Customer Reviews

Angels and Aliens: UFO's and the Mythic Imagination

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Insightful and Useful, But Still No Cigar

Great book. Well written, intriguing insights. Anyone interested in the Paranormal/UFO world needs to read this book. My only "problem" with this book, as with others that share the "Mythos" explanation for UFO experiences, is that it doesn't address all the questions that plague UFO and paranormal events. (I doubt any one theory can.) Vallee, Thompson, Goodwin, Jung, Campbell -- all those writers who take a mythic approach in attempting to provide an answer for UFO and paranormal events ignore the "nuts and bolts" aspects of such encounters. (And many "nuts and bolts" theory fans ignore the more paranormal encounters, etc.) The mythic perspective comes almost right up against the edge of an answer, then backs off. It simply doesn't completely and "realistically" look at the UFO/Paranormal situation.

As a sort of "independent researcher in both the folklore and paranormal fields, I certainly appreciate the comparisons to mythic scenarios and present day "myth" -- UFOs. One thing that folklorists and others who study stories know is that such tales contain "oppositions," or"contradictions"...I refer to them as "dualities." Which makes the whole UFO phenomena all the more elusive, of course. Its very nature; changeable, at times contradictory, makes it difficult to study. But the fact that many (not all) UFO encounters contain mythic and legendary elements, and can be easily compared to such earlier traditions as fairy lore, for example, does not cancel out other types of UFO experience. And it is this point that Thompson do not realize. Yes, on one level the mythos is being played out, and we can learn from that. At the same time (duality) "if it quacks like a duck"....

In other words, sometimes a UFO, with beams of light, hard cold metal, sounds, visible and physical effects on people, animals, and environment, is just that: a real, actual craft. (Now whether that craft came from within our solar system, outside the galaxy, middle earth, Area 51, or the CIA is another matter.) The fact remains, it's "real" and there is nothing "mythic" about it. However, (duality again) it may be that the responses of witnesses, culture, society and the actions of the UFO and its occupants play out mythic scenarios. The two different settings do not cancel each other out.

Does this mean this is a bad book? Of course not. It's a great book, full of valuable information, history and insights; most definitely food for thought. The fact that this psycho=analytical, mythic perspective misses a few components to the phenomena as a whole, or doesn't provide "the big answer" does not mean that this book is to be ignored.

I urge everyone to read this book, no matter where you are concerning the UFO and paranormal phenomena.

If you have even the slightest interest in the UFO phenomenon, read this book. It is, by far, the most lucid, engaging, insightful, and intelligently written book on the subject. The writing is astonishingly well done for a book on ufology. The information presented is accurate, detailed, and refreshingly objective in its analysis. All sources are thoroughly cited, and the index is very comprehensive. In terms of writing and penetrating honesty, Keith Thompson ranks with the likes of such ufological luminaries as Jacques Vallée, Whitley Strieber, and John Mack. If you're still clinging to the rather naive notion that UFOs are simply alien spacecraft, however, or even the idea that UFOs do not exist--then this book isn't for you. Closed minds don't fare well with a subject such as this.

This is a good synthesis of a lot of information, but it's a bit annoying at times, with a fair amount of talk about mythical figures (Proteus, Dionysus, etc.) and the 'roles' they play (allegorically) in the UFO phenomenon. Thompson presents two sides of the UFO coin - material/biological extraterrestrials vs some great "other", a phenomenon that may have coexisted with or have been a part of mankind for who knows how long (loosely stated, because it's hard to define that "other" very clearly). He clearly sides with the latter proposition (as I guess, do I, at least at the moment...), but stresses that we may never know, and that this inability to fully understand the phenomenon is an essential part of the phenomenon.

While the book doesn't exactly represent a fresh perspective - it may have been fresher at the time it came out - it is certainly still a good introduction to the complexities of the subject matter. Thompson uses a broad range of source material, including personal interviews with 'experiencers' and well-known authors in the field. He treats the subject with respect; his mind isn't closed but he maintains a healthy skepticism. His writing is crisp and not boring.

If you haven't read a whole bunch of books on this stuff, or if you would like a good introduction to/overview of the subject, particularly its multilayered, ever-shifting meanings, then this is a very good place to go. I would also like to recommend Daemonic Reality, by Patrick Harpur.

