“Cryptid Creatures of Florida” by Scott Marlowe is a fun reference book concerning the supposed cryptids that inhabit the state of Florida. Marlowe is a self styled Cryptozoologist, and the “Meet the Author” section of this book touts him as “America’s most credible Cryptozoologist” citing that he is a fellow to the famed Pangea Institute and an educational consultant to the American primate Conservation Alliance. He is also credited with establishing the an on going course in cryptozoology at a state institution of higher learning “anywhere in the world”. He also has TV credits on shows like Monsterquest, Destination Truth and others.
This is the sort of Cryptozoology themed book where things really run the gamut, and no cryptid is deemed to silly or too absurd to be included. Most of the included cryptids are within the realm of possibility but some, like the so called “Astor Dinosaur” are a bit more absurd. To his credit Marlowe offers alternative perspectives and includes relevant information that helps to build context around the reports. Things like the original reporter of the creature was a river guide for tourists and was known for ‘spinning yarns’ and that dinosaurs never lived in Florida, since it was underwater in the age of dinosaurs. Marlowe does of course, leave the ultimate decisions to his reading about what to believe about many of the creatures in his book.
Marlowe also mentions more realistic cryptids like the “Lake Worth Sea Monster” a strange seal like animal with a distinct trident tail which was a subject of a Monsterquest episode. He outlines his involvement in the mystery, details the investigation process, and rare in cryptozoological writings, we even get the payoff! They determine the creature was a seal amongst manatees and that the owner of the trident tail was a manatee with an injured tail. As devoted as Marlowe sometimes is to the more fantastical elements of Cryptozoology, he does not shy away from more mundane explanations and answers for many of his questions.
What is this book? It is a fun, digestible and easy reference to multiple supposed cryptids that call the state of Florida home. It is not an exhaustively researched work complete with citations, footnotes and all he other trappings that a more serious work would demand. Marlowe does mention his sources within the writing,and an astute person should be able to track down the primary sources based on breadcrumbs in his text, but that omission aside, the book is fun. And sometimes, a fun book is ok. If you want more citations, sources and exhaustive research and analysis in your Cryptid writing this may not be for you, but if you just want something fun on the shelf to read some interesting perspectives, there is nothing at all wrong with Scott Marlowe’s “Cryptid Creatures of Floriday”
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