Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
There's Something in..."UFO"
The new issue of UFO Magazine includes an interview with me about my latest book, There's Something in the Woods.
As I say in the interview:
"Previously, my UFO books have been strictly on UFOs; and my crypto-zoology books have been strictly on unknown animals. But the new book is slightly different. Basically, it chronicles my investigations into a whole range of weird phenomena that I dug into over the course of the last two years – both in the United States and in my home-country of England – and some of them were focused on UFO-related phenomena, and others were on strange creatures. And there were more than a few cases that crossed over into both camps.
"I need to qualify that with a statement first. When I first got involved with both the UFO issue and with crypto-zoology, I took pretty much a black-and-white approach: Bigfoot was a giant ape, and UFOs were nuts-and-bolts spacecraft. And, in some cases, that may be so. But, as witnesses, researchers and investigators of both areas will be fully aware, there are those incidents that are far less easy to reconcile in literal terms of this or that. I’m talking about where you seem to find evidence of both UFO and crypto data in one particular incident: a so-called cross-over case, as I like to call them.
"I’ll be the first to admit that many researchers are very against the idea that it’s anything other than all black-and-white. But there’s clear evidence, time and again, that in places where there is one paranormal mystery present, there is often another, too. And very often, this occurs in areas of dense woods and forests – hence the title of the new book, and the fact that it covers various subjects and things that have manifested in the woods of both America and Britain."
"I need to qualify that with a statement first. When I first got involved with both the UFO issue and with crypto-zoology, I took pretty much a black-and-white approach: Bigfoot was a giant ape, and UFOs were nuts-and-bolts spacecraft. And, in some cases, that may be so. But, as witnesses, researchers and investigators of both areas will be fully aware, there are those incidents that are far less easy to reconcile in literal terms of this or that. I’m talking about where you seem to find evidence of both UFO and crypto data in one particular incident: a so-called cross-over case, as I like to call them.
"I’ll be the first to admit that many researchers are very against the idea that it’s anything other than all black-and-white. But there’s clear evidence, time and again, that in places where there is one paranormal mystery present, there is often another, too. And very often, this occurs in areas of dense woods and forests – hence the title of the new book, and the fact that it covers various subjects and things that have manifested in the woods of both America and Britain."
Cemetery Cats
A new story posted at the website of Britain's Chase Post newspaper reveals the details of a hitherto-unknown "Big Cat" encounter at the German War Cemetery in Britain's Cannock Chase woods. As my latest book (There's Something in the Woods) reveals, the cemetery in question (see the photo) has for years been a veritable hotbed of monstrous activity. Indeed, big-cats aside, the book details numerous encounters in the vicinity of the cemetery (and, in some cases, directly within it) with Bigfoot-like creatures; beasts that sound suspiciously like werewolves; and even little, hairy sprites.
There's something very strange indeed about the Cannock Chase in general and the cemetery in particular. And, having spent much of my life living only a stone's throw away from all the action, I can say for certain that if you want to hunt a cryptid, there's quite possibly nowhere better to go - right now, at least - than to the heart of those darkened woods!
Crypto in Paranormal
Neil Arnold has a good feature - on some of the stranger cryptids out there - in the new issue of Britain's Paranormal Magazine. There's also an article from Dr. Karl Shuker on the Orang-Pendek.
Chupa Film?
Check out the latest from The Anomalist:
The Tale of the Chinese Wildman Paranormala. The Yeren is a Bigfoot-type biped believed to inhabit China's southern wilderness regions. Could 2,000 years of Yeren reports all have been mistaken identity? Elsewhere, an Arizona Man Claims to Have Caught the Chupacabra on Video. With video.
Regarding the "Chupacabras on Video" story: having just watched it, I'm not persuaded this is a Chupacabras. To me, it looks more like those hairless whatsits that have been seen, filmed and even shot across Texas in recent years; most of which (all of which, possibly) have been shown to be canine.
Yeah, they look ultra-weird, but are they the same thing that has been running around Puerto Rico for years? Personally, I say "No."
