Customer Reviews

Anthropologica Incognita: Wild Men, Strange Apes, and Fantastic Races in Classic Science Fiction and Fantasy

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Initially I was reluctant to get this anthology, but I'm glad I did. In this tome from Coachwhip is a collection of classic literature tales involving missing-links, mysterious races and nonhuman intelligences. Most were written from 1844-1925, with the first tale evidently a Native American legend predating that.

My favorite stories were 'No-Man's-Land' by John Buchan, with a mysterious and rather malevolent 'little people' inhabiting remote Scotland, 'The Harbour-Master' by Robert W. Chambers (with a piscine humanoid creature), and 'Spirit Island' by Captain Henry Toce Munn. The latter story I thought one of the most original, and features a hostile tribe of seal-like humanoids in the arctic. Yes, it's much better than it sounds!

There are tales by H.P. Lovecraft, the long-winded Algernon Blackwood, and others both humorous and horrifying.

As might be expected, a number of stories involve 'missing-link' or ape-like subhuman creatures. Many are actually sympathetic towards them, often paradoxically while being condescending towards the native peoples inhabiting the same region. There are some attitudes and dialogue (from a hundred or more years ago) which wouldn't be considered politically correct nowadays by a long shot.

However, this is a worthwhile read for those interested in unknown sapient (or almost so) humanoid creatures.