Review of "The Original Ghostbuster": An in-depth analysis of the classic novel.

In the 21st century, a new breed of ghost hunters emerged on YouTube, captivating audiences with their thrilling encounters. However, their approach prioritized entertainment over cautious analysis, a stark contrast to the methodology of Tony Cornell, a respected figure in the world of paranormal research.

Born into a family with a long-standing interest in the paranormal, Cornell's journey began under the tutelage of Eric Dingwall, a mentor who, in the 1970s, would repudiate parapsychology, viewing it as feeding a "new occultism." Despite this, Cornell maintained a true scientist's commitment to doubt and impartiality, even as parapsychology was not widely accepted as a branch of science.

Cornell's career spanned over five decades, during which he was employed by various organizations involved in paranormal research. His longest tenure was with the Society for Psychical Research (SPR), a position he held from 1952 until his retirement in 2004. Within the SPR, Cornell was respected for his diplomacy and "consistent willingness to be wrong."

During his time with the SPR, Cornell encountered a handful of phenomena that defied rational explanation. One such encounter was with Leonid Vasiliev, a physiologist visited by Cornell in 1962. Vasiliev claimed that explaining extrasensory perception would be as significant as discovering atomic energy.

The 1990s saw a period of relative silence on Cornell's answering machine, possibly due to digital distractions or the rise of conspiracy theories. However, his impact on the field of parapsychology remains significant.

JB Rhine, an American researcher, was instrumental in the development of parapsychology, a new field investigating psychic phenomena. Rhine's secular approach to parapsychology appealed to Soviet materialists, who explored telepathy as a potential cold war weapon.

One theory proposed by Rhine suggests that a poltergeist might be "recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis" - the violent discharge of mental energy by the living. This idea, while controversial, continues to be a topic of interest in the field of parapsychology.

In 1930, Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes series, led a mass exit of spiritualists due to the success of the SPR in debunking charlatans. This event marked a turning point in the acceptance of parapsychology, paving the way for researchers like Tony Cornell to delve deeper into the mysteries of the unseen.

Cornell's life and work serve as a testament to the enduring fascination with the paranormal and the pursuit of knowledge in the face of uncertainty. His commitment to impartiality and doubt, despite the scepticism of his peers, has left a lasting impact on the field of parapsychology.