The Tale of the Chinese Wildman Paranormala. The Yeren is a Bigfoot-type biped believed to inhabit China's southern wilderness regions. Could 2,000 years of Yeren reports all have been mistaken identity? Elsewhere, an Arizona Man Claims to Have Caught the Chupacabra on Video. With video.
Regarding the "Chupacabras on Video" story: having just watched it, I'm not persuaded this is a Chupacabras. To me, it looks more like those hairless whatsits that have been seen, filmed and even shot across Texas in recent years; most of which (all of which, possibly) have been shown to be canine.
Yeah, they look ultra-weird, but are they the same thing that has been running around Puerto Rico for years? Personally, I say "No."
Sunday, September 28, 2008
News of the Crypto-Kind
From The Anomalist:
Local Woman Publishes Book About Bigfoot Union Democrat. After fifteen years of research, anthropologist Kathy Strain has published Giants, Cannibals & Monsters - Bigfoot in Native Culture with 150 incidents of Native American lore concerning the huge, hairy hominoid. Does Native American legend lend credence to Bigfoot's existence? Meanwhile, Bigfoot researcher Craig Woolheater of Cryptomundo has come to the rescue as 'Bigfoot' Returns to Kiski Store, and Woolheater will be among those attending as Bigfoot Fans Gather in Pennsylvania.
Local Woman Publishes Book About Bigfoot Union Democrat. After fifteen years of research, anthropologist Kathy Strain has published Giants, Cannibals & Monsters - Bigfoot in Native Culture with 150 incidents of Native American lore concerning the huge, hairy hominoid. Does Native American legend lend credence to Bigfoot's existence? Meanwhile, Bigfoot researcher Craig Woolheater of Cryptomundo has come to the rescue as 'Bigfoot' Returns to Kiski Store, and Woolheater will be among those attending as Bigfoot Fans Gather in Pennsylvania.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monsters of the Skies
As some of you will know, I write a regular, weekly column for Mania.com titled Lair of the Beasts. This week's posting has just gone online and can be found here. The subject matter is mysterious winged-things: Mothman, Owlman, the Thunderbirds, Gargoyles and more. I've also highlighted in the column the work of Ken Gerhard, a good friend of mine and the author of the book Big Bird! Modern Sightings of Flying Monsters. If you're interested in accounts of monsters of the air, definitely check out Ken's book.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Bigfoot in Print
I haven't seen this book yet (Bigfoot Observer's Field Manual by Robert W. Morgan); but as the publication date is now imminent, I figured I'd bring it to your attention. I'll hopefully get to review it in the near future. Stay tuned!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Today in Crypto
The always-reliable Anomalist has its finger on the cryptozoological pulse, as per usual, with these new stories:
What's in the Woods? Altoona Mirror. Meet 38-year-old Scott Snook of Lewistown, PA, a member of the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society (PBS). PBS members also include Sean Forker, a Bigfoot experiencer from Derry Township, PA. Snook and Forker will be among those attending when Bigfoot Enthusiasts Stomp Into Jeanette. Elsewhere, Sasquatch hunter Larry Sommerfield says Sasquatch Footprint Found.
What's in the Woods? Altoona Mirror. Meet 38-year-old Scott Snook of Lewistown, PA, a member of the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society (PBS). PBS members also include Sean Forker, a Bigfoot experiencer from Derry Township, PA. Snook and Forker will be among those attending when Bigfoot Enthusiasts Stomp Into Jeanette. Elsewhere, Sasquatch hunter Larry Sommerfield says Sasquatch Footprint Found.
Lecture Report
Well, I just got back from giving an illustrated lecture at Baylor University, Waco, Texas on the subject of cryptozoology. I dug deep into some of the data in my new book, There's Something in the Woods, including (a) information on the British Bigfoot; (b) stories of unusual creatures seen in the vicinity of crop circles; and (c) the crypto mysteries of Texas's Big Thicket.
I also delved into such matters as Mokele mbembe; werewolves; lake-monsters; accounts of still-living pterosaurs; the Chupacabras; and much more of a monstrous nature.
Normally, I lecture to audiences who are generally already deeply acquainted with the subject matter in hand; however, this was a slight departure, in the sense that those in attendance - approximately 130 in number - were students at the university, many of who had little previous exposure to the world of crypto.
