| Title | : | The Brimstone Deceit: An In-Depth Examination of Supernatural Scents, Otherworldly Odors, and Monstrous Miasmas |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 454 |
| Publication | : | Published October 9, 2016 |
Witnesses the world over claim to see spirits, UFOs, Sasquatch, and other phenomena that are not supposed to exist. Most cannot believe their eyes, yet some of these observers have also detected evidence of a more ephemeral nature—odors abound, in particular the stench of brimstone.
In the first book of its kind, Joshua Cutchin, author of the highly praised "A Trojan Feast," documents these uncommon scents and poses a startling possibility... that smell is a sense ripe for deception.
We trust our eyes and ears, but should we trust our noses?
JOSHUA CUTCHIN is a native of North Carolina with a long interest in Forteana. He holds a Masters in Music Literature and a Masters in Journalism from the University of Georgia, and currently resides in Roswell, Georgia. His first book was A Trojan Feast: The Food and Drink Offerings of Aliens, Faeries, and Sasquatch, published by Anomalist Books. Cutchin is also a published composer and maintains an active performing schedule as a jazz and rock tuba player, having appeared on eight albums and live concert DVDs. He can be regularly heard on the weekly Where Did the Road Go? midweek podcast, and maintains an online presence at JoshuaCutchin.com.
"The Brimstone Deceit can rightly be called an instant classic because it articulates a refreshingly original approach to the paranormal and more importantly, how witnesses interpret their experiences. Joshua Cutchin carefully builds his case with fascinating, startling, and entertaining accounts from throughout history to show us that when it comes to UFOs, Bigfoot, and other high strangeness, the nose may really know what has been knocking at our doors for millennia." — Greg Bishop, author of Project Beta
The Brimstone Deceit: An In-Depth Examination of Supernatural Scents, Otherworldly Odors, and Monstrous Miasmas Reviews
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Not many writers on the paranormal manage to be consistently openminded, lucid, and imaginative. Almost all of them fall down when it comes to "lucid".
Cutchin, like John Keel, pulls it off, although less flamboyantly. He reminds me of a 17th-century antiquarian like John Aubrey, urbanely assembling a great mass of bizarre facts not so much to prove anything as to take simple pleasure in the wonder they elicit.
Cutchin avoids shopworn explanatory models (ETs, Pithecanthropus in the Oregon woods, etc.) and mostly limits interpretation to exploring the chemistry behind the various odours associated with the uncanny. He does tentatively theorize that the odours may serve to produce an altered state of consciousness in the witness. An unfortunate epilogue which pokes at a possible alchemical explanation for it all does not spoil his otherwise exemplary work. -
Once again Joshua Cutchin knocks it out of the park! As a producer of Expanded Perspectives I'm a big fan of the paranormal, UFOs, Sasquatch, Time Slips and breakaway societies, I've read 100s of books and even more articles and blogs on these various subject's. So many of them cover the same stories over and over again, but Joshua is like a breath of fresh air in this community. He continually looks at these fringe and Fortean topics from an entirely new angle. His first book "A Trojan Feast" was terrific but this latest book is amazing! I've never even considered the concept of strange odors and otherworldly scents being associated with these incredible sightings. Whether it's the smell of gunpowder on an ancient battlefield like Gettysburg, the hint of Ozone surrounding a UFO sighting, the smell of your dead grandfather's favorite pipe to the overpowering smell of sulphur accompanied by a shadow being! Joshua has collected a massive amount of stories, tales and eye witness accounts that shows that so often smells are a major part of someone's unexplained experience. Great work, great idea and a great book! If you are at all interested in the unknown, the strange and the mysterious then you definitely need this book in your collection.
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Downright scholarly
This was an excellent read: fresh, thorough, and thought-provoking. With over 1,000 references and nearly a quarter of the book devoted to bibliography, The Brimstone Deceit stands apart from many books on the paranormal. The writing is clear and the ideas after genuinely novel--I've been waiting for something like this for a long time. The highest praise I can give it is that it reminds me of Jacques Vallée. I am excited to read more by Cutchin! -
This is a thoughtful, fascinating deep dive into the smell of weirdness. Cutchin stacks layer upon layer of information with surgical precision as he painstakingly builds to his own unique, and astoundingly sensible conclusion. Even if you don't love his unifying theories (which I did for their beautiful simplicity and "ah hah" feel) you will still come away having learned a ton of cool things. Highly recommended!
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Great!
