I’ve been reading a LOT of books lately, many of them oriented toward the paranormal (including Brad Steiger’s new Real Vampires: Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Dark Side and Nick Redfern’s Science Fiction Secrets). In preparation for tonight’s interview I’ll be conducting with author Christopher O’Brien on Joshua Warren’s radio program, I’ve also managed to hammer out O’Brien’s latest offering: Stalking the Tricksters: Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Dark Adepts and 2012 (Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009).

Seldom are all the many and varied aspects of Forteana looked at closely and carefully with hope of drawing new bits of evidence together from areas where strings of thought might occasionally intersect. O’Brien, on the other hand, makes this his sole focus with Stalking the Tricksters. In essence, various strange elements of Forteana are incorporated into a single “unified theory” of the paranormal: O’Brien discusses hoaxes, evoking names like P.T. Barnum and Joseph Smith, in addition to famous romps like the Cardiff Giant and the multitude of religious relics alleged to exist throughout the Middle Ages. He also takes a discerning  look at secret societies, “Bohemian Grove”, and 911 terror conspiracies; ultimately, this subculture of hoaxes, paranormal and cryptozoological phenomenon, conspiracies, and secret government activity illustrates for us that an underlying, cosmic spirit of disunion pervades human culture in every way imaginable, and that it probably will continue to do so forever.

Enter the Trickster.

Native cultures across the globe have discussed this Trickster element for thousands of years, dating back to cave depictions of shape-shifting, animalistic humanoids that play various pivotal roles in the shaping of culture throughout history… but what are they? Are they secret societies that seek to control world order? Are they alien intelligences that observe humanity from the shadows, controlling very basic functions of our existence? Or, could they be members of a spirit race that can interact with–and in many cases–control humanity?

The answer is that these are all true, and that the notion of a cosmic “Trickster” element as it is variously called, sheds light on the seemingly inexplicable nature of the unexplained.

Horrific notions of cannibalistic Wendigo spirits capable of possessing humans receive an interesting separation from the typical modern interpretations, usually suggesting that Wendigos are one of the many cultural interpretations of Bigfoot. Cryptozoological creatures like Bigfoot are also separated from “nuts and bolts” theories of physical existence, instead perceived as a singular, interdimensional phenomenon which are inexplicable to humans living in a tangent, three-dimensional universe like ours. Similarly, UFOs and alien phenomenon are treated to a Trickster’s perspective. Casting a skeptical eye toward the Roswell Crash of 1947, O’Brien states that, “For the purposes of stalking tricksters, I remind you… it doesn’t particularly matter if the event was really an alien craft or not, it is the effect of belief in the event that is of interest to me, when looking at the Roswell crash. Think about it; if the event was a real alien craft, then the government is trying to trick us into believing that it was not real. If the crash wasn’t alien, or real, then the effect on millions of people who believe it was real is worthy of note.”In this thought exercise, O’Brien outlines a third possibility: the long-considered notion that the craft discovered at Roswell was, in fact, one of ours–a US craft of our very own make and design. “If this is the case then the trickster’s plot and the government’s role are more remarkable and worthy of intense examination.”

Indeed, to look at human meddling with world affairs, hoaxes, conspiracies and cover-ups; paired alongside truly inexplicable paranormal activities, is bold. However, it is such a bold view that may render the new perspectives, the new emerging trends in not only paranormal studies, but in scientific discovery as well, that O’Brien issues. Like it or not–agree or disagree, it cannot be ignored, and O’Brien successfully gets one’s mind thinking in terms of a new, all-inclusive perspective. Therefore, let it be said here that Stalking the Tricksters is one of those valuable, rusty keys that will ultimately unlock the next door to knowing the mysteries of this universe. However strange you may find them, they must be considered; however frightening they appear, they must be accepted as one piece to the larger cosmic pie.