Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside

November 15, 2010

Award-winning writer Steiger's newest work examines the unusual, supernatural, and legendary creatures that go bump in the night and a plethora of weird occurrences. Steiger has written more than 2000 articles and is the author and coauthor of more than 150 titles. Contributors to this volume include artists, folklorists, ghost hunters, videographers, and cryptozoologists. The stories are derived from newspaper and historical accounts and first-person interviews. The 26 chilling chapters span "Big Cats--Predators out of Place" to "Zombies--Voodoo and the Undead." Meanwhile, the reader gleans from the text that the bogeyman is a shape-shifting demon who once lived in bogs and that Native Americans devised special masks and dances to frighten ole bogey away. The chapter exploring lake monsters targets not only the famous Nessie but a lengthy list of strange aquatic beasts from around the world. Another section discusses haunted highways and hotels across the United States. Steiger's writing is crisp, and the topics are captivating. The book contains an index, which notes the pages that contain illustrations, and a bibliography, though the lack of cross-references is disappointing. BOTTOM LINE This work is an entertaining read on intriguing and sometimes bizarre subject matter at a very affordable cost. Not suggested as a scholarly resource but recommended instead for high school and public library collections as a brief if limited reference on folklore and cryptozoology.--Bobbie Wrinkle, McCracken Cty. P.L., Paducah, KY

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