Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology: A Global Guide to Hidden Animals and Their Pursuers [Hardcover]

Michael Newton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786420367 | ISBN-13: 978-0786420360 | Publication Date: January 6, 2005

On every continent and in every nation, animals unrecognized by modern science are reported on a daily basis. People passionately pursue these creatures—the name given to their field of study is cryptozoology. Coined in the 1950’s, the term literally means the science of hidden animals. When the International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC) was formed in 1982, the founders declared that the branch of science is also concerned with "the possible existence of known animals in areas where they are not supposed to occur (either now or in the past) as well as the unknown persistence of presumed extinct animals to the present time or to the recent past…what makes an animal of interest to cryptology is that it is unexpected."

This reference work presents a "flesh and blood" view of cryptozoology. Here, 2,744 entries are listed, the majority of which each describe one specific creature or type of creature. Those entries cover creatures that have been reported from an extremely wide variety of locations worldwide, and throughout recorded history. Other entries cover 742 places where unnamed cryptids are said to appear; profiles of 77 groups and 112 individuals who have contributed to the field; descriptions of objects and events important to the subject; and essays on cryptotourism and hoaxes, for example. Appendices offer a timeline of zoological discoveries, annotated lists of movies and television series with cryptozoological themes, a list of crypto-fiction titles and a list of Internet websites devoted to cryptozoology.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The continuing search for Nessie, Bigfoot, sea serpents, and other mysterious creatures, or cryptids, is a fascinating subject. The discovery of living coelacanths, long believed extinct, fuels the imagination that other creatures, such as dinosaurs, may still walk the earth. This encyclopedia presents the latest information on sightings and hoaxes.

Concentrating on plausible creatures, not paranormal entities such as ghosts, the volume consists of 2,744 alphabetically arranged entries describing 1,583 creatures as well as places, people, and more. Two essays on Cryptotourism and Hoaxes are included. Some entries are accompanied by small black-and-white illustrations and photographs. Longer entries on Alien big cats, Nessie, and Octopus (giant) provide much information on these mysteries, describing sightings with dates and locations and giving possible explanations. The author is careful to not offer opinions of the validity of sightings but does refer to documented evidence calling them into question, as with recent sightings of the extinct Passenger pigeon. This is the opposite story from the Eastern cougar, where numerous sightings are forcing a reconsideration of their extinction. Each article ends with a list of sources with complete citations for those titles not included in the bibliography and short citations for those that are included. A glossary, six appendixes (a time line, a filmography, Internet links, and more), a bibliography, and an index complete the work.

Cryptozoology is treated in several other books. Cryptozoology A to Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature (Simon & Schuster, 1999) provides an overview with approximately 100 entries. Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology (ABC-CLIO, 2003) has half the entries (1,125 compared to 2,744) of the Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology and is arranged more as a field guide. The depth of coverage in the current work makes it an excellent purchase for academic, high-school, and public libraries whose patrons are interested in this subject. Abbie Vestal Landry
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Fascinating...excellent"--Booklist/RBB

"Recommended"--Library Journal

"Detailed..impeccably resourced...recommended"--Choice

ALA Outstanding Reference Source

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (January 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786420367
• ISBN-13: 978-0786420360
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #686,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A California native, Michael Newton has published 215 books under his own name and various pseudonyms since 1977. He began writing professionally as a "ghost" for author Don Pendleton on the best-selling Executioner series and continues his work on that series today. With 104 episodes published to date, Newton has nearly tripled the number of Mack Bolan novels completed by creator Pendleton himself.

Newton's first book under his own name was Monsters, Mysteries and Man (1979), a survey of unexplained phenomena for younger readers. While 156 of Newton's published books have been novels--including westerns, political thrillers and psychological suspense--he is best known for nonfiction, primarily true crime and reference books.