And the result?
I'm pleased to say that it was very positive, with a good variation of questions asked both during the lecture and in the immediate aftermath.
I also detected more than a passing interest in some of the stranger, paranormal-style aspects of cryptozoology, which I thought was intriguing.
I also delved into such matters as Mokele mbembe; werewolves; lake-monsters; accounts of still-living pterosaurs; the Chupacabras; and much more of a monstrous nature.
Normally, I lecture to audiences who are generally already deeply acquainted with the subject matter in hand; however, this was a slight departure, in the sense that those in attendance - approximately 130 in number - were students at the university, many of who had little previous exposure to the world of crypto.
And the result?
I'm pleased to say that it was very positive, with a good variation of questions asked both during the lecture and in the immediate aftermath.
I also detected more than a passing interest in some of the stranger, paranormal-style aspects of cryptozoology, which I thought was intriguing.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Waco Crypto
It's unlikely I'll be posting tomorrow as I'll be driving to Waco to give a lecture at Baylor University on cryptozoology and my book There's Something in the Woods. I'm looking forward to seeing what the response will be from the students.
Doubtless there will be a high degree of controversy and debate - which is always good, however, when it comes to lecturing! On Friday, I'll post my report on how the day went.
Doubtless there will be a high degree of controversy and debate - which is always good, however, when it comes to lecturing! On Friday, I'll post my report on how the day went.
Crypto Anomalies
Here's an interesting collection of new developments over at The Anomalist:
MQ: Short-Faced Bear Spoiler Cryptomundo. Loren Coleman uses a recent article from the East Tennessee State University student newspaper to reveal an upcoming episode of television's "MonsterQuest." With images. Elsewhere, Coleman directs you to a review of a recent "MonsterQuest" episode in MQ: China's Wildman and introduces a new way to seek donations in MacArthur Fellows: Please Contribute to Cryptozoology Museum. Meanwhile, Craig Woolheater directs your attention to a broadcast that originates from a Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy expedition in search of Bigfoot in the Ouachitas, and there's another mysterious feline report form England in Motorist Reports Black Cat Sighting to Police.
MQ: Short-Faced Bear Spoiler Cryptomundo. Loren Coleman uses a recent article from the East Tennessee State University student newspaper to reveal an upcoming episode of television's "MonsterQuest." With images. Elsewhere, Coleman directs you to a review of a recent "MonsterQuest" episode in MQ: China's Wildman and introduces a new way to seek donations in MacArthur Fellows: Please Contribute to Cryptozoology Museum. Meanwhile, Craig Woolheater directs your attention to a broadcast that originates from a Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy expedition in search of Bigfoot in the Ouachitas, and there's another mysterious feline report form England in Motorist Reports Black Cat Sighting to Police.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Kent Weirdness
Check out the official blog for Neil Arnold's forthcoming Mystery Animals of Kent book. As you'll see at the blog, Neil has added a few new posts that describe some of the chapters contained within its pages. This looks to be a great book, on a truly mysterious English county!
An ABC of Monster-Hunting
Well, after a nightmare week and two days in which my wife ended up in the hospital with an inflamed pancreas that left her with a swollen stomach that made her look 9 months pregnant, and that then led to a host of infections that the doctors had to cope with and which put her in quarantine for 4 days, very thankfully in the last 2 days she has made a big recovery, and will be released into the care of Dr. Nick over the next 24 hours or so. Many thanks indeed to everyone who wrote expressing their concerns and wishes for a speedy recovery for Dana; your words were much appreciated by both of us.
And so, you can expect me to start getting back to normal on the blogging now. It would be an immense task to try and dig into all those crypto-related stories that I have not seen over the last 9 days - so I won't! Instead, I'd recommend a good reading of Cryptomundo and The Anomalist for all of that.
But, here's one you might like: my latest posting in my weekly Lair of the Beasts column over at Mania.com: an ABC guide on how to become a monster-hunter!
And so, you can expect me to start getting back to normal on the blogging now. It would be an immense task to try and dig into all those crypto-related stories that I have not seen over the last 9 days - so I won't! Instead, I'd recommend a good reading of Cryptomundo and The Anomalist for all of that.
