Book Reviews

By: Malcolm Robinson.

The Atlantis Blueprint. AUTHORS: Rand Flem-Ath & Colin Wilson.
PUBLISHER: Little Brown, Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, London, WC2E 7EN. PRICE: £18:99 (Hbk). ISBN: 0-316-85313-5.

Many books have been written about the lost world of Atlantis, some discounting it, others stating that it really existed. However, there is still a number of authors who differ very much in their agreements on where exactly Atlantis was situated. Ancient written accounts may not always be correct and a lot of fanciful word play may give rise to false and misleading information which certain authors may embellish for their own monetary ends. The authors of this book however, have painstakingly (over the past 20 years in fact) gathered together heaps of information from a wide variety of sources which compiled together, makes for darned good reading. But is there any truth to be had in this darn good reading ? Cannot it all be yet again pure speculation ! Well if the information contained in this book is anything to go by, I don't think so.

Let us look at some of the interesting points that the authors make throughout the book. First and foremost, the authors found in their study that the various ancient sites scattered throughout the world had some form of pattern, a pattern that suggested to them that these ancient sites were somehow aligned. This suggested to them, that these monuments were not as first thought, built by the local peoples of the respected areas, that a civilisation which existed before Atlantis had a tremendous knowledge of building and other such things had helped to erect these statues and monuments. The authors take us on a historical journey throughout various parts of the world where we learn of stories which back up their claims of an ancient civilisation. Other authors views are looked at in depth where Colin and Rand clear up inaccurate points and show and state what they believe 'really happened' ! Easter Island, the stones of Costa Rica, Cuzco, Avebury, and even Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland are all looked at in detail where the authors provide us with compelling information which on the surface appears tantalising.

I found much in this book that I hadn't read before, some of which admittedly I don't entirely agree with. Due to lack of insufficient or corroborative information, there will always be gaps which may never be filled, which if filled, would have proven (or dis-proven) the authors opinions. Nonetheless, this is an intriguing book, a book full of facts, a book which not only looks at Atlantis but at a lost civilisation which were certainly knowledgeable in scientific applications ! This is probably the best book that I've read on Atlantis and ancient civilisations. There is far too much to go into about this book in this small review, suffice it to say, buy the book to get the full picture, you won't be disappointed.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, Strange Phenomena Investigations (England)

Unearthly Disclosure. AUTHOR: Timothy Good.
PUBLISHER: Century, The Random House Group Ltd, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 2SA Tel: 020 7840 8400.. PRICE: £16:99 (Hbk). ISBN: 0-7126-8465-4.

Timothy Good is probably thee most prolific writer in the British Isles when it comes to writing books about UFOs, (followed closely by Jenny Randles). Timothy however, is in the envious position of having extremely good contacts within the Military and Air Force and other sections of the Armed Forces. For it is the contacts within these areas that Timothy gleams most, if not all his fantastic revelations about secret Military (and sometimes Government) dealings with UFOs and their occupants ! The author has a seasoned background in books of this nature and his latest offering 'Unearthly Disclosure' again hits the mark with a wealth of fantastic revelations about strange 'alien' (!) creatures such as the creatures of Varginha which is situated 200 miles north north west of Rio de Janeiro. Then there is the remarkable photographs contained within this book of a hideous looking 'creature' (!) photographed by one Filiberton Caponi during May 1993. The author goes into great detail about this case in which the photographer later stated that he had hoaxed the whole thing, but later retracted this. Timothy writes this case up in great detail and the reader is left to ponder on the validity of the story. I had some problems with the story and the photographs, but then again, if the creature depicted really is an 'alien', who am I to say what that should look like !

When discussing the possible psychic nature with UFOs and alien reports, Timothy states, and I quote. "It is possible for example that contact with alien intelligence's stimulates poltergeist and other psychic activity and causes witnesses to become psychically 'open' for reasons that we do not understand. It is also possible that some aliens may be thousands of years ahead of us in terms of mental development, therefore what we regard as paranormal abilities may be second nature to them. They may be equally adept at functioning in other dimensions and manipulating space-time." I quite agree. In another deliberation, Timothy states, "Although an extraordinary focus on human reproduction is evident in many abduction cases, perhaps for purposes of alien hybridisation, Kelly Cahill, (A UFO abductee that Timothy refers to in his book) shares my feeling that some alien entities might be more interested in our 'souls' or 'life force' than in our bodies". Now there's a thought ! The author is a committed 'believer' when it comes to 'alien' beings simply because the evidence presented to him has been vastly overwhelming that this is so. He presents information that the 'aliens' already are here and have bases under various oceans on planet Earth. There is lots for the student of UFOlogy to find in Timothy's latest offering. Newcomers to the subject will no doubt be impressed by the information contained therein. The foreword was written by Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Hill Norton GCB Chief of the Defence staff between 1971 and 1973. He was also the Chairman of NATO Military Committee between 1974 and 1977. Lord Hill Norton is a firm believer with Timothy Good that mankind is indeed interacting with some form of 'alien' intelligence, not only that, but the Governments of the world (or at least some of them) are themselves actively co-operating with deziens of other worlds for purposes best known to themselves.

This then is a powerful book, some may find it fanciful (especially the claims by people who claim to have seen and photographed 'aliens'. However, one cannot disguise the fact that 'Unearthly Disclosure' is a book that will stimulate the minds of those who read it but ultimately those self same readers will no doubt (as I was) feel betrayed by the powers that be who claim to be working with and for the people. There is a lot that is being kept hidden from the public, and it's thanks to authors like Timothy Good who can do the leg work, chase the leads, ensure those leads are bona fide, and turn the evidence accumulated over to you the reader and let you be the judge.

A good and interesting book, and one I would recommend you read to keep you abreast of the latest happenings within the strange and ever interesting world of UFOlogy.

Curious Tales Of Old West Yorkshire. AUTHOR: Marie Campbell.
PUBLISHER: Sigma Press, 1 South Oak Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 6AR. PRICE: £7:95 (Pbk). ISBN: 1-85058-703-5.
No matter where you go in the United Kingdom, you will always find tales relating to ghosts, poltergeists and strange phenomenon. This book highlights many tales from old West Yorkshire and fascinating they are too, the forward was written by T.V. actress Mollie Sugden (her of the T.V. show "Are You Being Served"). The book features a map which contains all the 'ghostly' areas to which the book relates and serves as a great reference point for all those travellers eager to visit those locations. So what do we get ? Well, the book, as you would expect, is split up into different aspects which relates to Witches. Wizards, and Prophets of old, we then look into Spiritualism in West Yorkshire and many incredible tales can be found there. Ancient customs, Religions and cemeteries are also looked at, as is cemeteries and tragic deaths. I found this book to be so full of facts, that one had to really take their time in reading the passages due to how comprehensive it all was. Of course many of these tales may be just that, 'tales' passed down through the centuries and added to by different scholars and individuals, but then again, we could say that about any ghost case of old. The author, irrespective of how true these tales are (or not) has painstakingly put together a comprehensive look at stories and incidents coming from West Yorkshire. There were many things I found of interest in this book, for instance, Bradford Pillory which stood along the Bull's Head Inn was used for all sorts of 'treatment' to people of ill repute. One couple, we are told, were put in this device for stealing a piece of bacon from an employer. The whipping of vagabonds was equally interesting. Lawbreakers were flogged by a whiplash of three cords each knotted at the end for maximum effect, and, should you take pity of those at the receiving end of this whipping, 'YOU' would be fined the sum of 10 shillings (50p). The book also has many photographs and illustrations throughout, where one can see what the author is referring to. All in all then, this is a fine book, it tends to wander in parts and can be heavy reading, but the author is to be complemented on his research and has produced a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson,

