Customer Reviews

Lost at Sea: Ghost Ships and Other Mysteries

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

 

 

A finely researched piece of history by British folklorist Goss and Titanic specialist Behe (the author of an earlier book on alleged psychic forewarnings of the Titanic tragedy). The authors go back to first-hand and contemporary sources, and in the process clear away much rubbish contributed by less careful authors. Subjects covered include The Flying Dutchman (a first-rate summary of a complex legend), the ghost of the U28 and the disappearance of the Waratah. Recommended.

The book Lost at Sea is a very good work that deals with different mysteries related to the sea. It gives very detailed accounts of disasters like the sinking of the Titanic, Lusitania, UB-65, Thrasher and many others. In addition to telling the stories of these and other lost ships, it also goes into a very detailed discussion of paranormal events associated with each disaster. The authors take each paranormal event (like ghost ship sightings and premanitions) and they intensely scrutinize the event. There is no doubt that the authors have done their research, but most of the main chapters are bogged down with long naratives on why the event was not a paranormal event. Though their conclusions seem correct it would be nice if a book about the paranormal actually had events in it that the authors believed to be paranormal. Their research should be commended, but the long proofs that they present are often very tedious and I was left wanting to hear more about the disaster and the legends. It doesn't bore you to the point of putting the book down, but as I said I was left wanting to move onto the next chapter.
For a person that is interested in a variety of sea disasters the final chapter of the book will certainly entertain you. In this chapter several ships are discussed (like the Athenia, Queen Mary, Pathfinder, Amphion etc) and the reader gets just a few pages on what the ship was, what happen, and what paranormal activity went along with the incident. There is a little bit of a discussion on whether the events were really paranormal or not, but the discussion is far shorter than what is found in the the main body of the book.
All in all I would recomend this book to almost anyone. If you like legends and stories of lost ships, read this book. Just be ready for a few slow discussions on the paranormal.

I can appreciate the fact that the authors of this book have done their homework, and have done it well. BUT, too often the chapters get too bogged down in detail rather than move on to the next story. True enough, if you are a fan of strange phenomena that takes place on the sea, this is an excellent book. But again, it's weighed down with far too much detail to the point of getting lost. I could'nt, no matter how hard I tried, get through it--so I eventualy gave up and put it down after the second chapter.

Some readers seem disappointed that the book is skeptical about paranormal sightings and takes pains to examine possible alternative explanations. As someone who enjoys a good sea yarn, I don't find this aspect to be a problem. I guess it's because I was taken in at an early age by the "UFO's ARE HERE" mania, until I found out that many of those who experienced these "events" were a bit hysterical or had other agendas. I do feel that the authors are honest in leaving some ghost ship sightings or maritime hauntings intact where witness accounts seem impeccable and there are no convincing alternate explanations.

If you simply want a run-down of mystical sea lore, then this book is not for you. If you (like myself) like to delve more carefully into cherished myths and still enjoy a good sea story, then you will enjoy this book, as I did.

a faboulous peice of research. much better than those done by other writers. these are men who know there stuff,a truly great read. this is a must read for all those interested in the paranormal. thanks.

Boring, academic and tiresome! It is well researched but if you are looking for scary stories you will be frustrated overdetailed, bad writing. Good lord, I never thought a book about ghost ships would put me to sleep!

A faboulous piece of research. Much better than those done by other writers. These are men who know there stuff,a truly great read. This is a must read for all those interested in the paranormal. thanks.