A Radical Decision

I have come to what some might consider a radical decision! As you may know, I have so many blogs right now that it's sometimes hard to keep track of what's going on and where. So, I am bringing all my current blogs to a halt. I'm not deleting them. But, I am folding them as of today. In their place, I have set up a new blog titled Nick Redfern's Fortean World. Yeah, I know: it's hardly the most original or imaginative title, but it is accurate and to the point! So, from now on, while all my existing blogs will remain archived, here's the address for the new blog, Nick Redfern's Fortean World. As you'll see, the design and style has not been completed yet, and there's no content yet either. But, bear with me, and over the next few days you'll see it start to develop its life and character!

The Beast of Boggy Creek: Reviewed

Over at Cryptomundo, you can find a new review from me of Lyle Blackburn's excellent book, The Beast of Boggy Creek. This is truly a great read that I definitely recommend to one and all!

Weird Places and Monsters

In September, New Page Books will publish my book, The World's Weirdest Places, which will include a significant body of cryptozoological data and which is described as follows in the blurb accompanying the book:

"Just in time for that most mysterious and macabre of all nights--Halloween, of course--Nick Redfern unleashes The World's Weirdest Places, his latest darkly entertaining supernatural title.

"In its mysterious pages, you will find Redfern's personal top 25 paranormal-themed locales, and the strange, amazing, and diabolical things that lurk within them.

"From the legendary Loch Ness, Scotland, to the slopes of Mount Shasta, California; from the dark depths of the Solomon Islands to the heart of the Kremlin; and from the magical landscape of Sedona, Arizona, to the turbulent waters of the Devil's Sea of Japan, The World's Weirdest Places reveals the sheer astonishing scale of strangeness that dominates our planet.


"Bigfoot, aliens, ghosts, vampires, UFOs, lake monsters, strange energies, enigmatic vortexes, werewolves, and terrifying demons are just some of the bizarre things that populate these parts of our planet, which provoke as much fascination and intrigue as they do fear and horror."

The Blue Dogs of Texas

Over at Cryptomundo, I have a new post on Jon Downes' quest to unravel the truth about the "Blue Dogs" of Texas. And more good news: Jon is working on a full-length book on this very subject! I'll keep you posted when more info becomes available on the publication date of Jon's book.

The Definition Of A Cryptid

What, you may ask, defines a Cryptid? The answer, perhaps, is not as straightforward as many might assume...

Bigfoot in Oklahoma

Or...what I did at the weekend!

Does the Thylacine Still Live?

Well, in answer to that question posed in the title of this post, just maybe, and against all the odds, yes it does!

The Hexham Heads are Coming Back...

Werewolves and carved, stone heads are set to make a return in print...

The Denton Goatman

Just a few days ago, I was interviewed on a radio show here in Texas on the subject of the legendary Goatman of the Lone Star State. When the host asked me for my thoughts on the affair, I replied: “Which one?”

This momentarily flummoxed him, since he wanted to speak about what is undeniably the most famous Goatman of Texas: that of Lake Worth, which burst onto the scene in the summer of 1969.

But, being Texas’ most well-known Goatman, doesn’t mean it’s the only one, I told the host. It actually isn’t.

Read on...

Shadows in the Sky - Buy, Buy, Buy!

Creature-seeker and author Neil Arnold has an excellent new book out right now that you really need to get hold of, since it contains a significant body of Cryptozoological data - as well as mountains of material on other Fortean puzzles.

Its title is Shadows in the Sky: The Haunted Airways of Britain, and here's the official press-release on the book:


SHADOWS IN THE SKY: THE HAUNTED AIRWAYS OF BRITAIN

(Published by The History Press)

Press Release

For centuries mankind has reported unusual phenomena in the skies of Britain. From reports of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), strange winged creatures, and aerial ghosts. Now, for the first time ever, monster-hunter and author Neil Arnold has collated a vast amount of bizarre tales pertaining to those not only dark and stormy skies, but clear blue heavens which for many years have spat out all manner of anomalies.

With so many books being written about UFOs, Neil has decided to concentrate on the more unusual reports of unexplained aerial lights, such as aircraft encounters with peculiar objects, phantom flares, ghost lights, will-o-the-wisp’s and fairy lights.

The book also features a chapter on spectral aircraft – mainly war-planes which continue to be seen on foggy moors long after they’ve been shot down. There is also coverage of ghostly airmen, phantasmal helicopters and ghost rockets, and not forgetting haunted airports and airfield’s.

