Champ: Beyond the Legend 
by Joseph W. Zarzynski 
Signed by the author on the title page
1988 Paperback ~ an updated version of the original 1984 book
Topic: Lake Monster

Excellent to very good condition. 
No markings. No damage. Smoke-free, pet-free home.

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Champ: Beyond the Legend by Joseph W. Zarzynski explores the scientific mystery and legend of "Champ," the Lake Champlain monster, compiling over 300 sightings and investigating the possibility of a large, unknown aquatic animal living in the lake.

Synopsis:
  • The book serves as a comprehensive guide to the evidence and theories surrounding Champ, often described as America's version of the Loch Ness Monster. 
  • Cataloging Sightings: Zarzynski, an amateur shipwreck hunter and "investigator of Lake Champlain phenomena," meticulously cataloged over 300 eyewitness accounts of a large, strange creature in the lake, including reports from a variety of credible witnesses such as sea captains, doctors, and a state trooper.
  • Investigative Efforts: The author details his own extensive search efforts, which included using side-scan sonar and an underwater robot in the mid-1980s. While he admitted to never finding a carcass, his investigations focused on gathering scientific and credible documentation.
  • Theories on Identity: The book explores various theories about the creature's identity. Zarzynski discusses the prevailing idea that Champ could be a surviving prehistoric beast, most likely a type of plesiosaur, a marine reptile thought to be extinct for millions of years.
  • The Mansi Photograph: A key focus of the book is the famous Mansi photograph from 1977, considered by some to be the best photographic evidence of a lake monster. Zarzynski believed the photograph to be genuine and used it as a basis for his theories on the creature's possible size (around 12 to 15 feet long).
  • Cultural and Political Impact: Zarzynski also covers the broader impact of the legend, noting how it stimulates tourism and led to the Vermont House of Representatives and the New York State Assembly passing resolutions to protect Champ from harassment or injury. 
  • The book attempts to move past mere legend by gathering and presenting the detailed data in a way that aims to convince readers of the plausibility of a large, unknown animal inhabiting Lake Champlain.