Review: Death in the Tragic Kingdom by Keaton Moll
Death in the Tragic Kingdom: An Unauthorized Walking Tour Through the Haunted and Fatal History of Disney Parks
by Keaton Moll
Even the Happiest Place on Earth is not immune to death. Tragic accidents happen due to mechanical failure, visitor negligence, and just plain bad luck. Keaton Moll leads readers through Disney resorts, pointing out the tragic deaths that have occurred on rides, in hotels, and in isolated corners of Disney property. He also reports on the restless spirits that haunt attractions and can be spotted by cast members or guests. When it comes to the deaths, Moll sticks to the truth: every story has verified against newspaper accounts, and rumors have not been included. However, when it comes to the supernatural, all reported incidents are hearsay. Moll includes the stories as he has heard them, neither doctored to be scarier or edited to seem less ridiculous.
If you've ever wondered about the body count in Disneyland - and after sixty years, it's truly a wonder that there haven't been more accidents - then this book will answer your questions. It describes the gruesome details of the Big Thunder Railroad's derailment, a Samoan gang fight, and the drownings in the Rivers of America. Sometimes the park is at fault due to poor maintenance or the error of a cast member, but far more frequently the guest is at fault. It doesn't make the deaths any less tragic for their family, but it is reassuring to know that if you follow the safety precautions the odds of coming to harm are very, very small.
These death reports are succinct and to the point, detailed without being exploitative. It's a very macabre history of the Disney parks, but it's still a part of the Disney legacy worth exploring.
Of less interest to me were the ghost stories. Sure, some of them are fun campfire tales, but a lot of them are just too silly to believed. For example, there's a story of a fat ghost who lurks at the back of an attraction in California Adventure. He's rarely seen except for a shadow on the wall, but he's known to “lurk” over the shoulders of guests, change the movements of the animatronics, and even alter the weather in this section of the park. Puh-leeze! I want a ghost story that makes me shiver, not giggle.
One interesting effect of the book is what it reveals about the reader. When my husband reads the book, he'll make a small gasp or a sad “Aww” sound whenever he reads about a child's death. When I read the same stories earlier, I didn't react audibly but read in a detached, clinical way. We've always known that of the two of us, he's got far more empathy for other people, but it was interesting to see this play out as we were reading.
3.5 out of 5 stars
To read more about Death in the Tragic Kingdom, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2014: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
2013: Only two more days to enter the Big Top Giveaway!
2012: The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer
2011: Fashionista Piranha will be on hiatus for a while…
2010: The Boleyn Wife by Brandy Purdy
2009: Summary: Book Reviews from January - May 2009
by Keaton Moll
Even the Happiest Place on Earth is not immune to death. Tragic accidents happen due to mechanical failure, visitor negligence, and just plain bad luck. Keaton Moll leads readers through Disney resorts, pointing out the tragic deaths that have occurred on rides, in hotels, and in isolated corners of Disney property. He also reports on the restless spirits that haunt attractions and can be spotted by cast members or guests. When it comes to the deaths, Moll sticks to the truth: every story has verified against newspaper accounts, and rumors have not been included. However, when it comes to the supernatural, all reported incidents are hearsay. Moll includes the stories as he has heard them, neither doctored to be scarier or edited to seem less ridiculous.
If you've ever wondered about the body count in Disneyland - and after sixty years, it's truly a wonder that there haven't been more accidents - then this book will answer your questions. It describes the gruesome details of the Big Thunder Railroad's derailment, a Samoan gang fight, and the drownings in the Rivers of America. Sometimes the park is at fault due to poor maintenance or the error of a cast member, but far more frequently the guest is at fault. It doesn't make the deaths any less tragic for their family, but it is reassuring to know that if you follow the safety precautions the odds of coming to harm are very, very small.
These death reports are succinct and to the point, detailed without being exploitative. It's a very macabre history of the Disney parks, but it's still a part of the Disney legacy worth exploring.
Of less interest to me were the ghost stories. Sure, some of them are fun campfire tales, but a lot of them are just too silly to believed. For example, there's a story of a fat ghost who lurks at the back of an attraction in California Adventure. He's rarely seen except for a shadow on the wall, but he's known to “lurk” over the shoulders of guests, change the movements of the animatronics, and even alter the weather in this section of the park. Puh-leeze! I want a ghost story that makes me shiver, not giggle.
One interesting effect of the book is what it reveals about the reader. When my husband reads the book, he'll make a small gasp or a sad “Aww” sound whenever he reads about a child's death. When I read the same stories earlier, I didn't react audibly but read in a detached, clinical way. We've always known that of the two of us, he's got far more empathy for other people, but it was interesting to see this play out as we were reading.
3.5 out of 5 stars
To read more about Death in the Tragic Kingdom, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2014: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
2013: Only two more days to enter the Big Top Giveaway!
2012: The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer
2011: Fashionista Piranha will be on hiatus for a while…
2010: The Boleyn Wife by Brandy Purdy
2009: Summary: Book Reviews from January - May 2009