project and much more...
"PLUS: Preface by Graham Inglis and an introductory essay by Jonathan Downes, notes putting each issue into a historical perspective, and a history of the CFZ. This is a special collectors' edition."
Friday, January 25, 2008
Crypto and the Lord Geekington
Check out the Lord Geekington's blog for some interesting cryptozoological posts and countless cool, rare photos and drawings relating to all-things monstrous.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dogman Thoughts...
Well, I thought the History Channel did a good job of addressing the controversy of the Wisconsion Dogman on last night's episode of Monster Quest. I did have a couple of quibbles; however, overall I thought they presented the story well and treated it in a serious and balanced fashion. And getting some of the prominent witnesses to take lie-detector tests (they all passed) was a good angle, too.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Yet Another Bigfoot Story
Some are suggesting - as you'll see from the comments - that this was nothing more than a prank. Others are not so sure. It may be a story worth following for more developments.
The Dogman on "Monster Quest"
Stories from Michigan and Wisconsin of the so-called "Dogman" are of particular interest to me, given that in some cases there seems to be parallels with classic werewolf-type reports. If you're not acquainted with the mystery of the Dogman and you're in the US, well, you can find out more by watching tonight's episode of Monster Quest on the History Channel, which is devoted to the puzzle. Linda Godfrey, author of Hunting the American Werewolf was also involved with the show, so it should be a good one! Click here for more details.
Weird Nevada
Check out Weird Nevada (as highlighted in this new article), as it contains some interesting crypto stories.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
"Remote Central" on my Binnall Interview...
Tim Binnall recently interviewed me for his radio show on my Memoirs of a Monster Hunter book. Here's Remote Central's review of the interview.
Paul Kimball on my "Memoirs of a Monster Hunter" Book
Paul Kimball, of Red Star Films, and ace UFO documentary-maker, reviews my Memoirs of a Monster Hunter book:
"My good friend Nick Redfern has a new book out, Memoirs of a Monster Hunter: A Five Year Journey in Search of the Unknown, that is a must-read for anyone who thinks a paranormal travelogue is a great idea.
"As always, Nick's breezy writing style engages the reader, and whisks them off to all sorts of strange places where Nick has tried to track down all sorts of strange creatures, from vampires to lake monsters.
"My favourite section is, of course, Chapter 15, which is about Nick's trip with yours truly and the Redstar crew to Puerto Rico in September, 2005. That was an exciting trip, with all sorts of twists and turns, witnesses, weird stories, odd coincidences, and so on (in the book Nick recounts a truly eerie MJ-12 story from his trip to Puerto Rico).
"As with all of his stories in the book, Nick brings our adventures alive for the reader, and makes it seem as if they were along for the ride.
"I sometimes refer to myself as the 'Jack Kerouac of the paranormal'. If that's the case, then Nick is the 'Hunter S. Thompson of the paranormal'... with perhaps a bit of Ernest Hemingway thrown in for good measure. His writing informs and entertains in a field where authors tend to do one or the other, but rarely manage to do both at the same time (my pals Mac Tonnies and Greg Bishop are also welcome exceptions to this general rule).
"In a brief passage in the aforementioned Chapter 15, Nick sums up nicely why he and I do what we do: 'That evening, we met in the bar for an evening of food and revelry... 'Life's never dull in this game, is it?' I asked Paul, in what was really a statement rather than a question. He heartily agreed. We toasted to a continued, productive week, and thanked God that we didn't have to work in the real world of 9-to-5. The conversation then turned to music, beer, gambling, and more, and bloodsucking vampires were forgotten about for the rest of the night.'
"Nick is one of those guys who gets exactly what Kerouac was talking about when he wrote: 'The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes Awww!'
"There are plenty of "mad ones" in Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, an engaging journey through the strange world of the paranormal... and the sometimes even stranger world of Nick Redfern. Don't miss it."
Cheers, Paul!
"My good friend Nick Redfern has a new book out, Memoirs of a Monster Hunter: A Five Year Journey in Search of the Unknown, that is a must-read for anyone who thinks a paranormal travelogue is a great idea.
"As always, Nick's breezy writing style engages the reader, and whisks them off to all sorts of strange places where Nick has tried to track down all sorts of strange creatures, from vampires to lake monsters.
