Top 20 Cryptozoology Books of 2010
Posted by: Loren Coleman on December 2nd, 2010
Top 20 Cryptozoology Books of 2010
by Loren Coleman, The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates and Cryptozoology A to Z.
After examining many offerings from January to December, on a wide range of topics that encompass cryptozoology, here’s my view of the top twenty best works for the Year of 2010, in the realm of cryptid-related studies.
1. Best Cryptozoology Book of 2010
Mokele-Mbembe: Mystery Beast of the Congo Basin by William J. Gibbons.
This is an excellent example of the examination of histories, ethnoknown realities, and evidences of one cryptid and related probable species in a limited area, with expedition fieldwork detailed by one of those who was there. It takes the subject seriously, and gives a new treatment to the topic of Mokele-Mbembe in a well-executed overview. It is the kind of cryptozoological opus that should be individually produced on all the often-neglected cryptids. Congratulations to the author and publisher for this one!
2. Best Bigfoot Book of the Year
The Discovery of the Sasquatch: Reconciling Culture, History, and Science in the Discovery Process by John Bindernagel
Taking a conservative approach to the hominological study of Sasquatch in his native Canada, wildlife biologist John Bindernagel treats his readers to the rich insights he has of these animals. Who would have ever thought that Bigfoot studies would be so broad as to support such a straight-laced investigative look at the phenomenon? But Bindernagel delivers it well, and this book is an important addition to the mainstream literature on Bigfoot/Sasquatch.
3. Best Historical Cryptozoology Book of the Year
Varmints: Mystery Carnivores of North America by Chad Arment
No one delivers with such comprehensive authority raw historical data like Chad Arment. This book is a researcher’s treasure trove of information about mystery felids and other hidden “varmints,” mostly for Canada and the USA, well-organized according to region. If people use this material correctly, Arment’s archival labor should bear fruit for years about a wide-variety of cryptids.
4. Best Cryptid Felid Book of the Year
Australian Big Cats: An Unnatural History of Panthers by Mike Williams and Rebecca Lang
5.-7. Best Cryptozoology Collections of the Year
Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside by Brad Steiger
Karl Shuker’s Alien Zoo (new edition) by Karl P. N. Shuker
Tetrapod Zoology Book One by Darren Naish and Steve Backshall
8. Best Technology Cryptozoology Book of the Year
Monsters Caught on Film by Dr. Melvyn Willin
9.-14. Best Regional Cryptozoology Books of the Year
Monsters of Texas by Ken Gerhard and Nick Redfern
The Mystery Animals of Ireland by Gary Cunningham, Ronan Coghlan, and Janet Bord
Strange Kentucky Monsters by Michael Newton
Monsters of Pennsylvania: Mysterious Creatures in the Keystone State by Patty A. Wilson
Monsters of New Jersey: Mysterious Creatures in the Garden State by Loren Coleman and Bruce G. Hallenbeck
The Great Yokai Encyclopaedia by Richard Freeman
BONUS: One missed in the earlier publication of this list needs to be mentioned.
The Michigan Dogman: Werewolves and Other Unknown Canines Across the U.S.A. by Linda S. Godfrey
15.-17. Best Books on Giants of the Year
True Giants: Is Gigantopithecus Still Alive? by Mark A. Hall and Loren Coleman.
The American Goliah – And Other Fantastic Reports Of Unknown Giants And Humongous Creatures Edited By Timothy Green Beckley, with coauthors Scott Corrales, Nick Redfern, and Harold T. Wilkins.
Yetis, Sasquatch & Hairy Giants by David Hatcher Childress
18.-20. Best Alternative Cryptozoology Theory Books of the Year
The Cryptoterrestrials by Mac Tonnies.
Enoch: A Bigfoot Story by Autumn Williams
Silent Invasion: The Pennsylvania UFO-Bigfoot Casebook by Stan Gordon
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Bonus Picks (The following are not really cryptozoology books, but each contains possible source material on cryptids.)
Chronicles of the Strange and Uncanny in Florida by Greg Jenkins
Solomon Islands Mysteries: Accounts of Giants and UFOs in the Solomon Islands by Marius Boirayon
Strange Maine: True Tales from the Pine Tree State by Michelle Souliere
(Warning: The following book definitely includes several non-cryptozoological subjects, which may tend to confuse younger students of the field.)
The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology: Werewolves, Dragons, Skyfish, Lizard Men, and Other Fascinating Creatures Real and Mysterious by Deena West Budd
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Are we in for a surge of skeptics’ surprises for 2011?
What are the early favorites in the deluge of debunkers’ delights?
Here are a few:
Tracking the Chupacabra: The Vampire Beast in Fact, Fiction, and Folklore by Benjamin Radford, from University of New Mexico Press on May 15, 2011;
Searching for Sasquatch: Crackpots, Eggheads, and Cryptozoology by Brian Regal, from Palgrave Macmillan, on March 15, 2011; and
Tracking the Man-beasts: Sasquatch, Vampires, Zombies, and More by Joe Nickell, from Prometheus Books, on March 22, 2011.
Meanwhile, within the mainstream cryptozoology literature, coming in 2011, Michael Newton is scheduled to have a new book out by February entitled Strange Monsters of the Pacific Northwest from Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., and another later in the year, via CFZ Press, When Bigfoot Attacks.
Mark A. Hall’s Merbeings: The True History of Mermaids and Lizardmen from Anomalist Books and Loren Coleman’s Monsters of Massachusetts: Mysterious Creatures in the Bay State from Stackpole Press are also due.
Stay tuned for more forthcoming books in the months to come.
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Don’t see your book on the list? Was this an oversight? Contact me by clicking here. If you would like your book reviewed at Cryptomundo and/or considered for the 2011 list, please send a review copy to
Loren Coleman, Director
International Cryptozoology Museum
PO Box 4311
Portland, ME 04101.
Thank you.
Endnote: In due consideration of not penalizing the coauthors of my various books who have decided to work with me on a published tome, this year’s list takes exception to an irregular practice of not mentioning my own efforts for the year. You will find above two books that I coauthored, both of which are good books and thus deserve recommendations, nevertheless, so as to be fair to my coauthors.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
A great Xmas wish list if I’ve ever seen one!
PS: If you haven’t read Mac Tonnies’ book yet, drop everything you’re doing and get to it.