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sydnapped's review
4.0
When most people think of Texas, there's usually some certain stereotypes that come along with it — besides the notion of cowboys, there's the clichés that all Texans drive a big pickup truck, everyone has a country twang, citizens shoot first and ask questions later, and there are longhorn cattle in every expanse behind our homes.
While some stereotypes are rooted in truth, the Lone Star State can really surprise you once you see Texas beyond the common archetypes.
Like when people actually get to know or hear an average Texan speak, determine a cultural awareness in them and realise that most are neither cowboys nor are country accented. And just like there's more to Texans than meets the eye, there's also more to what roams our grasses than longhorn cattle.
Texas is not only rich in natural treasures but is one of the most biologically diverse states in the nation with so much wilderness and wonders filled with natural beauty to explore that it would take you a lifetime to really see it all.
Because Texas is such a large state and the climate within it varies greatly across the state, we have humid, rain-soaked swamps that lie toward the east and desert lands that lie in the far west and of course a highly varied topography of woodlands, grasslands, brushland, and other ecological regions (eleven in all) that can be found all in between and around the state.
In consideration of this topic, it is important to recognise that there are six major regions of Texas forest lands (nearly 12 million acres) which include the Big Thicket, the Piney Woods, the Gulf Coast, the lower Rio Grande Valley, the Trans-Pecos mountain forests and the Edwards Plateau. In the eastern portion of the Edwards Plateau is the Texas Hill Country which reaches into portions of the two major metropolitan areas, especially in San Antonio's northern suburbs and the western half of Travis County, ending west of Downtown Austin.
With most of Texas's population being centered around its metropolitan areas, that leaves a vast unsettled wilderness as refuge for animals and nature lovers alike.
So it should be no surprise that roaming across Texas on any given day or night are more than a few extraordinary beings of which are only occasionally glimpsed, and going further, no bewilderment that Texas has one of the nation’s highest incidents of Bigfoot reports.
There have been numerous Bigfoot sightings by native Texans, not to mention the intriguing habitations and tracks that have been discovered, audio captured, and bio-specimen materials brought forth to support the existence of these elusive primate and/or humanoid creatures moving around and throughout the Texas Wilderness, particularly in East Texas where there is four national forests and five state forests and of course, the mysterious Caddo Lake where hundreds of documented Bigfoot sightings have been reported since 1965 (you may have heard of the Caddo Creature).
Not only is the legend of Bigfoot alive and well in the Lone Star State, but in Monsters of Texas, San Antonio cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard and Dallas paranormal researcher Nick Redfern chronicle a many other curious critter that make the Lone Star State their home. Nevermind the so-called Texas Chupacabras, when there's reasonable accounts of encounters with out-of-place and fringe animals, supernatural beasts, pterosaur-like things, lake monsters, flying humanoids and even werewolf-type creatures!
Fast-paced and enjoyable, Monsters of Texas is an interesting collection of the state's legends, folklore, and eyewitness accounts as they pertain to mysterious and elusive creatures, some of which you may have heard of (but the newbie to cryptozoology probably hasn't come across most of this research before), some of which will intrigue you, and others which are sure to creep you out!
Discover legendary Lone Star monsters over the following compelling twelve chapters:
Chapter I: Big Bird and Other Winged Monsters
Chapter II: Lone Star Werewolves
Chapter III: El Chupacabras Comes to Texas
Chapter IV: The Navidad Wild Man
Chapter V: Trailing the Texan Bigfoot
Chapter VI: Big Thicket Beasts
Chapter VII: Monsters of the Dark Waters
Chapter VIII: Goat Man Terror
Chapter IX: Fringe Creatures
Chapter X: The Horror of Hecate Hill
Chapter XI: Out-of-place Animals
Chapter XII: Bigfoot - East Texan Style
"Monsters of Texas" is a fun presentation of strange stories of what's out there hidden and sometimes encountered in the dark shadows in a part of the world that is unfortunately mostly misjudged and is a must-read for those curious about Texas's role in cryptozoology and fortean fields.
In only about 130 pages you will learn a whole lot about the many Texas monster sightings that are at odds with the confidently accepted mainstream sciences that the good folks of Texas can tell you doesn't always have right.
Travelers and native Texans curious about the unexplained or paranormal as it relates to the great state and anyone who thirsts for knowledge of mysterious creatures in general should definitely pick up this intriguing book!
There really are things that lurk and haunt the Texas landscapes, many of which are fascinating, some are to be feared and others that intend no harm, but what are they?
Perhaps by the eerie light of a full moon, you are destined to discover them!
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