Description:
Come and meet the monsters in our midst, from bigfoot to batsquatch and beyond!
Welcome to the United States of Cryptids, where mysterious monsters lurk in the dark forests, deep lakes, and sticky swamps of all fifty states. From the infamous Jersey Devil to the obscure Snallygaster, travel writer and chronicler of the strange J. W. Ocker not only uncovers the bizarre stories of these creatures but investigates the ways in which communities have embraced and celebrated their local cryptids. Readers will learn about:
The Mothman of West Virginia, a hybrid monster blamed for a deadly bridge collapse in 1967;
The Batsquatch of Washington, a winged bigfoot that is said to have emerged from the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980;
The Lizard Man of South Carolina, a reptilian mutant that attacked a teenager in the summer of 1988;
The Pope Lick Monster of Kentucky, a goat-man that lures people to their deaths on a train trestle bridge in Louisville;
The Nain Rouge of Detroit, a fierce red goblin that has been spotted before every major city disaster;
and many more!
Whether you believe in bigfoot or not, this compendium is a fun, frightening, and fascinating tour through American folklore and history, exploring the stories we tell about monsters and what those stories say about us.
Brief description:
J. W. Ocker is an Edgar Award-winning travel writer, novelist, and blogger. His previous books include Poe-Land, A Season with the Witch, and Cursed Objects. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast OTIS: Odd Things I've Seen (OddThingsIveSeen.com).
Review Quotes:
"Ocker does not shy from exposing hoaxes (e.g., jackalopes) or deliberate leveraging of cryptid enthusiasm, such as Norfolk's mermaid sculptures. Ocker has lots of time for these communities and their beliefs, and his breezy storytelling talents make for enjoyable reading."
-- "Booklist"