However, if you thought these chapters were weird (or not weird enough!) then wait until you read about the winged monsters said to have plagued British skies for many centuries. Fantastic tales of dragons, said to have appeared all over the UK, from the cattle-plucking beasts of Welsh lore to London’s flying serpents. Winged, red-eyed humanoids also sneak into the pages, coverage given to classic aerial anomalies such as the Owlman of Cornwall, the Hythe monster, and the lesser known Hertfordshire ‘Mothman’ and the like. Griffins, giant birds, leather-winged batmen, flying jellyfish and sky-bound horses and dogs, occupy a surreal Ark also inhabited by spectral birds and feathery omens of death….and don’t forget a few tales of harmonious angels

When you’ve escaped the ethereal menagerie, you’ll be scratching your head at tales of all manner of bizarre items and objects that have fallen from the sky. Whilst pennies, fish and frogs may be known to many Fortean’s, obscure cases in relation to falls of snails, slime, metal, wheat, clothes, blood and even excrement may be more unknown! And let’s not forget a chapter on those pesky phantom airships, aerial roads and buildings, flying boats, and yep, you’ve guessed it, even a flying pig!

This is a book for monster hunters, UFO spotters, ghost investigators, and the insane.

With a foreword by author Nick Redfern, SHADOWS IN THE SKY: THE HAUNTED AIRWAYS OF BRITAIN is one book that’ll have you reaching for your umbrella. Those who dare pull their eyes away from the skies, can purchase the book from Amazon, and all good bookshops.

Neil Arnold is the author of several books, such as MONSTER! THE A-Z OF ZOOFORM PHENOMENA, MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: LONDON, and MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: KENT. He is a full-time lecturer on mystery animals.

ISBN – 9780752465630.

For enquiries contact The History Press on 01453 883300.

The Cross Timbers Creature Conference

If you're in the area, I'll be speaking about "British Bigfoot" reports at the Cross Timbers Creature Conference in Oklahoma on April 14. Maybe I'll see you there! If you do want to attend, you can find more information right here.

The Creature of Bala Lake

My latest Lair of the Beasts post - on the creature of Lake Bala, Wales...

My Weird World...

Nessie, Mothman, the Chupacabra and more...

Catching Up

Well, after lecturing outside of Houston and then spending a week in San Antonio with good friend Ken Gerhard (who I co-authored Monsters of Texas with), it's finally time to catch up with a bit of blogging!

Here's a few new posts from me of a Crypto nature:

1. The latest news on Lyle Blackburn's excellent new book, The Beast of Boggy Creek;

2. A strange tale of the legendary Thunderbird...;

3. A ghostly black dog of the Lone Star State...

4. And, finally...An island of Vampires...

The Disappearing Bigfoot

Over at his Gralien Report site, Micah Hanks has an excellent new post on the one angle - more than any other - that many Cryptozoologists don't want to have to deal with when it comes to Bigfoot - the "high-strangeness" cases, such as those where the giant hairy thing seemingly vanishes in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately, Micah does deal with them, and offers an intriguing theory to explain such events...

The Beast of Boggy Creek - Published!

Now, you know you HAVE to buy this book! Yep, Lyle Blackburn's The Beast of Boggy Creek is now among us, and an excellent, atmospheric read it is, too!

I'll be reviewing it shortly, but, in the meantime, here's what the publisher - Anomalist Books - has to say about Lyle's book:

For more than a century, reports of a strange beast known as the Fouke Monster have circulated among the locals in southern Arkansas. Described as a large, hairy man-like creature, it’s said to haunt the vast Sulphur River Bottoms as it travels the secluded waterway known as Boggy Creek.

Over the years, the creature has been seen by numerous witnesses including respected citizens, experienced hunters, famous musicians, and even a police officer. The encounters were often so shocking, they served as inspiration for the classic horror film, The Legend of Boggy Creek, by Charles B. Pierce.

Tales of the creature have long existed in scattered pieces across news clippings, memoirs, police reports, and movies, but it is only now that the complete history of the Fouke Monster has been assembled in one place. This book collects all the facts, theories, and amazing sighting reports, and weaves them into a fascinating tale about this undeniable southern mystery, one that lives on, as frightening encounters with the Beast of Boggy Creek are still being reported today!

About the Author:

Growing up in Texas, LYLE BLACKBURN became fascinated with the legends, lore, and sighting reports of alleged real-life monsters. He is a frequent contributor and cryptozoology advisor to Rue Morgue magazine, one of the leading horror media publications in print today. He is also the founder and frontman for the rock band Ghoultown. Over the last decade, Ghoultown has released six albums, toured extensively in both the U.S. and Europe, and has appeared on several horror movie soundtracks. Lyle currently lives near Dallas, Texas, where he enjoys a day off now and then.

