The Spirit

by Thomas Page, Grady Hendrix (Introduction)

It has many names: Bigfoot... Yeti... Sasquatch.

But whatever it is, it’s out there in the woods and leaving a trail of blood and severed heads behind it.

For John Moon, a half-mad Indian, it is a spirit that holds the key to his inner self. He worships its power and he’ll kill to protect it. Desperate, exhausted, half-starved, Moon will follow it wherever it goes.

For Raymond Jason, killing it has become an obsession. He was the only survivor of a hunting trip to the Rockies where the hunters became the monster’s prey. Now he is determined to track the creature down and destroy it.

But when the two men finally corner their quarry they set loose a flood of terror and destruction that may leave no survivors ...

This long-awaited reissue of Thomas Page's Bigfoot classic The Spirit (1977) features a new introduction by Grady Hendrix and cover art by paperback horror legend Tom Hallman.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Bigfoot, Audiobook, Paranormal, Horror Thriller

238 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 28, 1977

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Grady Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best of the Bigfoot books. It's funny, there are no long boring speculative lectures on the feeding and mating habits of Bigfoot, English grammar is treated with respect, and Bigfoot doesn't rape anyone. In terms of Bigfoot fiction, that qualifies it for the Pulitzer.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started strong with a group of people trying to hunt a mysterious creature later on regarded as Bigfoot. Then with have an Indian looking for his spirit and his name. Well, the first group dies in action but surviving Raymond Jason and the Indian John Moon try to find Bigfoot on their own. Will they succeed? Catchy adventure pulp horror story with an intriguing showdown in a well chosen location. Read like a 70s movie and was quite entertaining in my opinion. Really recommended!

[Jon Recluse · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a schizophrenic Native American, it is the spirit guide that will lead him back to the heritage he can no longer remember....a spirit he will kill to protect.

For a wealthy businessman looking for a purpose in life, sole survivor of a chance encounter with this spirit, it is a savage beast that must be destroyed at all costs.

The creature known as Bigfoot.

An engaging, reasonably intelligent novel concerning the legend that basically kept alive supermarket tabloids back in the day and fueled a few horror films.
Page offers an interesting spin on Bigfoot, and the conflicting evidence associated with it, while delivering a solid horror adventure that explores what drives humans to the edge of insanity in search of inner peace.

[Ken Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

RAMBO MEETS PREDATOR AT A 70's SKI LODGE - what an unexpected delight. I laughed at pretty much every page! Here are some things Sasquatch casually throws at his victims: helicopters, boulders, rattlesnakes, cars. Also, when Bigfoot is not ripping off their heads the characters argue about stuff like rotten toes or bestiality. This one is fast & fun, action-packed and written with imagination and flair.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the plus side, we do get a scary-as-shit Sasquatch-type creature running around ripping peoples’ heads off in this thing.



But, I’ve gotta say, once we get to the ski lodge, which happens at about 40% into the book, I lost interest a little. I was having way more fun with it when it was just the creature and the two dudes, roughing it in the wilderness, persevering through miles and miles of lonely, rough terrain on their own. That part felt like a masterfully suspenseful adventure novel, it was just really tense and exciting. After they reached the ski lodge, however, even though there was technically more action by way of sheer number of kills, it just lost that sense of risk and uncertainty you can only get when you’re on your own, roughing it, and having to rely entirely on your own wits to grapple with the situation, far from civilization and other people who can potentially help. So, the book started out with a pretty great buildup, but the second act definitely fizzled out a bit for me. But if you want to read about a killer Sasquatch, or as Bubbles (rightly) calls it, a damn Samsquanch, you could do far worse.

[Lizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t write reviews.

“You’d have to be made out of stone to resist a Bigfoot hunt.”

Oh my, I was searching for something that blended David Morrell’s The Totem (what it could have been, but sadly wasn’t) and Chris T. Martingdale’s Nightblood. Rambo meets Bigfoot in a snow lodge and there’s a talking dog … maybe. Wait. I mean, yes, Morrell just happened to write First Blood and both Nightblood and The Spirit feature unbalanced Vietnam vets dealing with the unknown… Let’s say it all worked out swimmingly.