Alien Investigator. AUTHOR: Tony Dodd.
PUBLISHER: Headline Book Publishing Ltd, 338 Euston Road, London, NW1 3BH.
PRICE: £9:99 (Pbk). ISBN: 0-7472-7534-3
Tony Dodd has been a UFO researcher for well over 20 years, and in that time he has amassed a wealth of information pertaining to UFOs,which has taken him off the sceptical fence and made him a firm believer in the Extraterrestrial hypothesis. This book, is Tony's life work into the subject and begins by informing the reader all about his early interest in the subject which in point of fact, was added to by his own personal UFO encounters on the Yorkshire Moors. Tony presents his sightings with such conviction that the reader can almost sense that they are there. He was a serving police officer for a number of years and managed to convince his fellow officers that he wasn't going mad by reporting these things, for as fortune would have it, a number of his police collegues were also witness to these strange aerial devices which flitted across the Yorkshire skies. These early UFO experiences sparked a intense desire by Tony to find out what was behind all these UFO reports, and as such he began a one man crusade to Investigate these happenings all over the country. He joined Quest International a Leeds based UFO society and provided them with many case reports. Throughout the book Tony presents case after case of baffling UFO experiences, from the Kalahari Incident of May 1989 which concerns an alleged UFO which was shot down and it's occupants removed to a South African Air force base under tight security, to, his own Investigations with UFO abductees. Tony admits that the hypnosis that was used on these 'abductees' provided a wealth of information, but that information is not taken by some, to be all that convincing owing to the controversy surrounding the hypnosis issue. The by now infamous 'Fife Incident' of September 1996 where a number of small grey creatures were witnessed in some woods near Newton of Falkland is also looked at.

His work on animal mutilations is graphic in every detail, and contains some harrowing and disturbing accounts. We learn of sheep cattle seals mice foxes, and a variety of other animals, all found in strange and mysterious circumstances, devoid of any blood and most, if not all, of their internal organs mysteriously removed. But more disturbing, is Tony's presentation of some of what could be termed 'human' mutilations, these are even more gruesome. What this reviewer found to be by far the most impressive segment of the book, was the chapter dealing with the death of captain Thomas Mantell who left Godman Air Force base near Fort Knox on the 7th of January 1948 to Investigate a UFO near the air base. Tony presents a new version of the events, not by a friend of a friend, but by someone who was actually there that day, and believe you me, if you thought Thomas Mantell died of natural cases as a result of his plane crashing due to his oxygen failure, then think again, the information provided here, is 'mind bending' and clearly shows how big the American Government went to cover up this tragic death. There is a great deal of new information in this book, Tony's involvement with the UFO sightings in the Arctic Circle near Iceland is impressive, and again clearly shows how much the cover up was in force. This was a great book to read, lots of new material from a researcher for whom I hold in high regard. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson,

TITLE: The Hollow Earth Enigma. AUTHOR: Alec Maclellan. PUBLISHER: Souvenir Press Ltd 43 Great Russell Street, London, England WC1B 3PA, Tel: 0171 580 9307. PRICE: £9:99. ISBN: 0285634984.
I remember reviewing this author's last book, "The Lost World Of Agharti" which I found most illuminating, this work, is the author's 'follow on' study in regards to the concept that this planet of ours holds a hidden secret, and that secret is the fact that the Earth is not 'solid' as some would have us believe, but it is in fact 'hollow'. This of course, is a big claim, and for big claims must come big evidence, but can that evidence be found here ? is the author to be believed in his assumptions and research findings ? Well I have to say that he certainly has painted an interesting picture of fact throughout this book. We first of all look into the 'subsurface world' and the research of Fortean guru Charles Fort. We learn of Fort's Investigation into the hollow Earth's claims, which on the surface (please excuse the pun) look decidedly 'shaky'. Fort however, was the first to admit that some (not all) of his research should not be taken at face value, that it was always difficult to ensure the alleged reliable facts of the 'passed on' tales, none the less, Fort was one of the first main researchers to inform the public that there could be 'another world' below the surface of our own. Controversial researcher Erich Von Daniken was yet another researcher who pursued these claims (amoungst many others). The author then looks into the many pre-recorded tales from different countries, each having their own beliefs and accounts. Such was the seriousness of these remarkable tales, that even Adolf Hitler pursued these claims and sent individuals to see if there were any truth in them, and what did he find ? (well you'll have to buy the book to find out). We then learn of that famous explorer Admiral Byrd and his expedition to uncover the truth regarding the matter, but it wasn't until January and November of 1967 (and 1968) that the subject of the 'hollow Earth' really took of, with the release to the public of a number of photographs taken of the Earth by orbiting satellites which clearly showed (or appeared to show !) an entrance at the North Pole ! This is an intriguing and perhaps controversial book but the author has presented his facts and leaves it to the reader to decide if indeed this planet of ours has a hollow interior, to make that judgment, I recommend that you buy this book and find out for yourselves.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson (SPI England).

TITLE: The Ghost Hunting Casebook. AUTHOR: Natalie Osborne Thomason. PUBLISHER: Blandford Books, Cassell Plc, Wellington House, 125 Strand, London, England, WC2R OBB. PRICE: £9:99.ISBN: 0-7137-2768-3.
As many of you may know, ghosts and poltergeists are my 'main' interest (even although I am heavily involved in the UFO enigma). This book, is one of those books that you just can't put down, it went with me to work, it went with me on the tube, it was essential bed time reading, I've got to say it straight up that this, is the best ghost book that I've read in ages, it was, as we say in Scotland, 'pure dead brilliant'. This book has the lot and if ever a book needed to be sent to the hard nosed sceptic, this is the one. Well where does one start !! Basically the book is broken up into different compartments, the author looks at malevolent hauntings which contains many cases exhibiting incidents which are none too pleasant, we then enter the department of psychics, sensitives and mediums and a number of cases are given which are an eye opener to say the least ! Stone tape recordings are also looked at, this suggests that some hauntings are not the result of spirits, but are in fact a product (somehow) of the basic fabric of the building which stores energy and releases this energy under certain circumstances, probably more so, to the more psychic individual. We have chapters on Harmless hauntings ! Weird and wonderful cases, phantom phantoms, animal encounters, ghosts at work, life changing experiences, ghosts caught on film, and famous historical cases (to name but a few). One of the major pluses of this book, is the fact that many cases are new (there is very few 'old hat stuff' in here !). The author looks at different aspects of hauntings suggesting that not all can be classed as definitive ghosts, that there are other alternatives, but it is the easy reading and overall style of this book which is pleasing, it's not 'stuffy' and hard to read, it flows with purpose filled with information, packed with 'amazing' cases and looks to alternatives such as the 'Hutchinson Effect, a Canadian researcher who has captured on video (amoungst other things) bowls levitating, planks of wood standing on end by themselves, yogurt slurping out of a pot and metal objects melting. She mentions her meeting with researcher Albert Budden from London who, incidentally, has been to my home and showed me this fascinating 'Hutchinson Effect video'. Clearly something unusual is going on. This book is a cracker and I have been raving about it for weeks. If ever you buy a book on ghosts and paranormal phenomena, make sure it's this one, because I'll tell you this, you won't be disappointed. Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson (SPI England.)

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson (SPI England).

TITLE: Initiation. AUTHOR: Elizabeth B. Jenkins. PUBLISHER: Judy Piatkus (Publishers) Ltd, 5 Windmill Street, London, England, W1P 1HF. Tel: O171 631 O71O. PRICE: (L/pb) £9:99.