If you wish to dismiss the strange, or that which "slips through the meshes of the scientific net," then I suggest you pass on this book. If on the other hand you believe (an especially sad word in this context) that UFOs are Sky-God "space brothers," then also pass on this book. But if you like old fashioned scholarship and appreciate the craft of good writing, combined with skepticism and also imagination, then I recommend this book. Those fans of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, and probably William James (freethinkers all), will especially connect.

I can't praise this book highly enough. Keith Thompson is in a class by himself among those who study the UFO enigma. He wonderfully illustrates the "high strangeness" associated with UFOs and demonstrates their connection with archetype, folklore, imagination and -- gasp! -- perhaps reality. Read this book and change your world.

This book is top shelf for the UFO library. Thompson runs down through UFO history and points out the amazing similarity in the way the UFO problem confronts us and how it is similar to the ancient mythological trickster in it's ability to confront and confound us at the same time. Great reading for anyone. A great exploration of ideas while also describing many impressive UFO incidents.

This is a useful book, although Thompson does lose me a bit with the UFO-Proteus connection, which was worth a mention but not the kind of extensive treatment given here.

Barring the proverbial landing on the White House lawn, we'll never get THE ANSWER to the UFO question. Debunkers will always have a way to explain away sightings; Believers will forever be looking for the definitive evidence, which I doubt is forthcoming. I think Thompson is dead right in trying to help us understand the UFO phenomenon as part of the human condition, if you will. I've been reading extensively about the Roswell incident--and I find that having read Thompson's book, I read the Roswell information in a different light. As always, we're not getting to the bottom of Roswell anymore than we'll ultimately have an answer to the JFK assassination that will satisfy everyone. No one wants to face the reality that human perception, memory, and the telling of narratives is always shaped by psychological, sociological and spiritual matters. I believe that most people who have witnessed UFOs are certainly not lying. We have to look at why we see, remember, and relate the things we do. We're not cameras and we're not tape recorders and thank God for that.

I found this book thoroughly engaging and enjoyable. Thompson does a good job laying out the various debates over the years and gives a thought provoking overview towards the end.

I tend to agree with Keith, Dr. Vallee, Dr. Mishlove (who wrote The PK Man), and several others who have gone beyond the simplistic idea these experiences are merely beings from another planet. There is in fact a lot of evidence that at least some of the UFO experience is a form of psi. I've been studying the subject (again, did so years ago)for awhile now and I personally agree with the conclusions Keith Thompson does.

I highly recommend this one for the book collector on UFOs.

For some reason, it continues to amaze me that bright and so-called "enlightened" people keep finding ways to explain away the UFO phenomenon. I know several very bright and trustworthy people who have witnessed UFO's. Take a look at the growing list of military personnel, politicians, etc. who have come forward to explain their involvement in cover-ups or to share their stories. Is every single one of these people delusional? Or do the debunkers have an ulterior motive?

This author is a friend of Ken Wilbers---"a modern day philosopher" who doesn't believe in UFO's. Ken believes he's the center of the universe and so could never stoop so low as to allow anyone smarter than he in his paradigm.

I know this is going to come as big surprise to all of you intellects, but the truth is usually very simple. So, here it goes:

It is a never ending universe with billions and billions of other planets. We are not the only living beings in the universe. It isn't statistically possible, nor is it intellectually flattering of you to believe otherwise. It's plain ignorant to assume we are the only intelligence in the universe.

Human beings have such egos! Some of our greatest minds have a hard time grappling with the fact that there is life out there---much more intelligent than our own--because their egos prevent them from believing there may be someone smarter than them in the universe. So, they write books like Angels and Aliens and they're defensive, driven and completely unconvincing.

Humanity is only on the cusp of understanding the true nature of reality. I'd be a little wary of anyone who believes they can explain it all to you. Human beings, my dear friends, are only in universal kindergarten.

This book offers a very good historical overview of major ufo events, and provides an excellent discussion of connections between ufo's and religious/spiritual/folklore experiences.

If you just want scary stories that go into depth about one individual's experiences, then this is not the book for that.

Very thought provoking.