His firearms manual for writers, Armed and Dangerous (1990), remains a best-seller for Writer's Digest Books in its 8th printing. Newton's Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (Facts on File, 2000) is currently in its second edition. His history of the Florida Ku Klux Klan, The Invisible Empire (2001), won the Florida Historical Society's 2002 Rembert Patrick Award for Best Book in Florida History. His Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology was just named as one of twelve books on the American Library Association's 2006 List of Outstanding Reference Sources. Newton's shorter work includes horror fiction, true crime articles and case histories for Court TV's Crime Library online.

He is a member of several organizations, including the Centre for Fortean Zoology, the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club and Feral Cat Friends Inc.

His 24 upcoming books, scheduled for release through 2011, include 8 novels and 16 nonfiction works. He lives in Nashville, Indiana.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, highly recommended by one who is reading it, January 20, 2005

By 

reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology: A Global Guide to Hidden Animals and Their Pursuers (Hardcover)

I just don't know why some people send in comments on books they haven't read. This book is obviously outstanding, and priced due to all the work it took in creating it and to whom it is marketed.

I received Michael Newton's Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology, late yesterday.
I will be writing a formal, published review, but I want to alert you to how
good it is. You should go out of your way to highly recommend it for
purchase by your local, school, or university library (the target audience
of a reference work like this). And for those serious cryptozoologists who
can afford it, for your personal research library, it, simply put, is a
*must* buy.

Last night, I couldn't help myself, and stayed up until the wee hours of the
night, reading, flipping, reading more, surfing, reading, and smiling. What
a trip. Newton's got it down pat. Critical writing with a light hand and
open-mindedness to looking at all facets, in presenting cases, cryptids, and
evidence, as well as the overturning of media-driven hoax claims (Nessie
Surgeon Photos, Ray Wallace fiasco, and others). Most surprising of all the
entries I have read so far is Newton's reexamination of the supposed 1990
expose' of Three-Toes, with a fresh look again at "all" elements of those
1948 events. This volume quite correctly is as skeptical of blanket
debunking claims as it is to the fast rush to specific cryptozoological
hypotheses. Newton logically critiques the various theories of
cryptozoologists who have ventured forth with their thoughts. His
discussion of the Minnesota Iceman, for example, in its total fairness to
several points of view, I found amazing.

There are 2,744 entries, including 112 individual biographies, 77
cryptozoology groups described, and, of course, lots of location data,
cryptids detailed, and illustrations sprinkled throughout. It also has some
fantastic appendices that are comprehensive listings of new animal
discoveries, cryptofiction, cryptozoology in films, and cryptozoology on
television. At 576 pages in one oversized volume, it is a rather user
friendly reference work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding And Well Researched, September 12, 2006

By 

R. McRae (Saugus, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology: A Global Guide to Hidden Animals and Their Pursuers (Hardcover)

Not only is this the best Encyclopedia on the subject I've ever read, but extremely well researched. Even updating right up to its publication, some of the material from other sources. I don't care how many other subjects Mr. Newton has written on, he has definitely done his homework for this one. And a quick browse of my other reviews will show I've reviewed many of the others too. If the subject is as interesting to you, as it has been for me for many years, you'll find some way to read this one.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent collection, March 24, 2006

By 

stillmyopinion - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology: A Global Guide to Hidden Animals and Their Pursuers (Hardcover)

I will agree with the reviewer 'reader' and say this is an excellent collection of up to date material. To the others all I can say is if you can't be bothered to read something, let alone pay for it, then don't bother reviewing it. It's nothing but sour grapes. As for the price, you get what you pay for, and if all you want are $10 books then stick to the rehash in the bargain bin.

For those looking for a serious collection this is the book for you. You could buy twenty cheaper books and not get everything that is in this one issuance. The appendices alone should keep you going with any of the subjects you find interesting.
To be fair the illustrations are not the greatest but it isn't intended to be a picture book.
Yes, it isn't cheap but if this is where your interests lay this volume should be in your collection.