Page made the equivalent of a lovely coffee with the exact right amounts of cream and sugar. Characters develop naturally without lengthy exposition. Violence occurs without being overly disgusting or unnecessary. A few scenes were actually creepy. No forced love relationships or any such bollocks. Nice pace, nice subject, I’d love a second cup. If anyone knows of any ripping yarns about Sasquatch or well-paced stories of dread, please let me know.

[ItzSmashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Very tame in terms of outright horror moments, but the strength of this book lies in the relationship between the eccentric millionaire and the Native American. Two polar opposites who are bounded together by a common goal, their interactions were gripping and carry the story through, with a very fitting ending that wraps up the story arch well. There were definitely parts that drag, it's difficult to keep every page exciting when most of the story consists of them trying to find an elusive big foot who does not appear often. But I took a lot from this one and despite the lack of horror I would recommend it.
Raymond Jason is a bored millionaire who sets out to find the elusive big foot, on his hunt he comes across a native American who is also searching for the creature as he believes it is his spirit animal. The two lock horns and fight to be the one who discovers the creature, but they learn that what they are both searching for may lie in each other.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A schizophrenic American Indian in search of his spirit animal, a Sasquatch on a killing rampage and an attack survivor hell bent on revenge. When they all hook up, it’s gonna be one hell of a party.

“It’s prolly just a bear.”

[Latasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook edition:
I can see why this book made it into paperbacks from hell. There is a lot going on in this story if you just stop and really think about it. John Moon was kinda sad for me. He’s got some problems but I don’t think he was so bad. I wonder how his character was viewed when this story first came out?Raymond James is such an ass. The story is good and sometimes really out there (the last bit). I like that Thomas Page clearly did his research into Bigfoot behavior... for some of it.
Matt Godfrey read this. He did a great job. There was many characters but he did great differentiating between all of them.

I requested a free audio version of this book and give this review voluntarily. Thank you Valancourt!

[TraceyL · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story just didn't grab me. It sounded like it was going to be fun, and I've seen plenty of reviews from people who loved it, but I was bored. I'm determined to find a Bigfoot story that I like, as this is the second one this year I've read and didn't like (the first was Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre).

[Μιχάλης · Rating 3 out of 5]

Πολύ παλιό βιβλίο τρόμου με έναν Ινδιάνο που, ψάχνοντας το πνεύμα του, ανακαλύπτει το Μεγαλοπόδαρο. Ταυτόχρονα, εκατομμυριούχος κυνηγός δέχεται επίθεση από το Μεγαλοπόδαρο που σκοτώνει τους συντρόφους του, οπότε αρχίζει να τον κυνηγά.
Έχει πολλά βαρετά στιγμιότυπα κυνηγητού, αν και κάπου στη σελίδα 100, που η πλοκή αρχίζει να περιστρέφεται γύρω από ένα σημείο και από χαρακτήρες (και να αναπτύσσει τη μυθολογία του βιβλίου) βελτιώνεται πολύ.
Προσπαθεί σε σημεία να γίνει και βαθιά παραβολή/αλληγορία αλλά δεν τα καταφέρνει λόγω της βιαστικής γραφής.
Είναι βιβλίο από άλλη εποχή και οι νοσταλγοί της μάλλον θα το εκτιμήσουν.

[Caleb Fogler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bigfoot… horror… enough said. Seriously though, how do we not have more Bigfoot stories? This one was really fun and fast paced. Pretty simple, more like an action movie with two main characters who are flawed but still likable.

John Moon is a decorated military veteran and killing machine who suffers memory loss and psychological trauma from his service in Vietnam. After close encounters with death while in the service John embarks on a name quest by following “his spirit” until he is given his true name. Raymond Jason is a wealthy businessman who has lost his drive to remain in the day-to-day operation of his very successful company. After a deadly encounter with Bigfoot, Raymond attempts to find his own justice against the creature and bring proof to the rest of the world of Bigfoot’s existence.

The writing portrays the Bigfoot as an overpowering and elusive creature with capabilities to easily kill humans. However by the end, I feel more empathy for the creature than the humans. Through the events of the story each character changes, but I think I enjoyed John Moon’s perspective more. The most impressive aspect of the book was the theories of the creature’s existence and disappearance as a species and the use of Native American mythology to explain John’s mental health. Fun story overall.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit more tame than I would of expected for a Bigfoot horror book. None the less, it was still an enjoyable read. It's also a good thing that this was repressed with a much better cover than the original. If I saw that one, I'm pretty sure I would of passed it up.

