The Shark That Walks On Land: and Other Strange But True Tales of Mysterious Sea Creatures

by Michael Bright

When you dive into the sea, do you ever wonder what's down there, beneath you, poised to take an inquisitive bite? Author of Jaws Peter Benchley and film director Steven Spielberg certainly did, for below the waves lies a world we neither see nor understand; an alien world where we are but the briefest of visitors.The Shark that Walks on Land uncovers tales of ancient and modern mariners, with stories of sea serpents, mermaids and mermen, sea dragons, and the true identity of the legendary kraken. But this book contains more than just a medley of maritime myths and mysteries for marine biologists; it celebrates wonderful discoveries by blending the unknown and the familiar in an entertaining miscellany of facts, figures and anecdotes about the myriad creatures that inhabit the oceans.Along the way we meet the giants, the most dangerous, the oddballs and the record breakers – and the shark that really does walk on land!

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2020

Reviews

[A.R. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a literary classic, but it certainly is a comprehensive account of everything that ever dipped its toes into the sea. If Jaws gave you nightmares, don’t read the sections about the jellyfish with four human-like eyes, or the blobs of gigantic single cells at the very very bottom. The sex life of some of these things is even worse than their eating habits. So, why am I glad I read it? I write science fiction, and the seemingly infinite variety of these creatures, and the extreme habitats they live in, makes me more sure than ever that my cast of alien characters is perfectly plausible.

[Paxton M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright's well-researched but thoughtful and thought-provoking writing style provided a very interesting insight into the marine world. I found the book very interesting, despite being a little complex and over-scientific about topics that I cared about less than others. Those parts, however, I could breeze through a little faster. His commentary on the fictional and mythical aspects of oceanary creatures was fascinating as well. Some of the theories proposed by biologists from many, many years ago were brought to the surface in this story, and I thought that that aspect of the book made it all the more challenging and interesting. Overall, it really made me think and gave me more than a couple really fascinating fun facts. 4 out of 5 for sure.