Monster Hunt: The Guide to Cryptozoology
By paranominal
Published: November 14, 2009
Tagged with: All Star, beasts", Bigfoot, Congo, Continent, Cryptids, Dartmoor, Fringe Element, Hit List, Legendary Animals, Loch Ness, Loch Ness Monster, Monster Hunt, Mythological Creatures, Product Description, Rigorous Methods, Roots, Strange Creatures, Ultimate Field Guide, Zoologists
It was a very good read. Enjoyed it and it came in good shape
Rating: 5 / 5
While I balance it with a dose of healthy skepticism, I am a big fan of cryptozoology, the study and search for creatures of myth that may not be so mystical after all. Shows like Monsterquest and In Search Of always keep me glued to the TV.
For all of human history, passed down for thousands of years through storytelling and writing, there have been first-hand encounters with strange beasts, many of which are still reported in the modern era. Sure, there are a lot of hoaxes and many of these creatures are far too fantastic to be real, but why not keep a small hope for just a hint of magic and mystery in the world?
And that is where “Monster Hunt: The Guide to Cryptozoology” comes in. This book is not going to convince anyone whose minds are already made up, and it doesn’t set out to present a scientific case. Instead it imparts the old thrill of going to hidden lands and into deep forests and jungles to catch a glimpse of something that has only been hinted at, a creature who steps out of legend and into real life.
The structure of the book is really clever, being made out like an old explorer’s notebook, complete with coffee stains and beautiful sepia and charcoal sketches. The chapters are segmented geographically, such as “Monsters of North America” or “Monsters of Africa” or “Monsters of Europe.” With every entry taking up only a page or two, they manage to pack a whole lot of monsters into the book.
The entries are broken down into two segments, with the “Monster File” giving statistics such as “Name”, “Also Known As”, “Origins” and “Appearance.” This is accompanied by a story detailing some of the history of the creature, including famous sightings or known evidence or hoaxes. At the end there is a Glossary and some profiles of “Famous Monster Hunters.” There are also some blank formatted pages for explorers to add in their own “Monster Files.”
“Monster Hunt” is a really fun book, both in design and information. It is perfect for kids with a decent reading level, maybe mid-Elementary school and up, who have an interest in fantasy and monsters. Even as an adult I really enjoyed it, although I have to say there wasn’t a lot of new information for me here. But for someone newer to cryptozoology, I can’t imagine a better starting place.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a beautifully designed little book with a faux lizard-skin cover and many maps and illustrations in its sepia-toned pages. Although I would hesitate to classify it as “THE” guide to cryptozoology, it is certainly a very competently produced introduction to the topic, especially for ages 9-15 as there are plenty of fun facts and some useful scientific information sprinkled amid the monster descriptions. There is little here for the experienced researcher, however, and the lack of a bibliography is unfortunate.
Rating: 3 / 5
This book has some interesting facts about different crypto ( monsters )
That are surrounded in legends. While some think these are real and others think they are legend, the most common facts are all put together in this book. This book has been wraped in a great looking cover and the pages look great too. A younger teen age crowd might be more interested in this book. Seems to be geared more for the younger crowd. This would be a great tool for BOOK REPORTS! An incredible reference guide.
The common questions concerning each ( monster ) are all listed.
Aprox weight, height, apearance, place of dwelling and so forth.
Rating: 3 / 5