Since childhood, I’ve been captivated by cryptids, starting with the most famous ones like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. The Loch Ness Monster intrigued me especially because of my lifelong fascination with dinosaurs. Could this creature possibly be a surviving aquatic reptile from ancient times? With the discovery of still-living coelacanths, ancient lobed fish from the Devonian period, it’s plausible that the Loch Ness Monster could be another example of such survivors.
As I matured, I learned about other possible creatures from the distant past—specifically, two species: living pterosaurs and sauropods. There are rumors throughout the western United States of enormous flying reptiles, and in the Congo, native tribes widely report sightings of the Mokele-Mbembe. While some of these reports may be misidentifications, what if some are genuine?
Author John Lemay shares my passion, evident in his 2019 book, “Cowboys & Saurians: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Beasts as Seen by the Pioneers.” I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it was a meticulously researched history of cowboys’ encounters with mysterious animals.
While many may dismiss this subject as a joke, it’s essential to remember that this book compiles news articles from the past reporting on encounters with living prehistoric animals. Although some articles adopt a serious tone, others are more lighthearted, leaving readers to question their authenticity. Showing some of the original articles helped a lot.
Lemay doesn’t hide the fact that some of these articles may be fictional, often adding his humorous commentary to that effect. The sheer volume of reports prompted me to contemplate their validity. Regardless of belief, this book is highly entertaining and kept me hooked. It’s fortunate that more books are in this series, as I’m eager for further exploration.
The book is broken down by individual encounters, many running a page or two. This allows the reader to get through this book fast. Books like this are my favorite to read before bed, as I often try to complete a chapter before calling it quits.
Having read several of Lemay’s works, “Cowboys & Saurians: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Beasts as Seen by the Pioneers” is my latest endeavor. I appreciate his writing style, which consistently captures my attention. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and would like to hear others’ opinions.
~David Albaugh