The Vermont Monster Guide by Joseph A. Citro; artwork by Stephen R. Bissette; published in 2009 by the University Press of New England in Lebanon, New Hampshire; 128 pages; softcover; $18.95.
Reviewed by Jennifer Hersey Cleveland
The master of all things that go bump in the (Vermont) night released his newest book just in time for Halloween, and trick-or-treaters would be wise to heed its advice.
Reading The Vermont Monster Guide by Joseph Citro could help prevent the mishaps that inevitably occur when one runs into, say, The Purple Hand, which is none too happy about being separated from its owner. And the brilliant illustrations by Stephen Bissette will help you know what you’re seeing when you see it.
When a hiker encounters His Snakeship whilst on a trek through the woods, he better hope that he paid particular attention to “What to Do if Attacked.” This guide, adapted from a Peace Corps manual for people working in the Amazon, offers tips on getting away from an anaconda, including this final caveat: “Be sure your knife is sharp.”
Some of the “monsters” chronicled are of the real variety, “whatever that means,” as Mr. Citro writes. The inventory veers from monster cats and black panthers that people report seeing on a fairly regular basis to giant red-eyed rabbits, which are actually quite benign, and the Quetzalcoatl, which is not. (Two words: human sacrifice.)
Mr. Citro attacks his most recent topic with the childlike glee of any good monster hunter. I particularly like his hypothesis of the seemingly
An older drawing of the sea serpent of Lake Memphremagog.
shape-shifting Memphre of Lake Memphremagog. Mr. Citro posits that the different forms of Memphre sighted could merely be several “Memphres” in different stages of the life cycle. Hmm, food for thought.
One monster attracted the attention of Vermont Governor Jonas Galusha while he was on the campaign trail in 1815. He had heard tales of Old Slipperyskin, a giant bear-like creature that walked on its hind legs and evaded capture in the forests of Morgan, Victory, and Maidstone. I’ll leave the details to the readers who pick up Mr. Citro’s book.
As recently as the 1980s, unnaturally large birds, sometimes called Thunderbirds, were reported in Irasburg by Jim and Jeanette Guyette. Three dark-colored birds with long, pointy heads and 15-foot wingspans flew toward Jim and his family in a menacing manner. He experienced an acute sense of dread and herded the family inside to safety.
The Memphre life cycle theory. Illustration by Stephen Bissette
I can’t spoil any more of the book for the rest of you, but I feel obligated to offer this one warning: NEVER swim in Lake Willoughby again!