The first half of this is alright, but it sort of draws out the Indian on his spirit quest and the man looking for him. There is little Bigfoot action in this period. What there is, is pretty good though. Once we get to the isolated ski resort, it picks up nicely. Wish there was more furry madness throughout the story. Great book.

[rovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite from Valancourt Book's Paperbacks from Hell so far. It is a slow-burner on the first half and suspenseful for the rest of the book.

Although the idea of the Bigfoot interests me, the unexpected character development of our main character is the one that made me follow the story up until the end. His journey into self-fulfillment and finding his identity was well explored, and that ending made it even more meaningful.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

With all due respect to Grady Hendrix, this is not a good book and definitely the weakest of the Valancourt Paperbacks from Hell series that I’ve read so far. In fairness, he says it’s the best Bigfoot book around, so maybe keep that qualifier in mind if you read it. Having said that, the ending is wonderfully downbeat and depressing.

[Horror Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice Prose, but I feel like all bigfoot fiction is spoiled for me after reading Jeff Strand's Dweller. I'm glad Valancourt is putting out these books for the 70s and 80s and making them more available. I'll definitely be reading another of their titles again soon.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel about obsession, The Spirit is an enjoyable thriller and an interesting take on the Sasquatch legend. Two men--one an American Indian with mental scars from the Vietnam War, the other a rich hunter whose friends are slaughtered by the beast--throw their whole lives into tracking Bigfoot down. Though these men have very different objectives in mind, both of them are consumed by their quest, and the creature they follow leads them across the country toward its own ends.

Though not as frightening as I had hoped going in, The Spirit is a deftly written and well-developed narrative. The characters, especially our two protagonists, are carefully drawn and Sasquatch is presented in a believable fashion. The last third or so of the book piles one suspenseful moment on top of the next, leading up to a climax that is, in a sense, inevitable but highly poetic. Definitely recommended for fans of Bigfoot fiction.

[Mark Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

First half is a slow burn which fuels the suspense. Second half ramps up the action and the pace. A fun fast pulpy read.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars to The Spirit, an awesome and fitting end to the first round of Valancourt's Paperbacks From Hell publishing venture. Finding a good Bigfoot novel is not so easy. Many devolve into lunacy or idiocy to rapidly as to be unreadable. Thomas Page has a pretty cool take on the hunt for Bigfoot, comparing it to both Native American interpretations of spirit quests and a 1970's American version that captures the feel of the post-war, pos-60's, consumerism-is-all-that's-left-for-us late '70s/early '80s USA. Really enjoyed this one, and I absolutely adored the ending. Slightly disappointed that Bigfoot is a murderous beast, but these ones have good reasons. Fantastic summer read, so jump on it while you can!

[Robbie Myles · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Spirit, by Thomas Page was my second try at the "Paperbacks from Hell" series and again this one fell super flat for me. The first in the line I read was "When Darkness Loves Us," and that one was slightly disappointing. I can't help but feel the same way after having finished "The Spirit."

The Spirit follows two narratives. An Indian who trails the heel of his "spirit," a large Sasquatch that likes to throw rocks and behead people. The other, a hunter whose entire crew had been destroyed at the hands of one of these beasts. The chaos that enfolds in the twilight pages of the book is somewhat fun, but simply wasn't a big enough payoff for me. There were several moments that set a creepy tone for me and kept me on my toes, but for the most part I labored heavily through this one. To me, it was mostly treading the same, drab details over and over for the 240 pages or so.

I picked up the whole line of Paperbacks from Hell with super high expectations, I was so excited to dive into all of these. My first two attempts have been weak, so I'm hoping try number three goes differently! The Spirit was not for me.

[Austin Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay, I guess, if you're into bigfoot/sasquatch stories.

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough killings

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was good silly fun!! A bigfoot hunt, then absolute mayhem at the ski resort!

[Richard Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly good book, considering Bigfoot is of almost zero interest for me. Credit to the Paperbacks From Hell line for getting me to read a book I wouldn’t have otherwise. The book is about characters searching for meaning, and hits some nice existential notes for a pulp novel. It doesn’t really read like horror, particularly, but it’s a good read nonetheless. Fast paced and it has a satisfying ending.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I think of Bigfoot, I think of Harry and the Hendersons, the 1987 blockbuster where the sasquatch befriends John Lithgow. So, it's difficult for me to find the beast very scary.

