Monsters and Cryptozoology
From the Set Exploring the Occult
From the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot to weird aliens, strange monsters that often defy logical explanation are witnessed by people all over the world. Cryptozoologists study these creatures, and Hollywood has turned them into blockbuster movies. While believers and skeptics may disagree, monsters remain a fascinating subject that reminds us that the world can be stranger than we imagine.
Booklist Review of Exploring the Occult
Do you believe in angels? If so, you’ve got company: according to this installment in the Exploring the Occult series (5 titles), 70 percent of Americans do—and 60 percent believe in the devil. Kallen invites readers to think of angels as divine superheroes that are all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful. The devil and his minions are, of course, “the ultimate biblical supervillains.” This established, Kallen then offers a brief history of angelic legend and lore, with a special nod to the work of St. Thomas Aquinas, who arranged angels in hierarchies. Most of the book, however, focuses on contemporary beliefs and experiences. Unfortunately, most of the sources are dubious; many come from social media and are unverifiable. But perhaps that’s no matter since the book is an exercise in a willing suspension of disbelief.