100 of the World's Greatest Mysteries: Strange Secrets (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"At long last--a comprehensive collection of creepy-crawly mysteries from the mind of E. Randall Floyd." -- Ed Mabry, Mysteries From Beyond

"It is good that most of these mysteries will never be solved...we need them around to keep us humble." -- Larry McGehee in Southern Seen

"Prepare yourself for some delightful reading in the pages of E. Randall Floyd's ledger of...tales of mystery and intrigue." -- The Charleston News and Courier-Post

Product Description

There's something joyfully fascinating about the Unknown.

Since earliest times we humans have been thrilled and chilled by things we can not understand--weather, death, the movement of stars and planets, even the darkness of night.

In order to cope with these great terrors, myths and legends were born--dragons and ghosts and winged beings from heavenly realms.

Even today, as we enter the new millennium, the old fears remain--haunting reminders of a dark and uncertain past, a past teeming with secrets and mysteries too awesome and frightening to contemplate. Instead of dragons and ghosts and lost civilizations like Atlantis, however, modern terrors include UFOs, tropical plagues and killer asteroids from the far reaches of space.

Anyone who thinks we have outgrown our old fears and fascination for the Unknown need only visit a bookstore or tune in to cable television. Many of these popular books and programs deal with angels, ghosts, lost civilizations, UFOs, doomsday comets and other mysteries.

Wouldn't it be wonderful, I used to muse, if someone came along and did a book about the most compelling mysteries--a kind of no-nonsense compendium that gives us a brief but thorough overview of the world's greatest mysteries of science, religion, folklore and history?

Fortunately, such a book has now appeared--E. Randall Floyd's startlingly clear and concise 100 of the World's Greatest Mysteries: Strange Secrets of the Past Revealed. From the Big Bang and rise of man to death-dealing asteroids and spontaneous human combustion, this book covers them all, an amazing range of facts, figures and compelling human drama, all told from a seasoned journalist's perspective.

Mr. Floyd, a former European correspondent for United Press International, professor of history, motion pictures screenwriter and author of more than a dozen best-selling books, says the idea for the book originated with his nationally syndicated newspaper column, Strange Encounters.

"I would get letters from people all the time asking if such a book were available,"

Mr. Floyd notes. "These were serious readers looking for a book full of facts and figures, not outlandish claims, hoaxes and junk theories like you find in so much New Age stuff."

Mr. Floyd spent five years researching and writing the book.

The usual topics are included--Atlantis, Stonehenge, Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle and sea serpents--as well as strange disappearances, mysterious skyfalls, fabled creatures, elaborate hoaxes and near-death-experiences. Category titles are especially appealing--like Fin, Fang & Fantasy; Into the Unknown; Heavenly Fires; Heavenly Fates; Spectral Incursions; Hoaxes & Outlandish Claims.

What is refreshingly different about this book is the way Mr. Floyd presents the information.

"I approached this material the way any good journalist would," Mr. Floyd explains.

"I wanted to present the facts and let the reader draw his own conclusion about each case."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Harbor House; illustrated edition edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891799053
• ISBN-13: 978-1891799051
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,052 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book!, November 2, 2000

By A Customer

I have always enjoyed reading about BigFoot, sea serpents, UFOs, ghosts and other so-called "mysteries." Some books are pure trash, but I found Mr. Floyd's book a thoroughly pleasurable experience. It's history and science and mythology and religion all rolled into one. It gets right to the point and does not stray, as do so many books that try to cover this material. The writing style is pure bliss--but packs a punch and leads the reader panting for more information. One thing about this book is that the author does not appear to draw preposterous conclusions; he leaves that up to the reader. Each one of these articles would make a nice book in its own right. Both of my teenagers have read this book and have recommended it to their friends. Just thought you'd like to know!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable, July 16, 2001

By	David Skelton (Bend, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

I recently bought this book, and I can tell you...what a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! I would have given the title 5 stars if it had gone into greater depth on some of the subjects, but hey...it is 100 of the World's Greatest Mysteries, they've got a lot of ground to cover here. This is not an in depth exploration of life's deeper meanings. This IS a brief telling of great mysteries that skips, like a rock on still water, from subject to subject. Purely entertaining, light reading, and a truly enjoyable vacation for the mind. Enjoy...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent introduction to our mysterious world, October 31, 2000

By A Customer

I found this an excellent introduction to many of the world's greatest mysteries. Concise and well-written, this author refuses to go where so many "fringe" authors go. In other words, he presents the facts as a good journalist would, without drawing sensational conclusions. This is good reading, highly recommended for readers of all ages. For those readers wishing to learn more about the material, there is an excellent bibliography.