A Natural History of Sea Serpents

Shine’s new book... is a brilliant discussion of classic cases, many of which now have a revised interpretation, and it essentially covers the entire gamut of sea monster diversity ... Given the pre-eminence of Shine’s expertise as a well-informed natural historian...A Natural History of Sea Serpents has – unusually for a cryptozoology-themed book – proper relevance to people interested in known marine species, among them big sharks, cetaceans familiar or otherwise, and sea turtles. It should be read by people interested in marine wildlife in general, not just by the niche cryptozoological crowd. I will be coming back to this book again and again, am destined to cite it in probably every article I publish on sea monsters for the remainder of my tenure, and I congratulate the author, his illustrator (Maralyn Shine), and the publishers in a job so well done. -- Dr Darren Naish * Tetzoo * “Hits Every Nail on the Head” If you've ever looked into the Loch Ness Monster legend you've seen the name Adrian Shine, so who better to write this book? The answer: Nobody is better than Adrian Shine. …it's a stand-out triumph of research and analysis into such a significant feature of world folklore and mythology, and will always be necessary reading for anyone interested in folkloristics… With this book Adrian Shine has given a plethora of disciplines a new golden standard for what engaging with research should look like. -- Mark Seymour * Waterstones * If I'm entirely honest, I approached "A Natural History of Sea Serpents" by Adrian Shine with more than a little caution. It would be very easy for a book about sea serpents to veer off into folklore, fantasy or pseudoscience. It was therefore with huge pleasure that I found this to be an absolutely fascinating analysis of the subject. It is also authoritative, compelling and convincing... Sometimes a book comes along which you just know is going to be a lasting source of reference about the subject it covers. This is one of those books and I'd highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in the subject. -- Undiscovered Scotland ...The book is a fascinating piece of work and will be of particular interest to people keen on natural history, the workings of the marine environment and monsters. It will certainly generate debate within the cryptozoology movement yet also challenges the theories of the preeminent sceptical writer on the subject, Dr. Robert France, who has proposed whales and other creatures entangled in pre-plastic era fishing gear, as the cause of most sea serpent encounters. Shine shares his take on the ethnobiological perspective and ends with a strong conservation message... -- OMOTG Our Man on the Ground I am a tough book critic, particular regarding my favorite subject... What I truly appreciate is a genuine expert, who has put in the time, presenting their well-reasoned arguments, supported by evidence. You can hardly get a better example of this than Adrian Shine’s new volume on sea serpents... -- Sharon A. Hill * Strange Claims Adjuster * ...a world of wonder and mystery with each page revealing a new and tantalising piece of the puzzle, from the ancient myths that inspired the sea serpent legends to the scientific theories that sought to explain their existence. -- Caithness Courier Dive into the captivating world of marine mythology with this intriguing exploration of sea serpents. This comprehensive volume delves into historical accounts, folklore, and the cultural significance of these legendary creatures across various societies...Perfect for enthusiasts of natural history and mythology alike, this book invites readers to ponder the mysteries of the ocean and the creatures that inhabit its depths. With rich illustrations and thought-provoking insights, it's a must-have addition to any collection dedicated to the wonders of the natural world. -- Chalky’s .com ...It brought up many circumstances from the golden age of sea serpents that I hadn't known about and really cast a new light on the subject for me... The photographs and illustrations are plentiful and really helpful. I enjoyed it so much I will even forgive him for destroying my all-time favourite serpent, the Daedalus encounter. Well, actually I will never do that but I still loved the book and highly recommend it.  -- Min Bannister