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Alien Animals
s/t: A Worldwide Investigation - Lake Monsters, Giant Birds & Birdmen, Black Dogs, Mystery Pumas, Bigfoot
258 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 1981
2 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 14, 2020
Another part of my bedtime rereads of paranormal books of my youth.
I really dug this book when I was a kid, and was looking forward to rereading it. Unfortunately, I did that early this year and never took any notes, so here I am trying to mentally recreate whatever I can about the experience (which probably occurred during the height of the first wave of Covid and following my losing my job)....so, this may be a rather weak review, I state apologetically...
Essentially, this is yet another tour through the usual "unusual suspects" - lake monsters, giant wildcats, big bird and bird men, black dogs, BHM (Big Hairy Monsters aka Bigfoot) and the like. The only difference comes in lumping them all into one book and, with their backgrounds in British prehistoric sites/standing stones and the like, the Bord's making an argument that perhaps these creatures are not real and physical, or only temporarily physical, and more of a manifestation of the witness' mind as it interacts with posited Earth Energies/Ley Lines. All very 1970s hippie/Caravan/New Age, of course, but as a kid I found this a very useful alternative to the endless, fruitless pursuit of actual animals that seemed to lack the capacity for breeding populations and food sources. If nothing else, it rang some mental chimes and so I give it credit for that. Of course, they can't *prove* anything - and no one should really be expecting them to - so it becomes another theory on the pile....
I really dug this book when I was a kid, and was looking forward to rereading it. Unfortunately, I did that early this year and never took any notes, so here I am trying to mentally recreate whatever I can about the experience (which probably occurred during the height of the first wave of Covid and following my losing my job)....so, this may be a rather weak review, I state apologetically...
Essentially, this is yet another tour through the usual "unusual suspects" - lake monsters, giant wildcats, big bird and bird men, black dogs, BHM (Big Hairy Monsters aka Bigfoot) and the like. The only difference comes in lumping them all into one book and, with their backgrounds in British prehistoric sites/standing stones and the like, the Bord's making an argument that perhaps these creatures are not real and physical, or only temporarily physical, and more of a manifestation of the witness' mind as it interacts with posited Earth Energies/Ley Lines. All very 1970s hippie/Caravan/New Age, of course, but as a kid I found this a very useful alternative to the endless, fruitless pursuit of actual animals that seemed to lack the capacity for breeding populations and food sources. If nothing else, it rang some mental chimes and so I give it credit for that. Of course, they can't *prove* anything - and no one should really be expecting them to - so it becomes another theory on the pile....
April 16, 2015
That cover brings back delighted memories of leaving the library, clutching this tome, going back and forth between the menacing, red-eyed representatives of the cryptids within and the back cover, a wall-paper of newspaper headlines about monster sightings.
A thorough and well-written book, although I never bought into (and still don't) the mystical explanations that crop up at the end. That said, even when the book is all the way down its rabbit hole (Bigfoot hole?), it remains sober and at least vaguely scientific in its argument. Time to track this one down.
A thorough and well-written book, although I never bought into (and still don't) the mystical explanations that crop up at the end. That said, even when the book is all the way down its rabbit hole (Bigfoot hole?), it remains sober and at least vaguely scientific in its argument. Time to track this one down.
July 19, 2023
I was obsessed with this book growing up. Would always reach for it from my Dad’s bookshelf as a kid in the early 90s.
Definitely attribute it to being so fascinated with the dark and paranormal now!
Definitely attribute it to being so fascinated with the dark and paranormal now!
December 22, 2025
Those are exactly the kind of topics I want to read more about: elusive lake monsters (e.g. Loch Ness), cats that can't be caught, mysterious black dogs, giant birds and birdmen (e.g. Mothman), man or manimal (e.g. Bigfoot), animals that aren't. Together with many cool illustrations and photos (most spectacular were the three nude witches in the sea) the quintessential book for the cryptoid fan. Really recommended!
September 14, 2017
I like reading about weird phenomenon (strange animals, UFOs, etc.) I like thinking that there are things out there we don't know about yet. This book didn't grab my attention much. There was nothing new that I hadn't read somewhere before. Most examples were things that have been debunked already elsewhere.
April 19, 2022
Loved this book as a child. It blew my mind!!!!!
October 9, 2011
Had this book in school when we believed in big foot and all. Book about actual sightings (alleged) of big foot, yeti's, lochness monster, witches, jersey bird etc. Used to enjoy reading it. Havnt picked it up in years now. Lol
August 23, 2016
the best thing about this book is that the authors seem so earnest. they just want everyone to know about BHM (Big Hairy Monsters) near them!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews