Alligators in the Sewer and 222 Other Urban Legends: Absolutely True Stories that Happened to a Friend...of a Friend...of a Friend (Hardcover)

by Thomas J. Craughwell (Author) "There may be some Americans who could not tell you the name of the vice president of the United States, but virtually every American knows..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Gloomy Sunday, Jimmy Ray (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Urban Legend (ur/ben lej/end) n. a fictional story, circulated by word-of-mouth, that is perpetuated by the continual assertion of truth.

All the rumors that have passed through office e-mail networks, the fantastic stories that have "happened to a friend" and the horrifying tales told around campfires are gathered here for the first time in one fascinating, unbelievable collection.

Organized by subject, chapters include: Naked at His Own Surprise Party and Other Sexual Escapades, The Stolen Kidney and Other Medical Disasters, The Gulf War Computer Virus and Other High Tech Scares, Roswells's Area 51 and Other Extraterrestrial Encounters, Elvis's Motorcycle and Other Celebrity Rumors, and many more. Each story runs one-to-two-pages long.

Many of the stories have been told with a different twist--variations are included at the end of each tale.

From the Inside Flap
Alligators in the Sewer, a comprehensive collection of urban legends, compiles hundreds of thse wild and entertaining tales. With themes that run the gamut from funny to sick, risque to informative, frightening to disgusting and bizaree, urban folklore can chill spines, spark smiles or turn stomachs, aand the stories are remarkable for their uncanny ability to travel by word of mouth--often with a few subtle changes catering to the needs of whoever is retelling them. They've been celebrated in newspapers, movies, and , most notably, on the late 20th century's misinformation superhighway: the internet. But far from a contemporary phenomenon, the urban legend has been around since medieval times, and it's the irresistible and intriguing nature of the stories--distinctly dark, invariably humorous, and always just plausible enough to be believed--that allows them to endure. These tales play on our collective fears and anxieties, and they're compelling because no one can be sure which stories are true, which are elaborate embellishments of facts, and which h are the result of nothing more than a twisted imagination and a flair for story-telling.

All the favorites are hear and arranged by genre--from "The Stolen Kidney and Other Medical Mishaps" to "Naked at his Own Surprise Party and Other Sexual Escapades," plus hundreds more strange-but-perhaps-not-completely-untrue anecdotes. Some of these legends have resurfaced in different forms again and again through the years--like the tales of King Arthur's life-after-death that bear a striking resemblance to rumors about the afterlives of modern heroes like Elvis Presley, Andy Kaufman, and Tupac Shakur. When available, each story's variations through history have been included, along with all the modern versions. From Roswell, New Mexico to the thieves who left only the toothbrush and the camera, Alligators in the Sewer is a novel examination of pop culture's shady underbelly as well as an authoritative reference of contemporary folklore with stories guaranteed to amuse, enlighten and freak you out.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157912061X
• ISBN-13: 978-1579120610
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #750,487 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Skip it, June 22, 2000

By	Hazel T. (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

I'll admit that I and my e-mail correspondants have been duped by some of the urban legends contained in this book. However, the book's title is misleading. Most of these stories are campfire stories and jokes that no reasonably intelligent person believes happend to "a friend of a friend."

Those looking for an easy quick read of a mildly entertaing book should order it. Unless you fall into that category, I fear you will, like I did, regret paying for a book such as this when there are so many urban legend websites available with a double-click as the only payment needed.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is Great!, December 2, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Indiana, USA.) - See all my reviews

I think this book is Great. It reads quick and easy. Thats important to me because me and my friends can read the stories to each other in the hallway while we are going to class. I have got so many people reading this book now just because the majority of the stories are real funny. Everyone really likes "The Turkey Neck". This a book that under normal cercemstances would have taken me a month to read BUT, I read it in about a week. I would recomend this book to anyone. Its Great!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A light, fun book for those who love urban legends., May 27, 2001

By	Diane Moore - See all my reviews

I finished this book today and most of the time, i couldn't put it down. Unlike the bigger, bulkier books with lots of history behind them, this one gets right to the point. I do like the ones with the history, and even though this book provides some information like different variations or when the story started, sometimes I wanted more.

There are a ton of legends in here though--and its very easy to read--its like hearing a good joke and you can't wait for the punchline. Even though some of them scared me--the poodle in the microwave (i can never read that one without cringing) and Bloody Mary (I still can't look into a mirror around midnight--cause then i will think of this story---you dont even have to do it at midnight, but for some reason, i always connect it to that!!)

Plus, there are fun ones, like the college ones I enjoyed since i just graduated--i also loved hearing how elvis is alive and paul is dead.

Quick and easy read... a "no nonsense" urban legends book! :)