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Summary: High praise for the encyclopedia of cryptozoology!
Review: As an author, lecturer, investigator and consultant, Loren Coleman is one of the world's most famous cryptozoologists. From my broader interests in paranormal phenomena, no one has perfected the encyclopedic format of the fringe sciences like Jerome Clark. These two have collaborated on other occassions, but it would be hard to imagine to greater success than in Cryptozoology A to Z. Their combined experience and expertise covers the range of cryptids as well as those who pursue them. Anyone interested in the monsters and not the men and women who seek to prove their existence is missing the vital aspect that separates fact and fiction - the collection of evidence. There are shadows, tracks and wakes, but what passed by to create them? I used this book as a source of information toward researching and authenticating my own published novel of cryptofiction. My greatest concern was whether or not the fiction I write could match the facts presented so compellingly in Cryptozoology A to Z. Nobody as prominent in the media today knows the subject of cryptozoology as well as Mr. Coleman, or can organize and give it credibility like Mr. Clark. Like all great collaborations, it is hard to tell where one writer begins and the other ends. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about cryptozoology and then again to those who need to refer back to keep their facts straight. As an overview of both sides of the chase, it has few equals.
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Summary: BOOK OF THE MONTH
Review: BOOK OF THE MONTHFortean TimesNovember 1999Issue No. 128Page 55The Compleat CryptozoologistComprehensive, invaluable "beginner's guide" to the study of mystery animalsCryptozoology A to ZLoren Coleman and Jerome ClarkReviewed by Darren NaishThis new volume is an excellent introduction to the study of mysteryanimals. With nearly 200 entries arranged alphabethically, topics rangefrom the universally popular to the arcane.The authors do a good job of presenting both sides of a debate, and some ofthe sillier speculations made by cryptozoologists (eg about pterosaursurvival) are played down.Their approach is open-minded and not as credulous as that often seen incryptozoological texts. I see it as a sort of "beginner's guide."Never before has so much biographical information been published oncryptozoologists themselves, and this alone makes the volume invaluable. There are omissions - particularly of UK and Australian researchers - butthese are the results of heavy editing by the publishers, though theinclusion of some virtual unknowns is weird.* * *Fans of Coleman's writing will welcome new insights into his theories aboutAmerican lions and merbeings Ieven if they don't agree with them) andinformation on certain lake monsters and other subjects is presented herefor the first time.
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Summary: Broad and thin
Review: Coleman covers most of the popular crptids here but in little depth. If you're really interested in the subject I'd recommend any books by Shuker or of course Heuvelmans.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: Coleman's writing skills are put to test in a vast but rather scanty book that covers almost every aspect of cryptozoology. While Mothman and company are left out, Coleman gives plenty of coverage on phantom felines, out of place and oversized reptiles, and of course, the infamous Bigfoot. Other mystery primates are also covered in this book. This is just a sample of the sort of material you will find inside the pages of Crypto A to Z. Unfortunatly, if you are looking for vast coverage of specific sugbject, you should look else where. This book serves only as an introduction to the basics on what sorts of mysterious critters are or are not roaming around America and other parts of the world. And just that makes you really question people and books like this one. If there really are huge cats, werewolves, giant ape-men, hairy humanoids, "devil monkies" and sea serpents running around, why have they remained hidden in a modern, scientific world with more than six billion human inhabitants?
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Summary: A terrific one-volume overview of cryptozoology
Review: CRYPTOZOOLOGY A-Z is a terrific one-volume overview of the subject of "hidden animals" and the people who investigate their existence. Not only is it a good starting point for those new to the field, but it will delight the experts too, as Coleman and Clark have scattered much new material throughout the book on such subjects as the coelacanth and the pygmy elephant. A warning to the reader, however. Like the well-known brand of potato chip, the entries in this book, of which there are nearly 200, are so enlightening and enjoyable that you won't be able to read "just one." My two thumbs are way up.--Editor, The Anomalist.
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Summary: thorough encyclopedia of cryptozoology
Review: Cryptozoology, the search for unknown or "hidden" animals, is a strange field, quite legitimate in some cases as researchers bring to the world of scientific knowledge new creatures such as the woodland bison (rediscovered in 1960 after it was presumed extinct), the saola (a large bovid discovered in 1992 in Vietnam), and the okapi, the giraffe relative of the deep jungles of central Africa, dicovered by western man in 1901 after extensive searching and using clues from the local inhabitants in the region. Other creatures such as the giant squid and the pygmy elephant are poorly known and quite enigmatic, but nonetheless real and seem to fall between the shadowy border of "standard" zoology and cryptozoology. Cryptzoology also as a field includes a host of other strange creatures, many famous such as the sasquatch (or Bigfoot), yeti (or Abomininable Snowman), and the Loch Ness Monster, others fairly obscure such as the waitoreke (an otter-like mammal that may exist in New Zealand), the marozi (the enigmatic spotted lion of East Africa), and the buru (a large unknown monitor lizard of the remote valleys in the Himalayas). To an educated person who prides himself on having read a great many nature and science books, many "cryptids" (animals of interest to cryptozoologists) seem outlandish and improbable, such as the skunk ape of Florida or even the Loch Ness Monster (as the loch in question has been combed over extensively, and any air-breathing monster would have long been discovered and documented). It is with the creatures that *just may* exist, that don't sound so improbable, that gives to me cryptozoology (and this book) its charm. Surely hairy wildmen don't haunt the rain forests of Washington state, but who is to say with absolute certainty the buru or the marozi don't exist? Coleman and Clark cover the field well, with entries for famous and not-so-famous cryptids, as well as large animals that have come to light in the 20th century. In part, it is these newly discovered animals - the Komodo dragon in 1910, the coelacanth in 1938, the kouprey in 1961 - that help make the science of cryptzoology at least partially legitimate. In addition, they have entries for famous cryptzoologists such as Matthew A. Bille, a leader in cryptocetology (the study of hidden or undiscovered whales) and Bernard Heuvelmans, the "Father of Cryptzoology," whose has written numerous works on cryptozoology, particularly on mysterious hominids such as the yeti. Whether cryptozoology is a legitimate and cutting edge science or a collection of real animals, folktales, myths, and legends all mixed together is for the reader to decide. Coleman and Clark treat the subject with seriousness and professionalism, and the book is fun to browse through, complete with nice illustrations of cryptids and cryptozoologists. A nice bibliography is included, along with a list of cryptozoology musuems and exhibits, periodicals, and websites.