But, here's one you might like: my latest posting in my weekly Lair of the Beasts column over at Mania.com: an ABC guide on how to become a monster-hunter!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Offline
As you'll have noticed, I've been offline for the past week (due to an illness in my family). I should be back by next weekend.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tessie RIP
Spare a thought for Jon Downes and the UK office of the CFZ, whose pet dog, Tessie, has just passed away. Tessie was a friendly, fun dog who always seemed to enjoy having throngs of people hanging out at CFZ-UK. She will be sadly missed by all, including me.
Anomalist News
From today's Anomalist:
Yeren Program Rescheduled Cryptomundo. The History Channel's "MonsterQuest" presentation of "China's Wildman, the Yeren", originally scheduled for showing this past Sunday night, has been rescheduled for this coming Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Professor Jeff Meldrum of Idaho State University and Adam Davies, author of Extreme Expeditions, appear with Chinese researchers.
Yeren Program Rescheduled Cryptomundo. The History Channel's "MonsterQuest" presentation of "China's Wildman, the Yeren", originally scheduled for showing this past Sunday night, has been rescheduled for this coming Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Professor Jeff Meldrum of Idaho State University and Adam Davies, author of Extreme Expeditions, appear with Chinese researchers.
The British Big Cat
Over at Binnall of America, Richard Thomas delves deep into the controversial world of the British big-cat, or the Alien Big Cat (ABC). As he says in part:
"One of these I've always found interesting, is the idea that some of the exotic animals the Romans may have brought here to use in their amphitheatres could have escaped or even been let go into the wild. If not the Romans, maybe the ABCs originate from the Victorians. They also kept exotic pets and used big cats in their circuses. Another theory that has always intrigued me is the idea that the ABCs might not be 'Alien' at all but instead an unidentified species of big cat native to Britain, perhaps survivors from the prehistoric past. Fossil evidence indicates that the lynx survived in Britain until at least 1,500 years ago, its extinction due to human activity rather than environmental changes. Maybe in more remote areas, like parts of Wales, some managed to survive into modern times."
Here's the link to the rest of Richard's article.
"One of these I've always found interesting, is the idea that some of the exotic animals the Romans may have brought here to use in their amphitheatres could have escaped or even been let go into the wild. If not the Romans, maybe the ABCs originate from the Victorians. They also kept exotic pets and used big cats in their circuses. Another theory that has always intrigued me is the idea that the ABCs might not be 'Alien' at all but instead an unidentified species of big cat native to Britain, perhaps survivors from the prehistoric past. Fossil evidence indicates that the lynx survived in Britain until at least 1,500 years ago, its extinction due to human activity rather than environmental changes. Maybe in more remote areas, like parts of Wales, some managed to survive into modern times."
Here's the link to the rest of Richard's article.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Go, Hamster, Go!
This isn't a crypto story by any means; however, it is a weird and amusing animal-based story all the same!
Profiling the Death Worm
The second installment of my new weekly column at Mania.com - titled Lair of the Beasts - has just been published. This week's edition is on that fantastically-named critter: the Mongolian Death-Worm. Enjoy! Here's the link.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Anomalist on Crypto
The Anomalist has highlighted some excellent crypto-posts today, and here they are:
Seneca Sasquatch Cryptomundo. In a conversation about Bigfoot with an engineer who has worked for DuPont for 17 years, Loren Coleman learns that reports of Bigfoot are still coming in from Seneca, Illinois. But, he says, "What I learned that I haven’t seen in the usual reviews of this is that the actual concentrated area of the sightings is a former TNT manufacturing area for DuPont..." Just like the Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Also, listen to a just-posted interview with Adam Davies, author of Extreme Expeditions, about the latest findings on the Russian Bigfoot in More SUPER MEGA EXTREME Expeditions with Adam Davies!!!
Ness 'Hum' Saga is a Global Issue Highland News. Some people around Loch Ness have reported hearing a strange hum. They insist they are not just Loch Ness hunter hunters losing their marbles. The story also features the work of University of Oklahoma geologist David Demming and a link to his excellent paper on the subject which appeared in the Journal of Scientific Exploration.
