The Beast of Boggy Creek: The True Story of the Fouke Monster [Paperback]

Lyle Blackburn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

For more than a century, reports of a strange beast known as the Fouke Monster have circulated among the locals in southern Arkansas. Described as a large, hairy man-like creature, it's said to haunt the vast Sulphur River Bottoms as it travels the secluded waterway known as Boggy Creek.

Over the years, the creature has been seen by numerous witnesses including respected citizens, experienced hunters, famous musicians, and even a police officer. The encounters were often so shocking, they served as inspiration for the classic horror film, The Legend of Boggy Creek, by Charles B. Pierce.

Tales of the creature have long existed in scattered pieces across news clippings, memoirs, police reports, and movies, but it is only now that the complete history of the Fouke Monster has been assembled in one place. This book collects all the facts, theories, and amazing sighting reports, and weaves them into a fascinating tale about this undeniable southern mystery, one that lives on, as frightening encounters with the Beast of Boggy Creek are still being reported today!

** Includes a detailed sighting chronicle with over 70 visual encounters near Fouke, Arkansas!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An extremely enjoyable and spooky ride." -- Sean Whitley, director Southern Fried Bigfoot

"I could not put this book down." -- Neal Arnold, author of Monster! The A-Z of Zooform Phenomenon

"Amazingly researched and absolutely gripping."  -- Dave Alexander, editor Rue Morgue magazine

"Destined to become a cryptozoological classic!" -- Nick Redfern, author of There's Something in the Woods

This is a must have for all movie fans, history buffs, and bigfooters!"  -- Kathy Moskowitz Strain, author Giants, Cannibals & Monsters: Bigfoot in Native Culture

About the Author

Lyle Blackburn is a professional writer and musician from the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. He has always been fascinated with legends, lore and sighting reports of "real-life monsters" and is the author of The Beast of Boggy Creek published by Anomalist Books. During his research, Lyle has often explored the remote reaches of the southern U.S. in search of shadowy creatures said to inhabit the dense backwoods and swamplands of these areas.

Lyle is also a staff writer and cryptozoology advisor to Rue Morgue magazine, one of the leading horror media publications in print today. His "Monstro Bizarro" blog is featured on the Rue Morgue website and his "Monstro Bizarro Presents" news column appears monthly in the magazine.

In addition, Lyle is the founder and frontman for the rock band, Ghoultown. Since 1998, Ghoultown has released eight albums, toured extensively in both the U.S. and Europe, appeared on several horror movie soundtracks, and was recently featured on the syndicated television show, Elvira's Movie Macabre.

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Anomalist Books (March 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933665572
• ISBN-13: 978-1933665573
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 5.9 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Primatology

More About the Author

Lyle Blackburn is an author, musician, and cryptid hunter from Texas. He has always been fascinated with legends, lore, and sighting reports of "real-life monsters," and is the author of the acclaimed book, The Beast of Boggy Creek: The True Story of the Fouke Monster. During his research, Lyle has often explored the remote reaches of the southern U.S. in search of shadowy creatures said to inhabit the dense backwoods and swamplands of these areas.

Lyle is also a staff writer and cryptozoology advisor to Rue Morgue magazine, one of the leading horror media publications in print today. His "Monstro Bizarro" news column appears monthly in the magazine.

In addition, Lyle is the founder and frontman for the rock band, Ghoultown. From 1998 to 2012, Ghoultown released eight albums, toured extensively in both the U.S. and Europe, appeared on several horror movie soundtracks, and was featured on the syndicated television show, Elvira's Movie Macabre.

Lyle is now a featured speaker at cryptozoology and horror conferences around North America. He has been heard on numerous radio programs, including COAST TO COAST, and appeared on television shows such as MONSTERS AND MYSTERIES IN AMERICA and the CBS SUNDAY MORNING SHOW.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully eerie and evocative trip into the bottomlands! March 5, 2012

By Sean F. Whitley

Format:Paperback

For too long, the story of the Fouke Monster has been mired in a murky morass where the distinction between legend, reality, and cult movies have been blurred together. In this fantastic tome, Lyle Blackburn deftly wades through the boggy bayous to chronicle the strange but true history of the greatest monster legend of the American South. It's an extremely enjoyable and spooky ride, one of the most satisfying cryptozoological books I've read in some time, and it's filled with incredibly eerie artwork that will give you the heebie-jeebies. Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or open-minded on the subject of the creature, this book will make you wonder if a man-beast might indeed be watching you from the shadowy confines of the bottomlands. Essential reading for a dark night! -Sean Whitley, Director of "Southern Fried Bigfoot"

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fouke Monster returns! March 15, 2012

