The Aztec Saucer Crash

As I mentioned here in an earlier post, I was recently interviewed for a new edition of Frank Scully’s old-time UFO book, Behind the Flying Saucers, which was the first title to address the controversy surrounding the alleged UFO crash at Aztec, New Mexico in 1948.

Here’s the Amazon link for those who might want to buy the new edition of Scully’s book, and here’s what Tim Green Beckley (who is republishing the book) has to say about it:

“The CONSPIRACY JOURNAL is very proud to offer this expanded version of perhaps the most seminal book in the history of the unexplained . . . a case that now stands right beside the UFO crash at Roswell, MN for its credibility and veracity. For years the Aztec case was spurned by serious researchers who did not have access to all the information now available on the crash. . . In addition to reprinting the entire, unabridged, text to the rare 50s Scully book (reset in an easy to read, ‘large print,’ large format edition) journalist Sean Casteel has dug deep to provide the reader with an updated account of what really happened outside this isolated desert town near the Four Corners. His up to date research on Aztec includes material supplied by such outstanding researchers as NICK REDFERN — STANTON FRIEDMAN — ART CAMPBELL — SCOTT and SUZANNE RAMSEY.” –Tim Beckley Conspiracy Journal.

Tim continues: “AN IMPORTANT RE-EXAMINATION OF AN HISTORICAL UFO CASE! - - - Were 16 alien bodies recovered from a dome-shaped device that crashed near the town of Aztec, New Mexico circa 1948? . . . Why does the FBI continue to withhold 200 pages of classified material on the case for alleged ‘national security reasons?’ . . . Was the incident covered up with a camouflaged ‘front story’ presided over by con men and scam artists, who were perhaps in the government’s ‘back pocket?’ . . . Did President Eisenhower make contact with aliens around the same time, thus adding weight to this and other UFO crash cases?”

Well, I had my copies of the book arrive in the mail yesterday, and I have to say that regardless of your personal thoughts on Aztex (hoax, real, disinfo op, the list goes on…), this new edition will be a valuable addition to your UFO library.

Not only does it allow you to obtain a brand new edition of a much sought after title (and indeed the first alleged non-fiction book on crashed UFOs - it was published in 1950), but you also get several other things too; including an interview with me about the FBI’s files on Aztec and their files on the key players in the strange saga: Silas Newton and Leo Gebauer.

You also get an interview with Stan Friedman, who offers his opinions on the affair and on the so-called “Farmington Armada”; black-budget ops; and the question of: “Why New Mexico?”

Scott Ramsay is interviewed about his ongoing research (which includes a section on some of his interviewees) and his forthcoming book on Aztec; and Art Campbell speaks about both the case, other reported New Mexico events, and the “Eisenhower met aliens” story of 1954.

So, all in all, if crashed UFOs are your gig, then you’ll definitely want this. And if you’re looking to learn more about the early years of UFOs in general, this is an essential purchase, in a handy, affordable package!

Aliens on DVD

Like his book I know Why The Aliens Don't Land!, Jeremy Vaeni's DVD No One's Watching: An Alien Abductee's Story is very much a personal one. And that's a good thing. There are far too many alien abduction-themed books and documentaries out there that are filled with the theories and conclusions of the relevant writer and/or researcher, instead of the views of the person(s) involved.

Over the course of 97 minutes we get to learn much about Jeremy as a person, his early UFO-related experiences, his encounters with unknown entities, and the ways in which these events have transformed Jeremy's life from childhood to adulthood.

Jeremy does not shy away from bringing his friends and family into the picture, as he seeks to understand - and relate to the viewer - his life's experiences in the domain of the unknown.

A brave piece of work that is very honest, open and thoughtfully made, No One's Watching is (due to the fact that it's made by someone who has personally experienced the abduction phenomenon and who is willing to share his experiences) required viewing.

Deceptive Messengers

A couple of weeks ago I was sent a copy of a new edition of Jacques Vallee's classic 1979 book, Messengers of Deception. If you don't have the original, then the reprint - courtesy of Daily Grail Publishing - should definitely be at the very top of your "To Buy" list.

Vallee is, of course, a legendary figure within Ufology and the author of many books. For me, however, Messengers of Deception is his most important and relevant, and the one in which I personally feel he gets closest to the truth about certain aspects of the UFO puzzle.

If you are of a closed-mind when it comes to the issue of unidentified flying objects, and you only view things from the perspective of a black-and-white, nuts-and-bolts, "ET is among us and here to help" scenario, then you are very likely to find yourself disagreeing with Vallee in his thoughts, his observations and his conclusions.

