A Monstrous Commotion: The Mysteries of Loch Ness

Yet another new cryptozoology book, and another one on the Nessies.

There have already been a couple of books on the Loch Ness Mosnters out this year, and A Monstrous Commotion: The Mysteries of Loch Ness is one to be added to the forthcoming list (it will be out in November.)

Gareth Williams is the author of said new book, which is about the Loch Ness Monsters, but is also about the monster hunters.

Here is the description from Amazon UK:

"The Loch Ness Monster: a creature that should have died out with the dinosaurs, or a legend built on hoaxes and wishful thinking?

"Sir Peter Scott, internationally renowned naturalist and president of the World Wildlife Fund, was convinced that the Monster existed. So were senior scientists at London's Natural History Museum and Chicago University; they lost their jobs because they refused to renounce their belief in the creature. For decades, the scientific establishment was determined to quash attempts to investigate Loch Ness - until Nature, the world's greatest research journal, published and article by Peter Scott featuring underwater photographs of the monster. 

"Drawing extensively on new material, Gareth Williams takes a wholly original look at what really happened in Loch Ness. A Monstrous Commotion tells the story as never before: a gripping saga populated by colorful characters who do extraordinary things in pursuit of one of evolutions wildest cards. 

"Meticulously researched and dazzlingly written, this book will appeal to anyone fascinated by nature and its mysteries - and to everyone who enjoys a beautifully crafted detective story with a strong cast of heroes and villains, plenty of twists and an unexpected ending."

Here's the description from the US Amazon:

"A MONSTROUS COMMOTION delves deep into the depths of the Loch Ness phenomenon, one of the iconic scientific mysteries of the last hundred years. The legend of the 'water horse' in Loch Ness and other Scottish lakes in ancient, but reports of the monster date from as recently as the 1930s, courtesy of a correspondent of the Inverness Courier. Rather than debating the arguably unfathomable realities of what lies beneath these murky Scottish waters, Professor Gareth Williams instead engages with the people who have dedicated themselves to unearthing the truth of the monster's existence. He explores just what it is that drives these people to the point of obsession, and the ways in which their own quests have changed their lives, and the lives of others. With the use of interviews and never-before-seen archives, Williams creates a gripping narrative about the diverse people and stories behind the phenomenon. In his journey to discover the allurement of Nessie, he unravels a compelling tale of human eccentricity, full of twists, turns and entertaining surprises. While A MONSTROUS COMMOTION provides the facts and history behind the legend, and lucidly articulates the current state of scientific research and evidence, readers must ultimately decide the truth for themselves. They too will embark on a journey of discovery, engrossed by a mystery that never fails to astonish."

(A couple of things from me:  1. Of course the UK description goes with the creature that "should have died out with the dinosaurs" thing. Nessies are not plesiosaurs. They are some type of long-necked seal-like mammal! 2. The US description says sightings go back to ancient times (which they do), but that the "date from as recently as the 1930s." That is when the monster(s) first got worldwide publicity. Sightings don't happen that often anymore, but people still see strange things in Loch Ness. 3. There has to be more than one "Loch Ness Monster.")

A little about the author:

"Gareth Williams is Emeritus Professor at the University of Bristol. He has written extensively on the subject of science and scientific enquiry."

The US Amazon currently only has the book in Kindle edition. As it is coming out in November, however, it will probably (hopefully!) also come in paperback and hardcover like on the UK Amazon.

This looks like another good cryptozoology book coming out in 2015. Be sure to check it out.

You can see the list of 2015's cryptozoology books here on Tyler's Cryptozoo. It is updated every time I find a new book.