Series of the Month: Loren Coleman Presents

Cryptozoology Month continues, and what a month it's been! Dr. Bryan Sykes has analyzed hair samples from creatures thought to be Yetis, and two interesting samples in the Himalayas seem to be genetically linked to an ancient form of polar bear! In other words, there's a possible species of bear that has not yet been identified, and this species could, potentially, be the type of bear that people have spotted and identified as a Yeti for decades. Here's a short clip of Dr. Bryan Sykes explaining the findings: 

Cryptozoologist and cultural behaviorist Loren Coleman has posted a thorough and fascinating explanation of Sykes' samples and the many species of bears identified in the Himalayan regions at his blog CRYPTOZOONEWS.

Clearly it's a big month for Cryptozoologists and paranormal specialists, so it's rather fitting that this month we're highlighting a series of fascinating works on the subject. Our Series of the Month is a specially-curated collection of cryptozoology titles called "Loren Coleman Presents"; each title in this series represents a significant contribution to the field. Coleman contributed a special introduction to each edition, discussing the books' contents and the authors' impact in the field. The titles included in this Series examine strange creatures throughout history, including Abominable Snowmen, werewolves, and sea serpents.

The titles available in this series include:

Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life, by Ivan T. Sanderson
This title is also our Book of the Month, representing one of the first serious scientific analyses of Bigfoot, and a work that greatly influenced Coleman and other cryptozoologists. [Paperback/Hardcover]

Curiosities of Natural History, by Francis T. Buckland (four-volume set) 

This is a replica of the 1858 third edition of Curiosities, Buckland's strange work on zoophagy, or learning about animals through eating them. Buckland was a zoologist, surgeon, and natural historian, known mainly for his writings on fish and fisheries. [Contact Cosimo for the full set or purchase individually: Paperback/Hardcover/GoogleBook]

Mythical Monsters, by Charles Gould

Gould was a geological surveyor, so his examination of strange creatures concerns partly the proofs of their existence evidenced in the land. He was particularly fascinated with dragons, the detailing of which comprise multiple chapters in this work. [Paperback/Hardcover]

Snakes: Curiosities and Wonders of Serpent Life, by Catherine C. Hopley

This work, originally published in 1882, provides a thorough examination of snakes, from facts to mythology and superstition. [Paperback/Hardcover]

The Book of Werewolves, by Sabine Baring-Gould
One of the most cited works in the study of lycanthropy, Baring-Gould's work trades in both the academic and the sensational, combining a history of werewolf and shape-shifting lore with more graphic tales of "true crime." [Paperback/Hardcover/GoogleBook]

The Dragon in China and Japan, by Marinus Willem de Visser
This comprehensive work details references to dragons in Chinese and Japanese literature and folklore; sections are meticulously divided by subject, such as "Transformations" and "The Chinese Dragon and the Dragon-Horse as Omens in Japan." [Paperback/Hardcover]

The Great Sea Serpent, by Antoon Cornelis Oudemans

Originally published in 1892, The Great Sea Serpent details sightings of serpents throughout history, and asks whether science can logically explain these sightings. Oudemans does not shy away from discounting hoaxes through vigorous application of his scientific knowledge to these accounts. [Paperback/Hardcover/GoogleBook]

The Romance of Natural History, by Philip Henry Gosse
Coleman refers to Gosse as one of the "grandfathers of cryptozoology" because of this survey of cryptids. Gosse himself took a "poetic" view of these creatures, seeking "to paint a series of pictures, the reflections of scenes and aspects in nature, which in [his] own mind awaken poetic interest..." [Paperback/Hardcover]

Thunderbirds: America's Living Legends of Giant Birds, by Mark A. Hall
Hall's work provides a thorough view of Thunderbirds, large condor-like birds spotted throughout the Americas for decades. Here Hall compiles sightings, myths, and folklore concerning Thunderbirds, and suggests that these creatures may have prehistoric predecessors. [Hardcover/Paperback/eBook]