My latest Mysterious Universe article is, without doubt, one of the weirdest I have written in a long time. Not surprising, given that it involves a major movie legend, the Loch Ness Monster, Sherlock Holmes, dead aliens that may not be dead aliens after all, Russian spies, and commies!
"Someone is killing sheep in the Cotswolds. Or something. As Holmes and Watson arrive in the tranquility of a little village of shepherds and farmers to enjoy a few restful days in the idyllic countryside, strange things start to occur. While Holmes locks himself in his hotel room, consumed by depression, Watson is left to explore the surroundings on his own, acquainting himself with both the local shepherding community, the eccentric vicar, and the local folklore concerning a mysterious werewolf. It isn't long before the murderer directs his attention to other prey than sheep, and Holmes is forced out of his ennui into a world of fog-enshrouded moors, wild men, pitchforks and a big bad wolf. This volume also includes four shorter stories in the vein of Conan Doyle: 'The Adventure of the Velvet Lampshade', 'The Adventure of the Missing Mudlark', 'The Adventure of the Forking Paths', and 'The Adventure of the One-Armed Pugilist.'"
"Now and again I’m asked what my favorite monster-movie is. In conversation, people often assume it’s something like the original version of King Kong, or perhaps Godzilla, or, maybe, The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Well, it’s none of those. Nor, thankfully, is it one of those awful, cheap, made-for-TV productions filled with D-list actors and over-sized sharks and crocodiles that are continually thrust upon us.
"Actually, my answer is very different. I would have to say that my all time favorite creature-feature is a 1970 production, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. To which, many might reply: 'Say what?'"
If you're into some of the more Fortean aspects of Cryptozoology, you won't want to miss this!
Tim Beckley has just published a new book titled Hounds of the Baskervilles.
It's basically a combination of (A) the original Sherlock Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles; (B) witness reports of real-life encounters with blazing, red-eyed hounds of the pararnormal kind; and (C) various articles from researchers of the Phantom Black Dog variety.
Not only that, the book is massively and richly illustrated with excellent old and atmospheric artwork.
I have a lengthy article in the book, which is an extensive look from me at the history of the Black Dog in the UK, with numerous, little-known case files examined, many of which extend right up to well into the 20th Century.
PICKS UP WHERE SHERLOCK HOLMES’ LEFT OFF. . . DEVIL HOUNDS. DEMON DOGS.
PHANTOM CANINES FROM HELL. THEY DO EXIST! One nearly scared to death eyewitness
proclaimed after the beast loomed in front of him: “It was the biggest bloody
‘dog’ I have ever seen in my life!” Legends of black dogs and phantom hounds are
widespread throughout the United Kingdom as well as in the United States. Though
presented in novelized form, Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
based his most popular detective thriller on true accounts of a mysterious black
beast with blazing red eyes who is said to have attacked those crossing the
moors. Some were lucky to have gotten away with their lives. Perhaps there are
others who disappeared and their bodies were not accounted for. Who can say for
certain? In addition to presenting the number one classic detective thriller of
all time in its unabridged, fully illustrated, form, this work goes way beyond
the boundaries of fiction into the realm of the supernatural. Today’s top
paranormal researcher’s delve into stories of the bloody beast who comes in
various sizes and apparently even has the ability to shape shift into a more
hideous creature when cornered. As England’s leading cryptozoologist, Nick
Redfern, points out, “There is one important factor to remember: Conan Doyle did
not invent Britain’s phantom, fiery-eyed hounds. He merely brought them to the
attention of the public in spectacularly entertaining style. In reality, the
creature had been prowling around the British countryside for centuries; and
particularly so Dartmoor – the fictional home of the world’s most famous hound
of horror in all its awful glory.” According to Redfern the same area the
imaginary Sherlock Holmes conducted his investigation around, is also, in
reality, rife with ancient tales and legends of a group of diabolical and unholy
creatures known as the Wisht Hounds – fearsome devil-dogs with glowing eyes and
large fangs. “They are said to have a taste for both human flesh and human
souls, and ride with the Devil himself, as he crosses the windswept wilds of
Dartmoor late at night - and atop a headless, black horse, no less.” According
to legend, the Wisht Hounds inhabit the nearby Wistman’s Woods – a sacred grove
where, in centuries past, ancient druids held pagan rituals in honor of a
veritable multitude of old Earth gods and goddesses. Here are dozens of accounts
of devilish, gruesome, repugnant “monsters” – some of whom stand eight feet tall
– who are said to be Satan’s watch dogs protecting the portals to another
dimension or realm where no mortal should be made to tread!
