# Good Non Fiction UFO Books
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 26, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988 "2009-11-26T01:57:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/1 "2009-11-26T01:57:28Z")
Could anyone please recommand good non fiction books on UFOs and aliens? I don’t care what viewpoint it is: it can be completely out and out insane like David Icke or the most skeptical and questioning.
---
### Author:  [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/2 "2009-11-26T02:09:48Z")
“Watch The Skies!” by Curtis Peebles. Skeptical.
> **[Watch the Skies!: A Chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth: PEEBLES CURTIS:...](https://www.amazon.com/Watch-Skies-Chronicle-Flying-Saucer/dp/1560983434)**
>
> Watch the Skies!: A Chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth \[PEEBLES CURTIS\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Watch the Skies!: A Chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth
---
### Author:  [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/3 "2009-11-26T02:51:46Z")
“Incident at Exeter” and “Interrupted Journey,” both by John G. Fuller, are long-time classics. If I recall (it’s been a long time since I read them) they take an open-minded approach.
---
### Author:  [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/4 "2009-11-26T03:19:05Z")
No question.
The one ever written, is:
“Above Top Secret”
by Timothy Good
---
### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/5 "2009-11-26T03:50:32Z")
[Dreamland: Travels Inside the Secret World of Roswell and Area 51](http://www.amazon.com/Dreamland-Travels-Inside-Secret-Roswell/dp/0375753850/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1) by Phil Patton
---
### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/6 "2009-11-26T04:21:58Z")
[Unconventional Flying Objects: A Scientific Analysis"](http://www.amazon.com/Unconventional-Flying-Objects-Scientific-Analysis/dp/1571740279), Paul Hill – NASA engineer discusses possible propulsion systems and in-flight behavior for UFOs as guided vehicles, through examination of some popular cases. Sober, exceptionally clearly written and probably the best single book I’ve ever read on this area of the phenomenon.
_Project Delta: A study of Multiple UFO_, Richard F. Haines – a study of cases where multiple objects were seen at the same time, assuming the viewpoint that this means lower likelihood of misidentification of aircraft or celestial objects, and (somewhat) lower likelihood of hoax.
_A History of UFO Crashes, Kevin D. Randle_ – The title alone makes it irresistable, but it’s a reasonably hype-free potted history of notable crash cases of the late 20th century.
I agree that _Above Top Secret_ is an essential overview, but keep in mind that several of the cases cited by Good, particularly the “Majestic-12” documents, have been pretty thoroughly debunked.
---
### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/7 "2009-11-26T07:27:21Z")
Mysteries of Time and Space- Brad Steiger
Flying Saucers Have Landed- Desmond Leslie and George Adamski
Inside the SpaceShips by George Adamski
Flying Saucers Farewell
The Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters- Richard D. Story
The Flying Saucer Reader- Jay David, editor
The Mothman Prophecies- John Keel
UFOs Operation Trojan Horse
Our Haunted Planet
Communion and everything since- Whitley Strieber
Report on Communion- Ed Conroy
The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry- J. Allen Hynek
Encounters with UFO Occupants- Coral and Jim Lorenzen
UFOs: What on Earth Is Happening- Zola Levitt & John Weldon (Evangelical espousal of the Demonic theory)
Lights in the Sky & Little Green Men- Hugh Ross (Evangelical Old Earth Creation Scientist)
I’ll also endorse Peebles’ Watch The Skies and Good’s Above Top Secret.
---
### Author:  [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/8 "2009-11-26T09:01:46Z")
> [@FriarTed](#):
>
> Communion and everything since- Whitley Strieber
This is what I came in to post. These are scary, scary, scary books. Yet the amazing thing is there is no real “horror” in the classical sense. No blood and guts, no violence (although IIRC the visitors do stick a hose up his ass at one point), no real chase scenes per se. Just a dude being messed with by some very strange creatures.
Strieber has probably been extensively debunked by now so it’s your call as to whether or not you would consider these books to be fiction. But they are definitely scary as hell books!
---
### Author:  [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/9 "2009-11-26T10:02:13Z")
This is still considered the definitive book by Skeptics.
UFO’s Explained by Phil Klass
> **[Amazon.com: Ufos Explained: 9780394492155: Klass, Philip J.: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Ufos-Explained-Philip-J-Klass/dp/0394492153)**
>
> Amazon.com: Ufos Explained: 9780394492155: Klass, Philip J.: Books
---
### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/10 "2009-11-26T18:03:18Z")
> [@DWMarch](#):
>
> This is what I came in to post. These are scary, scary, scary books. Yet the amazing thing is there is no real “horror” in the classical sense. No blood and guts, no violence (although IIRC the visitors do stick a hose up his ass at one point), no real chase scenes per se. Just a dude being messed with by some very strange creatures.