If, however, you're not just another wide-eyed "I want to believe" type who salivates at the very words "Take me to your leader;" and if you didn't digest Vallee's book the first time around, I most definitely recommend you do so now. I first read the book when it was published (I would have been around 14 at the time), and I still re-read it every few years. And every time I do so, I get something new and thought-provoking from its pages. And something chilling, too.

Basically, the book is a first-class look at how, and why, the UFO subject and the people within it (both witnesses and researchers) have been carefully and ingeniously manipulated and stage-managed by shadowy figures with a plethora of agendas - and some of those agendas are distinctly sinister, too.

And I do not exaggerate when I say "sinister."

Within the 280 pages of Messengers of Deception, you will learn much about the psychological manipulation of the human mind, both at an individual level and at a collective level, and you will be exposed to a strange and surreal world where nothing is quite as it seems. This is a world where the UFO issue is predominantly a tool of influence, one designed to alter mind-sets, attitudes and much more - and possibly on a global scale, too.

The stark truth of the matter (a truth that the ufological die-hards who still yearn for the "good-old-days" of Ufology stubbornly refuse to believe) is that we have been conned, we have been deceived, and we have been manipulated by powerful characters, and to a point where deliberate and deceitful paradigm shifts have occurred that only benefit those with power, riches and dark motivations based around control of the masses and the creation of false belief systems. And, as Vallee expertly demonstrates, the UFO issue has proven to be a highly valuable tool in this manipulation.

Essential reading, excellent reading, yet ultimately highly disturbing reading too...

Dr. Shuker's Casebook

Just recently, fellow-author and seeker-of-the-strange Karl Shuker asked me if I would write the Foreword to his new book, Dr. Shuker's Casebook, and to which I quickly answered "Yes!"

Well, I can tell you that Karl's new book is one not to be missed - at all. The official publication date of the book is this Saturday; however, as I won't be around at the weekend, I figured I'd go ahead and give Karl's book the publicity it deserves a couple of days early.

And the best way to do that is to copy below for you my Foreword to the book that will give you a good indication of the many and varied stories that it contains.

So, here it is: my Foreword to Dr. Shuker's Casebook

Whether it’s due to the fact that we both hail from the mighty and majestic West Midlands (oh yes, it is, I assure you!), or simply that he is a damned good researcher and writer (or both!), I always look forward to a new book from Karl Shuker; and this one most definitely does not disappoint.

And so when Karl asked me if I would write the Foreword for his new book, I quickly said that yes, indeed I would. Whereas pretty much everything Karl has published so far has been on cryptozoology and weird and wonderful animals, Dr. Shuker’s Casebook is a little different. Yes, it is full to the brim with tales of strange beasts; however, Karl also delves into other areas of Forteana with which he is not generally associated.

This, however, is a very good thing, since we get to learn about a variety of other mysteries that are of interest to Karl. And, indeed, there are enough of them to fill Birmingham’s glorious Rotunda and Bull-Ring several times over!

So, what do you get for your hard-earned pennies?Well, I will start with those highly unusual, and almost legendary, winged cats. Karl provides excellent historical background on these unusual critters, carefully separates fact from fiction, and legend from reality, and gives the reader a fine study of this peculiar phenomenon. Even if you’re only vaguely familiar with the winged-cat controversy, this is one you won’t want to miss.

And what, I hear you ask, about the mystery animals of Senegambia? Encompassing hairy man-beasts, giant bat-like entities and much more, they collectively make great food for thought as Karl reveals the strange stories of some little-known and elusive beasts of a distinctly exotic and far-off land.

Sky-Beasts is an excellent chapter and one that addresses the theories of researchers such as Trevor James Constable, who suggested the idea that bizarre life-forms might very well soar high in the skies above us, and may perhaps be responsible for at least some UFO reports. Today, Constable’s theories are sadly forgotten by many within Ufology, and so it’s highly refreshing to see Karl turn his attention to a subject and a theory that perhaps has implications for both the UFO controversy and cryptozoology.

Merfolk – strangely humanlike entities that are said to roam the world’s oceans and seas - also feature prominently in Karl’s book. Of course, any mention of mermaids inevitably provokes furious debate. Fortunately, Karl knows a great deal about this topic and is able to discuss the matter in a fashion that both informs and intrigues. As for how the mysterious Aquatic Ape fits into this story, well…I’ll leave that up to you to find out.