Seneca Sasquatch Cryptomundo. In a conversation about Bigfoot with an engineer who has worked for DuPont for 17 years, Loren Coleman learns that reports of Bigfoot are still coming in from Seneca, Illinois. But, he says, "What I learned that I haven’t seen in the usual reviews of this is that the actual concentrated area of the sightings is a former TNT manufacturing area for DuPont..." Just like the Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Also, listen to a just-posted interview with Adam Davies, author of Extreme Expeditions, about the latest findings on the Russian Bigfoot in More SUPER MEGA EXTREME Expeditions with Adam Davies!!!
Ness 'Hum' Saga is a Global Issue Highland News. Some people around Loch Ness have reported hearing a strange hum. They insist they are not just Loch Ness hunter hunters losing their marbles. The story also features the work of University of Oklahoma geologist David Demming and a link to his excellent paper on the subject which appeared in the Journal of Scientific Exploration.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Werewolf Humor 1
Here's my good mate Matthew Williams (crop-circle maker, UFO investigator and general Fortean) morphing into a beast of the full-moon just a few days ago - courtesy of a bit of camera-trickery of course!
Bigfoot in the 1800s
The new issue of Fate magazine includes an article from W. Ritchie Benedict on 19th Century Bigfoot encounters.As he says in the article:
"It is a common fallacy to believe Bigfoot sightings had a beginning and an ending in some presumed hoaxed footprints in California in 1958. The press had a field day a few years ago, when the man suspected of making the prints died. One would have thought that was all there was to it. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my home province of Alberta, for example, sightings go back to at least 1938 in modern times, and to 1811 when explorer David Thompson spotted some prints near present-day Jasper on the Athabaska River."
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Minnesota Iceman
Loren Coleman has posted a very thought-provoking and interesting piece on the notorious Minnesota Iceman.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Werewolves: Everywhere!
Thanks to Loren Coleman for the following:
Werewolves, Scarefest & Monster Mash
Weird things are in the news, new werewolf books are out, and upcoming events are not to be missed. Full moons and Friday the 13th are close at hand. Investigate Further:
http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/ww-scare-mash/
Werewolves, Scarefest & Monster Mash
Weird things are in the news, new werewolf books are out, and upcoming events are not to be missed. Full moons and Friday the 13th are close at hand. Investigate Further:
http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/ww-scare-mash/
British Big Cat News
There's a flurry of British big-cat stories to report on today.First, there's the new book from Merrily Harpur: Roaring Dorset: Encounters with Big Cats, which (as its title suggests) deals with the wealth of big-cat reports coming out of the English county of Dorset. Then, there's this new story (sent to me by British big-cat authority Mark Fraser) of yet more big-cat activity in the direct vicinity of England's Cannock Chase woods. And, finally, we have Neil Arnold commenting on an alleged big-cat photo in Britain.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The British Bigfoot and High-Strangeness
Neil Arnold writes:"The October 2008 issue (28) of Paranormal Magazine features an excellent set of articles pertaining to bizarre creatures which have been mentioned in Monster! The A-Z Of Zooform Phenomena. The best of these is Nick Redfern's superb article on the possibility of a British Bigfoot, and there's also articles by Janet Bord on paranormal manimals, Editor Richard Holland goes in search of phantom black dogs, and also writes about other animal spirits."
Check it out! You'll find much on the Man-Monkey of Ranton; the Wild-Man of Orford; the man-beasts of England's Cannock Chase woods; the hairy creature of Castle Ring; the Bigfoot of Southern England; and much more...
The Lair of the Beasts
I have just started writing a regular, weekly column on cryptozoology for Mania, one of the largest online sources for all the latest news in the fields of sci-fi and horror in relation to TV, movies, books, comic-books etc.
The column is called The Lair of the Beasts and here's the first post, on the subject of werewolves:
http://www.mania.com/lair-beasts-trail-american-werewolves_article_87158.html
If you have anything that you may want me to promote of a crypto-nature, monster-nature, etc, that has a bearing on the genre of horror entertainment too, let me know, and I'll be glad to reference it in the posts.