That said, this slim novel does a decent job of making Bigfoot a force to be reckoned with. Blackfoot Indian John Moon is tracking Bigfoot because he thinks the animal will tell him his real name. Raymond Jason, owner of a pet food company and also a very good tracker(what the hell), saw Bigfoot kill his friends and wants revenge. Things come to a head at a ski lodge in peak tourist season.

This is one of the novels in Valancourt Press's Paperbacks From Hell line, featuring books that were mentioned in Quirk Publishing's book of the same name. These are re-released novels from the 70s 80s. They came out during the horror boom, when the only real barrier to publication of a horror novel was that it had to have a cool cover(I recommend checking out Paperbacks from Hell for the art. Great stuff). They're an interesting time capsule, if nothing else.

There's a way to read this as a book about masculinity and how it can go awry. Two dudes on missions, and this town isn't big enough for the both of them. Chaos ensues.

It's a stretch. But this isn't a great novel. One does what one must to amuse himself.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming closer to the end of my winter horror reads this year is The Spirit. This wild ride had me nervous on nearly every page. This monster doesn’t just terrorize; it dominates with style, casually hurling tree branches, boulders, rattlesnakes, and even cars at its victims. When it isn’t ripping off heads, the giant is scheming getting ready for its next victim.

It is fast, fun, and action-packed, the book is written with imagination and flair—a quintessential Paperbacks from Hell read. The introduction of the novel by Grady Hendrix had me HYPED to get into this book. While I enjoyed the ride, it wasn’t particularly memorable. The characters had promising depth early on, but as the chaos ramped up, their development fizzled. The action, while entertaining, felt abrupt and lacked the slow-burn dread I prefer in horror. The main character Jason is not the one you can root for. He is a white obsessive businessman with anger issues and towards women. The other hard part for this book is the animal violence. Which with this type of book I understand, but this book takes it another level. This book really took off about halfway through the book. This was a frozen horror that I will definitely come back to.

[Almaric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! A rich adventurist and a Native American Vietnam vet track a possible Bigfoot cross-country. Both are seeking purpose and identity more than anything. They see each other as enemies, but are really kindred spirits. The creature has an interesting history and purpose of its own.

The action kicks off immediately with death and destruction. Then the hunt is on! Eventually everyone ends up at a newly christened ski lodge where wild theories are postulated, mysteries are revealed, and heads roll.

There is not much character development, zero romance and no great philosophical distress. Just a small group of characters switching back and forth between attack/pursuit and defend/survive. But it is very much a fun and brutal journey of manly action, battles, guns, bows, arrows, dogs and monsters. Not ridiculous levels, mind you. Realism still prevails as personal shortcomings and failures abound.

The book reads well. Phrasing is sometimes strange and I got lost in the actions scenes here and there, but nothing that diluted my overall enjoyment of one of the best Bigfoot sagas I've ever read.

Occasional strong language, a few sexual references, no sexual content, violent Bigfoot attacks but nothing prolonged or particularly gory.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars, but I've rounded up because (1) I suspect Bigfoot enthusiasts will be far more engaged than I was (I tackled this not for the subject matter but because I want to make my way through all of the re-released Paperbacks from Hell) and (2) I really dug the ending, which was simultaneously unpredictable yet inevitable. Surprisingly restrained and well-written, with a strong opening and final third; it meanders a bit in the middle, but again, that's probably because I'm not the target reader, which is why I've adjusted my rating accordingly.

[Eric Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another disappointing book from the Paperbacks from Hell collection.

I feel like it's trying too hard to be mysterious and edgy. When it came out in the 70s maybe this was all super interesting, but it all kind of falls flat. I'm not sure any of the characters are likable in any way that makes you want to root for them...including Bigfoot.

It's written well enough, but I was happy to finish it. I read this as part of a monthly reading challenge, and that may be the only reason I finished it.

The intro is interesting as they always are since Grady puts in some time and effort to share the back story.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a weak novel about bigfoot. Well it's not. It's about a indian trying to find peace and a bunch of people trying to discover or find a bigfoot. Half the book is just boring and the other half is lame. I didn't enjoy at all. There was no redeeming qualities so this book being on the Paperbacks from Hell - I can't see it. Maybe since it was written in the 70's (and read) on that date made sense but having read so much horror and such I don't see it as interesting.