(Note from Nick: The accompanying photo of Lyle was taken by me last September at the Oklahoma-based Cryptid Fest.)

The Morar Monster

An excellent new post on the monster of Loch Morar, Scotland...

Ghost Finder London

As many of you will know, Richard Holland used to be editor of Britain's Paranormal Magazine before it very unfortunately closed down last year. And it was also a publication that covered Cryptozoology to a very significant degree.

Well, Richard is now back with a new venture, and here he is to tell you all about it!

Over to Richard...


There’s an app(arition) for that!

Ghost Finder London iPhone app plots hundreds of haunted sites on detailed maps of the capital, with information researched and written by journalist and ghost expert Richard Holland.

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ghost-finder-london/id493251459?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Ghost Finder London is the new application for iPhone that allows users to locate and read about more than 300 haunted locations throughout Central and Greater London. Each site has been meticulously plotted on Google maps, tied in with the individual phone’s GPS. The database has been researched and written by Richard Holland, former editor of Paranormal Magazine, author of five books about ghosts and editor of www.uncannyuk.com, a website devoted to ghosts and folklore in Britain.

The database has been arranged alphabetically by district but can also be searched for key words and location name. The user can also access the information on each site one at a time by pressing the location-finding ‘pins’ on the map. By pressing the compass symbol, they can find the nearest spooky site to their own position. The detailed maps can then be used to hone in on the precise co-ordinates or expanded to show the number of haunted locations in the chosen area.

This is the most comprehensive gazetteer of haunted sites in London available digitally or in print. You’d have to buy a good many books to gather the same information. Ghost Finder London is available for download at just £1.99, less than the price of a pint in a haunted pub.

Many of London’s major attractions are haunted but so too are hundreds of less well-known locations, including pubs, parks, theatres, churches, roads and railway stations, to say nothing of the many obscure houses in quiet back streets. All have been precisely mapped on Ghost Finder London, making it a frighteningly good resource for Londoners and tourists alike.

Operation is intuitive and easily navigated. The application has been developed by iflowstudios. Ghost Finder London is also enhanced by the fun graphics provided by one of the UK’s most sought-after illustrators, Jonathan Edwards (www.jonathan-e.com).

The app is available at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ghost-finder-london/id493251459?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

For more information please contact:
Richard Holland
editor@uncannyuk.com

The BBC & "Bownessie"

"Bownessie" catches the eyes and ears of the BBC (with footage and interviews)...

A Couple Of New Posts...

There's a couple of new posts from me that may be of interest. The first is on the Green Children of Woolpit, and the second is on the possibility that Britain's Man-Monkey of the Shropshire Union Canal maybe a Tulpa.

Yep, two totally different topics, but in their own ways, both being relevant to the weirder sides of Cryptozoology!

The Wild Side of Kent

Good mate Neil Arnold provides us with an excellent article on the many and varied animals of an unusual nature that can be found in his home-county of Kent, England. Truly a place of all-things wild!

Bigfoot & Littlefoot

Sometimes, Bigfoot isn't quite as big as we think it is...

Owlman & Max Ernst

If you have read Jon Downes' book, The Owlman and Others, you'll know that one of the characters who turns up in its pages is a certain Max Ernst.

If you haven't read Jon's book, and you don't know who Ernst was, then you're in for a treat if you decide to dig further.

But, in the meantime, there's an excellent post on Ernst at Christopher Knowles' Secret Sun blog - which, in my view, is one of the very best Fortean-themed blogs around (although, it covers, far, far more than just Forteana...).

Here's the link to Chris's post.

Profiling the Goat-Man

Every couple of months I do a post for the New Page Books blog on a specific creature of Cryptozoology. This month, it's Texas's infamous Goat-Man - a very weird beast indeed!

Green, Unpleasant Land

Green, Unpleasant Land is the brand new book from my good mate and Center for Fortean Zoology zoological director, Richard Freeman.

Rich, as I'm sure you know, has penned a number of excellent non-fiction books, including the acclaimed Dragons: More Than A Myth?

But, now, with his new book, he turns his attention to horror-themed fiction.