The column is called The Lair of the Beasts and here's the first post, on the subject of werewolves:
http://www.mania.com/lair-beasts-trail-american-werewolves_article_87158.html
If you have anything that you may want me to promote of a crypto-nature, monster-nature, etc, that has a bearing on the genre of horror entertainment too, let me know, and I'll be glad to reference it in the posts.
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Blogsquatcher & the Wampus Cat
Check out the latest from the Blogsquatcher: an excellent piece on the Wampus Cat. Also, be sure to check out his new radio show, too: Sasquatch Watch Radio. The Blogsquatcher, as you'll see from his blog, has posted some excellent and thought-provoking material on cryptids that definitely deserve everyone's attention.
Water Beasts
Here's a good selection of data from yesterday, courtesy of The Anomalist, on water-based cryptids:
New Clues to Mystery Sea Monster BBC News. Dr. Yvonne Simpson supposedly has a grip on what the strange carcass found washed ashore off Stronsay, Scotland, in 1808 really was. She will reveal her findings at the Orkney International Science Festival that began today. With few tissue samples to work with, Dr. Simpson is said to be working with "several items recovered from the remains." If these items aren't tissue, what are they? There's more at Dr. Simpson's website The Strange Case of the Stronsay Beast and at Orkneyjar - The Stronsay Beast. With photos and ilustrations. Elsewhere, Ghostsamongus examines the worldwide legends of Lake Monsters.
New Clues to Mystery Sea Monster BBC News. Dr. Yvonne Simpson supposedly has a grip on what the strange carcass found washed ashore off Stronsay, Scotland, in 1808 really was. She will reveal her findings at the Orkney International Science Festival that began today. With few tissue samples to work with, Dr. Simpson is said to be working with "several items recovered from the remains." If these items aren't tissue, what are they? There's more at Dr. Simpson's website The Strange Case of the Stronsay Beast and at Orkneyjar - The Stronsay Beast. With photos and ilustrations. Elsewhere, Ghostsamongus examines the worldwide legends of Lake Monsters.
Bart Nunnelly Interviewed
Over at his Zooform blog, author and cryptid-seeker Neil Arnold has just posted an excellent interview with Bart Nunnelly, author of the book Mysterious Kentucky. If you don't have Bart's book, you should. It's a great read, and packed with crypto material.
In the interview with Neil, Bart talks about the Dogman, the paranormal aspects of Bigfoot and other creatures, his own research and his plans for the future.
Here's the link.
In the interview with Neil, Bart talks about the Dogman, the paranormal aspects of Bigfoot and other creatures, his own research and his plans for the future.
Here's the link.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
A British Bigfoot Encounter?
Once again, Britain's Cannock Chase woods are a veritable hotbed of weirdness. Yep, after a bit of a lull, here's a newly reported sighting (although the event is said to have occurred last year) of an alleged Bigfoot-like creature in the area.
I've said it before and I will say it again: if these reports aren't hoaxes (and I'm convinced most of them aren't), then the Cannock Chase Bigfoot has to have paranormal origins.
Indeed, having grown up only a couple of miles from the woods, I know the exact area that the witness is talking about very well.
And, there is no way that a 7-to-8-foot tall man-beast can exist on the Cannock Chase (yes, it's of an impressive size and very dense in places, but it's not that big and it's surrounded by towns and villages), avoid detection and also leave behind no evidence of its "den" (or wherever it lives) or its eating habits - which would have to be huge, given the sheer size of the creatures reportedly seen in the woods of the Chase.
Literal ape-men? No. Some sort of phantom of the night? Yes.
I've said it before and I will say it again: if these reports aren't hoaxes (and I'm convinced most of them aren't), then the Cannock Chase Bigfoot has to have paranormal origins.
Indeed, having grown up only a couple of miles from the woods, I know the exact area that the witness is talking about very well.
And, there is no way that a 7-to-8-foot tall man-beast can exist on the Cannock Chase (yes, it's of an impressive size and very dense in places, but it's not that big and it's surrounded by towns and villages), avoid detection and also leave behind no evidence of its "den" (or wherever it lives) or its eating habits - which would have to be huge, given the sheer size of the creatures reportedly seen in the woods of the Chase.