This fascinating book, is the story of one woman's spiritual journey into the heart of the Andes. It was during 1989 that Elizabeth Jenkins felt that her life was going nowhere, there was something missing, that vital spark of 'meaning' for her, was absent, she needed to do something, but what ! It some became apparent when she visited Peru to research some Andean healing practices. But it was in Cuzco where Elizabeth truly felt her calling. Meeting up with some native Peruvians, she was introduced to Juan Nunez del Prado, who was an initiated priest of the Andean Path. It was this fateful meeting with Juan, that truly evoked the feeling of the meaning of life, for during her time with Juan, she learned the secrets of Andean Shamanism which incorporated working with the forces of nature. This all proved to be extremely influential on the enquiring mind of Elizabeth.

There are many interesting and revealing accounts in this book of Elizabeth's experiences of spirits and rituals, none more so when she reveals an insight into the Q'eros, a race of people who have lived high up in the Andes for more than 5OO years without contact of the modern world. This race introduce Elizabeth to ancient Incan prophecies which, according to Elizabeth, have distinct relevance to all our lives.

This book may not be everybody's cup of tea and may seem a fanciful if not wishful account of what some may see as an educational holiday ! But after reading this book, one begins to feel what Elizabeth felt, one begins to appreciate that life can be more searching if only we but look for it. Some may also say that this book is only the impressions of one individual, and therefore it is a personal 'thing'. They may be right, but at the end of the day, we must accept the fact that 'other forces' are at work, that there are other 'agencies' around us that can sometimes interact with our 'being'. Elizabeth knew that something was lacking in her life, her visit to Cuzco and the Andes enabled her to find that 'something'. What made her visit equalling astounding, was the fact that she was the only westerner to be allowed into a group of native Peruvians, which in itself, is a terrific accomplishment.

This is an easy to read book and flows like a personal diary. It is a testament to one woman's desire to find some meaning in her life. Initiation is a fine and enjoyable read and comes recommended to those seeking some purpose and significance in their life's.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations, England)

TITLE: The Day After Roswell. AUTHOR: Col, Philip J. Corso (Ret), [with William J. Birnes]. PUBLISHER: Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster, 123O, Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 1OO2O, United States Of America. PRICE: £6:99.

Sadly not long after the release of this book, the author passed away which has proved to be a great loss to UFOlogy. The Roswell Incident would appear to be forever at the forefront of world UFOlogy, we just can't seem to get rid of it !!! But of course this is probably the world's biggest and most talked about event, the fact that an alleged 'space-craft' from 'somewhere else' crash landed near Roswell New Mexico back in 1947. Since the late 198O's, this tale has spawned many a UFO book regarding the incident and one would imagine that the witnesses involved (of which there are now few) would be more than 'fed up' of telling the tale. With each new year, more alleged witnesses to either the crash, or who claimed to have seen the debris or remains of the small 'creatures' that were pulled from the wreckage, are growing. Are they telling the truth ? Or are they just jumping on the Roswell UFO bandwagon. ? It's hard to say, but if we are talking credibility of the witnesses, then we can look no further to one witness, and that witness is the one who wrote this book. Colonel Philip J. Corso [Ret],

Colonel Corso, who was a member of President Eisenhower's National Security Council, and who was the former head of the Foreign Technology Desk at the U.S. Army's research and development department has offered his own admissions to this infamous case. He claims to have seen and worked on the debris from the crash site. He also claims to have seen, with his own eyes, a strange being suspended in a transparent crypt at Fort Riley. Colonel Corso explains that the doctors who studied the strange 'beings' found at the crash site, couldn't figure out how these 'beings' body chemistry worked. Of special interest to them, were the 'beings' fluid which was contained within their system. It served as blood, but also seemed to regulate bodily functions. Apparently they had on a one piece suit, similar to a jump suit which had a great tensile strength and flexibility. One doctor stated that this 'jump suit' reminded him of a spider's web which appeared fragile, but in point of fact was very strong. The medical analysts suggested that the 'jump suit' may have been capable of protecting the wearer from low energy cosmic rays that would have bombarded the craft in which they were being carried. There are more than enough facts within this book to suggest that either Colonel Corso knows what he is talking about and really did work with the Roswell case, or, this book is purely fiction, a fly in the ointment of UFOlogy. It is a thought provoking and tantalising look at the Roswell case from an entirely different perspective. There are many names given throughout the book, of which, if this was disinformation, one would expect not to be there. An important book then, and one to make you wonder. Does this book provide the truth about what happened at Roswell ? If what is contained within the pages of this book is true, then for me the case is closed, and Roswell, is a reality.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations, England)

TITLE: Electric UFOs, (Fireballs, Electromagnetic and Abnormal States). AUTHOR: Albert Budden. PUBLISHER: Blandford Books, Cassell, Wellington House, 125 Strand, London, England, WC2R OBB. PRICE: £16:99 (Hbk).

Albert Budden, who is well known to me, has been researching UFOs for many years now, and during those years he has developed and changed his way of thinking in regards to what may lie behind the UFO mystery. This is not Albert's first book on the subject of electromagnetic pollution, but this book certainly extends upon his theories and presents many more new cases from around the world to which he points out has 'nothing at all to do with the fanciful Flying saucer'. Albert's research has clearly shown to him, that there is a natural mechanism behind the UFO mystery, and that mechanism not only explains UFO sightings, but also explains why people see Ghosts and experience paranormal effects. Essentially it is all down to electromagnetic stress, and where people live. Albert states that some people have the misfortune to live close by to E.M. 'Hot Spots' or areas which generate high examples of electromagnetic frequencies, this in turn, can cause them to experience 'visual effects' which in point of fact are not really there. These could take the form of a misty human figure shape, to a strange ball of light in the sky. Natural geoelectromagnetic emissions at locations over fault lines can also cause these effects. Albert also found, that some people who earlier in their lives had had the misfortune to have been in close proximity of a lightning strike affected their body and mind in which certain, what appeared 'paranormal effects' were observed. We learn that some individuals who have been exposed to prolonged irradiation of EM fields from environmental sources, experienced visual seizures, and generally displayed signs of epileptiform states, a condition of which Albert believes, explains the famous Livingston case in Scotland.

There are many sources of this EM pollution currently in use all over the UK Radio Frequency transmitters, telecommunication towers, Military and Civil radar, power lines, high tension cables, transformers and sub stations, all combine to feed out into our landscape, emissions of which Albert believes can, under certain circumstances, cause certain individuals to suffer from a visual stimuli which in point of fact, has no bearing on reality. These people usually claim experiencing many childhood UFO and paranormal effects simply because they had lived close to an area of which emitted these type of frequencies. These people are also sometimes to be found suffering from food allergies, of which milk and wheat products, tobacco smoke, and perfume can prove to be very distressing to them. To review a book of this magnitude which covers many different aspects of the unusual, (ie, Out Of Body Experiences, Near Death Experiences, and such like) would be a tremendous task. [Beyond this small review]. This however is a very important book and should be read by sceptics and 'believers' alike. It has a strong message, and it carries a message that we should all listen to. A thought provoking book then, and one of which will go down as a highly controversial book in the annals of, not only UFOlogy, but of medical science as well. Strongly recommended.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations, England)

TITLE: The UFO Quest. AUTHOR: Philip J. Pennington. PUBLISHER: Autometrics Press, P.O. Box 771267, Houston, Texas, 77215-1267, United States Of America. PRICE: Write to Publisher to confirm price.

