Muhahaha

This is an entertaining book by John Michael Greer, one of those typical “grumpy bearded old men” with a strange caftan and even stranger ideas. In this case, old beard believes that peak oil will destroy modern civilization and that Neo-Celtic spirituality is the way to go. He also has a soft spot for Rudolf Steiner's bio-dynamic agriculture. However, I readily admit that JMG doesn't come across as very grumpy in “Monsters”, an entertaining and mischievous look at the paranormal. Apparently, everything you thought you know about vampires, werewolves, fairies, Bigfoot or ritual magic is wrong and probably the result of watching too many late night Hollywood horror flicks (or too many episodes of “Finding Bigfoot”). The author, somewhat tongue in cheek, sets us straight – but since he really is a ritual magician and occultist, he probably does believe (on some level) that his descriptions of monsters are true. Thus, the book can be read on several different levels: as Halloween entertainment, as an encyclopedia of ostensible creatures chased by crypto-zoologists and exorcists, or as an actual guide to the supernatural. Ultimately, it's up to the reader to decide whether the author is tricking or treating us…