Bigfoot!: The True Story of Apes in America FROM THE PUBLISHER
In this fascinating and comprehensive look at the fact, fiction, and fable of the North American "Sasquatch," award-winning author Loren Coleman takes readers on a journey into America's biggest mystery -- could an unrecognized "ape" be living in our midst? Drawing on over forty years of investigations, interviews, and fieldwork on these incredible beasts, Coleman explores the modern debates about these powerful, ape-like creatures, why they have remained a mystery for so long, and what we can learn about ourselves from these animals, our nearest cousins! From reports of Bigfoot's existence found in ancient Native American traditions, to the controversial Patterson-Gimlin film of a Bigfoot in the wild, to today's Internet sites that record the sightings almost as soon as they occur, Coleman uncovers the past, explains the present, and considers the future of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in the natural world.
FROM THE CRITICS
KLIATT
Every library needs an update of its section on Bigfoot, and this will serve good high school readers and adults. All his life, Coleman has been a naturalist and is regarded as a serious contemporary researcher, so he has more credibility than most as he writes on a subject many dismiss as a hoax. When, in 1957, he watched a Japanese-made SF movie about "an unknown species of hairy, upright creature," he began a lifetime odyssey in search of the elusive beast/human called variously the Abominable Snowman, Yeti, Sasquatch, Bigfoot (a name that took hold in 1958), Windigo, and quite a number of other labels. Coleman presents evidence that includes footprints, handprints, sounds, a long history of newspaper reports, and interviews with numerous persons of varying reliability. He has firm beliefs about physical characteristics, habitat, and numbers; he believes Bigfoot to be nocturnal and intelligent. The well-written book is full of intriguing anecdotes and examples, combining folklore and research. The range of Bigfoot lore is wider and deeper than most would imagine, and Coleman has done a good job of documenting it for a popular audience. He includes a nine-page bibliography of sources and an appendix titled "Twenty Best Places to See Bigfoot." KLIATT Codes: SA;Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, Pocket Books, Paraview, 278p. illus. bibliog. index., Boardman
Kirkus Reviews
Out of the Maine woods stomps cryptozoologist Coleman, a hunter of undocumented animals who has been tracking the spoor of Sasquatch for four decades. "The classic Bigfoot is a real animal living in the montane forests of the Pacific Rim," asserts the author. From Bluff Creek, California, to Fouke, Arkansas, from the Everglades to Lake Louise, the skittish, neck-challenged critters may vary somewhat according to local habitat but they are typically, in Colemanﾽs description, twice as big as Sylvester Stallone, grungier than Ted Kaczynski, and louder than Gilbert Gottfried, howling and crying "eeek-eeek-eeek and sooka-sooka-sooka." (Theyﾽre stinky too.) The hairy fellows have been around distressing the dogs for some time, claims the author. He notes the feral phantomﾽs history in relation to Native American culture, Neanderthals, and the Jolly Green Giant. Coleman dismisses the notion that hoaxers making wooden footprint impressions are responsible and considers but discounts the possibility of a UFO nexus. Though the hirsute troglodyte seems to have been spotted more frequently than post-mortem Elvis, actual physical evidence is not easily obtained. One putative carcass, now lost, was exhibited at state fairs, stock shows, and shopping malls along with antique tractors. Remains in the wild havenﾽt been recovered, but, hey, when was the last time you found the bones of a bear in the woods? Some hair and droppings have turned up, but DNA analysis has so far been useless. There is certainly some convincing film of a female--and that is absolutely not a zipper under her fur. Coleman discusses Hollywoodﾽs treatment of Bigfoot, notes the animalﾽs sex habits, reviews many classic sightings, andcites many "experts" who seem to have published primarily in journals like Argosy and True magazine. Plausible being or just a pop culture fantasy? The author believes Bigfoot is truly out there, but skeptics wonﾽt be convinced by this pastiche. (Illustrations)
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