American author Philip J. Pennington, who incidentally was born in Roswell New Mexico, location of the infamous 'Roswell Incident' and who then went on to live near Mount Rainier another location in which a famous UFO event occurred, (Kenneth Arnold) is certainly no stranger to UFOlogy. This book has him write extensively on the propulsion, materials, and construction of UFOs, all of which is of course highly controversial and speculative. However his pedigree in regards to such subjects places him in the know ! Philip graduated from West Point with an engineering degree, he then served in the United States Army, afterwhich he served, for many years as an engineering consultant for NASA in regards to a wide variety of programms such as the Mars/Venus Fly By Apollo programme and space experiments in our Earth Orbit. Clearly then Philip knows 'his stuff' and this book has much information which will interest the lay reader in regards to what we 'might' be dealing with when we talk about UFOs. The book is crammed full of highly informative facts, but of course these are speculative facts. For instance the author states that UFOs may well be constructed of a dielectric material which he believes is necessary for the propulsion of the craft. This material, he tells us, is similar to a polymer like polyacetylene (an insulating material). He goes on to tell us that new research into conducting organic polymers like polypyrrole have yielded the first plastic muscles that can flex and change shape in the open air in response to electrical charge stimulation, (similar to the witnessed shape changes of some UFOs). He continues his speculation be suggesting that a UFO may possibly be powered by a photon rocket, because a propulsion system of this type has the ability to approach the flight velocity of light in deep space.

It's clear to see that the author firmly believes in an advanced technology visiting this planet and also believes that it's possible that their (the Aliens) mind control could also effect the computers on board their craft in order to enable them to perform certain functions. The author also believes that the reason we are having UFO sightings, is due to a reconnaissance mission that is currently ongoing by these 'aliens'. This is a highly technical book, and one of which I found was way beyond me, and although the author tried to put in into layman's term (for the not so educated like me !!) I found it hard going. But the thing to remember and accept, is the fact that the author's thoughts are new, they are fresh, and above all, contain, at the very least, a possible insight in to the possible workings of an Unidentified craft from 'somewhere else'. An interesting book then, and one to stimulate one's thoughts as to the workings and flights of machines from 'elsewhere'

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations, England)

TITLE: The World Of The Unexplained. AUTHORS: Janet and Colin Bord. PUBLISHER: Blandford Books, Cassell PLC, Wellington House, 125 Strand, London, England, WC2R OBB. PRICE: £16:99 (Large hard back).

Janet and Colin Bord are no strangers to the world of the unexplained, they are prolific writers on the subject, and have been Investigating and researching these matters for probably more years than they care to remember. This their latest book, is a pot pouri of the unexplained and covers many of the world's most strange and mysterious events. Janet and Colin are the curators of the Fortean Picture Library and have been collecting photographs pertaining to the weird and wonderful for many years, and as such, this book has provided them an outlet in which to offer many of these previously unseen photographs. Seasoned researchers of these weird subjects, may be well versed in the text contained within this book, but the photographs contained therein are a joy to behold. Of course there have been many books of this nature which have been presented before, but where the Bord's book stands above them all, is due to the beautiful way in which the authors, and no doubt to some extent the publishers, have peppered and used to great extent the photographs which tie in with the story that is being presented.

So what can one expect to find within the pages of this book ? It's a case of, "you name it, and it's probably in here" ! We have text on the Loch Ness Monster, which then leads into other Lake Monsters from throughout the world. Werewolves, Out of Place animals, Big cats, Black dogs, Yeti's, Big Foot, and many more, strange creatures can be found. Then there is 'winged cats', the Jersey Devil, Cattle Mutilations and Toads encased in stone, and countless other anomalies. No book of this nature can be without the usual reference to ghosts, poltergeists and the infamous Borley Rectory, (how I wish I was around when that was still standing !!) The book also looks at Telepathy and Clairvoyance and the many aspects of 'psychic creativity'. Mind Over Matter, psychic healing, Stigmata and weeping and bleeding statues are also looked at each with their own wonderful pictorial records. Some of the photographs contained throughout this book, may prove disturbing to certain member of the public. For instance, on page 112, we are shown a photograph of a man with two metal spikes skewered through his face which come out through his neck. Obviously this man has trained his mind not to feel pain, a faculty which, apparently we all can achieve !! The stigmatic Sister Elena Ajello from Calabria in Italy, is shown on page 125 with out stretched arms, her face awash with blood, which is a pritty horrific photograph, (thankfully it is in black and white). A two dimensional materialisation of an alleged spirit from 1913 is also shown, (page 94) which to me is highly suspicious, [a card board cut out !!] I can't praise this wonderful book enough, it's a classic and for me, beats hands down, any similar book of this nature. It's the type of book that will have your friends and family talking for ages and no doubt there will be endless discussions about what is real and what is not. A stormer of a book.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations, England)

TITLE: Destination Earth. (A History Of Alleged Alien Presence) AUTHOR: Alan Baker. PUBLISHER: Cassell Plc, 125 Strand, London, England, WC2R OBB. Tel: O171 42O 5555. PRICE: £9:99.

I mentioned in another review, that there are a wealth of UFO books on the market right now, this is yet another one and again addresses points relating to the alleged 'alien' presence on our Earth. Why are they here ? What do they want ? have they always been here, or are they just a recent phenomenon ? These points, and much more, are looked at in Alan's book, he asks, 'Are 'aliens' truly extraterrestrial, or do they represent something more fundamental' ! Like some books that have went before, Alan traces the 'alien' presence back through antiquity.

The more recent 'Goatsucker' phenomenon, that of some animals being found in mysterious circumstances in which their bodies have been found with horrendous scarring and are devoid of any blood, is looked at, and the possibility, that we are not dealing here with any normal predatory beasts, but possibly something new, something exotic, and possible something totally 'alien' ! Other animal mutilations are looked at as well, some from Scotland in which in the village of Kinlochewe an outbreak of sheep deaths back in March 1991 proved most mysterious. Sheep were found with small holes bored into their heads, and again they were devoid of any blood. Also, in the Orkney Isles, more than 3O seals were found on the beaches minus their heads. ! A spokesman for the Scottish RSPCA, stated that he had never seen anything like it. Their heads had appeared to have been surgically removed and were so clean and cut, that the incisions had carefully penetrated between the vertebrae without damaging the bones. Clearly, something unusual is going on, but what !!!

One of the more appealing chapters to this reviewer, was the chapter which concerned the theories on the origin of 'Intelligent non humans', in other words, the 'aliens' themselves. Various hypotheses are looked at by the author from the Ultraterrestrail theory, to visitors from our own future. I did tend to find that this book tended to 'wander' in bits, and was disjointed, but the pieces eventually all fitted together and the author's feelings on what might be going on, eventually surfaced. There is a lot in this book which has been covered before, but as I've mentioned in other such reviews, there is this growing interest in matters pertaining to UFOs and the supernatural, and the continuation of books such as this, can only be to the betterment of this subject. An interesting and thought provoking book then, and one to interest young and old alike.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations, England).

