Fearsome Critters

by Henry H. Tryon, Margaret Ramsay Tryon (Illustrator)

A look into old America Lore and some strange critters,

Genres: Folklore

68 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1939

Reviews

[Nostalgia Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read online here: http://www.lumberwoods.com/fearsome_c...

4.5 stars.

A bit choppy (heh, take that as a pun if you'd like) and not the greatest illustrations, but a good companion to William T. Cox. It covers many creatures that Cox does not, and gives a lot of additional info and alternative story threads about those that he does. It's not quite like Cox's guidebook, as it focuses more on sightings and lore, rather than specs like region, appearance, and prey. However, it's still just as fascinating and surreal. The Rumtifusel wins for the weirdest, most unsettling creature; although the Wampus Cat, with its freakin' pantographic-esque folding arm, is also intriguing.

*Read in correlation with William T. Cox's Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods: With a Few Desert and Mountain Beasts.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read of American folklore that is based on mythic American beasts of the Northwoods. And although there is nod to Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods: With a Few Desert and Mountain Beasts, which was its predecessor the book also takes the time to include other resources thus giving a motley array of stories that span from bestiary presentation to eyewitness accounts to a mix-up of styles - basically a smorgasbord for readers who enjoy variety.

Using the version from http://www.fearsomecreaturesofthelumb... the reader is also able to read this book as a separate entity then moving onto other titles that may interest them if they so wish or in a style where they can compare the beasts from the different literary versions. And since this one is taken from so many sources the readers will not only find links to the the predecessor book previously mentioned but also to "Yarns of the Big Woods" and also to The Hodag and Other Tales of the Logging Camps.

I cannot say that I am really much of a fan for this particular book when compared to "Fearsome Creatures" for the artwork not only doesn't match that of the earlier book but also doesn't reach the same standard either. At the same time being able to compare the two works side-by-side you see where the information such as the scientific name is different from each other while comparing and contrasting other information between the two different sources when they are same. With that said there are also plenty of beasties included that doesn't show up in the other work so I am happy to be able to skip over the parts I don't like to enjoy those that are quite new.

All in all it is a definitely interesting and quick read for those who may want to know more about American mythic beasts and folklore.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Justice for the Squonk

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to learn about some new creatures, but the style of writing was a little more buddy buddy than I would like. The pictures here were also strange. Sometimes featuring only part of a creature like a segment of it's tail. And occasionally being completely unsure of how the picture was related to the beast.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would encourage anyone who loves a bit of whimsy to give this a read! Nice and short with adorably humorous illustrations.

http://www.lib.lumberwoods.org/fc/tit...

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun relic from days-gone-by. This is a collection of fictional creatures that miners, lumberjacks, and pioneers created through hear say or in an attempt to explain some type of natural phenomena.