The famous ‘Green Children’ of Suffolk’s Woolpit also come under the Shuker microscope, something that leads to such questions as: were they feral children, the denizens of the fairy world, or – if such a thing were possible – something even stranger?

Tulpas – creatures of the mind, thought-forms, or however you want to term them – are a particular obsession of mine. And to see that Karl has devoted a whole chapter of his book to this particularly controversial topic was a fine surprise for me. If you ever mused upon all the fuss that the Tulpa issue provokes, Karl provides the perfect study of the subject, and a look at some of the more significant tales of a distinctly mind-monster kind.

Flying humanoids such as Batsquatch, Mothman, Owlman, Britain’s little-known Monkey-Bird, and the Flying Man of Russia also have pride of place. The thorny (or should that be horny?) issue of unicorns is dissected, as are frog-falls, ball-lightning, will o’ the wisp, earthquake lights, various other aerial puzzles, and ghosts and specters.

Then there are those weird messages from space: manuscripts, papers, artifacts and even Joe Simonton’s famous faerie pancakes. Doppelgangers: they’re here too; as are the mysteries of Easter Island, the wonderfully-named Vegetable Man, the Monster of Glamis, and menacing, spectral werewolves.

In other words, Dr. Shuker’s Casebook is a fantastic and rich collection of oddities that will fascinate everyone with a thing for Forteana. And now, turn the page, turn off the lights and by the flicker of an old candle and a full moon, enjoy the book!

To learn more about Karl and his new book, here's his website address. And here are the Amazon US and Amazon UK addresses where you can purchase the book right now.

Hunt the Dogman

I received in the mail last week a copy of an excellent DVD titled Hunt the Dogman: The Director's Cut from friend, author of the book Mysterious Kentucky, and fellow seeker-of-the-strange, Bart Nunnelly.

Bart's film (made by Grendel Films) is an excellent one, and as you will guess from its title, is a study of a diabolical beast that roams the woods of Kentucky.

The Dogman is one of Bart's particular interests, and we follow him on his quest for the truth of the creature as he seeks out interviewees (including various eye-witnesses and author Linda Godfrey), undertakes on-site investigations, and takes us on a road-trip into the unknown.

The film is packed with data, testimony and more that will be of interest to fans everywhere of cryptozoology, werewolves and strange beasts. Bart's story is very much a personal one (his mother discusses her own encounter on-screen), and one filled with enthusiasm, a passion for the subject matter, and some stunning revelations on the Dogman, the Beast of the Land Between the Lakes, and the Spottsville Monster.

Copies of Hunt the Dogman can be purchased at the link above.

Behind the Flying Saucers: It's Back!

I was recently interviewed for a new edition of Frank Scully's old-time UFO book, Behind the Flying Saucers, which was the first title to address the controversy surrounding the alleged UFO crash at Aztec, New Mexico in 1948.

Here's the Amazon link for those who might want to buy the new edition of Scully's book.

I'll be reviewing the new edition and the expanded material right here as soon as my copy arrives. In the meantime, here's what Tim Green Beckley (who is republishing the book) has to say about it:

"The CONSPIRACY JOURNAL is very proud to offer this expanded version of perhaps the most seminal book in the history of the unexplained . . . a case that now stands right beside the UFO crash at Roswell, MN for its credibility and veracity. For years the Aztec case was spurned by serious researchers who did not have access to all the information now available on the crash. . . In addition to reprinting the entire, unabridged, text to the rare 50s Scully book (reset in an easy to read, 'large print,' large format edition) journalist Sean Casteel has dug deep to provide the reader with an updated account of what really happened outside this isolated desert town near the Four Corners. His up to date research on Aztec includes material supplied by such outstanding researchers as NICK REDFERN -- STANTON FRIEDMAN -- ART CAMPBELL -- SCOTT and SUZANNE RAMSEY." --Tim Beckley Conspiracy Journal.

Tim continues: "AN IMPORTANT RE-EXAMINATION OF AN HISTORICAL UFO CASE! - - - Were 16 alien bodies recovered from a dome-shaped device that crashed near the town of Aztec, New Mexico circa 1948? . . . Why does the FBI continue to withhold 200 pages of classified material on the case for alleged 'national security reasons?' . . . Was the incident covered up with a camouflaged 'front story' presided over by con men and scam artists, who were perhaps in the government's 'back pocket?' . . . Did President Eisenhower make contact with aliens around the same time, thus adding weight to this and other UFO crash cases?"