TITLE: Left At East Gate. AUTHOR: Larry Warren & Peter Robbins. PUBLISHER: Michael O Mara Books Ltd, 9 Lion Yard Tremadoc Road, London, England, SW4 7NQ. PRICE: £15:99 (Hbk)

The first major discovery on this planet was the wheel, now comes the second most amazing discovery, "THIS BOOK" and the facts that it contains. This is such a riveting read, that you'll find it hard to put down. This book surely must rank as the most important and influential book of the last forty years. This is not an understatement, this is fact !! This book tells the story of the incident which occurred in Rendelsham Forest England back in 198O by one of the people who was actually there, not a 'friend of a friend', but someone who was so close to what could well be a machine from another world. To try and do a small review on this book is well neigh impossible. The Rendelsham Forest affair is well known to seasoned UFOlogists, did a 'crash' and 'repair' of a UFO occur in this forest next to R.A.F. Bentwaters ? Witnesses claim to have seen a strange object rest above the grass, then zoom in and out through the trees. Small beings with large black cat-like eyes who 'floated' and conversed, [telepathically] with American Air-force personnel were also observed. Several of the witnesses to the events of that night, were the following day, de-briefed and shown cine film of UFOs at various locations throughout the world, (and also on the moon !). A Commander Nicholson then told the men, that what they had seen in the forest, represented technology far superior to our own, and that the Government (American), has known about it for some time. !

Larren Warren, co-author of this book, was a security policeman at RAF Bentwaters, he witnessed one of the nights events, (it happened over three nights) and was later "drugged", and taken to an underground base at RAF Bentwaters where he claims to have seen similar UFOs and conversed [telepathically], with a grey 'being' who told him numerous things, including that they, the aliens, have bases on the Earth, and have been here since WW11. "Religion was created for the human race", he was told, a statement that really unnerved young 19 year old Larry. Larry decided to try and speak out about what was quickly turning out to be a 'whitewash' of that night's events, and went on a one man crusade in order to get people to learn about what happened. Indeed, Larry's eyesight was impaired after seeing this UFO in the woods. This book tells the story of how Larry Warren and later his co-author Peter Robbins had to struggle with authority to try to get to the bottom of this, in which they were thwarted at every turn. Both Larry and Peter believe that their phones were tapped, probably by the NSA (National Security Agency). Helicopters overflew Larry's property filming and taking photographs of his house. During all this time, Larry was receiving 'visits' by small 'beings' who would enter his apartment then dissolve. !

We then pick up on Colonel Charles Halt and his role in one of the night's proceedings, he also saw the 'beings' and made a live audio tape as he and his men pressed on through the woods that night in search of this object. A copy of this tape was later sold by Dot Street and Brenda Butler (British researchers of this case), to the News Of The World for £2,OOO. Indeed, Manchester lawyer and UFO researcher Harry Harris, also sold a copy of the Halt tape for $2,OOO to Nippon T.V. "no comment" !

Early British Investigation of this case in 1983 by Ian Mrzyglod and Martin Shipp, concluded that this case did not require further Investigation !! Boy, were they ever wrong or what !! The book continues with Larry's struggle to get at the truth, but I was amazed to learn that Larren had managed to photograph an 'alien' albeit inadvertently, on a holiday snap, why wasn't this photograph included in this book !! Larry was none to fond of Jenny Randles, Dot Street, and Brenda Butler's attempt at a book on this event, which British readers will know as "Skycrash", Larry read it, then called it "Skytrash" due to certain statements and comment !! The book then goes into cloudbusting would you believe, and devices of this kind, were found at RAF Bentwaters, Peter and Larry speculate that a large cloudbusting device, may have been the real reason for the tremendous damage caused to various parts of the forest and other areas of England in October 1987. One of the most amazing chapters for this reviewer, comes when we read about Larry and Peter's return to Rendelsham Forest back in 1988, for, would you believe, on their first night there, (8 years on from the main event), they are no sooner in the forest, when they start seeing UFOs. A transcript of that night is given, and it's riveting stuff I can tell you, especially when a "Wall of light" illuminates the woods, which is similar to what occurred in the recent Scottish "Fife Incident" Investigated by Strange Phenomena Investigations (SPI). Larry's quest to find the truth, see's the break up of his marriage and an attempted suicide bid, but eventually through the help of some good friends, he sees the light and realises that he must go on, that there is so much still to be done.

The book then goes into the role played by the NSA The National Security Agency, and co-author Peter Robbins, does a tremendous job of bringing some home truths about this organisation, with facts that will shock you to the roots. It's fair to say, that both Larry and Peter were slightly frightened of agents from the organisation, as Larry had found himself the focus of their attention. Peter Robbins sums up by saying that trying to get to the truth of what went on that night, was like trying to fight a tank with a spiders web, (I liked that one). But was this incident all but one big drug induced event !! We know that after they were de-briefed, they could have been fed some drugs or some hypnosis could have been used during the de-briefing !! drugs and/or hypnosis that might have led them to believe that what they saw was a UFO with 'alien beings', but why. Peter tells us that RAF Bentwaters and Woodbridge, secretly housed the largest stockpile of tactical battlefield nuclear weapons in the whole of the NATO infrastructure, and that RAF Greenham Common, the site of many antinuclear demonstrations, was in fact, only a diversion and cover. If something happened to those missiles, its fair to say that the Americans would not want this getting out, and so covertly conjured up this false scenario as a cover. That's just pure speculation on my part however.

Colonel Charles Halt says, "There are more things that went on in that forest that night, than you'll ever know" ! What on earth does he mean !!

This book is a giant. This book will be a best seller, there's no doubt about that. For once you read this, you will be left in no doubt that something of immense importance occurred in those woods that night, and Larry Warren and Peter Robbins are to be congratulated for an extremely important and 'Earth-shattering' book, which I can honestly see being made into a film.

Buy this book, and see what I'm raving about, you won't be disappointed.

TITLE: The Alien Intent. (The Truth Behind The Cover Up ?) AUTHOR: Raymond A. Robinson. PUBLISHER: Cassell Plc, Wellington House, 125 Strand, London, England, WC2R OBB. Tel: O171 42O 5555. PRICE: £9:99.

There are many books currently doing the rounds regarding UFOs and aliens, most of them stating that they have the 'answers', that they know what is behind the UFO mystery, here is another one, another book which claims to, at the very least, hold some 'insight' as to what truly lies behind the age old mystery of why the 'aliens' are here, their purpose, and ultimately their place in today's UFO climate. This book looks at not only the UFO abduction phenomenon, but also the possibility that certain Governments of this world, actually are in some kind of collaboration with these 'aliens', more so the American Government, of whom the author states, that the U.S. Government may intend to use some 'alien' technology that they have recovered over the years.

The author also looks at contactees throughout the ages, in particular the late George Adamski who claims to have met aliens in a Californian desert back in November 1952, he also looks at the claims made by Bob Lazar who claims to have seen 'alien' craft in an American base back in the 198O's. What is pleasing to this reviewer, is the fact that the author also look at our own technology and those strange devices that currently overfly our air space. Most of these, to the unsuspecting public, look fairly similar to many of the UFOs that are currently being reported throughout the world.

The author also touches upon ancient civilisations and the strange objects that they themselves reported in their skies. It's clear to see that the UFO phenomenon has been with us now throughout time itself, a fact that the author so rightly mentions. The reader is also given a run down of the more commonly reported 'aliens that have been seen, from the small greys, to the more hideous creatures that have terrified those unaware people. Although I found much in this book that I've read before, the author has his own opinions as to what is going on, and I won't spoil it for him by giving the game away here, suffice it to say that one may find in this book a significant amount of 'new material' which is a rareity these days, with numerous authors covering old ground. Whilst I agree, that one must touch upon cases that have went before, in as much as we must carefully study them to see if there are any similarities, too much of an 'old thing' can be tedious. Thankfully, Raymond's book covers much relevant and important issues, and is a step aside from the more current books available on the market today.

All in all then, Raymond's book adds to the growing weight of evidence and testimony which is currently gathering throughout the world today, and as such, should be read by believers and sceptics alike.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations England).

