The Vermont Monster Guide [Paperback]

Joseph A. Citro (Author), Stephen R. Bissette (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2009

Though not widely acknowledged, the Green Mountain state is home to more winged wonders, wet weirdoes, and crypto creatures than any other state in the country. You probably know about Champ, the elusive monster of Lake Champlain. But what about Northfield's Pigman? And Richford's The Awful? Wherever you are in Vermont--in town or country, river or lake, land or sky--you're never far from the unknown. Or the unexpected.

Joseph A. Citro, respected monster hunter, brings to light over sixty Vermonsters, many captured in exquisite, ghoulish detail by the pen, brush, and ink of artist Stephen R. Bissette. Designed as both a cautionary tale and handy field manual for those who dare, The Vermont Monster Guide will be of interest to natives and tourists, to young and old...though it may not be suitable for readers with fragile constitutions.

The authors' previous collaboration, The Vermont Ghost Guide, is a popular favorite and the perfect companion to this volume. WARNING: The authors and publisher are not responsible for any unfortunate encounters that may result from the reading of this book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dummerston's Vampire Vine! Bighead! Pmola! The Woodman! Fanny's Fiend! If these names don't ring a bell, prior to your next hiking or boating trip in Windham County, you might want to pick up The Vermont Monster Guide and try to be prepared for the unexpected. Or if you just want to snuggle up under a quilt and give yourself the willies, the book is a good place to start." --Brattleboro (VT) Reformer

"Reading The Vermont Monster Guide by Joseph Citro could help prevent the mishaps that inevitably occur when one runs into, say, The Purple Hand, which is none too happy about being separated from its owner. And the brilliant illustrations by Stephen Bissette will help you know what you're seeing when you see it." --The Chronicle, (Barton, VT)

About the Author

JOSEPH A. CITRO has written numerous novels, collections of arcane folklore, and ghost guides chronicling the dark side of Vermont and New England. His classic, Green Mountain Ghosts, Ghouls, and Unsolved Mysteries, is the most comprehensive collection of offbeat Vermont lore ever assembled. STEPHEN R. BISSETTE has been a professional cartoonist, illustrator and artist for over thirty years and is a teacher at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. He is best known for his award-winning collaboration with writer Alan Moore on DC Comics' Saga of the Swamp Thing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: UPNE (September 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584657820
• ISBN-13: 978-1584657828
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BLOG: http://josephacitro.blogspot.com

Native Vermonter, novelist, and public radio commentator, Joseph A. Citro has done a lot to keep New England's history and folklore alive in the popular culture. His 14 books include five novels of suspense, four volumes of historical oddities, a collection of regional humor, three "eccentric" travel guides, and a co-edited book of essays.

His classic and best-selling Green Mountain Ghosts, Ghouls and Unsolved Mysteries (Houghton Mifflin 1994) was the most comprehensive collection of offbeat Vermont lore ever assembled; it has survived over 15 printings

It was supplemented by Passing Strange (1996), Green Mountains, Dark Tales (1999), The Vermont Ghost Guide (2000), and Curious New England (2003). His newest addition is a collection of crypto-creatures called The Vermont Monster Guide, named by Cryptomundo as one of the TOP 10 Cryptozoology books of 2009.

His first ebook, a collection of short fiction called NOT YET DEAD is now available.

Joe Citro's novels present a dark and mystical side of the Vermont experience. They include Shadow Child, Guardian Angels, The Gore, Lake Monsters and Deus-X.

Since 1992 his commentary series on public radio has featured Vermont and New England's best-loved ghosts, monsters, madmen, and mysteries.

Since becoming a professional writer in 1987, he has taught at local colleges, lectured widely, and appeared on regional and national radio and television. Two videos based on his work are now in production.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just Champy stories, September 19, 2009

By 

F. Douglas Aigner "Velkykanec" (Fair Haven, Vermont USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Vermont Monster Guide (Paperback)

This collection has been well-received in our household. As fans of Poe, Lovecraft, Twilight Zone, Kolchak, and the X-Files, we enjoy a good cryptid tale. Living in Fair Haven, Vermont, I particularly like the story of the giant, red-eyed rabbits living on an island in the middle of Lake Bomoseen. Perhaps we could mount an expedition! In any event, there are more than lake monsters in The Vermont Monster Guide, much more, so if you have even a passing interest in monster stories or folklore, this tome is well worth it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A whole crypto-zoo!, November 20, 2009

By 

Chris Woodyard "Author of the Haunted Ohio se... (Dayton, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vermont Monster Guide (Paperback)

What a great book! I read it all in one sitting and I have to say, there I was, just placidly cruising along, enjoying it when something like the Lake Willoughby cave full of giant eels or Pigman or the winged terror at Irasburg or the illustration for the Vampire Vine popped up and scared me half to death. Not nice, but effective all the same, which was, I assume, the author's goal. Raves for the illustrations too!

Citro has found an astounding variety of creatures--so much more than Champ and Bigfoot---and has dug up some sightings which are beyond bizarre: the Queztalcoatl that crossed the road and the giant multicolored snake spring to mind. There are times when you just have to throw your hands up and say either "what were the witnesses drinking?" or "I have NO idea what this is all about." This book made my night a little longer and darker.

Chris Woodyard
Author of the Haunted Ohio series
[...]

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Champ' is here!, March 28, 2011

By 

Justin Alaimo - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vermont Monster Guide (Paperback)

Joseph A. Citro's words, and Stephen Bissette's art do an excellent job of bringing Vermont's monsters to life. The book is split up in three types of crypto-creatures, earth, water, and air. Some are humorous, a few absurd, and many of them scary and possibly real. A fun read, that you may have to keep the lights on if reading late at night :)