From altered states of consciousness and hauntings to ancient civilizations and UFOs, paranormal phenomena seem to share a common suite of attributes. But why do these disparate fields have so much in common?

The answer may have been hiding in plain sight: death, the greatest mystery of all, binds together the entirety of the supernatural.

Drawing upon a wealth of supporting evidence from his first entry, Joshua Cutchin concludes Ecology of Souls with an exploration of how death manifests both across the UFO phenomenon as well as in sightings of cryptids, those animals whose very existence conventional science denies. A shocking possibility reveals itself: that supposed "extraterrestrials" may be more invested in souls than spaceships... and, in fact, may not be so alien after all.

PRAISE FOR ECOLOGY OF SOULS
“Those of us who work in these strangest of folklores work with conjectures, not certainties, with intuitions, not conclusions. Still, there are particularly gifted writers whom I profoundly trust to guide me. Joshua Cutchin is among them. Here are yet two more big books from him on a global comparison that many of us have made but no one has pursued to the literal ends of the earth, as he has here—that between the world of the dead and the world of the UFO. Please read these books. And please recognize that when we can only speak of these glowing presences as ‘threats’ in the sky, we might as well be trying to shoot down souls. Good luck with that.”
— Jeffrey J. Kripal, J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, Associate Dean of the School of Humanities, Rice University

“In Ecology of Souls , Joshua Cutchin makes the case for an ecological perspective on the paranormal, with the processes of death and dying seen as essential clues for unravelling its mysteries. Paranormal entities of all different kinds are conceived as psychopomps performing ancient cosmic functions—ushering souls in their transition to the other side. By applying comparative methods—examining patterns across different cultural and folkloric traditions, and exploring commonalities between experiential narratives—Cutchin builds an argument for the centrality of death in all manner of paranormal experiences. This book is a bold and innovative contribution to Fortean research and scholarship, and a kaleidoscopic expedition into the wilds of the paranormal ecosystem.”
— Jack Hunter, PhD, editor of Greening the Paranormal: Exploring the Ecology of Extraordinary Experience

“In a world where there are an infinite amount of questions, Joshua Cutchin has some of the answers! He offers a refreshing look into the concept of death and paranormal experiences through a fascinating lens while going back to our cultural lore. Whether you are curious or a skilled anomalous researcher, this book should be a must-add to any library.”
— Alex Matsuo, founder and director of Association of Paranormal Study