TITLE: Beyond Roswell. AUTHORS. Michael Hesemann & Philip Mantle. PUBLISHER: Michael O Mara Books Ltd, 9 Lion Yard, Tremadoc Road, London, England, SW4 7NQ. PRICE: £15:99 (Hbk)

I seem to remember that in another review, I mentioned that books on Roswell seem to be ten a penny at the moment, then along comes this one. It’s co-authored by two of UFOlogys most noted UFO researchers, Philip Mantle and Michael Hesemann. Philip Mantle is noted for advocating the alleged Roswell alien autopsy film, a view not shared by many. This book follows the same journey as others (only to a degree !). We trek through the birth of the Flying Saucer craze to Roswell itself. Some of the more commonly noted witnesses in the Roswell saga are yet again turned over, however, some new witnesses are found, and their testimonies are beneficial to the study of this book. MJ 12, Dreamland, and much more, are entered into due to the fact that they play a commanding role within the saga that occurred at Roswell.

I’ve got to hand it to the authors, that although a lot of the ground work had been already done by others, the sterling work of Hesemann and Mantle, (particularly Hesemann), in bringing forward more valuable information to the plot, bears a lot of praise from me. What also makes this book, is the many photographs it contains showing the reader the many locations, participants, and documents which play a big role regarding Roswell. This to me, was a bonus, it let you see where things occurred, (Hanger 18 for instance page 129).

Of course one of the major chapters, was the one concerning the by now infamous Roswell Alien Autopsy Footage, which I should not need to introduce here, less you’ve been out of town for a while living in a box !! Both authors go extensively into this, more so Philip Mantle who was the main player in bringing to the attention of the public, this film. The authors however, are not too convinced that the autopsy footage is real and paint a convincing picture to this effect. The search for the cameraman has twists and turns that any script-writer would be proud of. There is a lot in this book, and I’ll tell you what, this is a ‘corker’ of a book, in other words, it’s well written, well presented, and well researched. If you only read one book on Roswell, then this is it. It’s the definitive book for me, and I suggest that it is for you too. Buy it and see.

TITLE: Top Secret/Majic. AUTHOR: Stanton Friedman. PUBLISHER: Michael O Mara Books Ltd, 9 Lion Yard, Tremadoc Road, London, England, SW4 7NQ. PRICE: £15:99 (Hbk)

Roswell books seem to be ten a penny these days, with more and more people coming forward with their own accounts, whether there is any truth in them only time will tell. Thankfully UFOlogy has a man like Stanton Friedman, someone who should win the award (if there ever was one) of digging for the truth, looking through reams and reams of files which allegedly contain information, (mostly classified but surfacing under the Freedom of Information act). Stanton Friedman is such a man. This book clearly shows the reader on how much a cover up there really is in the United States. CAUS, (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) tried, under the Freedom of Information Act, to get the CIA to release their UFO files, they said they had none. A demand was made to Federal judge Gerhard Gesell, Gesell managed to get the CIA to release some documents, documents which also stated that the NSA (National Security Agency), also had UFO documents. A request to the NSA under the FOIA act, was turned down. CAUS again turned to Judge Gesell, who read an affidavit from the NSA which stated why these documents must never be released to the American people. In fact, Judge Gesell had to get security clearance ‘Above Top Secret’ in order to view these documents. And the outcome ? When Judge Gesell finished reading the affidavit, he agreed that no-one, not even himself, should ever read these documents. Now don’t tell me there is no cover up !!

The book goes into the MJ 12 affair, those documents that was posted through Jamie Shandera’s letterbox in December 1984, were they real, were they forged, Stanton and his colleagues make a concerted effort to find out, and one can read their extensive desire to get to the truth of the MJ 12 affair. The book also looks at figures within UFOlogy, Donald Menzel, of whom Stanton didn’t particularly like, and the revelations on Menzel contained in this book, are staggering (see page 3O). Secrets can be kept Stanton reliably informs us, look at the Manhattan Project for instance. Stanton’s main ally, is the Air Force’s own Project Blue Book report, “Special Report 14”, and boy does that report clearly suggest a cover up.

All in all then, TOP SECRET/MAJIC, is one of those books with many facts. It can be a hard read, but if you are truly into UFOlogy, then this book should be on your shelf.

TITLE; The Benhar Encounter. AUTHOR: Gilbert Nelson (Pseudonym !) PUBLISHER: Dorma Publications, 65 Constable Road, Northants, England, NN18 ORT, Tel: O1536 2O125O. PRICE: £8:5O. (L/Pbk)

Well where do I start ? Books on Scottish UFO sightings are few and far between, in fact to my knowledge, there ain’t any, (less you consider Steuart’s Campbell’s attempt at discrediting all the major world’s UFO reports !). Then along comes this one, The Benhar Encounter. A book which claims to deal with the two Scottish witnesses (man & wife), who stumble upon a strange spectacle occurring above some trees, more in a moment.

O.K. firstly we learn that the author who was in the early stages of writing this book, had a thief who struck in the night only to steal the disc that his book was stored upon. They left the computer, but just stole the disc. The author wonders why, so do I ! So what do you get for your 94 pages, yes, just 94 pages, no more, no less, no index, no bibliography. Well you find that all along you were wrong !! you find that what Robert Taylor actually saw in Dechmont Woods near Livingston New town back in 1979, was not a domed shaped object with a flange going around it’s perimeter, no siree, what it really was, was an Adamski type Flying Saucer, there is even a drawing of this saucer in the woods. I’ve spent many hours with witness Bob Taylor, and he always maintained that the shape of the object he saw, was round, with a flange, not a blooming Adamski saucer. Bob’s drawing does not show an Adamski saucer. Jeezzz !!

We then learn about the UFO sightings over and around the small town of Bonnybridge in Stirlingshire, incredibly these events are briefly skimmed over as though there were only one or two events there. A school kid could have presented more information on Bonnybridge. Granted the scope of this book is not about Bonnybridge, but come on, when you talk about the Great Fire of London, you don’t just talk about the one house in which it started ! This isn’t sour grapes because no Scottish group (including SPI) are mentioned in association with the events in Bonnybridge, it’s purely because one would have expected a little more on what went on there. What we do find out though, is the author’s speculation that perhaps the reason one gets UFO sightings over Bonnybridge, is because, we are told, there may be a point of magnetic disturbance where the Bonny Water (a local small river) meets up with the River Carron. Oh course, but didn’t we just know that all along !

What is even more surprising, at least to me, is the fact that one of Scotland’s most important UFO Abductions, that which occurred on the A7O in Central Scotland to good friends of mine, Garry Wood and Colin Wright, only merits 12 lines, yes 12 lines. The author must have been burning the midnight oil on that one. The author then goes into some other UFO sightings in Scotland, all of which are new to me. But why Scotland the author asks ? Well on page 18 we find out, apparently Scotland has the purest water in the world, which would seem to attract ‘beings’ from other worlds to come here and partake of, (Like a Cosmological Tesco’s !).

O.K. let’s get to the incident proper, what’s all this about the Benhar Encounter ? Well it occurred to two people, Bill and Sheila (husband & wife) who live in Fauldhouse West Lothian Central Scotland. On Sunday the 19th of March they took off in their car to visit friends. As they were driving down the B7O66 in the direction of Harthill, they observed a tremendous white light in the sky which was accompanied by a strange ‘humming’ sound. There was a glow in the trees, and parts of the tree (the leaves), were being sucked up into the sky. They stopped the car, got out, and were shortly met by beautiful Nordic looking men, who kindly invited them aboard their space-craft. Not wanting to disappoint them, they kindly obliged, and began walking up a slopping ramp. Upon walking into the craft, they both became aware of an overpowering smell, like ‘an electric smell’, they also heard a soft whine coming from somewhere.