And, here's Rich to tell you all about his latest publication, one I most definitely recommend:

"This book represents my own kicking back at the poor excuse for horror we have had to endure for so long. But my second reason for writing it was to showcase some odd and overlooked pieces of British folklore. Too often horror is stuck in the rut of using the same subjects and monsters, when in folklore there is a wealth of concepts and creatures that are rarely tapped into. My favourite era of Dr Who was that of the third doctor, played by Jon Pertwee, and I think that one of the reasons I liked it so much was that for much of Pertwee's tenure in the title role, The Doctor was confined to earth, mostly Britain. So that is what I have done here: these eighteen stories are all set in Britain, either in the present day, or within living memory. Herein you will find dragons and hellhounds, goblins and killer rodents, unicorns and basilisks. There is a vampire story, but the creature in it bears scant resemblance to the popular, and totally wrong, public perception of them. I hope this book will open your eyes to the potential of horror. It is more than just teenaged vampires hanging around schools."

The Beast of Boggy Creek

Probably the most important cryptozoological book of this year: Lyle Blackburn's forthcoming The Beast of Boggy Creek, which will be published very soon by the good folks at Anomalist Books:

Jeanett Thomas Missing

You may have seen the very worrying story about Jeanett Thomas - wife of Danish cryptozoologist Lars Thomas - who has gone missing. Everyone is deeply concerned, and if anyone has heard anything, please get in touch with Lars. You can find out more at this link, at the Center for Fortean Zoology's On the Track blog.

Naming Bigfoot

Kithra has a new article that I definitely recommend you check out - it focuses on the many and varied names, titles etc that have been applied to such hairy man-beasts as Bigfoot.

As you'll see, the list is long and varied - and collecting the data was surely not the simple task that many might have otherwise assumed!

Nessie: The MacNab Photo

Over at the Loch Ness Mystery blog, you can find an excellent new study of the famous Peter MacNab photo. A picture that has for many years provoked a great deal of controversy within Nessie circles, it's given excellent treatment in this new article, which is well worth reading.

The Origins of a Monster Hunter

Well, finally feeling much better again! So, it's time to try and catch up on a few things.

As some of you will know, I write a regular, weekly column at Mania.com titled Lair of the Beasts.

For the newly-posted one (which you can find here), I thought I would do something a bit different. Whereas most of my posts are on the latest cryptozoological news or book reviews, I figured that once a month or so I would do a post that reveals how a particular cryptozoologist got into the subject.

And, I figured, why not make the first post on my good mate, Richard Freeman of the Center for Fortean Zoology.

As you'll see from the link above, Rich's origins as they relate to Cryptozoology are notable and intriguing!

Under the Weather...

Been under the weather all week, hence no posts. But hopefully back to normal next week - had a dose of a severe chest infection bordering on pneumonia unfortunately.

Bigfoot Gets Bizarre!

I've read some weird stories of a Bigfoot nature in my time, but this one is really out there!!!

In fact, trying to summarize it for you is an impossible task! So, with that said, I recommend you check it out and make up your own mind...

From Man To Beast

My latest Lair of the Beasts column at Mania.com focuses on werewolves. But not of the classic "man mutates into beast" angle, but of the type borne out of the complexities - and sometimes the deeply disturbing complexities - of the human mind. Here's the link to the article!

Monsters of Virginia

I haven't seen this new book yet, but it looks to be a good one: Monsters of Virginia: Mysterious Creatures in the Old Dominion by L.B. Taylor, Jr.

And, as the publisher notes, it contains sections on Bigfoot; the Wampus Cat; Chessie, the sea serpent; the Snallygaster; and other strange phenomena, including vampires, werewolves, thunderbirds, goatmen, and out-of-place animals.

Well worth getting, methinks!

British Big Cats: A Photo And A Story

Neil Arnold shares an intriguing story - and accompanying photo - of a large, exotic-looking cat in his home county of Kent, England. Here's the link!

Strange Creatures & UFOs: Pennsylvania

This just in from Silent Invasion author, Stan Gordon:

















Strange Creatures & UFOs Descend on Pennsylvania During 2011
(Mysterious Events reported from 48 Counties in the Commonwealth)

From Stan Gordon: www.stangordon.info

The year 2011 was another active time period for Pennsylvania residents to report strange observations and encounters with UFOs, Bigfoot and other strange creatures, and various other mysterious events. I have been keeping records of such anomalistic events from Pennsylvania, since 1959 when I was ten years old. In 1969, I set up a UFO Hotline through which the public could contact me to report UFO sightings or anything unusual. I have been receiving such reports ever since that time, and continue to do so by phone (724-838-7768) or by e-mail: paufo@comcast.net .

