Earlier tonight, in my previous post here in The Eclectarium of Doctor Shuker, I recalled how, while I was still a youngster during the mid-1960s, a certain fascinating compendium of mysteries entitled Stranger Than People played a fundamental role in triggering what would become a lifelong interest of mine in such subjects.
In addition to containing accounts of many famous true-life mysteries, this particular book (published in 1968 by Young World Productions Ltd of London) also included a couple of wonderful – and wholly original - science-fiction short stories. Tragically, however, because it did not appear to have had a very large print run, was never reprinted, and is nowadays long-forgotten and very scarce, relatively few people are likely to have read them.
Consequently, in that afore-mentioned Eclectarium post of mine I had great pleasure in exclusively presenting one of those two sci-fi stories, ‘Klumpok’ (click here).
So now, utilising the Fair Dealing/Fair Use convention I have equal delight in presenting here in the context of review, and on an entirely non-commercial basis, the other story.
Entitled ‘The Yellow Monster of Sundra [sic] Strait’, it was written by Ted Hallam and featured some very striking illustrations by an uncredited artist.
So just click on the following scans to obtain readily-readable enlargements of this thrilling story’s complete set of original pages, exactly as they appeared in Stranger Than People. But I warn you: if you’re even the slightest bit arachnophobic, it might be better to go off and do something else instead!
UPDATE: 3 April 2014
In response to reader Shane O'Connor's recent request (in the Comments section below), I have pleasure in presenting here the Contents page from Stranger Than People, which shows the wonderfully diverse and fascinating subjects documented within this amazing book:
wow man
ReplyDeletehttp://cryptidkid.blogspot.com/2011/06/stranger-than-people-ants.html
ReplyDeleteWow indeed! It's a great book...just stumbled on this blog and discovered that we both did a similar post...great Fortean minds think alike.
All the best,
Martin 'Cryptid Kid' Gately
Hi Martin, Glad you like my blog - I've just checked yours out, and it's excellent! Glad we both liked Stranger Than People too as children - a very influential little volume in my life! All the best, Karl
ReplyDeleteWould it be asking too much to please post a scan of the index of contents, or just a full list of all the stories to refresh the memories of those unfortunate not enough to no longer own a copy? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Shane, I've scanned the List of Contents page and will upload it here shortly. All the best, Karl
ReplyDeleteHi Dr Karl. I was enchanted by Stranger Than People as a kid, my old copy has been loved to pieces over the last 50 years or so! Was fascinated to find your blog - it made me very happy.
ReplyDeleteRegarding "The yellow monster of Sundra Strait", you mention in your intro to it above that the artist is uncredited, but the artworks in the story are actually signed "Donnison" - and this would be Selby Donnison, as described over at bookpalace.com:
https://bookpalace.com/acatalog/ArtistsBiographies.html#BIOGD
... where there are a couple of examples of his other work, and the style is unmistakeable! The good Mr. Donnison's work is on nearly every page of Stranger Than People, and of course it's mostly thanks to his talent that the book had such an impact on me. The illustrations for "They change by night" gave me particular chills!
Cheers and thanks again for your blog.
Steph (stephmcd@yahoo.com)
Hi Steph, Thanks very much for your email and for identifying the artist involved here - great to know this at long last. Yes, the illustrations for They Change By Night' gave me many a sleepless night too as a child! Ditto the zombie ones - but this is the book that first brought such entities to my attention, so it occupies a special place in my acquisition of knowledge re the unexplained etc. All the best, Karl
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