Conversation was by telepathy, and by way of a thank you, Bill rushed out of the ‘craft’, went back to his car, opened the glove compartment, and took out a bicycle light which he promptly gave to one of the Nordics. Their stay aboard this ‘craft’ was short lived, and after a period of time the event was closed and this Adamski type UFO, for that is what the witnesses saw, took off into the night. 18 months after this incident, both Bill and Sheila were at a party where they heard a man speaking about the UFO sightings over Bonnybridge. They spoke to him about their own UFO encounter, whereafter he suggested he could get someone to write a book about this event. This he did, a chap called Gilbert Nelson (a long time friend). Gilbert is not his real name. I can’t understand why Gilbert didn’t use his real name for the book. Why not, you’ve written a book for goodness sake, don’t you want people to know who you are !!

The book then goes into discussing Greys, the Fourth Dimension, George Adamski, The Philadelphia Experiment, Fredrich Jurgenson (spirit voices on audio tape), the great ‘scare-ship’ wave of 1897, Near Death Experiences, Ley Lines, the ‘greenhouse effect’, why aliens are here, all subjects which are briefly skimmed over. Is this book just a novel, like the book “Flying Saucer From Mars”. Or did these events really take place ? For a 5 minute ‘on board’ UFO experience, this book is no gripping read. I’ve problems with it . Why the Nordics, why the Adamski craft, why why why !! Come clean Gilbert Nelson, who are you, is your book a novel ??

TITLE: The Supernatural. AUTHOR: Anthony North. PUBLISHER: Cassell Plc, 125 Strand, London, England, WC2R OBB. Tel: O171 42O 5555. PRICE: £16:99 (Hbk).

Anthony North is a prolific writer on the paranormal, and this, his second book, continues and explores the fascinating avenues which he stepped down in that first book. I've been an admirer of Anthony's style of writing over the years, and in fact published a number of Anthony's articles in my society's magazine ENIGMAS. It's good to see that Anthony has now entered the literary world, for his writing and thoughts on the paranormal were too strong to be left to his small press publication. This book, see's Anthony discuss, (amoungst other things), 'possession of the mind', 'superstition', which includes spirits, mythology, and visions of Hell. He also looks at the art of Divination and goes into subjects such as, coincidence, astrology and synchronicity.

There is so much packed into this fine book, that it would probably take another book just to review them. The reader enters the realm of ghosts, E.S.P. subliminal influences, standing stones, sacred geometry and the pyramids. Alchemy and the subject of channelling is also looked at in a direct and purposeful manner and the thoughts and writings of Carl Jung are looked at closely, as are the mysterious character called Saint Germain.

One of the strong points about this book, is the fact that it also casts a sceptical eye on some of these apparently wonderous subjects. Too many authors try to force feed us with their beliefs, and it is refreshing to read of Anthony's reservations on a number of subjects. There has been much thought and preparation put into this book, and it doesn't read like a 'mish mash' of 'New-Age' beliefs. It is a critical look at some of life's bizarre mysterious, and questions and asks why certain people feel that these subjects play a big part in their lives. One might say that this is simply another book just jumping onto the paranormal band wagon, this reviewer would say no such thing, simply because Anthony's powerful thoughts on these matters, bear witness to the amount of research and thought that he has put into them.

I found 'The Supernatural' a very informative and enlightening book, a book which would grace any student of the occults library. What I also enjoyed about this book, was the fact that it delved fairly deeply into antiquity, and informed the reader of the many instances where strange events were recorded in days gone by, this is quite important in the study of continuing events, and as such, assists the enquirer to learn that these events are not simply a new and interesting phenomenon, they have always been with us, (in more guises than we would perhaps care to realise !!) For those people who are only now coming into and taking an interest in these subjects, then they can do no better than to pick up a copy of this fine book. Strongly recommended.

Reviewed by Malcolm Robinson, (Strange Phenomena Investigations, England).

TITLE: "Walks In Mysterious South Lakeland". AUTHOR: Graham Dugdale. PUBLISHER: Sigma Press, 1 South Oak lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, England, SK9 6AR. Tel: O1625 531 O35. PRICE: £6:95, (Pbk).

Graham Dugdale has written several books in the past on walking, this is his first step into the paranormal side of things, which still encompasses the walking aspect, only this time, these walks will take you to locations in which grisly murders have occurred, horrible tales of ghostly apparitions, Fairies, Giants, and many tales of local folklore and traditions. There are many weird and wonderful tales contained within this book, but where the book leads the way, is not only do you have those weird and wonderful ghostly tales to entertain you, but the author presents how to get there, how long the walk will take you, and the total height climbed if you are in locations in which there are hills, (which most of them are).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with it’s many varied and spine tingling tales of the supernatural. Another great bonus for readers of this book, are the many photographs and illustrations that can be found contained throughout this book, which assists the reader should they desire to visit these locations themselves. As for myself, this book will come in very handy should I decide to visit some of these locations and the author is to be commended for thinking along the lines that not only should there be a book about ghosts and mysterious events in South Lakeland, that the ‘finding’ of these locations is equally important.

I would be hard pushed to pick out my favourite tale from this book as there are so many, but the story of ‘Don’t Call The Ferryman’ was quite interesting. The longest walk, is the ‘Spirit of Kendal’ at nine and a half miles, whilst the shortest is ‘Finsthwaite Secret’ at three miles. There are many people in Great Britain, (including myself) who enjoy nothing better in the good summer weather, to get out and about enjoying a good walk, and for those individuals who are ‘into’ the paranormal and enjoy walking, then this book will be right up their street. It is a well presented book, not only as I’ve said with photographs and illustrations, but contains many interesting tales from this location.

A well written book then, in a style which will appeal to many. So forget the television, get those hiking boots on, carry this book around with you, and get cracking, there is lots to see and do.

ITLE: Fifty Years Of UFOs. AUTHORS: John And Anne Spencer. PUBLISHER: Boxtree, Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 25 Eccleston Place, London, England, SW1W 9NF. PRICE: £18:99 (L/Hbk).

It’s UFOlogys anniversary year, and it couldn’t pass without a plethora of UFO books being released. This is one of many, and comes from one of Britain’s foremost researchers John Spencer. It’s co-authored by his wife.

This book takes us through the postwar years from 1947 to present day and features all those cases that seasoned UFOlogists know well. Very little is left out, including the tales told by the infamous George Adamski who claims to have met tall beautiful Venusians in a desert near California back in 1952. We learn about the birth of modern UFOlogy, through the sighting of nine unusual objects sighted near Mount Rainier by one Kenneth Arnold (almost a household name now !!), Nazi technology and the implications that many UFOs seen were not extraterrestrial at all, but the result of secret German circular aircraft design, are also presented. Disinformation, the Government UFO cover up, UFO sightings by pilots, and ever so much more, are presented in an easy to read fashion.

What I also liked about this book, was the many photographs and illustrations that are peppered throughout. The painted artist’s impressions were also nice to look at, (wouldn’t mind some of them on my wall !). The book also goes into Crop Circles, Mysterious Triangular UFOs, and crashed saucer retrievals. Every case that I thought of, I could find here, and that’s saying something. Roswell, Gulf Breeze, you name it, and I’m sure you’ll find it in here. But are people getting tierd of books like this ? can we continue to see books of this nature being released every few years ? I would have to say that one would be hard pushed to find a better book of this nature. John and Anne have hit the nail on the head, and presented what to this reviewer, is an excellent study work of this whole mysterious UFO business. I don’t think we can ever tire of books of this nature.