"My favourite section is, of course, Chapter 15, which is about Nick's trip with yours truly and the Redstar crew to Puerto Rico in September, 2005. That was an exciting trip, with all sorts of twists and turns, witnesses, weird stories, odd coincidences, and so on (in the book Nick recounts a truly eerie MJ-12 story from his trip to Puerto Rico).
"As with all of his stories in the book, Nick brings our adventures alive for the reader, and makes it seem as if they were along for the ride.
"I sometimes refer to myself as the 'Jack Kerouac of the paranormal'. If that's the case, then Nick is the 'Hunter S. Thompson of the paranormal'... with perhaps a bit of Ernest Hemingway thrown in for good measure. His writing informs and entertains in a field where authors tend to do one or the other, but rarely manage to do both at the same time (my pals Mac Tonnies and Greg Bishop are also welcome exceptions to this general rule).
"In a brief passage in the aforementioned Chapter 15, Nick sums up nicely why he and I do what we do: 'That evening, we met in the bar for an evening of food and revelry... 'Life's never dull in this game, is it?' I asked Paul, in what was really a statement rather than a question. He heartily agreed. We toasted to a continued, productive week, and thanked God that we didn't have to work in the real world of 9-to-5. The conversation then turned to music, beer, gambling, and more, and bloodsucking vampires were forgotten about for the rest of the night.'
"Nick is one of those guys who gets exactly what Kerouac was talking about when he wrote: 'The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes Awww!'
"There are plenty of "mad ones" in Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, an engaging journey through the strange world of the paranormal... and the sometimes even stranger world of Nick Redfern. Don't miss it."
Cheers, Paul!
Neil Arnold and the New Jersey Devil Hunters
Neil Arnold, author of the excellent book Monster!, contacted me yesterday to let me know he had just posted to his Zooform blog a lengthy interview with Laura Leuter of the New Jersey Devil Hunters.
Having read the interview, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. I have copy-pasted below Neil's Introduction to the interview, as well as the first two questions and answers, which are followed by a link to the full interview.
Now, here's Neil:
In January 2008 I interviewed Laura Leuter, president of the New Jersey Devil Hunters http://www.njdevilhunters.com/ regarding the long-running mystery of one of cryptozoology's strangest creatures, the Jersey Devil, said to have roamed the dense Pine barrens for several centuries.
Laura gave me the lowdown on her investigations and theories, and with her kind permission allowed me to use some of her photo's from the 19th January hunt:
1) Laura, firstly, please can you explain a little about the legend of the Jersey Devil?
According to legend, in 1735, a woman named Mrs. Leeds from Leeds Point was in labor with her 13th child. During a fit of pain, she cried out, “Let this child be a devil!” and when the infant was born, it morphed into a hideous creature. The creature then devoured everyone in the room, and fled through a chimney to the Pine Barrens, where it has haunted the area ever since.That’s one variation of the legend, probably the most widely known. Other variations say that he did not eat the family, and instead used to visit them for many years, due to Mrs. Leeds feeding it. One day, she shooed it away, and it never returned.Other variations say that Mrs. Leeds was cursed by a gypsy in the woods after refusing her food, or was cursed due to the fact that she was having an affair. Others say that it wasn’t Mrs. Leeds, but actually Mrs. Shrouds.It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the legend is, as it is a tale that has traveled through generations and of course things were changed over the years.
2) Can you tell me a bit about the Devil Hunters, what made you start a group to investigate the sightings, how many members you have, your aims etc?
We are a group dedicated to the search for the truth about the Jersey Devil. We conduct research through written word as well as actual field work. We research the legend itself, and the history surrounding that, while also visiting witnesses and gathering their accounts.At the current moment, we actually have 13 regular members, which is just a coincidence. We’re looking to continue expanding our regular member base. Regular members are the people we count on for conducting the research and going on hunts. We also offer a second membership option, which is known as Associates. We’ve got about a 100 or so associates, located around the world, who help with online research, theories, etc.I was prompted to start this group back in 1999. I had been researching this creature when I was a little girl, and I had always had the hopes of going out to the house foundation where the Jersey Devil was supposedly born. But, at the time I was about 12, which meant there was no way it would be possible for me to even consider going out in the woods in search of a burnt down house. However, as I got older, and found myself in discussions about the Jersey Devil, the two original founders and I decided to put the group together and go do this. So here we are, almost 9 years later, still in search of the truth.
Click here for the rest of Neil's interview with Laura.
Having read the interview, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. I have copy-pasted below Neil's Introduction to the interview, as well as the first two questions and answers, which are followed by a link to the full interview.
Now, here's Neil:
In January 2008 I interviewed Laura Leuter, president of the New Jersey Devil Hunters http://www.njdevilhunters.com/ regarding the long-running mystery of one of cryptozoology's strangest creatures, the Jersey Devil, said to have roamed the dense Pine barrens for several centuries.
Laura gave me the lowdown on her investigations and theories, and with her kind permission allowed me to use some of her photo's from the 19th January hunt:
1) Laura, firstly, please can you explain a little about the legend of the Jersey Devil?
According to legend, in 1735, a woman named Mrs. Leeds from Leeds Point was in labor with her 13th child. During a fit of pain, she cried out, “Let this child be a devil!” and when the infant was born, it morphed into a hideous creature. The creature then devoured everyone in the room, and fled through a chimney to the Pine Barrens, where it has haunted the area ever since.That’s one variation of the legend, probably the most widely known. Other variations say that he did not eat the family, and instead used to visit them for many years, due to Mrs. Leeds feeding it. One day, she shooed it away, and it never returned.Other variations say that Mrs. Leeds was cursed by a gypsy in the woods after refusing her food, or was cursed due to the fact that she was having an affair. Others say that it wasn’t Mrs. Leeds, but actually Mrs. Shrouds.It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the legend is, as it is a tale that has traveled through generations and of course things were changed over the years.
2) Can you tell me a bit about the Devil Hunters, what made you start a group to investigate the sightings, how many members you have, your aims etc?
We are a group dedicated to the search for the truth about the Jersey Devil. We conduct research through written word as well as actual field work. We research the legend itself, and the history surrounding that, while also visiting witnesses and gathering their accounts.At the current moment, we actually have 13 regular members, which is just a coincidence. We’re looking to continue expanding our regular member base. Regular members are the people we count on for conducting the research and going on hunts. We also offer a second membership option, which is known as Associates. We’ve got about a 100 or so associates, located around the world, who help with online research, theories, etc.I was prompted to start this group back in 1999. I had been researching this creature when I was a little girl, and I had always had the hopes of going out to the house foundation where the Jersey Devil was supposedly born. But, at the time I was about 12, which meant there was no way it would be possible for me to even consider going out in the woods in search of a burnt down house. However, as I got older, and found myself in discussions about the Jersey Devil, the two original founders and I decided to put the group together and go do this. So here we are, almost 9 years later, still in search of the truth.
Click here for the rest of Neil's interview with Laura.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Beast-Men and Infrasound
The Blogsquatcher delves further into an area that many have ignored - namely infrasound and cryptids - but that is most definitely worthy of study.
Lisa Shiel on Bigfoot
Lisa Shiel delves into a seldom discussed issue: "Ancient Bigfoot Wars" in Europe and in the Americas. Lisa asks the questions:
"Could humans have fought with Bigfoot-type creatures in the distant past? Ancient artwork from around the world appears to depict hairy hominids. In many of the same locales, humans retreated into barely accessible areas, clearly hiding from something. But what?"
"Could humans have fought with Bigfoot-type creatures in the distant past? Ancient artwork from around the world appears to depict hairy hominids. In many of the same locales, humans retreated into barely accessible areas, clearly hiding from something. But what?"
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Mystery Birds of New Mexico
Well, I mentioned a few days ago that ultra-blogger Lesley had set up a blog devoted to her home state of New Mexico, and expressed my hope that we would see her posting a few cryptozoological things now and again.
Lesley, I'm pleased to say, has now done just that. Click here for an interesting story - with links - to New Mexico-based stories of giant and mysterious birds.
Lesley, I'm pleased to say, has now done just that. Click here for an interesting story - with links - to New Mexico-based stories of giant and mysterious birds.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Primeval: Back On-Screen
Last week, the new series of Primeval began on British TV. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the first series, which kind of reminded me of Dr. Who meets Jurassic Park meets Jon Downes' classic book Memoirs of a Monster Hunter. And speaking of Jon, surely it can only be a matter of time before Britain's most famous real-life monster-hunter receives an offer to guest-star on the show?
If you are in the UK and missed the first series, I definitely recommend it. It's a shot of fresh air in a world dominated by stale Reality TV. And if you're outside of the UK: well, you can always invest in the DVDs!