The sighting reports which come to my attention yearly are either reported directly to me or are reported to other sources such as Peter Davenport’s “National UFO Reporting Center”, www.nuforc.org, the Pennsylvania Chapter of (MUFON) the Mutual UFO Network, www.mufonpa.com, The (PBS) Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society, www.pabigfootsociety.com, or other independent groups and researchers, many with whom I maintain contact. During 2011, unusual incidents originated from 48 counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

UFO sightings were responsible for the highest percentage of strange observations reported. Some rather strange creature encounters also came across my desk. Bigfoot encounters continue to be reported yearly from various locations in the state. An encounter with a large winged humanoid creature, giant bird sightings, mountain lions, and other creature incidents also reportedly occurred. Among other phenomena reported were strange footprints seen in various locations, unusual sounds, and odd photographic images.

Some of the UFO sightings that I looked into from 2011, were misidentifications of natural or man-made objects. The bright Planets Venus and Jupiter were commonly misidentified. Bright meteors, a blimp, and what appeared to be launches of homemade hot air balloons or Chinese lanterns led to some UFO reports. On the evening of June 21st, in the Pittsburgh area, a defective national weather service balloon following the wind patterns created some UFO reports.

There were numerous reports from various statewide locations of formations of bright orange or orange-red lights during the year. There is no doubt that some of these were launches of some type of hot air balloons. However some of the reports are more interesting. On the evening of September 24th, 2011, there were a number of UFO sightings reported around the Pittsburgh area. One sighting in Baldwin Borough, Allegheny County, involved five luminous objects moving in a fixed position. The witnesses were interviewed by fellow researcher Keith Bastianini. One witness describing the actions of some of the objects commented, “They broke the formation and began maneuvering about under the others. A couple of times it almost seemed as if they would merge together and then separate.” For a more detailed account, see: http://www.stangordon.info/sightings.htm.

Unidentified Flying Objects sightings of different shapes and sizes occurred all year long. Spherical, cigar, triangular, rectangular, and disc shaped objects were all reported. In August, a daylight observation of a large shiny metallic cigar shaped object hovering low above the ground was reported in Butler County. In September, near Charleroi, in Washington County, a cigar shaped object was reported with what appeared to be a row of brightly illuminated rectangular windows. In October, there was another report from Somerset County describing a glowing orange cylindrical shaped object in a vertical position only about 80 feet above the ground. Other similar sightings were reported elsewhere in the state.

The last UFO incident which I received for the year was reported near Latrobe in Westmoreland County. The witness was on Route 30 east in the vicinity of the Walmart Plaza when she noticed a number of vehicles stopped, and several people looking towards the sky. What was observed was a large object, which appeared to be more round than oblong, and was spinning. Numerous lights could be seen on the lower part of the object.

Eric Altman of the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society provided details about reported Bigfoot activity in 2011. His group was looking into reports from Adams, Beaver, Cambria, Elk, Fayette, and Forest Counties. I received information on possible Bigfoot related activity in Armstrong and Westmoreland County as well. In November, a truck driver near Jonestown rounded a bend, and observed a creature described as 6 feet tall, about 200 pounds in weight, and covered with light brown hair, except for the face which was white. In October, three men small game hunting in the Allegheny National State Forest, encountered a 7-8 feet tall creature covered in dark brown hair. The beast was said to have been throwing rocks at them and growling.

Fayette County continues to be an active area for reported encounters with these large, hair covered generally man-like creatures. There were several reports during 2011, including a series of incidents that occurred from August through September. That event began with reports that an overnight security team was hearing unusual sounds almost nightly in the forested areas around the construction site they were guarding. The team claimed they would hear loud high pitched screams, howls, whoops, wood knocks and even deep guttural growls.

On September 8th, the supervisor of the security unit contacted the PA Bigfoot Society to report that around 3:30 in the morning, he saw a creature staring at him from around the back of a power supply board on the edge of the property approximately 75 yards away. He watched the creature for several moments until it turned and walked away on two legs into the darkness. The PBS responded with an investigation and a series of unexplained sounds were heard and recorded. Some of these sounds can be heard under the sound tabs at the PBS website: www.pabigfootsociety.com.

A strange creature encounter was said to have taken place in Butler County during the early hours of March 18th, between Chicora and East Brady. A motorist caught in his headlights a tall muscular creature that suddenly stood up. The humanoid looking creature which was at least eight feet tall appeared to have smooth leather-like skin over its body. The creature was only observed from the side as it never looked at the car. The creature had arms that appeared a little longer than a human, and a hand that looked more like a claw, but the number of fingers could not be determined. The legs appeared to be very muscular. One physical trait noted was what appeared to be wings on its back that were tucked into its body, with the wing tips extending toward the side of its head. The creature was only observed for 7-8 seconds as it crossed the two lane road in three long steps. There were other reports of possible thunderbird sightings, where giant birds with huge wingspans were reported.

