If, like me, you have a deep interest in the field of Cryptozoology (or, monster-hunting, as it's known, too) then you'll want to get David Weatherly's latest book: Monsters of the Pine Tree State: Cryptids & Legends of Maine .You might know that David has, for a long time, being publishing crypto-driven books. In fact, it's David's goal to have a book for every U.S. state. And, he's doing it all very well. So, before we get to David's new book, let's have a look at his work. As David says: "Maine, the Pine Tree State—a land of vast forests, a rugged coastline…and monsters! Bigfoot has long roamed around the state from the south all the way to the northern border. Sea serpents lurk along the state’s coast, and small-town legends abound from the Durham gorilla to the Turner Beast. But there’s more—strange canids, lake monsters, black panthers, and the ghostly white Specter Moose! Welcome to Monsters of the Pine Tree State."
So, now let's dig into the pages. Another thing, there's a foreword from long-time Cryptozoologist, Loren Coleman. Don't miss that.
Like me, David is very much someone who gets on the road. And that shows in David's writing and work. Having said that, sit back, read David's latest book and experience the monsters of the Pine Tree State. Have you ever heard of the Specter Moose? Yeah, you did read that correct! As David says: "It's ghostly white in color, stands 10 to 15 feet tall, weighs around 2,500 pounds, and has a massive set of antlers that span 10 to 12 feet across." Imagine coming face-to-face with that huge beast! This is an excellent chapter and covers more than a few pages. In fact, a lot of pages. Of course, Bigfoot in Maine comes into the equation. What I particularly enjoyed about the Maine-Bigfoot chapter was the fact that David focused on cases from times long gone. By that, I mean the Bigfoot creatures might have been with us for centuries. Possibly even longer.
How about a wild man of the little type? This is a cool and mysterious story that makes you think of ancient humanoids that resemble, to a degree, us. But, far more savage and possibly very ancient. And, of course, don't forget their small forms. I've investigated a lot of cases of "little people," so it was cool to read that story. In the chapter titled "More Hairy Creatures" we get to learn about other ape-like creatures covered in hair and from the 19th century. Again, strong evidence that the Bigfoot have been around for a long, long time. There's no doubt that there was a big wave of Bigfoot-type sightings in the 1970s - and David addresses that angle of Bigfoot well.
Maine's equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster? Yep, that's there, too. Or it's them, not just one. Hideous serpents, and massive creatures prowling around, make for great reading. And let's not forget Cassie. That's right: surely a cousin to Nessie. "Above the Pines" is a very entertaining chapter that tackles huge birds, an "immense eagle," "a large, winged flying creature with leathery wings," and other things from the skies. And, as someone who has investigated more than a few Goat-Men reports, I was pleased to see such things are in Maine. I have to say that my favorite chapter is the one titled "Werewolves & Strange Canids." We're talking about strange wolves, upright wolves, and dangerous wolves. Dog-Men, too. And it was great to see that the late Linda Godfrey was mentioned. A great book!