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Summary: thorough encyclopedia of cryptozoology
Review: Cryptozoology, the search for unknown or "hidden" animals, is a strange field, quite legitimate in some cases as researchers bring to the world of scientific knowledge new creatures such as the woodland bison (rediscovered in 1960 after it was presumed extinct), the saola (a large bovid discovered in 1992 in Vietnam), and the okapi, the giraffe relative of the deep jungles of central Africa, dicovered by western man in 1901 after extensive searching and using clues from the local inhabitants in the region. Other creatures such as the giant squid and the pygmy elephant are poorly known and quite enigmatic, but nonetheless real and seem to fall between the shadowy border of "standard" zoology and cryptozoology. Cryptzoology also as a field includes a host of other strange creatures, many famous such as the sasquatch (or Bigfoot), yeti (or Abomininable Snowman), and the Loch Ness Monster, others fairly obscure such as the waitoreke (an otter-like mammal that may exist in New Zealand), the marozi (the enigmatic spotted lion of East Africa), and the buru (a large unknown monitor lizard of the remote valleys in the Himalayas). To an educated person who prides himself on having read a great many nature and science books, many "cryptids" (animals of interest to cryptozoologists) seem outlandish and improbable, such as the skunk ape of Florida or even the Loch Ness Monster (as the loch in question has been combed over extensively, and any air-breathing monster would have long been discovered and documented). It is with the creatures that *just may* exist, that don't sound so improbable, that gives to me cryptozoology (and this book) its charm. Surely hairy wildmen don't haunt the rain forests of Washington state, but who is to say with absolute certainty the buru or the marozi don't exist? Coleman and Clark cover the field well, with entries for famous and not-so-famous cryptids, as well as large animals that have come to light in the 20th century. In part, it is these newly discovered animals - the Komodo dragon in 1910, the coelacanth in 1938, the kouprey in 1961 - that help make the science of cryptzoology at least partially legitimate. In addition, they have entries for famous cryptzoologists such as Matthew A. Bille, a leader in cryptocetology (the study of hidden or undiscovered whales) and Bernard Heuvelmans, the "Father of Cryptzoology," whose has written numerous works on cryptozoology, particularly on mysterious hominids such as the yeti. Whether cryptozoology is a legitimate and cutting edge science or a collection of real animals, folktales, myths, and legends all mixed together is for the reader to decide. Coleman and Clark treat the subject with seriousness and professionalism, and the book is fun to browse through, complete with nice illustrations of cryptids and cryptozoologists. A nice bibliography is included, along with a list of cryptozoology musuems and exhibits, periodicals, and websites.
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Summary: The Ultimate Guide to Cryptozoology.
Review: For the newcomer or seasoned researcher of Cryptozoology, this volume is a 'must have' edition. Detailed in easy A-Z style it present virtually all the information one would expect from a work with such a title. The authors are both well respected within this field and their practical and physical experience shows through in a fascinating and illuminating narrative. As for those who criticise its lack of content, then sadly I feel you are way off mark. Both authors have contributed truly relevant information without becoming repeatative or boring. A much needed work, worthy of anyone's money. Paul Harrison President - Loch Ness Monster Research Society.
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Summary: Fortunately or unfortunately......
Review: Fortunately or unfortunately, many Cryptozoologists from A to Z will not find their names or contributions mentioned in "Cryptozoology A to Z". The field of Cryptozoology was born out by years of tedious trials, and efforts by many bearing the title of "Cryptozoologist" who shall, in this book, remain virtually unknown. The book is a good primer for Crypto-zoo starters.
Rating:
Summary: who is Arlene Gaal ?....find out
Review: good o.k book but not great, about little known researchers in this field and cryptids like the shunka warrak'in ("carrying off dogs) and Emala-ntouka the "Killer of Elephants" make for interesting reading , some of the animals have a lot written about them, while others are too short. I'd a liked to had the Bigfoot, yeti and Thylacine sections be a little longer! Gee. Reading this book I find quite abit of these rare cryptids are killed ....for what? do we know anymore about them. ~live and let live
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