Another odd animal sighting was reported in June from Allegheny County. A witness who was familiar with the local wildlife observed from her back porch an odd four legged creature which she could not identify. The animal, which was estimated to weigh about 35 pounds and was about 2 ½ feet long, was seen as it cantered down a road. The creature was very thin, and did not look like a dog, and did not move like a coyote or fox. The creature was very thin but didn’t appear to be starving or emaciated. The animal looked either hairless, or had very short hair about 1/8 inches long. The entire body was of a pale tan cream beige color. The observer was able to see a pointy snout and pointy ears as well, and it had a cat-like face. The tail, which was about as long as the body (2½ feet), was hairless and skinny. The last 6 inches of the tail curved slightly upwards.

To report a UFO, Bigfoot or other strange creature sighting, or any unusual incident from Pennsylvania, contact Stan Gordon at 724-838-7768 (24 hours) or via paufo@comcast.net. Visit Stan Gordon’s “UFO Anomalies Zone” website www.stangordon.info for recent reports of unusual incidents from Pennsylvania as well as other events.

On The Track - A New Episode

The new edition of the Center for Fortean Zoology's monthly On The Track is now online, and you can find it right here below!

Big Cats at Kent Online

This is very good news: Neil Arnold (author of Monster!; The Mystery Animals of the British Isles: London; and many more titles) has been asked to do a regular blog for England's Kent Online on the "big cats in Britain" controversy.

You can find his first post right here.

And, as one of Britain's leading authorities on the subject, no doubt Neil will have plenty to say on the matter as time goes on!

Mothman's 10th

Over at Cryptomundo, Loren Coleman notes that 10 years have passed since the movie of The Mothman Prophecies hit the big-screen. What has happened in that decade since John Keel's classic book got the Hollywood treatment? Read on!

Neil Reviews...

Neil Arnold reviews a new movie on one of the most famous of all Cryptozoological sagas. And...he hates it! So, what's the movie, and what's the story? Read on...

Nessie: The Underwater Sightings

There are many reports of people seeing the Loch Ness Monster, very often with a noticeable neck and hump breaking the surface of the ancient loch.

There are even a number of intriguing reports of people seeing the creature on land.

But, what about those few reports where people have been in a position to see it under the water?

Granted, there aren't many such reports on file, but as this excellent new article on the subject demonstrates, they certainly do exist!

Something in the Sewers...

NEIL ARNOLD WRITES: For those of you interested in strange tales of UFOs, monsters, and other weird esoteric phenomena may I draw your attention to the release of 'Darklore' volume 6, edited by Greg Taylor. Over the years Greg has done a fantastic job of compiling extraordinary articles into book form.

Since its inception Greg has featured the work of people such as Nick Redfern, Nigel Watson, Jon Downes, Richard Freeman and Regan Lee. I've been fortunate enough to contribute articles to several volumes including the new tome. My entry, 'There's Something Strange In The Sewers' looks at bizarre, and mostly obscure stories concerning strange phenomena associated with sewer systems, drainage pipes etc. The article mainly looks at weird and wonderful animals found in such subterranean networks, covering reports of alligators, snakes, giant rats and even a lion and a cow!! You couldn't make it up!

Sewers have also harboured monster legends too, whether it's been the discovery of prehistoric remains in storm drains or reports of Bigfoot and other unexplainable monstrosities crawling through the dank tunnels. Ghost stories and a few urban legends also get a mention.

Elsewhere in the book Nigel Watson looks at a strange tale of alien contact, Cat Vincent looks into the sinister legend of the Slenderman, and Jack Hunter explores the darker side of anthropology.

And here's where you can find all about the new volume of Darklore.

Werewolves at 100

It occurred to me last night that this year, 2012, marks the 100th anniversary of the original publication of Elliott O'Donnell's classic book on lycanthropy, Werewolves.

If you are into werewolves, but haven't read the book, then you really should! Packed with numerous cases of encounters with werewolves from all across the globe, and a wide variety of theories offered to explain what may be afoot, Werewolves is as essential today as it was exactly 100 years ago.

To find out more about O'Donnell and his work, click on this link.

Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society Update

This just in from Eric Altman:

Just a quick announcement that the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society has a new website that is up and running. The old site was out of date and difficult to update being that it was built with Microsoft Office Front Page, and difficult to keep updated. A new website has been launched and it has more features and functions than the old site did. The URL is still the same as the old site www.pabigfootsociety.com. That has not changed. But I'd like you to stop by and check out the work done so far.

