Customer Reviews

There's Something in the Woods

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As he did in his previous works, Memoirs of a Monster Hunter and Three Men Seeking Monsters, Nick takes the reader on a full-tilt, first-person narrative into the realm of the unknown, examining the beings that crouch and shamble there, and their possible origins and motives.

As he moves along in his investigations, Nick seems to be moving more toward examining the possibility of a human catalyst for the manifestation, or "summoning," of many such entities. His theories along these lines are quite sound and should give anyone who dabbles in the occult pause to consider just what they might actually be doing, knowingly or not. My only concern for Nick is that, in the course of his attempts to recreate such rituals and manifestations, he might himself some night fall victim to something that has no rightful place in our world (I have some advice for him concerning self-protection along those lines, which I'll be glad to share if he'd like).

Nick's books are an entertaining read, Hunteresque at times, but they are more than that--they are thoughtful and logical, presenting important clues and evidence regarding this very important arm of Fortean research, "monster hunting." Hopefully he'll continue on in this vein for years to come, and--who knows?--"bring one back alive" someday!

No--make that "some night."

"There's Something in the Woods" by Nick Redfern is a collection of fascinating stories that encompass ghosties, ghouls, UFO's, flying demons, and a host of other paranormal but extremely illusive creatures spawned in a bubbling vat of folklore, crypto zoology, and demonic things that "go bump in the night."

Although, Redfern gives the reader a wide variety of alleged incidents highlighted by verbal testimony of witnesses, he does not substantiate any of the sightings with on-going follow-up investigations which might include newspaper accounts, or other referrals which could inevitably help to substantiate or verify these unusual events.

For instance, in one story of Chapter 11 he tells the reader about the sighting of two very large "Harpies" type creatures with bat like wings that unexplainably came out through the cellar of large old house and into the night. These creatures were allegedly seen by a group of kids in the early months of 1946 in a small town just outside Lubbock, Texas. In addition, a motorist also reported seeing one of these creatures in the roadway several months later. This sounds like it could just as easily, be a scene from the horror movie, "The Hills Have Eyes." The incident is exciting to the readers mind, but...what town outside of Lubbock, Texas, What witnesses? What follow-up?

It appears that the author is leaning toward the possibility that these paranormal creatures and on-going events are of a real nature but, one hidden behind a veil of dimensional properties that only allows for these events to take place if, and when the time is right or, if, purposely conjured. He also seems to believe that these creatures and events are somehow... tied into the various ancient cultures of each area that he investigates.

Mr. Redfern no doubt has a real passion for the subject matter and is truly on a quest for some "real answers." However, although his plethora of stories is fun to read, they do little more than wet the appetite.

Nick Redfern has a solid reputation as a leading researcher and author of all things paranormal, especially the field of cryptozoology. He can present the facts, write the books, and speak across the globe with the best of them. But there is one thing he does better than all the rest, and that is get out there in the field, get his hands dirty, and actually look for the very things he writes about.

Not afraid to boldly go where no other researcher dares to, or even risk his neck, Redfern accumulates a book-full of new adventures (anyone who's read his past books knows he doesn't sit still for long) seeking monsters and things that go bump in the day and the night. This time, he focuses his transcontinental road trip on the United States and his home country, England, and trust me, there are more than enough creatures to chase to fill ten books.

Redfern, who lives in Dallas, Texas, picks up where his gonzo thrill-ride "Three Men Seeking Monsters" left off and bounces back and forth between strange and creepy locales on both continents. We follow Nick into the woods of the deeply historical region of Staffordshire, England where his monster quest begins in the Cannock Chase, searching out the "Cannock Nessie," a local legend of a beast, and ends up chasing werewolves, giant cats and Bigfoot-like man beasts, all while his poor wife looks on begging him to not mess with unseen forces he knows little about. Not that anything like that would ever stop Redfern, who plows forth on the trail of Devil-Monkeys, cryptic crop circles, potential UFO sightings and a host of other mysteries from the borderlands that exist in merry Old England.

Then it's soon off to the States where we get a first-hand account of the hunt for oversized winged insects, giant black cats, ghost lights, creepy "dark men" and a plethora of other local and regional legends that few Americans may be aware exist right in their own backyard...ok, well, in the WOODS behind their own backyard.

Much of Redfern's research focuses on cryptozoology, with giant black dogs and werewolf-type entities taking front and center, and the author never fails to both entertain and educate as he presents his own hands-on views as well as some cutting edge theories behind these entities, including the possibility that we are dealing with inter-dimensional creatures and not just flesh-and-blood beasties. As always, Redfern's book is peppered with humor, personal insight and plenty of pictures courtesy of the author's own well-traveled camera.

I consider Nick Redfern both a colleague and a friend, and anxiously await anything he does. He excels as a writer to be sure, but again, his forte is getting out on the road and in search of, to borrow from the TV series I grew up on, the stuff that others only talk and write about. He may seem a bit crazy in his approach, but who would expect anything less of a guy who once kissed a baby Chupa on the lips (I have proof in my book "PSIence"!!!). Rest assured, if there is something in the woods, Nick Redfern is no doubt the guy to find it.
Marie D. Jones - ParaExplorers.com

Be warned when beginning Nick Redfern's latest title, "There's Something in the Woods." Those woods are black as night. And there is plenty in them.

Spinning on from where his previous adventure reports, "Three Men Seeking Monsters" and "Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, " left off, Redfern continues his determined trek around the planet in search of elusive and creepy creatures. He spends half the book in his home country of England, and the other half in Texas and other monstrosity-rich parts of the US. This creates a two-world framework that echos the dichotomy inherent in his research; are these beasts from Earth, or somewhere else?