Chase Masterson - On CD

Last summer, I spent five days in the town of Roswell, New Mexico. The reason, of course, was to lecture at the annual Roswell UFO Festival that is held every year to celebrate the famous (or perhaps infamous would be a better term!) "UFO crash" of the summer of 1947.

And considering that it was the 60th anniversary of the incident, the town was absolutely packed with visitors, all curious to learn about what really happened deep in the deserts of Roswell on that fateful day.

But it wasn't just members of the public and UFO researchers who were in town. Also on the bill at the Festival were Chase Masterson, of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Dean Haglund from The X-Files.

I was fortunate enough to have dinner and lunch with Chase over the course of the weekend (and, yes, I can say she is as hot in person as she is on screen), and learned that as well as being an accomplished actress, Chase had also recorded two CDs of music. Moreover, I was delighted when she gave me copies of the CDs to review.

The review in question originally appeared on a site that appears to have vanished into complete and utter oblivion, and whose name I will therefore avoid mentioning. However, as this blog is run entirely by me, I figured why not re-post the review here, for all to see? So here it is!

REVIEW:

Ad Astra! and Thrill of the Chase are two CDs from Chase Masterson, star of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and numerous sci-fi movies. You might be forgiven for thinking that Chase's musical output would mirror her on-screen persona and be filled with songs of other-worldly encounters, aliens, far-off worlds, UFOs and more. However, you would be very wrong.

Collectively, both of Chase's CDs are an eclectic mix of sultry jazz and blues, and with a sprinkling of Broadway inserted for good measure. Comparisons with Billie Holiday are both justified and accurate as Chase purrs her way through classic tunes penned by the likes of Gershwin, Berlin and Sondheim.

Very much evoking that long-gone era when Sinatra's Rat-Pack ruled, and when cool-looking characters prowled the cocktail bars and hotels of Vegas, this is definitely late-night music best listened to with a chilled drink in-hand, the lights down low, and a hot babe on your arm.

Chase has a strong voice, yet one that does not overpower the musical background, and provides the listener with, collectively, 16 songs that will take you back to times past, but that sound refreshingly modern too.

To learn more about Chase's music, click right here.

He Knows Why The Aliens Don't Land!

Although not strictly a new book (it was published in 2003), a copy of I Know Why The Aliens Don't Land! by Jeremy Vaeni was recently sent to me (by Jeremy himself) for review here; and given the fact that it's a highly informative book, and one written with clarity, intelligence and a high degree of wit, it certainly deserves to be profiled - and, of course, to be read!

Jeremy's is very much a personal story; one that begins in his childhood, and one that reveals a wealth of data on the man, his character and how the UFO issue came to play a part (and a big part, too) in his life.

In many ways, his book reminded me of classic Hunter S. Thompson: Gonzo, containing a plethora of entertaining characters and situations; but most important of all, having something significant and relevant to impart, and to make the reader think, ponder, consider and absorb his words on all-things alien and more.

I need to stress that the book is not written in a conventional style: it's a mix of interviews, thoughts, ideas, news stories and more, all interspersed with Jeremy's humorous take on all-things-ufological and on life itself. But this doesn't take away from the book's relevance or importance; and in many ways, taking the approach that Jeremy has actually provides a refreshing diversion from the stereotypical UFO/alien abduction book.

Like many abductees, Jeremy's experiences with the intelligences behind the UFO phenomenon have clearly formed and manipulated much of his life, and we get to read some intriguing and insightful data suggesting - as is also the case with a lot of abductees - that Jeremy is not the only member of his family to have encountered those pesky little gray guys with the big, black eyes.

Traumatic night-time encounters with the unknown, vehicle interference cases, ominous and black "Flying Triangles" - they're all a part of the life and experiences of Jeremy. But rather than become the victim of the Gray guys' actions - as unfortunately does happen to some abductees - Jeremy rises above it all, and strives to make sense of the high-strangeness and craziness in his life, and in a fashion that many will be able to relate to.

And, it's when faced with the unknown, that retaining a healthy sense of humor becomes vital - which Jeremy does capably.

As I said earlier, Jeremy's is not a conventional book. But as it's written by someone who has personally encountered the unknown, lived to tell the tale, and provided his own unique (and courageously open) take on things, in many ways I Know Why The Aliens Don't Land! makes for much more interesting and compelling reading than all those abduction books that - in monotone style - simply reel off case after case, yet utterly fail to capture the nature of the experience at an emotional, personal and human level that Jeremy skilfully describes.

Jeremy also has a DVD available titled No One's Watching: An Alien Abductee's Story that I'll be reviewing shortly.