Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Unexplained!: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences & Puzzling Physical Phenomena by Jerome Clark ISBN: 1-57859-070-1 Publisher: Visible Ink Pr Pub. Date: November, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.87 (15 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Good job, Jerome!
Comment: Clark's new, expanded edition of "Unexplained!" is one of the finest overviews of paranormal mysteries available today. I have been a fan of Clark's since his "Creatures of the Outer Edge" of 1978 (co-authored with his occasional writing partner, the equally dependable Loren Coleman). Clark's clear and professional writing style has only improved over the years. A sly, very subtle wit frequently emerges ("perhaps wisely, he takes this vague idea no further"). Although it's evident Clark's mind is open to most of the phenomena explored in the book, for the most part he keeps his opinions to himself, opting instead to let his reader make his or her own judgement based on the information available.
In scope and organization I found the book slightly similar to Janet and Colin Bord's excellent "Unexplained Mysteries of the 20th Century" of 1989, although that book also explores ghost and goblin-type phenomena whereas "Unexplained!" is concerned primarily with more tangible mysteries. Both are encyclopedic, objective tomes providing a detailed overview of a wide variety of topics. Especially welcome in this new edition of "Unexplained!" is the inclusion of the "Things That Are Not" section, highlighting previously believed legends such as the Bermuda Triangle and Cottingley Fairy Photographs. Also new are numerous "sidebar" discussions of select organizations and important figures in the Fortean world (i.e., Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans, Budd Hopkins, MUFON, CSICOP, etc.). Clark generously criticizes--in a professional manner--certain unreliable "experts" (Von Daniken, Berlitz) and hardcore debunkers, those "thinkers" who claim to be skeptics but instead are nothing more than vehemently closed minds.
This book is a serious, carefully-researched study. Clark has always made it a point to clearly document his sources, which makes it easy for the reader to further pursue an intriguing topic. Another of Clark's strengths is the natural integration of the many witness accounts and narratives, however extreme some of them might be. The information is presented in a manner that encourages the reader to form his/her own deductions. When examining far-fetched phenomena like Fairies, Clark uses a cautionary approach that still manages to remain receptive to the nagging body of stories, accounts, and folklore.
The presentation and layout of the book have been vastly improved over the 1993 edition. It's now much more serious and professional in its look, abandoning the Ripley's Believe It or Not-style cover of it's previous incarnation. The typeface and setting are also significantly improved and much more easily read. Instead of listing the entries in simple encyclopedic format as he did before, he now groups them together in intelligent sections. Considerably more photos and illustrations exist in the present version (although there can never be enough!).
I can recommend this book without hesitation to anyone with a serious interest in these phenomena. Clark is now one of the most dependable, scholarly, and professional voices in the Fortean world. I trust him.
Rating: 5
Summary: More than UFO' s It's a Desk Reference!
Comment: Mr. Jerome Clark did it, great information that covers "hundreds" of critters and events! To the point, easy to refer to and very informative! I'm new to this interest due to Jerry D. Coleman's "Strange Highways" awesome, informative book. But another book added to my list of awesome is now Clark's "Unexplained!"
Everything you've heard about and many things you have not will be found in "Unexplained!" Jerome Clark proves he's an individual author in this one! I cannot tell you how often I've looked something up again and again in this book. From Bigfoot to UFO's and so much more, it's in this one!
Rating: 4
Summary: Biased, but still interesting
Comment: In "Unexplained" Jerome Clark dicsusses things in shorter detail than he does with his "UFO Book," therfore the bias isn't as prevalent, but it's still there.
However, one of the nice things about this edition is the section "Things That Are Not." It's always nice to dispel with some myths. Although, I think he could've added more to that.
Maybe the next edition could have more pictures? Overall it's not as good as, say, Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World. But "Unexplained" covers more subjects, which is a good thing (and if done more objectively, would make it a better book).
The vast assortment of topics keeps "Unexplained" interesting, unlike his UFO Book which is a screed, and the lack of evidence doesn't justify it's length.
3.5 stars
 |
Title: Unexplained Mysteries of the 20th Century by Janet Bord, Colin Bord ISBN: 0809241137 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 1990 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
 |
Title: Strange But True by Craig Miller, Corrine Kenner ISBN: 0517162059 Publisher: Gramercy Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $8.99 |
 |
Title: 100 Of the World's Greatest Mysteries by E. Randall Floyd ISBN: 1891799053 Publisher: Harbor House Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
 |
Title: Mysterious America: The Revised Edition by Loren Coleman ISBN: 1931044058 Publisher: Paraview Press Pub. Date: 02 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
 |
Title: The Complete Guide to Mysterious Beings by John A. Keel ISBN: 0765345862 Publisher: Tor Books Pub. Date: 13 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
