State of shock

David A. Farris may be Oklahoma’s Fox Mulder. Tracking down the Sooner State’s files of the unexplained, he’s compiled his findings into three books, from 1995’s “Mysterious Oklahoma” to 1999’s “Oklahoma Outlaw Tales.”

On Sunday at Full Circle Bookstore, he’ll sign copies of his latest, “Oklahoma Outlaws, Spooky Stories and All Around Folklore,” which is like a “greatest hits” collection culled from the previously published texts — but in this case, those “hits” include Bigfoot, Belle Starr and beings from another planet.

“I have collected stories of mystery and adventure from Oklahoma’s past for years,” said Farris, citing accounts of strange specters and unexplained flying objects as among the book’s subjects. His favorites are those stemming from Indian folklore, which he said “never fail to fascinate.”

Heavily illustrated with photographs, drawings, maps and other shreds of evidence, “Oklahoma Outlaws, Spooky Stories and All Around Folklore,” even has an entire section dedicated to “Errant Corpses.”

“As long as a story isn’t gruesome just for shock value, it will make the cut,” Farris said. “As for a story being too wild to be true, those are the best ones.”

right, At nearly 8 feet and 200 pounds, this alligator gar is officially the largest fish caught in Oklahoma.

below, U.S. Marshals pose with the body of Cherokee statesman Ned Christie (No. 5), whom they killed in 1892 for allegedly murdering one of their own.