Ablaze!: The Mysterious Fires of Spontaneous Human Combustion (Hardcover)

by Larry E. Arnold (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A must-have tome for the library of anyone interested in one of the world's most compelling mysteries: the apparent ability of people to become human fireballs. Hotly debated and heatedly denied yet never effectively banished like a cold ember in a fire overhaul, SHC defies common sense -- some would say sanity -- to leave behind fire scenes that are macabre beyond belief. No less astonishing are the facts revealed by eyewitnesses to SHC and, yes!, the survivors of SHC. "I saw it with my own eyes!" exclaims one witness, "he burned from the inside out, not the outside in. That's spontaneous human combustion in my estimation." Chapter after chapter of incredible stories never before in print; of eerie fires heretofore forgotten in dusty archives; of theories about why, when, where, and to whom SHC may happen next. (NOTE: each copy via AMAZON.COM will be personally signed by the author.)

About the Author
Larry E. Arnold redirected a background in engineering to explore the Unconventional. Recognized internationally for his pioneering research in forteana (phenomena that challenge orthodoxy), he is regarded as the leading authority about Spontaneous Human Combustion. His investigation of SHC spans a quarter-century and several continents. The author of three books, he has been featured on hundreds of radio shows and many television programs in the U.S.A., Canada, and Great Britain.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 478 pages
• Publisher: M. Evans and Company; 1St Edition edition (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871317893
• ISBN-13: 978-0871317896
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #977,666 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition, November 3, 2000

By	Ed (Cleveland ,Ohio) - See all my reviews

As a scientist working for the United States Government during the 80's I must applaud Larry's effort here. After aquiring my PHD in Chemistry I started working for the government during the Reagan Administration doing basic research into possible explanations for the paranormal. While defunking most of them, SHC was one of the more interesting to me. Larry provides clear insight using mostly interviewing techniques to elaborate. I may be biased due to my previous experience here, but I enjoyed this book as a scientist.

Ed

25 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's aflame with facts on SHC!, December 8, 1999

By	Sharon Eby-Martin (El Paso, TX) - See all my reviews

If there's one key element (besides fire) that this book by Larry Arnold is filled with it's FACTS! This man has dug into old archives and libraries, has interviewed not only people who witnessed these bizarre cases of flaming humans, but he also has interviewed SURVIVORS of SHC! Amazing and well documented throughout, Ablaze is a fascinating read! To an avid researcher of stange phenomena such as this, it is a welcome gift to us all because Larry has already done the work for us, and he covers aspects entirely unthought of by other researchers... the cartography of SHC and more! Mr. Arnold, and his book, is by far the BEST in the world of SHC!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched and fascinating read!, September 30, 2006

By	Sylvan Green "Seeker" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

Larry Arnold asks the right questions and provides readers of his book a real window into the "twilight zone." It doesn't matter if one is a "bus-driver, butcher, baker or candlestick maker" what matters is that intelligent, research is done. Logical questions are asked and those who would dismiss spontaneous Human Combustion as nothing more than a "cigarette fire" are left with a feeling so uncomfortable they either drop the book in alarm or read and learn. Fascinating and thorough and it left me asking what really is going on? We may have answers in Physics, who knows. What I do know is that Larry Arnold has written a very well researched and entertaining book and he has taken "heat" for daring to write about a subject the debunkers would rather have people not look into. Spontaneous Human Combustion does happen and it happens to people who have lived through it! Read this and prepare to have your brain turned around to consider how these cases can happen especially when you find out how extremely hot a crematorium oven has to get inorder to consume a human body even then, some bone fragments are still left and have to be "ground" into powder. Fine paper wasn't burned next to some of these bodies that were reduced to "powder" while sitting in a chair. Why????