>
> Strieber has probably been extensively debunked by now so it’s your call as to whether or not you would consider these books to be fiction. But they are definitely scary as hell books!
As far as whether or not Strieber had these experiences in material reality, that’s HIGHLY debatable, I will agree. I do think that something has been messing with him in the psychological-emotional realm, and perhaps in the ethereal-spiritual realm.
Btw, my own UFO/alien beliefs includes the “trickster/interdimensionals” theory, even including the demonic. Too much contactee/abductee material majorly overlaps with occultism.
---
### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/11 "2009-11-26T18:59:45Z")
How’s Mr. De Laffayette’s Mega Encyclopaedia of UFOs? Is it the ultimate guide to UFOs or overpriced/crackpoty etc.?
---
### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/12 "2009-11-26T19:24:09Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#):
>
> How’s Mr. De Laffayette’s Mega Encyclopaedia of UFOs? Is it the ultimate guide to UFOs or overpriced/crackpoty etc.?
Go to the library. Then they are free.
---
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/13 "2009-11-26T19:38:22Z")
Skeptical:
The original skeptic was Donald Menzel, director of the Harvard Smithsonian Observatory and editor of **Fundamental Formulas for Physics** , among a great many other things. He wrote three books on UFOs:
\*\*Flying Saucers
Flying Saucers: Myth, Truth, History
The World of Flying Saucers\*\*
Philip Klass took over after Menzel, writing:
\*\*UFOs Identified
UFOs Explained\*\* (as noted above)
\*\*UFO Abductions: A Dangerous Game
UFOs: The Public Deceived
The Real Roswell Crashed-Saucer Coverup\*\*
Robert Schaeffer also came in later. His first book has excellent stuff on _Incident at Exeter_ , and identifies the UFO Jimmy Carter claimed to have seen:
\*\*The UFO Verdict
UFO Sightings: The Evidence\*\*
If you don’t want all the skeptical stuff, the most balanced pro- and anti-book I’ve found is **UFOs: A Scientific Debate** :
> **[Amazon.com: Ufo's: A Scientific Debate: 9780393007398: Sagan, Carl, Page,...](https://www.amazon.com/Ufos-Scientific-Debate-Norton-library/dp/0393007391)**
>
> Amazon.com: Ufo's: A Scientific Debate: 9780393007398: Sagan, Carl, Page, Thornton: Books
For the sheer fun of it, the most wayout writer on UFOs has to be Frank Edwards, who claimed that everything he wrote was thoroughly researched. That’s a crock. Even as a kid, I quickly learned that a not-very in-depth research effort was enough to show how outrageously ridiculous any of Edwards’ books were (even the ones NOT about UFOs):
**Flying Saucers: Serious Business**
By the way, I met John Fuller (author of _The Interrupted Journey_ and _Incident at Exeter_), and he impressed me as a reasonable, well-read person. I could easily believe him as the author of _The Day of St. Anthony’s Fire_ or _The Day we Bombed Utah_ 9which he was promoting at the time), or even _We almost Lost Detroit_. It was hard to believe he’s written stuff like _The Ghost of Flight 401_ or _The Interrupted Journey_. As one reviewer once wrote, it’s as if there are two different John G. Fullers out there.
---
### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2009, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/14 "2009-11-27T08:35:30Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> For the sheer fun of it, the most wayout writer on UFOs has to be Frank Edwards, who claimed that everything he wrote was thoroughly researched. That’s a crock. Even as a kid, I quickly learned that a not-very in-depth research effort was enough to show how outrageously ridiculous any of Edwards’ books were (even the ones NOT about UFOs):
>
> **Flying Saucers: Serious Business**
>
> By the way, I met John Fuller (author of _The Interrupted Journey_ and _Incident at Exeter_), and he impressed me as a reasonable, well-read person. I could easily believe him as the author of _The Day of St. Anthony’s Fire_ or _The Day we Bombed Utah_ 9which he was promoting at the time), or even _We almost Lost Detroit_. It was hard to believe he’s written stuff like _The Ghost of Flight 401_ or _The Interrupted Journey_. As one reviewer once wrote, it’s as if there are two different John G. Fullers out there.