This new website will feature updated and added sighting reports broken down by Counties, there will be a page dedicated to older archived reports. There is a new photos page from investigations and outings along with any evidence we may have found. The site will also feature a newly added video and audio page to view and listen to any potential evidence collected by the Pa Bigfoot Society. A news page that features a daily rss feed to numerous blogs and crypto news sites. Plus a whole lot more.

If you would like to have your website link posted on the page or a banner, please send me the link r banner jpg or gif and I will post it. In return, I would ask that you would post a link to our site if you haven't already.

This will be a huge undertaking in getting the site fully functional and updated, and will be under construction with updates daily. So we invite you to keep checking back.

I am trying to make the site as user friendly as possible and any suggestions, updates, comments or criticisms on the site are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time and consideration;

Warmest Regards
Eric Altman
member/ Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society

Update on Unbelievable

Just recently, I wrote a post on Simon Wyatt's excellent graphic-novel: Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils, which will be of deep interest to all of you interested in Cryptozoology!

And, on the back of the publication, there's this good news from Simon. He says:

I just had to share this with you, voting for The Eagle Awards 2012 has just launched and I have just found out I've already been nominated in three different categories for Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils!

Favourite Writer/Artist;

Favourite British Comicbook: Black and White;

Favourite 2011 Original Graphic Novel.

Named after the fondly remembered 1950s comic title Eagle and originated in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s longest established awards. Acknowledged as the preeminent international prizes, they have been featured on the covers of leading US and UK titles across the last 30 years. Unique in that they reflect the people’s choice.

http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/nominations/

I'm smiling so hard I think my ears are going to meet at the back of my head!

Cheers,

Si

http://simonwyatt.blogspot.com/
http://www.orangutancomics.co.uk/creators/pencilers/simonwyatt.html
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The British Baboon

Yes, you did read that heading correctly!

Of course, Britain is most certainly not home to wild colonies of Baboon - or, at least, it shouldn't be!

And yet, people see them, and have done so for many a year, from England to Scotland.

That some are of flesh and blood, and others seem decidedly spectral in nature only adds to the controversy - as this new post from me at Mysterious Universe demonstrates.

London's Mystery Animals

This just in from Jon Downes at the Center for Fortean Zoology:

The Centre for Fortean Zoology’s Mystery Animals of the British Isles series continues to put out detailed guides to the weirder side of Britain’s zoology, and Neil Arnold’s latest book, Mystery Animals of the British Isles: London is no exception.

Every aspect of the capital’s strange fauna is analysed, with sections on Alien Big Cats, the Highgate Vampire, sky and water beasts, as well as a look at the weird goings on in Harrods and the Tower of London, making this book an extremely detailed reference guide to the strange goings on throughout the years in London.

Though still a sprawling metropolis, London is still a hub for odd happenings. Take for instance, the vultures in the parks, the London Goatman, the beast of Ruislip, giant catfish in the canals, scorpions in the supermarkets, huge rats in the sewers, the Brentford Griffin, fish-falls, Spring-Heeled Jack and spectral horses, and you end up with a city far stranger than one would expect!

Elegantly written in an engaging style, Arnold manages to weave together the complicated zoological mysteries surrounding London into a comprehensive volume vast in scope, but still prefect for bedtime reading. You will never walk the streets of London in quite the same mindset ever again…

Mystery Animals of the British Isles: London by Neil Arnold is available from CFZ Books at www.cfz.org.uk

Neil Arnold is available for interview.

Flying Humanoids: A History

It's fair to say that sightings of so-called "Flying Humanoids" straddle various aspects of the Fortean world, including that of Cryptozoology.

And, if such aerial entities are of interest to you, then you should definitely check out an excellent new article from Kithra that provides a good chronological history of sightings.

As Kithra's list and descriptions demonstrate, there are some eerie similarities between certain cases that span not just the decades, but the centuries too.

Here's the link to the complete article.

Monkey Chimera

This is all sure to end in Rise of the Planet of the Apes-style disaster.

How long before we see the Statue of Liberty half-buried in the sands of an irradiated world?

Go ahead, laugh!

You won't be laughing when you're caged in Ape-City, screaming: "Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!"

Okay, I jest - to a degree anyway.

But, surely, things like this - even if they do achieve some significant scientific breakthroughs - need to be addressed with caution, closely regulated, and carefully monitored to ensure that a bunch of power-crazed Dr. Moreau types don't turn a degree of science-fiction into science-fact...

