Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation's Weirdest Wonders, Strangest Spots, and Creepiest Creatures

by Loren Coleman

Book Overview

Loren Coleman's highly-praised, 1983 classic work, "Mysterious America," has been thoroughly updated for this revised edition. Included here are classic reports on the Dover Demon, the Mad Gasser of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416527362
• ISBN13: 9781416527367
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A great piece of work

This is by far Loren Coleman's best that I have read. Covers a myriad of topics without skimping on the info. He doesn't just cover the common ones, either. Lesser known creatures are mentioned with a bunch of interesting information. There is more information than you could possibly want on out of place cat sightings (2 chapters) and I really enjoyed the author's wit and jokes! A really interesting and entertaining piece!

Mysterious America is great

This is a well researched book. I have always enjoyed Loren Coleman's books and articles. He did a great job of cataloging the various creature sightings across America's "flap" and "window" areas. This book was originally published in 1983, but this edition (2007) is revised and updated. Unlike some authors, he is hands-on in that he has actually traveled to the places he writes about, investigating sightings by interviewing witnesses. He also does a really great job of detailing the histories of these places. Overall, it is a very well-documented book and a very exciting read.

an excellent study of anomalous experiences and encounters

This book is in many ways an important study, after all, there is no end to unusual and outright anomalous encounters, and although many books have been written on these subjects, surprisingly little is of any lasting value. Coleman's book is among those that form essential cornerstones of any library of the unknown. Where else can we read about phantom clowns and phantom felines, terror kangaroos, the Dover Demon which he not only investigated, but coined the name - and a host of other, strange and othewordly creatures? Not only that, as there are many books out there with tall tales, Coleman is meticulous in his sourcing and referencing of any aspect. Moreover, he has investigated several of these incidents himself. Being a researcher in these fields myself, I sense the years of work, study, research and on the spot investigations went into this book, and Coleman deserves accolades for an excellent study. The book is meticulous, well written, well researched and owing to his generous mentioning of sources, traceable. I was especially intrigued by the phantom clown scare, as around the same time the Netherlands, Europe, experienced one. Which only strenghtens Coleman's chapter on the subject, since, as he writes, law enforcement authorities and others were not even aware that the Phantom Clown scare was a nationwide phenomenon, only having the data of what happened in their cities. How then, might we ask, does the uncomfortable fact fit in that another country also experienced something of a very similar nature at the same time? How do we deal with these, sometimes, transglobal phenomena? It shows the strength of a researcher such as Coleman that he had his eyes wide open at the right time, and that he tried to make sense of a most puzzling phenomenon. To date as far as I am aware, the chapter in his book is the only study undertaken on the Phantom Clown phenomenon. Perhaps there's a thesis or paper somewhere in an obscure folklore publication; I have not seen it. I know, though, that while we sit safe and warm in our comfortable apartments and homes, not only in America's outlands, but also in the dark hearts of its cities, strange creatures out of time and space are born. Creatures, that momentarily glide, jump, fly, slither or float in and out our daily existences. Frightened eyewitnesses recount their tales, puzzled journalists write articles. Names are being born to in time enter the lore of the folk, names like Momo, Champ, the Jersey Devil, the Dover Demon, the Baltimore Phantom, The Ghost of Paris, the Atlanta Iceman... Researchers like Coleman try to make sense of it. It is there, that this book may be our guide; in the shadowy zone where this reality slowly merges with what lies beyond...

Mysterious America is a must have!

Ghost lights, Devil Monkeys, Momo, The Jersey Devil. It's all here. Our old friend Loren Coleman has cataloged and classified as many strange occurrences as anyone. A must have for anyone interested in the unexplained right here in their own backyards. My copy is already dog-eared from lunch break perusals and the lists at the index end of the book help you plan a paranormal adventure if you so desire. I will definitely keep it handy as I take my film making gear around the South! Thanks Loren, for compiling the mysterious spaces of America.Eyes In The Dark: The Sasquatch Experience

A book for all reasons...

Great entertainment written by Loren Coleman, witty, surprising at times and great reading in general. I first heard Mr. Coleman on coast to coast talking about this book, it facinated me and I would recommend it to all. I hope to hear more about this writer in the future.