If you are in the UK and missed the first series, I definitely recommend it. It's a shot of fresh air in a world dominated by stale Reality TV. And if you're outside of the UK: well, you can always invest in the DVDs!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
The Cloverfield Craze
As the world prepares for Cloverfield mania, the media coverage is already escalating wildly. Check out this Google link for all the news on the latest addition to an already long line of on-screen monsters. I'll be reviewing it here after I've seen it. Let's hope it's worth the hype...
Monster Memoirs on the Radio
Tomorrow night (Friday 18th) I'll be discussing my Memoirs of a Monster Hunter book on the Bruce D. Collins Internet-radio show. Click here for details and time.
Cryptozoology Abounds In "Beyond"
A few days ago I happened to mention that Beyond Magazine in the UK had extensively interviewed me for their new issue (Issue 12) on the subject of my book, Memoirs of a Monster Hunter (Here's my original post, with links to the Beyond website).
I neglected to alert you to the fact that the entire issue is packed with cryptozoological gems. In the "Famous Cases Revisited" section of the magazine, CFZ Director Jon Downes has a 9-page article on the strange, dark and bizarre story of Britain's Owlman - surely the closest thing that Britain has to the Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia - which was the subject of Jon's book The Owlman and Others.
The same issue of Beyond also includes a fascinating article from Dr. Karl Shuker titled "From Earth Hounds to Monkey Birds," and which, over 8-pages, reveals startling and fascinating data on some very weird critters from the British Isles - including a sea-serpent moving on the land late at night; mystery lizards; and a very strange beast seen in the late 1960s and that sounds like a cross between the Jersey Devil, a gargoyle, and the aforementioned Owlman and Mothman.
Enjoy!
I neglected to alert you to the fact that the entire issue is packed with cryptozoological gems. In the "Famous Cases Revisited" section of the magazine, CFZ Director Jon Downes has a 9-page article on the strange, dark and bizarre story of Britain's Owlman - surely the closest thing that Britain has to the Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia - which was the subject of Jon's book The Owlman and Others.
The same issue of Beyond also includes a fascinating article from Dr. Karl Shuker titled "From Earth Hounds to Monkey Birds," and which, over 8-pages, reveals startling and fascinating data on some very weird critters from the British Isles - including a sea-serpent moving on the land late at night; mystery lizards; and a very strange beast seen in the late 1960s and that sounds like a cross between the Jersey Devil, a gargoyle, and the aforementioned Owlman and Mothman.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Werewolf Author Under The Spotlight
Linda Godfrey, author of two of the best books on werewolves ever written - The Beast of Bray Road and Hunting the American Werewolf - is the subject of a new article that appears in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Here's the on-line link.
Lesley on the Land of Enchantment
Prolific Fortean blogger Lesley has a new blog devoted to a discussion of all things notable in the state of New Mexico. Perhaps we'll get to see Leslie focusing from time to time on NM-based stories of a cryptozoological nature as the site develops.
Crypto on the Web
Here's a few items that may be of interest and that caught my eye today:
1. Lisa Shiel, author of the book Backyard Bigfoot, looks at the issue of "Witnesses vs. Bigfoot Researchers."
2. The always-interesting Blogsquatcher on Infrasound and Cryptids.
3. Biofort on the Thunderbird.
1. Lisa Shiel, author of the book Backyard Bigfoot, looks at the issue of "Witnesses vs. Bigfoot Researchers."
2. The always-interesting Blogsquatcher on Infrasound and Cryptids.
3. Biofort on the Thunderbird.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
On-Line Again Tomorrow
I had hoped to get my posts for today online by now; but I have to go out for the rest of the day and evening now. So, I'll be back tomorrow with new crypto news.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Vampires in the Philippines
Is cryptozoology's most-famous vampire (you know the one I mean!) now on the loose in the Philippines?
(Thanks to Kithra for bringing the above to my attention).
Interestingly, this is not the first time such activity has occurred in the Philippines. In my book Strange Secrets: Real Government Files on the Unknown I revealed how American psychological warfare planners, in the 1950s, had spread tales of blood-sucking vampires in the Philippines uprising in an attempt to spook superstitious, enemy rebels.
It was an ingenious operation coordinated by one Major General Edward G. Lansdale. Born in 1908, Lansdale served with the Office of Strategic Services in WW2; in 1945 he was transferred to HQ Air Forces Western Pacific in the Philippines; and, in 1957, he received a posting to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, working as Deputy Assistant to the SoD for “Special Operations.”