The MOST wayout writer? Leslie & Adamski certainly were beyond Edwards before Edwards even wrote his Flying Saucer books. Edwards’ other one was **Flying Saucers- Here and Now**. He also wrote the “Strange” world series full of entertaining, half-truth/urban legend/tall tale/occasionally accurate anecdotes of “real-life mysteries and oddities”.
Another fun UFO writer from the early days who seemed to actually have some credentials (tho they weren’t as impressive as they sound) was Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe. Alas, I don’t have any of his books now, nor do any titles come to mind.
In the related field of “Ancient Astronauts”, there was Erich von Daniken with his **Chariots of the Gods** series, my favorite of which is his chock-full-of-photos In **Search of Ancient Gods**. But the most entertaining was W. Raymond Drake’s **Gods and Spacemen** series- **G&S in the Ancient East, G&S in the Ancient West, G&S in the Ancient World** , etc. He however did not have any picture books. Leslie & Adamski’s **FLHL** also dealt with Ancient Astronauts, Leslie being a Alice Bailey-quoting Theosophist.
---
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/15 "2009-11-27T17:32:30Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The MOST wayout writer? Leslie & Adamski certainly were beyond Edwards before Edwards even wrote his Flying Saucer books.
Don’t confuse “first” with “most way out”
I’ll agree that “most way out” is subjective, but Edwards was undoubtedly divorced from reality. And, yes, his Strange World-Strange People-Stranger Than Science were the other books I was referring to. But they weren’t exclusively about flying saucers, so I didn’t name them.
---
### Author:  [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/16 "2009-12-02T18:26:01Z")
Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind by C.D.B Bryan, wanna say it came out around 1995 (Not to be confused with the recent movie). Just straight up accounts of people who report they were abducted by …something, aliens, extraterrestrials, whatever, written by a pretty well respected journalist. Scared the livin crap outta me!
Also second the Whitley Streiber recomendation. If he’s makin that stuff up he’s one helluva writer!:eek:
---
### Author:  [@The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Evil_Prince_Zorte)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/17 "2009-12-02T19:03:02Z")
Actually I just came in here to post the conference that Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind was about-
[Alien Discussions: Proceedings of the Abduction Study Conference Held at M.I.T.](http://www.amazon.com/Alien-Discussions-Proceedings-Abduction-Conference/dp/0964491702/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259779637&sr=8-4)
Close Encounters is a sort of summary of the conference by a journalist who attended it. I’m not especially “into” UFO’s and the like, but Close Encounters was interesting enough that I was motivated to look up the source material. The viewpoints are both skeptical and credible. At the end of it, I don’t know that I believe that Aliens are abducting people, but it is hard to deny that _something_ is going on.
There are some moments that make for good horror. One was when a father was woken in the middle of the night by the cries of his 5 year old daughter who found herself naked on the front lawn outside of the locked house. (Horror for me, as the parent of a 4 year old girl).
Another was from Communion when the main character, while sitting in bed with the lights on sees an alien slowly peek out from behind the armoire. Encountering a UFO on a dark road is one thing, but encountering something so bizarre and unknown in an ordinary safe setting like your well-lit bedroom is far scarier.
---
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/18 "2009-12-02T19:32:30Z")
Oddly enough, I just got a copy of that book – it’s literally at my bedside. But I haven’t read it yet, just flipped through it. (I got it from one of the participants)
---
### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/19 "2009-12-02T21:14:53Z")
Since, as expected, the books by Klass have already been mentioned, I offer
[The Great Airship Mystery.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0396079903?tag=openlibr-20) This book tells of a rash of airship sightings all across the country in the 1890s. Not UFOs, not aliens, but they have the same sort of characteristics, and if you didn’t know there were no such things then you’d be convinced.
---
### Author:  [@Mavis\_Topholese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavis_Topholese)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988/20 "2009-12-02T21:30:45Z")
It’s been mentioned upthread, but I want to second the recommendation of John Keel’s work, particularly MOTHMAN PROPHECIES and OPERATION TROJAN HORSE, as well as his later, more skeptical collection DISNEYLAND OF THE GODS. I know a lot of his Men In Black experiences have been outed as Gray Barker hoaxterism, but Keel writes with authority and his BS detector usually works well enough to keep things amusing.
I also enjoy Ivan Sanderson’s books THINGS, MORE THINGS, INVISIBLE RESIDENTS etc, though his BS detector was not quite as finely calibrated (giant penguins, anyone?). His natural history stuff is entertaining, too.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-fiction-ufo-books/518988.md?page=2)