By Rob Robinson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I remember back in 1974, my parents took me and my brother to the drive-in. They were playing a double feature. The first movie was "The Legend of Boggy Creek". Now, I had heard of this movie and wanted to see it. Well, the lights went out and the movie started. The first thing that came on was a single sentence "This is a True Story". I thought is this some kind of a warning? I sat there in our station wagon with just my eyes gazing over from the back seat, scared out of my pants, watching this movie. When the movies were over, we headed home and I was so scared and didn't even remember the second movie. All I could think of was this large hairy bipedal monster walking through the woods. We got home and as usual, I had to take the dogs outside to do their business. As I looked out at our dark back yard. I thought of the Fouke Monster. I wondered if he had left Fouke and was now in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Was it waiting for me, knowing that I just saw a movie about it? I went and got my little brother to go out with me. I figured I could run faster than him and if it was there, it would get him, instead of me. It turned out it was out there, but that didn't stop me from always looking over my shoulder when I went into the woods. As you can see the movie left a lasting impression on me. Later I got into monster hunting and I owe all of it to "The Legend of Boggy Creek. This movie is considered the quinessential Bigfoot movie, among cryptozoology fans. After reading Lyle Blackburn's book on the Fouke Monster, I have come to release that I am not the only one, that movie effected and inspired. Lyle has done what nobody else has. He has done the most complete and thorough research on the legend of the Fouke monster. The book is, to put it in one word "Awesome".... This is not a book that Lyle took a couple of stories and slapped a cover on it. He has done his homework,that I suspect, involved a lot of road trips to Fouke and Jonesville and to the local newspapers. Not only is it well researched, but the whole format keeps you glued to the pages. It really is hard to put down once you start reading it. The illustrations are excellent. This is a must for anybody who is a fan of "The Legend of Boggy Creek". It has a lot of information about the movie that you probably didn't know. The book not only goes over the movie but the legend as well and you will come to find out that the sightings of the Fouke monster are continuing, to this very day. I highly recommend it to anybody who loves reading about cryptozoology. After you read it, you'll want jump right up and go on a monster hunt. Just make sure you take a flashlight, you never know what's out there in the dark. Read more ›

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Full Legend of Boggy Creek September 22, 2012

By charlie morgan

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

For starters, 5 stars isn't nearly enough!

I was pointed toward Lyle Blackburn by "Bigfoot War" author, Eric S. Brown. Not only is Lyle an accomplished singer for the rock band Ghoultown, he is also one of my new favorite authors who shares a passion for the field of Cryptozoology (the study of hidden animals). I was thrilled when I heard the Lyle was going to be writing a book about the south's most famous Bigfoot-type creatures, The Fouke Monster!

The Fouke Monster hit superstar status in the world of cryptids with the documentary style horror classic, The Legend of Boggy Creek. The film has went on to inspire generations of fans, curious minds and monster hunters. I can't even begin to tell you the impact that the film had on me! But the whole story had never been told. The film did a superb job with giving you just enough information to make you hungry for more.

Enter Lyle Blackburn.

The Beast of Boggy Creek is basically a biography of the legendary creature and of the sleepy town of Fouke (pronounced Fowk) Arkansas. What follows within these pages is one of the most interesting reads that I've had the pleasure to crack open in a long time. It's highly informative and covers pretty much anything and everything you could think of. There is even a breakdown of the Boggy Creek films in which the author carefully separates fact from fiction. He goes into detail of some of the earliest known reports, all the way up to some of the most recent.

This book is a true treasure for many people. If you are a fan of the movie, then this book is required! If you are interested in the field of cryptozoology, this book is required!... It could even be a fantastic piece for fans of drive-in era horror films as it gives an inside look at how the film came to be made and distributed and rose to cult status.

I can't recommend this book enough. It was worth every penny for the wealth of information that was provided and the history of another time. Buy this book! You will NOT be disappointed!

- Charlie Morgan
author of Sticks And Stones Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear God Yes! July 17, 2012

By Craig Woolheater

Format:Paperback

As a youngster who saw "The Legend of Boggy Creek" growing up, I really appreciated Lyle Blackburn's book.

From the little known historical sightings of the Fouke Monster, to the behind the scenes lowdown on what was factual as presented in "The Legend of Boggy Creek", it was a real treat.

Thoroughly researched and written in an entertaining, yet gripping fashion, I can wait for his next book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Cryptozoology Books I Have Read October 2, 2012

By OH's Meowmie

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had the pleasure of reading Lyle Blackburn's recent book The Beast of Boggy Creek: The True Story of the Fouke Monster. This has to be one of the most engaging, well written cryptozoology books I have read.

The Legend of Boggy Creek was a 1970s era drive-in theater docudrama/horror movie based on true events that occured around Fouke, Arkansas. Today many people interested in cryptozoology and Bigfoot can trace their earliest fascination with the subject to seeing this movie. I am one of those people. Mr. Blackburn has taken the legend, thoroughly researched it, and written a book that lays out a fluid timeline of sightings, events, the movie, and the impact the movie had on the Fouke locals. He then brings us forward to present day by continuing to recount sightings through 2010. He also discusses the various theories of what the Fouke Monster might actually be in a straightforward and well thought out manner.

This book is a must for anyone interested in large, hairy, bipedal monsters.