Adam Allsuch Boardman Tells Us About What Really Scares Him…
When I find myself in polite company at weddings and other pleasant gatherings, it is often necessary to explain that I am an illustrator. After explaining the complexities of drawing pictures, the lines of enquiry reveal that I have written and illustrated three books about unusual subjects.
There are common follow-ups to this sort of conversation. Sometimes, perfect strangers share their personal and delightful experiences with UFOs and ghosts. On other occasions, I am often asked, ‘So, what’s the scariest story you’ve read?’
For now, the former follow-up will remain confidential and top-secret. As for the latter, I will reveal what tales I found creepiest in my most recent book, An Illustrated History of Urban Legends.
Odd Dogs
As a kid, I was terrified of dogs. My neighbour owned two hulking alsatians that would bark at the slightest glimpse of me. To honour this childhood phobia, I included a few stories about ‘Odd Dogs’. My particular favourite example is the Jinmenken creatures in Japanese folklore. They are described as small, ugly dogs with the cringing faces of human beings. Perhaps this sounds adorable to some readers, but I can easily imagine the terror and uncanny feeling of stumbling across one of these unfortunate beasts behind a Sainsbury’s at 11 p.m.
Shadow People
I am lucky enough to experience sleep paralysis on occasion. This phenomenon involves people being awakened from sleep, experiencing vague or vivid hallucinations whilst feeling a heavy weight on their chest. It isn’t an uncommon phenomenon with people, and in my personal experience it has always been caused by insomnia or a bad back.
Typically, people experiencing sleep paralysis will find themselves halfway between a dream and wakefulness. They will often see a shadowy figure in the corner of the room, sitting on their bed or even directly on their chest. The figures will be indistinct, and are generally seen in the corner of the eye (they are inevitably imagined, and are constructed by the brain from the silhouette of something like a bedside lamp). See image below.
Folklore and urban legends have constructed innumerable characters based on these hallucinations, including the ‘hag’, ‘hat man’ and the usual rogues gallery of aliens. I have seen them all. This is likely due to reading dozens of esoteric books.
Sadly / thankfully, I haven’t had a good one in some time.
An Illustrated History of Urban Legends
Adam Allsuch Boardman
A sceptical enquiry into urban legends, from Atlantis to the hollow Earth conspiracy, and everything in between.
From the campfire to the digital rumour mill, urban legends have flourished wherever we tell stories. Whether once true, sprouted from half remembered facts or entirely fictional, we have scrutinised these legends for centuries. This book will ferry you across a river of uncanny tales, from classic folklore to contemporary urban legend. So, check the closet, make sure the skies are clear and delve in if you are ready to imagine the strange.
Get your copy HERE