This is not a slap-dash attempt to capitalize on an UFOlogical anniversary, there is a lot of thought and effort which has gone into this book, and it shines through. UFOlogy is slowly being recognised for the honest subject that it is, and books of this nature highlight how very serious this subject should be taken. A good book then by two of Britain’s most respected authors.

TITLE: The Truth About Alien Abductions. AUTHORS: Peter Hough & Moyshe Kalman. PUBLISHER: Blanford Books, (a Cassell Imprint), Cassell Plc, Wellington House, 125 Strand, London, England, UK WC2R OBB. PRICE: £9:99 (Pbk).

Any book with the title "The Truth About UFO Abductions", has to be something spectacular, a book which aims to show the reader exactly what is going on. Is this the case here ! Well not quite, but I’ll tell you this, this book has a darn good try. Peter Hough is a well known British author on books dealing with UFOs and the supernatural. Moyshe Kalman is not so well known, certainly in the book world, but is clearly one of America’s top psychotherapists, he is now living in England. Most UFO books cover a lot of ground and present many UFO Incidents, however, this book only has a handful, but these cases are specifically digested and looked over from not only a UFOlogical point of view, but from a medical point of view as well. The subject of dreams is brought up and questions are asked if some UFO abductions may be simply due to overactive imagination during dream state, and of which the witness feels later on that the event really did happen in reality.

The use of hypnosis as a tool of trying to prize open the mind to see if any hidden or subconscious recall can be found in regards to UFO abductions, is also giving the once over. And although both researchers accept the pitfalls of hypnosis, they feel (as I do) that hypnosis is still a valuable tool in trying to get answers, (but only if used in a proper manner). Men In Black are also looked at, and the bearing that they have on the witnesses. From the cases presented here, it would seem that there is indeed a case to be answered in regards to MIB’s. The False Memory Syndrome is also looked at, can people tell stories which are untrue and end up believing in them wholeheartedly themselves after many renditions of the story ? It would appear so, but does this tie in to UFO abduction situations. ? Again, it would appear so.

Psychiatric disorders are looked at, as well as Fantasy prone individuals, and although some might find this a bit technical, I found it absorbing and beneficial to what the authors were trying to rationalise. Both authors try to find out, what type of individuals actually make a good UFO abductee ! Is there such a person ? Or is the UFO abduction phenomenon simply a product either of the mind, or a reality which happens by chance to either selected or unfortunate (in the wrong place at the wrong time victims). An interesting thought comes on page 168, when the authors state that, "Perhaps UFOs are objectively real, but abduction experiences are a consequence of space craft’s pulsating light patterns which cause hallucinations in people prone to Temporal Lobe Epilepsy".

But where do both authors come out with their own beliefs as to what’s going on ? What do they think ? Well on page 187 they state, "The only concept which in any way suggests an explanation for abductions and associated phenomena, is the idea that we are victim to introsions from other dimensions". Famous French UFOlogist Jaques Vallee is quoted as saying, "These events take place in a reality we simply do not understand, they have an impact on a part of the human mind we have not discovered. I believe the UFO phenomenon is one of the ways through which an alien form of intelligence on incredible complexity is communicating with us symbolically".

Although this is a fine book, and one which tests the waters on a whole range of medical possibilities to explain UFO Abductions, there is no clear cut answer given here to explain "what’s going on". But then again, we didn’t really think we would get an answer, did we !!

UFO abductions are clearly fantastic, but I think we are a long way off as yet, in trying to provide an answer as to what is really behind them. But it’s through authors like Hough and Kalman, that we are at the very least, trying to provide some form of thought as to what’s going on, and in this respect, both authors should be congratulated on a fine inquisitive book.

TITLE: "Walks In Mysterious Wales". AUTHOR: Laurence Main. PUBLISHER: Sigma Press, 1 South Oak lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, England, SK9 6AR. Tel: O1625 536 8OO. PRICE: £6:95.

Sigma Press have released three books on the subject of "Mysterious Walks", this one, concerns walks in Mysterious Wales, and like the other books, is full of illustrations and photographs of locations to visit. Maps and distances involved with these walks, are also given and present to the reader, a wealth of information which will prove valuable whilst they try and cover these mysterious walks over the Welsh countryside.

Author Laurence Main presents stories to fascinate you with, with tales of Earth Lights, Ley Lines, walking where Fairies used to walk (!!) Dreaming in ancient circles, and visiting the scene of the fabled King Arthur’s last battle. Standing stones and ancient mythological tales are also explored. One of the more interesting stories that I found contained within this book, was the story of the Dragon of Denbigh. But there is also a sprinkling of ghost stories, of which the ghost of Gwenllian stands out.

Of course, it may take longer to pronounce some of these Welsh names than it is to actually do the walks, but that aside, this is a fascinating little book with many wonderful and varied tales, and for any visitor who would like to immerse themselves in some historical walking, then this little book is for you.

There is however, a few pages on some of the more common words to be found in the ordinance survey maps which assist the intrepid explorer. The Welsh term for hill for instance, is bryn, whilst the Welsh term for fort is caer. A pile of stones which in Welsh is, carn, carnedd, and a deep hollow is cau. This will assist you in understanding some of the words that can be found on some of the Welsh ordinance survey maps. The author does not forget to remember the reader to always follow the country code, and a few helpful tips are given to help you when you venture into the Welsh countryside.

All in all then, this is an educational book which will bring you to a different approach in rambling, where you will not only enjoy your walk, (the longest of which is nine miles), but will enable you to visit some fascinating places. Nice one.

TITLE: Secret Socities. AUTHOR: David V. Barrett. PUBLISHER: Cassell Plc (Blandford), Wellington House, 125 Strand, London, England, WC2R OBB. Tel: O171 42O 5555. PRICE: £18:99 (Hbk).

I must admit that when I was sent this book to review I felt that as these subjects are really not my cup of tea, that I would not enjoy it. Well what a surprise I got having finished it. This book truly is ‘THE’ book on Secret Societies. I never realised for a moment, that so many different and varied societies have been ‘operating’ in the world, each of whom have their own set of values and agenda. Author David V. Barret, informs the reader about societies such as the, Ku Klux Klan, on which on a personal basis, I have no time for and detest their unruly methods and methodology. The Chinese Triads are also looked into and their history and reason for being, is given in extremely explanatory tones !!

This book is not a muddle of different societies, the author has painstakingly put in order, the roots of these societies, which is followed by the witch hunts, Freemasonary, Esoteric Societies, (which includes the Rosicrucians, Aleister Crowley, Esoteric Tarot and the Order of the Golden dawn). Each chapter gives the reader an in depth look at many of the world’s secret societies, with amazing and startling revelations, many of which will either upset you, or make your blood boil !! [it did with me]. The author asks, "Why do people want to join such secret socities, what do they hope to get out of them ?" He responds by saying that it is for a whole range of different reasons. Some of which have to do with becoming more successful in their life, a chance to increase their memory, whilst some feel a genuine need to get closer to God !

Where I found this book most ‘illuminating’, is when the author goes into the history and beliefs of these societies, the Spanish Inquisition is looked at, the Cathars and the Quest for the Holy Grail, and the fact that many occult socities had connections with the Nazis. Having read this book, I feel that the author has done a tremendous job in bringing together the vast and complex world wide secret socities which ‘operate’ throughout the mankind. This is a very impressive book which I cannot recommend highly enough. It proved a great surprise to me having read it, and I suggest that if you would like your eyes ‘opened’ into the subjects mentioned above, )and many many more), then you can’t do any better than picking up a copy of this book.

Go back to SPI Home Page