I was thrilled to learn that Mark A. Hall and Loren Coleman wrote a new book on True Giants. My copy of Mark A. Hall’s self-published The Yeti, Bigfoot & True Giants (1997) was read and re-read to the point of near-disintegration, so I’m anxious to both have a more structurally sound tome on ‘True Giants’ and to see how the hypothesis has evolved.
McCormick has much to say about the book, mostly constructively negative, and I will let those interested read his critique. Nevertheless, it is reviews like McCormick’s that drive me on to gather more evidence. His attention to detail, for instance, with the footcasts let’s you know he actually read the entire book:
By far the most interesting evidence presented for ‘True Giants’ are tracks with only 4 visible toes. I counted 14 reported cases in True Giants, with most being reported from western North America (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba), but also eastern North America (Pennsylvania, Mississippi), Central Asia (Tajikistan), and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia). They range in length from 14 to 31 inches (n = 14, median = 20″, mode = 20″, average = 21″, stdev = 5″) and in width from 6 to 17 inches (n = 8, median = 9″, mode = 6″, average = 10″, stdev = 4″). Unfortunately, only 3 of the tracks have been depicted (2 of which are in Mark A. Hall’s prior book): the 30″ x 13″ track from Johor has very round toes in a slightly sloping line and tapers into a pronounced heel; the 19.25″ long Tajikistan track seems to have a more rounded heel and pronounced sloping toe-line; the 15″ x 6″ Mississippi track seems to have a very strait toe-line and round heel (as well as a possible projection from the side, where an opposing ape-like hallux could be). As for how the length and width compare, it isn’t a particularly great trend.
I would have preferred it if the authors documented all of the known 4-toed tracks. Are there casts? Is there similar overall morphology? If there evidence of dermal ridges or differing depths within the track which would be difficult to fake? The tracks are potentially very interesting, but ultimately left very mysterious by the book.
It’s noteworthy that 10 other footprints were mentioned where the number of toes is not mentioned; these appear to have been connected to ‘True Giants’ due to their size and location – even though you’d think 4 toes would be one of the first things mentioned. One report from Ballachulish, Scotland specifically mentions toes, but not the number. I found two instances where legends stated that the toes of the giants were “normal” and none mentioned an odd number, demonstrating the tenuous connection between legendary giants and ‘True Giants’.
Clearly the footprint section of the book needs to be strengthened with more data. Of course, part of the problem is that if people don’t understand that researchers will take their reports of really giant footprints seriously, they are not reporting them.
I sincerely appreciate Cameron McCormick taking the time to fully read, minutely analyze, and deeply critique this book.
The tome is a radical approach to material found in various fields that may apply to the survival of Gigantopithecus. A reading, such as conducted by McCormick, shines a light on weaknesses in our arguments than rightfully need to be addressed. I acknowledge the value of his critique.
More photographs and discussion of the footprints, for example, need to be gathered, composed, and added to the future editions. Placing the concept out there was a major goal. But more should be developed, I agree. Already material is coming in from Russia that adds insights.
- The Pamirs footprint with four toes found by Vadim Makarov.
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