The Coming of Bigfoot (Literally!)

In 2010, I wrote an article for Penthouse magazine titled Sex and the Supernatural, which covered such wacky issues as human-alien sex, hot action of the ghostly variety, and the sex life of Bigfoot.

And, on this latter point of what Sasquatch likes to do when it is not out foraging for food or scaring people on lonely stretches of road late at night...

There's a new series of fiction books available - penned by author Virginia Wade - that offer the Bigfoot student a wealth of fun and entertaining tales on Bigfoot and its monstrous Mojo.


The overall title of the series is (wait for it...) Cum for Bigfoot! Yes, really! Brilliant!

And, hot on the heels of the newly-published first volume, there's another one, ahem, coming soon!

As the blurb below from the publisher demonstrates, while undeniably fun to read, they may not make the best present for Granny (that is, unless Granny has a thing for animalistic sex of the hairy-giant variety, in which case the old lady will absolutely love it!).

Talking of the publishers' blurb, here it is:

If you go into the woods today…

On a weeklong outing in Mt. Hood National Forest, what begins as a flirty, fun filled trip soon turns into a nightmare, when an ape-like creature kidnaps a group of teen girls with the purpose of procreating with them.

This story contains oral sex, fingering, forced consent, penetration with a large object, and ménage à trois. All characters are eighteen and above. Adult 18+

Well, who knew that Bigfoot ever had such fun??!!

All I can say is: bring on Volume 3!


To find out more about the Cum for Bigfoot series, check out Virginia Wade's website, which also includes info on a forthcoming title that may be of interest to the fan of all things weird - Cum for Frankenstein!

In fact, I can see a whole range of additional titles surfacing - Cum for Nessie: Lust in the Loch; Cum for the Chupacabra: Sucking on a Goat; and Cum for the Michigan Dogman: Doing it Doggy-Style!

Bigfoot: A Creature of Controversy

Lisa A. Shiel's new Sasquatch-themed book, Creature of Controversy: Forbidden Bigfoot, Part One, is now available.

It contains an extensive Q&A with me on my thoughts on what Bigfoot is (and isn't!), the paranormal/Fortean aspects of certain Bigfoot encounters, and much more that will probably not endear me (not that I am already! LOL) to the mainstream field of Cryptozoology!

As an example of the interview with me, here's a taster from it:



Lisa A. Shiel: "What is the biggest controversy in Bigfoot research?"

Nick Redfern: "In my personal opinion, without any doubt, it's why we haven't been able to catch Bigfoot or find a body or any hard evidence—which flies in the face, in my view, of any other animal that doesn't fall in the realm of cryptozoology. When it comes to bears, lions, and tigers, we may find them dead occasionally in the wild or we might find a bear occasionally hit by a truck, but the important thing is that even though it's just occasionally, it does happen. I think this is the biggest controversy with Bigfoot research. Bigfoot, even when it reportedly gets shot, never crumples to the ground and dies. If it unfortunately gets hit by a car, it always manages to escape. Photographic evidence is interesting but never conclusive. Hair samples are interesting but never conclusive. It's this overwhelming, almost eerie elusiveness with Bigfoot that to me is the most controversial aspect. The reason it's the most controversial aspect is because, by default, being so elusive to me implies there's something more—or paradoxically less—to Bigfoot than just being an unclassified animal that science hasn't found or doesn't recognize."

And if that has caught your attention, here's the publisher's blurb on the book:

Is Bigfoot real or a hoax?

For most people, this is the most controversial question surrounding Bigfoot. But to the folks who study Bigfoot—interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and analyzing the data—there's no question about Bigfoot's reality. Yet behind the closed doors of Bigfoot research, arguments boil over into feuds worthy of the Wild West.

Now, Lisa A. Shiel invites you to step through the door and learn about the controversies that both enliven and hinder the quest for this mysterious creature:

• What should we call Bigfoot?
• Is Bigfoot paranormal, flesh and blood, or both?
• What on earth is Bigfoot?
• Should we shoot a Bigfoot in order to prove they exist?
• How much do we really know about Bigfoot?
• And much more!

Creature of Controversy exposes the feuds in a no-holds-barred look at the secret world of Bigfoot research, enhanced by interviews with other well-known Bigfoot researchers:

• Eric Altman
• Melissa Hovey
• Regan Lee
• Thom Powell
• Nick Redfern
• Kathy Strain

Will the Bigfoot mystery ever be solved, or will infighting block the search? Buy Creature of Controversy today to find out!