In Alien Heat: The Warminster Mystery Revisited [Paperback]

Steve Dewey (Author), John Ries (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2005

There has probably never been anything like it in UFO history, but the UFO fever that gripped the small British town of Warminster for about a decade is now largely forgotten. It was one of the largest UFO flaps ever to occur. Thousands of witnesses reported seeing the "Warminster Thing." The hilltops around the town attracted a loyal band of followers, all waiting for the magic sighting, the landing, the contact. The authors were themselves among the skywatchers and spent nights on Cradle Hill, the center of the phenomenon, watching and waiting for UFOs, but also watching and listening to the witnesses and ufologists. IN ALIEN HEAT introduces the Warminster phenomenon to a new generation of readers. It contains a short history of the phenomenon, places it in its social and historical context, and examines the possible mechanisms that initiated and sustained this remarkable UFO flap. "Some of the dullest books ever published have flying saucers on their cover. This book isn't one of them. Since 1947 UFO related beliefs have spread across the world like a modern legend. Stories about objects in the sky and alien contacts have become part of popular culture. But virtually all discussion about UFOs has been confined to either belief in 'alien visitors' or debunking ET claims. IN ALIEN HEAT takes a fresh approach to the subject. Steve Dewey and John Ries take a microcosm of the UFO phenomenon - the Warminster Mystery - and examine it as a social and cultural phenomenon akin to modern folklore. This is a fascinating and absorbing book which should be read by everyone who wants to know 'the truth' behind the UFO mystery." - Dr. David Clarke, National Centre for English Cultural Tradition, University of Sheffield First time in print! From ANOMALIST BOOKS.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a considerable acheivement, meticulously researched and documented, well-written, often humorous account of ... ufological history... Buy it. Read it." -- Magonia, February 2006

"A remarkable new book...a riveting social document, objectively placing the phenomenon in its cultural and historical context...highly engaging" -- Western Daily Press, February 17, 2006

"This book should be read with care, patience, and reflection, but most of all it should be read." -- Peter Brookesmith, Journal of Scientific Exploration

From the Publisher

First time in print. From ANOMALIST BOOKS.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Anomalist Books (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933665025
• ISBN-13: 978-1933665023
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,407,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent study of the UKs biggest UFO flap, February 27, 2007

By 

Philip End (Devon UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Alien Heat: The Warminster Mystery Revisited (Paperback)

I have to agree with Dr David Clarke when he wrote : "This is a fascinating and absorbing book which should be read by everyone who wants to know 'the truth' behind the UFO mystery."

This book is extremely well written, and thorough. The authors never take themselves too seriously, so whilst being a serious study, it is never dry or dull. I read this book because I lived in Warminster for a few years in the 70's and went to Cradle hill sky watching myself on 4 or 5 occasions. I can vouch for the accuracy of Dewey and Ries's reports on what it was like to be there at that time. But I learned a lot more from the book; about the origins of the 'Thing', which I didn't know then, and have only just learned, and about how the whole affair played out over the years.

The introductory overview of UFO phenomena up to the time of The Warminster 'flap'- ( I'm learning the jargon) provides a very welcome, succinct history of the field for someone like me who has not read widely in UFO literature. It will also provide a useful developmental perspective for others more familiar with the field.

The central chapters of the book look in depth at the history of the sightings in the 60s and 70s. At first, hundreds of people descended on the town to see the lights in the sky, and over the years smaller groups persisted in their sky watches, and were often rewarded with impressive sightings. I found the chapters in the last half particularly interesting. These look in some depth at the kind of psychological mechanisms at work in groups during a UFO flap. The authors always apply what they discuss to the Warminster phenomena but I am sure you could usefully apply their principles to analyse almost any UFO sightings and apply most of the same principles to analyse similar phenomena, such as Nessie, ghosts, or Bigfoot sightings.

So, I believe this is a book which is of much wider relevance and interest than to the few people who know of Warminster. It should be essential reading for any serious student of UFO phenomena. One warning; this book is for those who are open- minded, curious and interested in the truth, but it will seriously challenge the beliefs of those who pin their faith on 'our flying friends'.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The UFO phenomeon in its proper context, June 4, 2007

By 

Stefan Isaksson "www.stefanisaksson.se" (Malmoe, Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Alien Heat: The Warminster Mystery Revisited (Paperback)

A UFO-book truly worth reading is one where you won't read exclusively about this particular aerial phenomenon, but also learn about such matters as the historical and social context where the sightings took place, why the local inhabitants acted and reacted the way they did, what the consequences were, and so on. A book like that is of interest to more people than just your everyday UFO buff, and if you on top realize that the authors actually have a sense of humor; well then finding a reason not to get a copy of your own will be difficult indeed.

And In Alien Heat is a book just like that.

Steve Dewey and John Ries both grew up in Warminster, England. In the middle of the 1960s, strange and mysterious phenomena started happening throughout the city; phenomena that were being caused by "The Thing." Local reporter Arthur Shuttlewood became involved and started reporting, and over the years authored a whole bunch of books. Originally having a skeptical approach, Shuttlewood started becoming more and more convinced that friendly extraterrestrials for some reason had zoomed in on Warminster. The city's reputation started building up, local tourism started booming, Warminster became known all over the world, and soon Shuttlewood changed into the local UFO guru; the wise man who stood on Cradle Hill with his followers skygazing.

The survey over how the UFO phenomena over Warminster came to be and evolved over the years is very fascinating indeed and well worth reading. However, the sections dealing with the phenomena in general are the ones that turn out to be the most interesting in the entire In Alien Heat. Because Dewey and Ries definitely has a good view of the human nature and her fascination with the unknown:

"There is no doubt that many witnesses who came to Warminster were seeking awesome, profound experiences. If they found what they came for, if awe and wonder touched them, then whether what they saw was an internal or an external manifestation is, perhaps, irrelevant to them." (pg.200)

As is the case with any other books of non-fiction, even in this case there is a possibility that readers who aren't immensely interested eventually will start getting sick of the whole thing, but, in case you do finish the entire book (and I highly recommend that you do so) you'll be rewarded with tons and tons of great information. Very great, indeed. The Warminster phenomena eventually began to come to an end, and one by one the faithful believers stopped skygazing at Cradle Hilll. A number of the events that took place in Warminster over the years were quite absurd, to say the least, but the analysis provided by Dewey and Ries nonetheless continues to be of the highest quality throughout the book, and they even manage to squeeze in a few jokes here and there. But more than anything you'll finish the book with a much greater deal of understanding for mankind's fascination with the paranormal and mysterious:

"UFOs seem to pop up everywhere, from conspiracy theories through to archaeology. We live in a culture that, it seems, is hungry for the unexpected, the unusual, the fortean. Is it any wonder, then, that we appear to filter out cold, dull, reality and allow through the mesh only that which is exciting, awesome, and unreal?" (pg.211)