Abominable Science by Daniel Loxton and Donald A. Prothero (book review).
Just in case you thought I only picked up a couple of Loch Ness Monster books and nothing else on the subject, let me set the record straight. I actually snagged two more, including ‘Abominable Science’ by Daniel Loxton and Donald A. Prothero. These two scientists co-authored the book, and although they split the chapters between them, you’d hardly notice any difference in style.
The cover picture struck me as a bit sensationalistic. Loxton, who chose the image according to the indicia, probably aimed to attract those browsing cryptozoology books. The authors highlight that several large animals, including gorillas and okapi, were discovered even in the last century, contrasting sharply with more habitable locales where Big Foot or Nessie supposedly reside. It made me wonder if they’d ever visited Loch Ness themselves.
With its 23-mile expanse, not all of it is visible from the road. They rightly point out that nowadays, sightings of unknown creatures are likely to hit the internet faster than traditional news channels. However, I question their view of journalists’ analytical skills, considering they’re just as susceptible to being misled as the average Joe, if not more so.
Now, why haven’t I tackled Sasquatch/Bigfoot? Well, their chapter on the subject sheds light on that – too many hoaxes and people misled by unfamiliar sights in forest conditions. Logically, if a hidden primate species existed, wouldn’t we see more of them together?
Their take on the Yeti is enlightening, explaining how ‘Abominable Snowman’ is actually a mistranslation of the Tibetan ‘Metoh Kangmi’, meaning ‘filthy snowman’. The consensus is that it’s probably a Tibetan brown bear, morphed into a bogeyman in adult lore more than in children’s tales. The chapter also touches on the improbability of a sustainable breeding population, similar to the Sasquatch dilemma.
Interestingly, the chapter on the Loch Ness Monster is the shortest, at 50 pages, but packed with footnotes. It stops at the 1980s, omitting recent scans. The authors do address the hoaxes, but I disagree with their take on the 1933 ‘King Kong’ film influencing Nessie’s perceived appearance. I’ve seen the film a few times and that never stuck in my mind. I had a look at the footage, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JVZ0bE8hpk . Similarities in shape perhaps but it never had flippers. Outside of the faked Surgeon’s Photograph and other fakes, you rarely get photos of a long-necked beast. Plesiosaurs weren’t even thought of back then.
The chapter on sea serpents delves into northern hemisphere mythology, suggesting ‘manes’ on these creatures could be gill-like features, akin to those of salamanders. The varying sizes reported could be due to difficulty gauging distance at sea. The authors put forth a lot of skepticism, which might have been better placed in the introduction for balance.
Their perspective on the mokele mbembe, a dinosaur-like creature in Zimbabwe, is also skeptical. The authors note that those searching for it were not scientifically inclined, hinting at a tourist trap.
The final chapter scrutinizes the qualifications of crypto-investigators. While pointing out their lack of scientific background, the authors paradoxically use statistics, an area outside their expertise. They express surprise at the low level of scientific knowledge in the U.S., but the data should have been considered more holistically.
In concluding, the authors critique the typical portrayal of Bigfoot enthusiasts, finding contradictions in their own assumptions. This chapter somewhat undermines their arguments against fringe believers, suggesting that while many claims are dubious, some merit consideration.
Overall, while I find their last chapter overly critical, the book reinforces the importance of skepticism and verifying authors’ qualifications. A valuable lesson, indeed.
GF Willmetts
November 2023
(pub: Columbia University Press, 2013. 411 page illustrated indexed hardback. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-0-231-15320-1)
check out website: www.cup.columbia.edu