At the specific request of President Elpidio Quirino, Lansdale was assigned to the Joint United States Military Assistance Group to provide assistance and guidance in the field of Intelligence, to the Philippine Army, as the latter sought to squash an uprising by Communist “Huk” rebels.
And it was while lending assistance to President Quirino that Lansdale had the bright idea of exploiting a local legend for psychological warfare purposes - namely that of the deadly Asuang Vampire.
In his own words, Lansdale would later say: “To the superstitious, the Huk battleground was a haunted place filled with ghosts and eerie creatures. A combat psywar squad was brought in. It planted stories among town residents of an Asuang living on the hill where the Huks were based. Two nights later, after giving the stories time to make their way up to the hill camp, the psywar squad set up an ambush along the trail used by the Huks. When a Huk patrol came along the trail, the ambushers silently snatched the last man of the patrol, their move unseen in the dark night. They punctured his neck with two holes, vampire-fashion, held the body up by the heels, drained it of blood, and put the corpse back on the trail. When the Huks returned to look for the missing man and found their bloodless comrade, every member of the patrol believed that the Asuang had got him and that one of them would be next if they remained on that hill. When daylight came, the whole Huk squadron moved out of the vicinity.”
And, as a result, key, strategic ground was taken out of the hands of the Huk rebels.
I suggest we keep a very close eye on matters of a vampiric nature in the Philippines...
(Thanks to Kithra for bringing the above to my attention).
Interestingly, this is not the first time such activity has occurred in the Philippines. In my book Strange Secrets: Real Government Files on the Unknown I revealed how American psychological warfare planners, in the 1950s, had spread tales of blood-sucking vampires in the Philippines uprising in an attempt to spook superstitious, enemy rebels.
It was an ingenious operation coordinated by one Major General Edward G. Lansdale. Born in 1908, Lansdale served with the Office of Strategic Services in WW2; in 1945 he was transferred to HQ Air Forces Western Pacific in the Philippines; and, in 1957, he received a posting to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, working as Deputy Assistant to the SoD for “Special Operations.”
At the specific request of President Elpidio Quirino, Lansdale was assigned to the Joint United States Military Assistance Group to provide assistance and guidance in the field of Intelligence, to the Philippine Army, as the latter sought to squash an uprising by Communist “Huk” rebels.
And it was while lending assistance to President Quirino that Lansdale had the bright idea of exploiting a local legend for psychological warfare purposes - namely that of the deadly Asuang Vampire.
In his own words, Lansdale would later say: “To the superstitious, the Huk battleground was a haunted place filled with ghosts and eerie creatures. A combat psywar squad was brought in. It planted stories among town residents of an Asuang living on the hill where the Huks were based. Two nights later, after giving the stories time to make their way up to the hill camp, the psywar squad set up an ambush along the trail used by the Huks. When a Huk patrol came along the trail, the ambushers silently snatched the last man of the patrol, their move unseen in the dark night. They punctured his neck with two holes, vampire-fashion, held the body up by the heels, drained it of blood, and put the corpse back on the trail. When the Huks returned to look for the missing man and found their bloodless comrade, every member of the patrol believed that the Asuang had got him and that one of them would be next if they remained on that hill. When daylight came, the whole Huk squadron moved out of the vicinity.”
And, as a result, key, strategic ground was taken out of the hands of the Huk rebels.
I suggest we keep a very close eye on matters of a vampiric nature in the Philippines...
Exploring Unexplained Phenomena
On Saturday I was interviewed by the Exploring Unexplained Phenomena team about my Memoirs of a Monster Hunter book. For those interested, the interview is now posted on-line. We covered such issues as the Loch Ness Monster, Britain's Big-Cats, Werewolves, Ape-Men, and much more.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Just A Reminder
A quick reminder: for those that live in the Dallas, Texas area I'll be lecturing on my Memoirs of a Monster Hunter book (and more) in Denton next Tuesday night. Here's the details of location and time.
Sir Edmund Hillary and the Yeti
Cryptomundo discusses the sad death of Sir Edmund Hillary and his connections to the saga of the Yeti.
Moa News
Is it possible that the presumed-extinct, mighty Moa still exists? Some certainly think so.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
"Monster Memoirs" on "Dreamland"
In the latter part of last year author Jim Marrs interviewed me for an episode of Whitley and Anne Strieber's show Dreamland on the subject of my Memoirs of a Monster Hunter book. Details of the interview - scheduled for broadcast this weekend - are now posted online at the Strieber's website and can be found here.
