Here's a new book I was sent a review copy of last week: Men of Mystery: Nikola Tesla and Otis T. Carr by Tim Beckley and Tim Swartz.
One of the things that fascinates me about Forteana is not just the phenomenon, but the people in it. Yeah, most of us are relatively normal (in varying degrees! LOL), but there are always those for who the term "eccentric" was made. And I don't mean that as a bad thing at all: eccentricity can be a very positive thing in a world that expects us all to conform more and more as each day passes.
And two people who certainly fit the bill in the weird stakes are Tesla and Carr, whose lives and careers the Two-Tims do a fine job of addressing, studying and revealing.
As far as the former is concerned, we get a reprint of Michael X's Tesla: Man of Mystery, which was originally published in 1992 and offers a good, solid and insightful look at the man, his life, career, patents, inventions and the mystique and mystery that dominates his legend to this very day.
We are also treated to Tesla's very own autobiography which provides a massive amount of data not just on his work, but his childhood, upbringing and much more.
Then there is Otis T. Carr...
A definitive "character" who I wrote about in my Contactees book, he was a man who fitted perfectly in the domain of 1950s Saucerology. Eccentric and controversial (he championed the whole "Free Energy Technology" field of the day) Carr ended up in the slammer for his troubles and left a legacy filled with questions, debate and much more.
And if you want to find out more about Carr, then Men of Mystery is the perfect place to find it, as we get treated to such hard-to-find items as an article on the man from a 1958 issue of Fate; an extract on Carr from Margaret Storm's Return of the Dove; a priceless - and at times unintentionally hilarious - transcript of an interview with Carr on the Long John Nebel Show; and some cool, old photos and artwork.
Of course, in view of the above, what Men of Mystery does is not just inform us on the lives of Tesla and Carr, but massively entertain us in the process, too.
Modern day Ufology is never this much fun!
in your opinion, who is the most highly regarded cryptozoologist besides Heuvelmans?
ReplyDeleteS: I would say that Loren is the most highly regarded.
ReplyDeleteDiscounting Loren, who? I guess the top five?
ReplyDeleteWhy would you discount Loren?
ReplyDeleteAs for the others, it depends on how you perceive Cryptozoology. As you may know, I take the view that Cryptids are not what they appear to be - perhaps Tulpas, thought-forms, something weirder. So, my views on the Top Five would relate to those researchers who are open to such views, rather than solely those who take the flesh and blood approach (but who certainly don't discard it of course).
So, I'd say Jon Downes, Neil Arnold, Linda Godfrey and Richard Freeman - in terms of being open to both sides of the crypto-coin (flesh and blood and paranormal). But for the remaining one, I still have to say Loren, as he's the most well-known, recognizable person in the field. No, we dont agree on everything - but do agree on quite a bit! - and the field would be vastly different (in a negative sense) without his involvement. So, I dont see any reason to discount him when he should be listed.