Ghostly cryptids, cryptid ghosts

"Phantoms and Monsters: Cryptid Encounters" is a relatively interesting (but very eclectic) collection of mostly first-hand accounts from people who encountered “monsters”. Lon Strickler is an independent researcher who straddles the fence between cryptozoology and paranormal research. Often, researchers who believe Bigfoot or Mothman are physical, unknown animals (“cryptids”) shy away from the more ghostly and supernatural accounts of such creatures. Strickler doesn't.

The reports included in this volume shows that there isn't a Chinese wall separating reports of flesh-and-blood cryptids from more controversial reports of ghosts, “devils” or “angels”. Rather, there is a continuum, with many accounts falling somewhere in between. Bigfoots vanishing into thin air, Bigfoot-related phenomena when nothing physical seems to be around, Mothmen communicating through Ouija boards or telepathy…the evidence for such things seem to be just as strong (or just as weak and anecdotal) as the evidence for Bigfoot being a smelly, physical creature with a penchant for poking around in people's garbage bins.

It's interesting to note that Strickler himself has had both paranormal experiences (ghosts at the Gettysburg battlefield) and seen an apparently physical cryptid (a Bigfoot). He has also encountered a flying creature which could be interpreted either way. As for explanations, the author veers strongly towards a paranormal one, seeing the creatures as inter-dimensional beings. Occult thought-forms created by ourselves is another possibility.

Otherwise, I noted a number of unusual reports about cryptids (or entities) I haven't heard of before, specifically “Fenix birds”, flying stingray-like creatures and the frogman. Sometimes, I think the author may be a bit too credulous, since some of the cases included could be misidentifications of bears, large reptiles or known birds. His own encounter with a Mothman could perhaps have been a crane or a large heron. Overall, however, I consider his book to be both honest and interesting. I think it deserves either three or four stars.