Karl Shuker's Alien Zoo [Paperback]

Karl Shuker is a maverick biologist who stints as a Fortean writer and researcher. This book, "Karl Shuker's Alien Zoo" contains his articles for Fortean Times, a British publication about the unusual, the paranormal and the plain weird. Shuker's regular features are titled "Alien Zoo" and "The lost ark". They deal with cryptozoology, but frequently stray into the realms of folklore, hoaxes and even religion. I didn't know Noah had to save so many bizarre critters on the ark! Ararat, we have a problem...

Shuker's menagerie of marvels include sqrats (supposed hybrids between rats and squirrels), the water tiger of Ecuador, transparent catfish, a centipede with an odd number of legs (all others have an even number of legs), Unidentified Glowing Objects, snake-headed dogs, 7 foot tall flightless birds in the Mount Adams area of Washington State (?!), snakes that crows like cockerels, the Navajo Flying Snake, the Dinosaur Kangaroo and a tasty bird known as the Müshmurgh. There is also the gigantic Mongolian Death Worm, a fallen creature if there ever was one.

A staggering amount of sea-monsters have been reported, with names like Hessie, Messie, Gryttie and Oggy. Any relation to Nessie? Many other cryptids also have unforgettable names: Altamaha-ha, Makalala, Hantu Jarang Gigi, Ensut-Ensut, Tsere-Yawá, Öfuguggi, Skeljaskrimsli and Urdaköttur. Don't even ask me what those are - I don't have the book handy as I speak. OK, I think I remember the Öfuguggi. It's a dangerous, large cod with forward-pointing fins, stalking the seas around Iceland. In modern Icelandic, the word apparently means "pervert". If you are a fish noodler, don't touch!

In Ecuador, the Natives have reported a black panther with black, red, white and yellow stripes on its chest. Naturally, it's locally known as the rainbow tiger. In South Africa, the locals have spotted a bizarre beast "yellow in colour, serpentine in overall form, horse-like head, mane and a body the shape of a 20-quart barrel". The local cattle are said to have become restless at the sight of the creature. The gods must be crazy, yes?

Of course, we're not *really* supposed to take any of this at face value - it's a Fortean book, after all. Even Shuker admits that some of his case files might be hoaxes. Sometimes the bluff is easy to call. Surely a Loof Lirpa cannot be a real animal? Read that backwards, slowly! In other cases, the hoax is less obvious. A reader in Sweden, a certain Malcolm Sewell, claimed that there are two mysterious thunderbirds in the Swedish woods, known as "kungsörn" and "slaguggla". In reality, those are the Swedish names for Golden Eagle and Ural Owl, respectively. No mystery there - if you're first language is Swedish. Luckily, Fortean Times have readers in Scandinavia who pointed out the joke (or error) to Shuker. As for the mysterious Mr. Sewell, I'm afraid we have to dispatch an Alien Abduction Team to his little red cottage AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. Kidding...

In fact, many of the "cryptids" mentioned in "Karl Shuker's Alien Zoo" seem to be creatures of folklore. It seems every area of the world has its very own big, hairy beast. There are even a few reports from Britain, including the Shropshire Union Canal Man-Monkey and Old Ned's Devil. I would like to see the team from "Finding Bigfoot" descend on a small pub in the British countryside, trying to sniff out Old Ned. Small, hairy, pygmy-like humans are also common. Trolls? Mermen and mermaids are another folkloristic classic, spotted both in the oceans and in large inland lakes such as the Caspian Sea.

Shuker even mentions a couple of cryptids known only from religious legend. The Book of Mormon, famously or otherwise, talks about "cureloms and cumoms". No, ma'm, that's not history. In Spain, there used to be a holy relic of a feather from the wings of the angel Gabriel. Another curious medieval relic was a piece of skin from the snake in Eden. Apparently, Adam killed and skinned the snake after the fall?! On a more serious note, Shuker also discusses a number of early modern paintings which show unknown birds. (Errol Fuller has produced an entire book about such birds, "Lost Birds of Paradise".) Even a modern painting by Gaugin might show a bird unknown to science.

I'm not sure how to rate this nerdbook to end all nerdbooks (something tells me the average reader is a 15 year old boy), but since it does have a certain entertainment value, I'll give it four stars. But please don't say I didn't warn you...

Anyone who is a long-time fan of Fortean Times magazine will be familiar with Dr Karl Shuker's entertaining column of all things cryptozoology and beyond - the Alien Zoo.
This book is a collection of material that has appeared in those columns over the years, and even has the stamp of approval from Editor David Sutton, who is generous in his praise for Karl's work.
Alien Zoo is a 'trip to the zoo' like no others, crammed full of biological mysteries and oddities, with something fresh and intriguing on every page.
The book is richly illustrated with photographs including a hitherto unpublished photo of the tasmanian Tiger, this alone making the book worth the price for any cryptozoology enthusiast, collector or student of natural history.

This book is a a compilation of articles Dr Shuker wrote for Fortean Times (FT) over the past years. As such do not expect it to go as in depth as his other works (The Beasts That Hide from Man, Mystery Cats of the World etc). Just sweep through the page and wonder at Dr Shuker's uncanny ability at digging out information about the most obscure cryptids. In his typical style, Dr Shuker refuses to embrace both skepticism or belief: you'll be the judge. Some articles offer a possible explanation, other are just brief newlines.
All in all it's a great book: whatever you are a FT reader or not you should at least consider purchasing it.