The Cryptids of Hawaii
The current issue of Fate magazine includes an excellent article from Dr. Karl Shuker on the cryptozoological mysteries of Hawaii. A lengthy extract from the article can be found online at Fate's site, right here. The same issue also includes an article from Matt Clemmons on the Jersey Devil.
"Memoirs of a Monster Hunter" in "Beyond Magazine"
The newly-published issue of Britain's Beyond Magazine includes an extensive interview with me about my book Memoirs of a Monster Hunter and my cryptozoological pursuits. You can find out more about the interview online (including a few quotes and a photo) by clicking here. Beyond Magazine is an excellent publication and required reading for anyone and everyone interested in cryptozoology and the wider aspects of the unexplained. Here's their homepage. Check it out.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Neil Arnold Reviews "Man-Monkey"
Neil Arnold, author of the book Monster!, reviews my book Man-Monkey and says: "Cryptozoology needs books like this. Intriguing, sinister and complex mysteries that go beyond the standard fair so often regurgitated in today's market. Nick Redfern has finally investigated one of the UK's most baffling enigmas, the possibility that a Bigfoot-like beast once roamed the wilds of Shropshire, alongside other very weird phenomena. Redfern delves into the history of high strangeness in the county, uncovering all manner of peculiar characters, man-beast sightings, further mystery animal reports and general oddness. Like all Redfern's work, this is well-written without taking the reader off the shadowy path. 'Man-Monkey' is a glimpse not just into the dark woods but a torch beam flitting into the murky void of 'zooform phenomena', where the things that should not be clearly have been for many years, eluding man and rational explanation."
Cheers, Neil!
Cheers, Neil!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
And Here's Book Three...
The third book published by CFZ Press this week is Dark Dorset: Calendar Customs by Robert J. Newland.And here's Jon to explain what it's all about: "Much of the intrinsic charm of Dorset folklore is owed to the importance of folk customs. Today only a small amount of these curious and occasionally eccentric customs have survived, while those that still continue have, for many of us, lost their original significance.
"Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? Why do children dance around the maypole on May Day? Why do we carve pumpkin lanterns at Hallowe'en? What is Wassailing? And who is Father Christmas? All the answers are here!
"Robert has made an in-depth study of the Dorset country calendar identifying the major feast-days, holidays and celebrations when traditionally such folk customs are practiced. Some of these customs hark back to pre-Christian times, while others are comparatively recent innovations.
"The list of customs is an extensive one and includes Morris Dancing, Clipping the Church, Well Dressing, Love Divinations, Mumming Plays, Corn Dollies, Broom Dancing and many more besides. Included as a special bonus are thirty tasty seasonal recipes to try out, such as Cattern Cake, Plough Tide Dumplings and Mince Pies, to name but a few.
"This fascinating, easy to follow compendium is an ideal reference tool for anyone seeking a greater understanding of Dorset's annual customs and rituals and how to enjoy them. Join in and celebrate any day that takes your fancy! We certainly will!"
Book Two: Corinna's Novel
The second new release from CFZ Press this week is described thus by Jon Downes: "Ethna's Journal is the first novel by my darling wife, Corinna. Ethna's Journal tells the story of a few months in an alternate Dark Ages, seen through the eyes of Ethna, daughter of Lord Edric. She is an unsophisticated girl from the fortress town of Cragnuth, somewhere in the north of England, who reluctantly gets embroiled in a web of treachery, sorcery and bloody war...Well, of course I would have said nice things about it - whatever it was like - because (in case you haven't noticed) I love my wife, and will always support her in her endeavours. However, the book happens to be really good. It is very reminiscent (to me, at least) of Michael Moorcock, round about the time he was writing the Runestaff series, and Ethna - the eponymous heroine of Corinna's book - is considerably more three dimensional a character than Dorien Hawkmoon, and a damn sight more sexy!"
Three New Books from the CFZ: Here's Number One!
CFZ Press is pleased to announce the publication of three new books this week, the first being the CFZ 2008 Yearbook. Here's Jon Downes to explain all: "When I first came up with the idea of the yearbook some thirteen years ago, I always imagined that it would be published either just before or just after Christmas each year, but as the faithful stalwarts who have followed our activities over the years will attest, apart from the first volume (the 1996 YB) which appeared in December 1995, none of the subsequent ones have appeared before April."Until now, that is...Wayhay! Not only is the 2008 Yearbook out on time (it actually appeared on the shelves last week, but the tragic events of recent weeks stopped me doing anything about it), but it is pretty damn good."