Literal ape-men? No. Some sort of phantom of the night? Yes.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Neil Arnold - Things
Neil Arnold - whose forthcoming new book, Mystery Animals of Kent, I referenced in the post below - alerted me today to a couple of things he's posted over at his "Zooform" blog: one being a review of Bart Nunnelly's excellent Hunt the Dogman DVD; and the other being a review of Mike Hallowell's Mystery Animals of Northumberland and Tyneside.
Both Neil's and Mike's books are part of a series from CFZ Press that, ultimately, will see the mystery animals of every British county covered in full-length book-format.
Both Neil's and Mike's books are part of a series from CFZ Press that, ultimately, will see the mystery animals of every British county covered in full-length book-format.
A Crypto Round-Up
If, like me, you spent the holiday weekend having a good time and forgetting about Bigfoot and Nessie for a few days, then there's quite a bit to report on that we both missed! So, here's a round-up of what's been going on:
Story 1: For me, the most important - and very welcome - news is the forthcoming release of Neil Arnold's new book, Mystery Animals of Kent, about which the accompanying publicity blurb says:
"...The only book on Kent worth reading.....real investigations into real events. The counties first ever book to explore Neil's research into strange creatures. Bizarre encounters with trigger-happy hunters. Grisly photographs. Satanic threats in the witching hour. The facts on British 'big cats' and hundreds of sightings dating back centuries. Eye-witness testimony. Blue Bell Hill - Britain's weirdest place ? Urban monster legends. Historical reports of dragons, man-beasts and phantom hounds. From monster fish to the phantom cat-ripper...The only book for Halloween. The only book for a black Christmas...this is what it's like being out in the field.Forget the 'Blair Witch Project'...this is Kent."
Neil has set up a blog to promote the book, which can be found here. I'll keep you posted concerning the publication date of Neil's book.
Story 2: And equally good news: publisher Tim Beckley has just released a 4-book set of Charles Fort's classic titles: Wild Talents; Book of the Damned; New Lands; and Lo!
Here's what Tim has to say about the books:
"I first purchased a copy of one of Charles Fort's books when I was about 13 years old. It was perhaps my first inkling that there were others who were interested in probing that which remains just on the other side of the unknown. I'm very proud to be able to present Fort's works in a large print, large format edition, as I believe this will open up his works to a whole new audience."
And as Tim also notes: "Charles Fort was a collector of strange tales which he gleamed from dusty newspapers and out of print scientific journals. He spent over 20 years in public libraries in the UK and later in America where he combed the shelves of the NY Public Library in search of the strange and unknown. This resulted in 4 works of approximately 1,000 pages pertaining to the most unusual subjects you are likely to read about anywhere in any era. . .and the stories are well researched and documented.
"Fort's works have long been sought after and were finally made available long after his death. We are proud to be able to present the following four volumes in never before presented large print editions. The books in this set are: 1. WILD TALENTS -- 2. BOOK OF THE DAMNED -- 3. NEW LANDS. 4. LO!
"In a breezy easy to read style Fort presents hundreds of episodic tales from the borderland of human understanding such as. . . Strange Disappearances. . . The Man Who Couldn't Drown. . . Mysterious Cattle Rippers. . . Blonde Beast of Patagonia. . . Human Vampires. . . Lake and River Creatures. . . Bizarre Slayer of Sheep. . . Spontaneous Human Combustion. . . Mirages of Cities and Towns. . . Phantom Figures. . .THe Original Cat Burgler. . . Original UFOs and Airships. . . Submarine Objects. . . Possible UFOnauts. . . Fossils in Meteorites. . . AND MUCH MORE."
Here's the link to purchase the new editions. I strongly recommend them if you haven't got them already. As Tim correctly notes, all of Fort's books contain cryptozoological gems - and some little-known ones too.
