Monsters: An Investigator's Guide to Magical Beings
by John Michael Greer
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Book Summary Information
Author: John Michael GreerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-09-08
ISBN: 0738700509
Number of pages: 312
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Book Reviews of Monsters: An Investigator's Guide to Magical Beings
Book Review: No Other Book Like Monsters on the Market
Summary: 5 Stars
I've drunk this book in like a highly nutritious supplement on monstrous phenomena. And I take again in regular doses. Partly this is because I admire John Greer's work, and the extent of his knowledge. I am loathe to dismiss any book that _seems_ basic as "just basic" when it is written by one as learned and experienced as Greer. Greer has a way of approaching obtuse and complex material and making it understandble and accesible to others. So I went through the book with several fine tooth combs in my attempt to absorb the theories presented herein.
Some have deingrated this work as overly simplistic, "new agey", slanted towards his worldview, etc. etc. to which I say they are missing the point. There are woefully few theoretical books on monstrous phenomena on the market today. The literature on this subject tends to fall into one of several camps: Story works (mostly of legend and folklore); Encyclopedic works; ghost hunting type works; Cryptozoological works; and books on "alien phenomena". Greer's works breaks new ground, departs from all of these camps and is a pioneering effort at deepening our understanding of monstrous phenomena.
Is it an "advanced" work? I don't know if I would call it that exactly, but it's premise is _not_ a simplistic one. Greer makes a point of nailing the manifestation of monstrous phenomena solidly into one predominant thema--the revelatory one. What this does for monstrous phenomena is connect it to the shamanic/magical tradition where those who encounter such phenomena are literally touching (or being transported to) the other world. The approach that monsters are manifestations from an otherworld is a valid and recognized theory; and while not talked about much in the realms of cryptozoology, it has earned growing creedence in UFOlogy and the paranormal (with researchers such as Vallees, Stieger, Hynek, Keel, Redfern and even Tonnies echoing such sentiments). Yet Greer's work is far from an imitation of these authors. In this work Greer is offering not only a working theory of monstrous phenomena, but an appraoch to it as well.
In no other work that purports to explain monstrous beings as an other-worldly phenomena does the author give such clear instruction on how to deal with them. The other, deeper implication is that there is a "way of knowing" i.e. magic, that one can pursue that gives one knowledge about and experience in dealing with such entities. Greer makes it clear that his work is introductory. He also gives several instances (notably in the sections on angels and demons) that warn the investigator that such knowledge is requried to deal in depth with such beings. Is such instruction as Greer gives in the end of the book sufficient? No. But this isn't a text in developing magical abilities or defenses. Greer makes that much clear. But the skills he outlines are more than useful if his theories are correct.
You may not agree with Greer's premise. I'm sure many empirically minded cryptozoologist won't. But that does not make the work invalid, nor his work useless. Even if the work only serves to school yourself on a very solid theory of monstrous phenomena accepted by more than few with experience and encounters with such phenomena. It belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in such things.
Summary of Monsters: An Investigator's Guide to Magical Beings
Of course that monster hiding under your bed when you were little didn't really exist. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, demons?they're simply figments of our imagination, right? After all, their existence has never been scientifically proven. But there is one giant problem with such an easy dismissal of these creepy creatures: people keep encountering them.
Join occult scholar John Michael Greer for a harrowing journey into the reality of the impossible. Combining folklore, Western magical philosophy, and actual field experience, Monsters: An Investigator's Guide to Magical Beings is required reading for both active and armchair monster hunters. Between these covers you'll find a chilling collection of fiendish facts and folklore, including:
?Why true vampires are the least attractive?and most destructive?of all monsters
?The five different kinds of ghosts
?Magical origins of the werewolf legends
?How to survive a chimera encounter (Jersey Devil, chupacabra, Mothman)
?The hidden connections between faery lore and UFOs
?Where dragons are found today
?How to investigate a monster sighting
?Natural and ritual magic techniques for dealing with hostile monsters
This 10th anniversary edition of the quintessential guide to magical beings features a new preface, new chapters on chimeras and zombies, and updates on werewolves, dragons, and the fae.
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