The contents are:
INTRODUCTION by Jonathan Downes
A TRIO OF MYSTERY CATS AT LONDON ZOO by Dr Karl P.N.Shuker
THE STRANGE ANIMALS OF SWANSEA BAY by Oll Lewis
PLANET OF THE APE MEN by Nick Redfern
TOWARDS A POSSIBLE CAUDATA IDENTITY FOR THE MONGOLIANDEATH WORM: Introducing the 'plausibility method' for identity theory formation amongst lesser known cryptids by Michael A. Woodley
CATS AROUND THE CAPITAL by Neil Arnold
ZOOLOGICAL CURIOSITIES FROM HARDWICKE’S SCIENCE GOSSIP PART ONE - 1865-7 by Richard Muirhead
ON THE TRACK OF ORANG PENDEK? by Nick Molloy
MADNESS, MONSTERS AND MORAR by Lisa Dowley
SOME NEW ZEALAND CRYPTIDS by Tony Lucas
SINGING MICE by Jonathan Downes
Copies of the CFZ 2008 Yearbook can be purchased here."
Monday, January 7, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
New Play From "Hecate Hill" Writer-Director Bill Fountain
In the latter part of 2006, I attended here in Dallas an intriguing, atmospheric and well-acted theater production on Bigfoot titled Hecate Hill (for details, click here).The play was the brainchild of local man, Bill Fountain, who has a new venture that hits the stage next month.
Here (below) is Bill's publicity flier on the play. If you're in the area, give Bill some support and go along. He's a cool guy with some great stories and interesting ideas.
I should stress that his new project is not cryptozoology-driven, but if you caught Hecate Hill and enjoyed it, then this is sure to be one for you too.
FROM BILL FOUNTAIN:
"IN DEFENSE OF BETTER DAYS."
I just wanted to let you know about my new play "In Defense of Better Days." It's a world premiere and I am extremely proud of it. If you know of any outlets/friends to get the word out about this play, please forward it on! Info below! We would love to have a great audience!!! I attached the logo, just in case. Thanks! I hope you can make it out to see this one.....
Bill.
"In Defense of Better Days" is a new three act play written and directed by Bill Fountain.
WORLD PREMIERE! February 8th, 2008 at ICT Theatre on the Edge! Performance dates: February 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24th, 200. Friday and Saturday Evening Shows start at 8pm and Sunday Matinees at 2pm. In a Black Box Setting at the ICT Studio, 2333 W. Rochelle, Irving , 75062. Reservations Call 972.594.6104. Tickets are eight dollars.
The cast includes: Alice Montgomery Hauge, Ken Long, Zac Ramsey, Tricia Ponsford, Meagan Wade, Dan Johnston, David Johnson, and Devonric Johnson.
About the play: “We found out that an asteroid would hit the Earth in seven years. It took less than six months for all of civilization to fall into total chaos. Now here we are, seven years later and one week until doomsday. Sally and Randal Dandrew have survived in their small country home in the crazy hope that their children would make it back to be reunited with them, one last time. Then the front door opens and the play begins.”
Bill.
"In Defense of Better Days" is a new three act play written and directed by Bill Fountain.
WORLD PREMIERE! February 8th, 2008 at ICT Theatre on the Edge! Performance dates: February 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24th, 200. Friday and Saturday Evening Shows start at 8pm and Sunday Matinees at 2pm. In a Black Box Setting at the ICT Studio, 2333 W. Rochelle, Irving , 75062. Reservations Call 972.594.6104. Tickets are eight dollars.
The cast includes: Alice Montgomery Hauge, Ken Long, Zac Ramsey, Tricia Ponsford, Meagan Wade, Dan Johnston, David Johnson, and Devonric Johnson.
About the play: “We found out that an asteroid would hit the Earth in seven years. It took less than six months for all of civilization to fall into total chaos. Now here we are, seven years later and one week until doomsday. Sally and Randal Dandrew have survived in their small country home in the crazy hope that their children would make it back to be reunited with them, one last time. Then the front door opens and the play begins.”