Story 3: Here's today news from The Anomalist (and I recommend you check out the pages from the last few days as there are loads of crypto stories posted there):
A Big Find: Huge Fossilized Footprint Found Herald-Citizen. Cookeville, TN, resident Harold Jackson and a friend, while strolling along property Jackson owns on the banks of Great Falls Lake near the Caney Fork River, discovered a rock with a large left footprint impressed into it. A subsequent trip to the same location uncovered what appears to be the right footprint of the same creature. Has Jackson discovered evidence of a prehistoric Bigfoot? With photo. Meanwhile, a list of cryptids has been released with few surprises, but there are some lesser-known creatures mentioned in Top 10 Most Wanted Monsters Cryptozoologists Want to Nab, and conspicuously missing, perhaps, from that list are Two Brazilian Bird People & An English One.
Story 1: For me, the most important - and very welcome - news is the forthcoming release of Neil Arnold's new book, Mystery Animals of Kent, about which the accompanying publicity blurb says:
"...The only book on Kent worth reading.....real investigations into real events. The counties first ever book to explore Neil's research into strange creatures. Bizarre encounters with trigger-happy hunters. Grisly photographs. Satanic threats in the witching hour. The facts on British 'big cats' and hundreds of sightings dating back centuries. Eye-witness testimony. Blue Bell Hill - Britain's weirdest place ? Urban monster legends. Historical reports of dragons, man-beasts and phantom hounds. From monster fish to the phantom cat-ripper...The only book for Halloween. The only book for a black Christmas...this is what it's like being out in the field.Forget the 'Blair Witch Project'...this is Kent."
Neil has set up a blog to promote the book, which can be found here. I'll keep you posted concerning the publication date of Neil's book.
Story 2: And equally good news: publisher Tim Beckley has just released a 4-book set of Charles Fort's classic titles: Wild Talents; Book of the Damned; New Lands; and Lo!
Here's what Tim has to say about the books:
"I first purchased a copy of one of Charles Fort's books when I was about 13 years old. It was perhaps my first inkling that there were others who were interested in probing that which remains just on the other side of the unknown. I'm very proud to be able to present Fort's works in a large print, large format edition, as I believe this will open up his works to a whole new audience."
And as Tim also notes: "Charles Fort was a collector of strange tales which he gleamed from dusty newspapers and out of print scientific journals. He spent over 20 years in public libraries in the UK and later in America where he combed the shelves of the NY Public Library in search of the strange and unknown. This resulted in 4 works of approximately 1,000 pages pertaining to the most unusual subjects you are likely to read about anywhere in any era. . .and the stories are well researched and documented.
"Fort's works have long been sought after and were finally made available long after his death. We are proud to be able to present the following four volumes in never before presented large print editions. The books in this set are: 1. WILD TALENTS -- 2. BOOK OF THE DAMNED -- 3. NEW LANDS. 4. LO!
"In a breezy easy to read style Fort presents hundreds of episodic tales from the borderland of human understanding such as. . . Strange Disappearances. . . The Man Who Couldn't Drown. . . Mysterious Cattle Rippers. . . Blonde Beast of Patagonia. . . Human Vampires. . . Lake and River Creatures. . . Bizarre Slayer of Sheep. . . Spontaneous Human Combustion. . . Mirages of Cities and Towns. . . Phantom Figures. . .THe Original Cat Burgler. . . Original UFOs and Airships. . . Submarine Objects. . . Possible UFOnauts. . . Fossils in Meteorites. . . AND MUCH MORE."
Here's the link to purchase the new editions. I strongly recommend them if you haven't got them already. As Tim correctly notes, all of Fort's books contain cryptozoological gems - and some little-known ones too.
Story 3: Here's today news from The Anomalist (and I recommend you check out the pages from the last few days as there are loads of crypto stories posted there):
A Big Find: Huge Fossilized Footprint Found Herald-Citizen. Cookeville, TN, resident Harold Jackson and a friend, while strolling along property Jackson owns on the banks of Great Falls Lake near the Caney Fork River, discovered a rock with a large left footprint impressed into it. A subsequent trip to the same location uncovered what appears to be the right footprint of the same creature. Has Jackson discovered evidence of a prehistoric Bigfoot? With photo. Meanwhile, a list of cryptids has been released with few surprises, but there are some lesser-known creatures mentioned in Top 10 Most Wanted Monsters Cryptozoologists Want to Nab, and conspicuously missing, perhaps, from that list are Two Brazilian Bird People & An English One.