Customer Reviews

Natural History Unnatural World

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I think a lot of people are getting steamed about this book. It is not a book on cryptozoology, but rather folklore, set up the same way as The Flight of Dragons, another very good book. It contains a ton of excellant info, on both well known and lesser known creatures, and has some excellant information. However, I could not give it a 5, since it has no real disclaimer that it is not a real crypto book. However, I think most people who have read more than a few articles on cryptos will realize right away that the book is not to be taken as serious research. My favorite sections were probably the fake journal entries, as they gave the most info, while I thought many of the personal logs got kinda of boring. So, to sum it up, If you like fantasy, mythology, ect., you will probably like this book, but if you want a serious indepth discussion on cryptos, look elsewhere, because it only skims over them.

It's not easy to review a book like this. Anyone with a genuine interest in cryptozoology will certainly be disappointed at the whimsical and irreverent tone, which pokes fun at the visionary pioneers who have conducted scientifically painstaking research into the likes of Nessie, Mokele m'bembe and Bigfoot. A layperson however, will probably find much to amuse them and just possibly enough material to cultivate an interest in this most fascinating of topics. Amongst the silly stuff are some real facts about cryptids. The Chupacabras in particular is fairly well described and depicted. Separating fact from fancy and blatant fabrication however is not always easy and the running gag about some fictional crusty old gentlemens' club (the address given is actually the Royal Academy of Arts) does wear a bit thin after a while. If you are seeking genuine and scientifically researched material about cryptids, you would do far better by starting with Bernard Heuvelmans's seminal work or even dredging the Internet's many cryptozoology sites for references. In that respect, I would only give this book one star. If, however, you are looking for a book to foster an interest in mystery animals in a young relative or friend (my 11 year old son thought it was "cool"), then you could do a lot worse than this. My overall rating reflects the response from both extremes of potential customer.

If you are a dyed-in-the-wool cryptozoologist then it is best to leave this book on the shelf. This is more of a New Age encyclopedia of fanciful creatures and reports that sound like they belong in a fairy tale. The illustrations are quite impressive but the info is not scientifically sound. You are better off with Costello's "The Magic Zoo" or Ley's "Exotic Zoology". If you are into Mythology then this book is definitely for you.

This bizarre book is a real page turner. It describes at least one hundred beasts believed by normal zoologists to be fictional. Dive into the abyssal lair of the giant octopus, explore the jungles of Latin America in search of the beautiful coatl, or watch two yale jousting at an African water hole. This unique piece will never cease to thrill and delight the reader. Why did the phoenix (Phoenos immortalis) go extinct? Why are unicorns (Equus monoceros) attracted to maidens? The answers to all of these questions and more are found within this books strange and intriguing pages. This unique work will never bore the reader.

This is a handsomely published book, with thick glossy paper and numerous pictures and illustrations. However, if you get it thinking it is going to be a serious or archival study of cryptozoology, you will be disappointed. Its greater emphasis is on purely mythological creatures like mermaids, elves, the sphinx, unicorns, gorgons and other creatures of fantasy, only it purports to pass them all off as not only actual living creatures, but as still surviving in remote pockets of the world. The volume does so with a straight face, and purported eyewitness accounts. If you are fascinated by accounts of creatures that "might be", like bigfoot, lake monsters, mothman, or dinosaur survivors, then stay away from this book, which is basically a treatise on fantasy creatures prepared for a junior high audience with liberal dashes of pseudo-science thrown in for good measure. Again, its copious illustrations and colorful format are its best feature. More serious students of mysterious creatures would be better served by The Unexplained, by Dr. Karl P. Shuker, an equally well-illustrated book that is dedicated to more probable instances of cryptozoology.

I never thought that I would argue with Loren Coleman (whose books are great), but "A Natural History of the Unnatural World" is a fun book. It's not a hoax - in fact, I can't see any adult (or even bright children) taking it seriously. This book belongs squarely in the realm of fantasy. But it's engaging fantasy. As a cryptozoology text, it's useless, and as authentic folklore, it's not much better. But this is a nice book to look through and speculate on how creatures like these could exist - not unlike Peter Dickinson's "Flight of Dragons." I have seen a couple of people giving high marks to Shuker's "The Unexplained," and I'll agree with that; check that one out if you want something serious.

This is a fun book for kids or adults - well illustrated and layed out. this is also pure fantasy in the style of a realistic journal by a faux society. if you are looking for any real cryptozoological information look elsewhere. but for kids it's cool.

This is a shameless hoax. The Cryptozoology Society of London is said to have been established on April 1st, 1848 (get it?), but, of course, the truth is the word cryptozoology wasn't coined by Ivan Sanderson until the 1930s, and reinvented by Bernard Heuvelmans in the 1950s. The book is all fiction with tidbits of factual data. It confuses creations, myths, and fantansies with the real science of Cryptozoology.

Levy's fake book acts like it is nonfiction, and is NOT recommended for purchase.

It's a shame that an author as experienced and respected as Loren Coleman should feel the need to rush and criticise Mr Levy's book. It does smack a bit of professional jealousy. (And that's not mentioning his shameless plug for his own book!)

I, for one, was very impressed by "A Natural History of the Unnatural World." That he has been able to bring together such an extraordinary amount of material in such a lucid and accessible manner is no mean achievement. Levy obviously knows his subject, and I found the way he varies the writing style from entry to entry very effective. It's also very entertaining.

A definite recommendation for both experts and non-experts alike. I thought I knew a great deal about the whole field of 'cryptozoology' (especially after reading Mr Coleman's book, amongst others), but this book certainly had enough science and factually based information to teach me much more.

This book is very good, but you must remember it is a work of *fiction*, not fact. It should also not be taken as scholarly cryptozoology, either. It is, however, very funny and light-hearted, and has excellent pictures, photos, and mythical descriptions. It includes many mythical creatures (manticores, unicorns, dragons) and makes up pseudo-plausible explainations for them. This is a good fantasy encyclopedia, and does help to open your mind. I personally recommend it.