Blog News
Here's a few items worth checking out in the cryptozoological blog world:
1. Lisa Shiel's latest posts on all-things-strange;
2. Regan Lee has several new, insightful accounts and comments;
3. The Blogsquatcher delves into the Bigfoot controversy from a worldwide perspective.
1. Lisa Shiel's latest posts on all-things-strange;
2. Regan Lee has several new, insightful accounts and comments;
3. The Blogsquatcher delves into the Bigfoot controversy from a worldwide perspective.
Mammoth extinction News
Here's an interesting new story on the Mammoth and how and why it became extinct. But for those of you who want to study the claims that just maybe, in some of the more remote regions, the Mammoth still survives, there's this.
The idea that isolated pockets of the mighty beasts might still wander the frozen wastelands is a great one. And who knows: maybe it's true?
If someone is up for the challenge of organizing an expedition, I'll be there!
The idea that isolated pockets of the mighty beasts might still wander the frozen wastelands is a great one. And who knows: maybe it's true?
If someone is up for the challenge of organizing an expedition, I'll be there!
The Dark Dorset Blog
You may recall that last year I interviewed a friend of mine, Mark North, about his book Dark Dorset (see this link), which contains a wealth of cryptozoological data on such issues as phantom black dogs; big-cats; sea-serpents; hairy wild-men and much more in the English county of Dorset.
Mark has just set up a blog (also called Dark Dorset) to keep people updated on all the latest cryptozoological and Fortean news from his home county, which you can find by clicking right here.
As well as being a skilled researcher, Mark is also the in-house artist for the CFZ and is responsible for most of the covers that adorn the books the CFZ has published, including my Man-Monkey title.
Mark has just set up a blog (also called Dark Dorset) to keep people updated on all the latest cryptozoological and Fortean news from his home county, which you can find by clicking right here.
As well as being a skilled researcher, Mark is also the in-house artist for the CFZ and is responsible for most of the covers that adorn the books the CFZ has published, including my Man-Monkey title.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Cryptids and USOs...
Here's part one of what looks to be a fascinating series on the issue of cryptozoology and USOs. What are USOs? Read on and find out...
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
On-Screen CFZ
Jon Downes and the CFZ-HQ in England provide the latest installment of their monthly video-magazine on what's been afoot in the world of cryptozoology. This one, recorded only hours before the New Year kicked in, looks back on the CFZ's achievements in 2007 and looks ahead to what we can expect in 2008.
As Jon (doing his best Rubeus Hagrid impression) demonstrates, cryptozoology is well and truly thriving in the world of the CFZ: Jon highlights for us the details of a very intriguing big cat event in the UK, a summary of the expedition to Guyana, a review of the Weird Weekend gig, and much more.
As Jon (doing his best Rubeus Hagrid impression) demonstrates, cryptozoology is well and truly thriving in the world of the CFZ: Jon highlights for us the details of a very intriguing big cat event in the UK, a summary of the expedition to Guyana, a review of the Weird Weekend gig, and much more.
Bigfoot: Has It Been Found?
Although this story is somewhat akin to the legendary tales of "alien bodies held in Hangar 18," it's most definitely intriguing...
Crypto Books
Over at Cryptomundo, Loren Coleman gives his personal round-up of the best cryptozoological books of 2007. My books Man-Monkey and Memoirs of a Monster Hunter jointly won the "Best Autobiography or Biography Cryptozoology Book of 2007" category.
As Loren says: "Nick Redfern’s semi-serious treks between investigations and pubs, from one cryptid-filled location to the next, as shared in his two 2007 books take the cake, and win the prize. They may not be your cup of tea, but the chap is a decent guy and writes very well. He has a knack for chronicling how he does his style of cryptozoology. Full congratulations to Redfern for putting his lively living diaries to paper and giving those that like these kinds of personalized books plenty to read beside the campfire or fireplace. Enjoy them."
Loren also highlights several of my own favorite books of last year: Neil Arnold's excellent Monster!; Bart Nunnelly's Mysterious Kentucky; and Ken Gerhard's Big Bird. Here's to 2008!
As Loren says: "Nick Redfern’s semi-serious treks between investigations and pubs, from one cryptid-filled location to the next, as shared in his two 2007 books take the cake, and win the prize. They may not be your cup of tea, but the chap is a decent guy and writes very well. He has a knack for chronicling how he does his style of cryptozoology. Full congratulations to Redfern for putting his lively living diaries to paper and giving those that like these kinds of personalized books plenty to read beside the campfire or fireplace. Enjoy them."
Loren also highlights several of my own favorite books of last year: Neil Arnold's excellent Monster!; Bart Nunnelly's Mysterious Kentucky; and Ken Gerhard's Big Bird. Here's to 2008!