A Fortean at heart, Redfern usually comes entertainingly down on the elsewhere side. He goes so far as to utilize certain ancient rites and magic practices to try to summon hairy wild men or batmen to his examination table, occasionally with startling success!

One of the most fascinating sections of the book, however, involves a lengthy and detailed interview with a crop
circle-maker. Although I've always found it hard to believe the delicate geometric formations could be made by teams of humans with ordinary tools, this cereal artiste's explanation changed my mind. At least, for some of the designs.

Redfern concludes with a hint toward his future that cements this book's place as the darkest volume of his memoir trilogy. HIs burning question -- "What is the precise nature of the place these terrible and fantasic animals inhabit? " -- demands some unthinkable answers. If he does learn the truth, will he dare to take his readers along for the super-charged ride? Only his (may we hope?) fourth memoir will tell for sure. -- Linda S. Godfrey, author "Hunting the American Werewolf," "The Beast of Bray Road," and "Strange Wisconsin"

The indefatigable Nick Redfern is at it again with his newest foray into the world of the weird and wondrous, "There's Something In The Woods". I asked him once how he found time to knock these books out with the rapidity he does; what with all his traveling, trekking, night stalking,
day stalking,camping out in hinky places, lecturing, blogging, archival research, book reviewing, magazine-article writing, and all the other God-knows-what he occupies himself with. His answer? "I get up early and manage my time well." Ya THINK?????

Regardless of HOW he does it----he DOES it,and here is the latest "strange brew" offering from the guy seemingly working hard to overtake the likes of Brad Steiger and John Keel in the production of Fortean narrative output.

"There's Something In The Woods" takes its title from Nick's internet blog of the same name and , as such, is totally apropos here,as there's apparently plenty of weird "somethings" IN these woods he's talking about.

The book moves back and forth between Texas, where Nick lives now,and "Jolly Old England",the land of his birth,and it delves into all things dark and (possibly) dangerous with humor (maybe I should spell that "humour"), wit, and charming inquisitiveness(or just plain "noseyness",if you prefer). Within its pages we encounter more "man-monkeys" and "devil monkeys" (as we did in his last book),and this time we discover some of these---quite solid looking like "natural animals"---can walk through trees. Not through THE trees,as on a pathway,
but, literally, THROUGH trees, as though something disembodied or
holographic. We'll also bump into possible time displacements, posssible dimensional overlaps, possible arcane summoning rites by Black Magic no-goods, swirling ghostlight balls that act as though they're imbued with
intelligence, big Black Dogs, big Black Cats, cackling old crones warning of spells and sorceries, and myriad other strange manifestations and interactions----"werewolves" included!

It's enough to drive one to a bottle of mescal. At least a pitcher of draft!!

In "Olde Blighty" we spend some time in the Cannock Chase,a large sprawl of woodland acreage near Nick's parents's home. This is one greenwood with less a tradition of outlaw "Merrie Men" than it is a place rife with all the signs of being a Keelian dimensional portal or "window to the weird".
All manner of things peculiar seem to go on here,to the point where one may come to think he or she has stumbled upon a UK version of the "Skinwalker Ranch" or the San Luis Valley in New Mexico and Colorado. A part of the Chase that seems heavy on "wolfish" activity---as in great lupine things that sometimes like to go bi-pedal---is an old cemetery for German war dead(WWI, WWII). Why is that? Good question. Answers aren't readily forthcoming.

Crop circles also figure into the book, and, in their discussion come some rather interesting notions---none of which really relate to flying saucers or little green (or grey)men.

Back in the U.S.of A. we hit the ground running with a trek into Texas's
Big Thicket with Nick and Rob Riggs (author of "In The Big Thicket") and
spend some quality time seeking hairy monsters and ghostlights.

Also in Texas we hear first hand from "Solomon",who saw a wolf-thing morph itself into something scarier than it was at first sight----and,
at first sight, it was pretty damn scarey already!

And Walt is a rancher who was upset over his cattle getting ripped apart in his pastures, so he sat out one night with a rifle and a nightscope to see what was doing this. Expecting a cougar, Walt got a big surprise; one that shook him up quite a bit.

There's a goat man in these pages,and flying whatsits,too. In fact, there's enough here to keep one entertained for hours.

Now this is,unabashadly, a Fortean crypto-book, so don't come to it with
some rigidly "rational" scientific frame of mind . That dogmatically materialist world view won't mesh with these contents. The "realist"-materialist concepts of what goes on and why in this world (challenged relentlessly and increasingly by quantum physics) are VERY often at odds with what real people can encounter from time to time in their real
lives----which can be (to use Redfern's favorite catch-phrase) "well and truly" weird. And utterly baffling.

CSICOP types and other lock-step "humbuggers" really needn't bother to knock at this door. There's nothing here that won't sour you up and make you cranky and figidty. Everyone else---especially those with open minds---is well and truly welcome.

An interesting and informative collection of things most strange. Would recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in cryptozoology or the paranormal. A lot of information with just the correct amount of humor to make this a very good read.

Nick Redfern adds an interesting twist to the story of Bigfoot from an outsider's perspective.

Well written and interesting. The reader is drawn in and taken on a fantastic roller coaster ride through a number of paranormal encounters.

Three men Seeking monsters part three with out the other two men. This is a good book but it lacks the color of the first one but still a good read with good monster stories. It's just like a movie series the first is always best but this one is still good.

I have every Nick Redfern book available, and there's not a clinker in the bunch; as usual this one is very entertaining, and HIGHLY recommended. My favorite fearless cryptozoologist has done it again!

He's extraordinarily cute, too. Doesn't affect his writing one way or the other; I'm just saying..