Customer Reviews

The Atlantis Enigma

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was drawn to this book because of its title. Brennan presents an interesting theory with a lot of background and factual evidence. Atlantis, however, is not the main theme of this book. The themes are actually (1) the idea that scientists have been wrong about the Ice Age all along and (2) the possibility of the catastrophic entry into the earth's presence of a visiting cosmic fragment of some kind. In other words, where did Atlantis go, all of a sudden? While at first the reader feels like scoffing -- oh, sure, no Ice Age, right -- one is drawn into the web created by the author's presentation. The amazing thing is that I found a kind of support for his theory in a totally bizarre place -- on a Christian Web site supporting a literal interpretation of the Bible. These people described Noah's flood and the sudden raising of mountains in almost the same way as this book's author. Makes you think! The book really could have used some illustrations to support the narrative -- not that I can't read a book without pictures! But he talks about the positions of planets, etc., and I sometimes had a hard time figuring out what he meant. The author talks about fascinating premises regarding global pre-history. For similar subject ideas, check out Zechariah Sitchin or Graham Hancock and the Flem-Aths. So, in the end, do I believe it? I don't know. That's not the point. The point is that it creates an amazing place for my mind to travel. A place of possibilities. And my mind just loves to travel to that place -- again and again.

I was favorably impressed with this book. Having read everything from crazed ravings to dry-as-dust tomes by geologists, Brennan's book comes across as breezy, informative and somewhat sensible. He goes astray at the end, in my opinion, when he poses the possibility of a supernova fragment causing the Atlantis catastrophe. It's really just too wild for me. I'm more inclined to go along with writers such as Andrew Collins who believe Atlantis is sunken in the Caribbean, the victim of a comet strike.

Still, this book makes excellent reading. And it's the perfect introduction to the Atlantis question for anyone who's wondering about it.

I consider this to be an excellent book (with one minor flaw).

It brings to light many mysteries in a very plausible and understandable way, such as the unusual physical characteristics of the planets in our solar system, why a large number of species suddenly disappeared not that long ago, and the 'sudden' appearance of fully-formed civilizations.

Add all that to the discovery of ancient maps of Antarctica showing shorelines that have been covered by ice for thousands of years, maps of the shores of North and South America made before Columbus sailed here, massed collections of bones (many of unrelated creatures, including humans) found packed in caves around the world, and evidence that the Earth's many mountain ranges were created very suddenly only 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

It has been asked how the 'fragment' that, according to the author, wreaked havoc in the solar system could possibly have affected each of the planets as if they were sitting in a row... Well, have they never heard of a conjunction of the planets, where they actually DO line up (or come very close)? This has occurred in the past (a number of times, if I'm not mistaken). Furthermore, the author does state that Jupiter was not affected because that planet's position happened to be out of the fragments gravitational range. And, from the size of the object as described in the book, it wouldn't need to come very close to the planets to cause the changes. Again, a very plausible theory, in my opinion...

Also, it was asked how the poles could possibly have been warm if they did not receive the solar radiation they currently get in the summer months... well, if I understand the theory correctly, the Earth had a circular orbit at a constant distance from the sun (as opposed to the eliptical orbit it now has), and an upright rotation. This gave an even amount of radiation to every part of the planet (granted, a bit less to the poles, but more than they get now), thus the warmer temperatures. Then the object passed by, threw the Earth's orbit off true, tilted the axis, and caused a wobble, forever destroying the idylic world. Now, you have to realize that this scenario is purely theoretical (and only one possibility), and should be taken with a pinch of salt...

On a side note, I'd always believed Pluto was never a true planet, but a captured asteroid, moon or some other object, and this theory substantiates that hypothesis.

The only real flaw in this book would be the origin of the object that caused the havoc: The author believes it's a part of the Vela supernova, which he states is only 45 light years away (when, in fact, it's between 1,300 and 1,500 light years away!). This error certainly does not detract from the overall theory, in which SOME large object passed through our solar system around 10,000 years ago and wreaked havoc on the tranquility known by the inhabitants of Earth at that time.

Whether the theory is true or not, it does provide plausible answers to many questions and puzzles about the ancient history of our planet (and I, for one, am now a believer).

The paperback cover promises that this work will dare to "move
beyond orthodox conclusions," and will provide "fully
documented...scientific findings." The first promise is fulfilled
as Brennan raises interesting possibilities from the past existence of
a 10th planet (supported by Akkadian records) between Mars and
Jupiter, to the idea of an upright Earth, as balmy as Eden until a
cataclysm strikes and tilts its axis. But the vehicle of this
catastrophic change, a huge fragment of the exploding Vela supernova,
is also depicted as the demolisher of the 10th planet, and,
improbably, as a disrupter of all of the planets of the solar system,
as if they were all sitting ducks in a row. Except in schoolbooks the
planets almost never line up in an exact row, yet no explantion is
given on how the Vela fragment, moving from the outer to the inner
regions of the solar system could have collisions or very near misses
with each planet. No explanation is given for how the polar regons of
the Earth could be forever balmy if they never experienced the yearly
six months of summer that our tilt affords them. Assertion after
assertion is made with no actual scientific explanation, a minimum of
incomplete footnotes, and no bibliography whatsover. The ATLANTIS
ENIGMA is a wonderful compendium of far out ideas but it does not
deliver on its cover's promises.

Wow! This is quite the book to read! As I've stated before, Herbie Brennan obviously likes doing research. He presents the information for you the reader not as entertainment, but as a learning tool. His books make you want to learn more about the subjects he's writing. As a nice compliment to this book, I'd recommend reading his book, "The Secret History of Ancient Egypt." Also, "Martian Genesis: The Extraterrestrial Origins of the Human Race." The information given to the reader doesn't make you feel like it's being forced down your throat. In fact, there are times when you may shake your head and say "that's not possible," but then Mr. Brennan shows you evidence to the contrary and you find yourself saying, "maybe it is possible." Interesting reads for people. I also find myself reading books by Sylvia Browne after reading Mr. Brennan's books and finding that his research seems to back up her statements about past, present, and (possible) future events. Again, not being forced down your throat, the facts are just out there for the reader to interpret. Enjoy!!

This book, despite the fact it has no pictures, is one of the best anyone will find on current Atlantis lore - a very pleasant surprise. Brennan very carefully builds his hypothesis for not only Atlantis, but what brought about it's end. Readers may not agree with his final solution (a fragment of a supernova affected all the planets of the Milky Way to one extent or another, in the process, bringing about ruin to the lost continent), but how he reaches his conclusion is both deliberate and unmistakable. They should also bear in mind that no one has as yet even figured out what ended the Ice Age twelve thousand years ago (coincidentally the date that Plato also gives for the destruction of Atlantis), and this theory is as sound as any other. The idea that the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was once a tenth planet was definitely news to me - it resolves some of the mysteries of the galaxy while at the same time, creating new ones.

This book not only poses some excellent points, it's very intelligent and well-written, too. Brennan clearly knows how to make a book read well and this one is hard to put down. He is the first author I have seen that has actually reconsidered the idea of the extent that there even was an Ice Age (Brennan claims it existed, but says the ice was hardly as widespread as is now thought, the earth, like today, still had it's warm areas). He uncovers evidence of massive ditch-building and other large scale building works done in the Americas on the scale reputed by Atlantis. He also cites geological evidence that the massive Atlantic Ridge was above sea level in the not too distant past (it's hard to believe that that idea is even up for dispute since, if one accept the idea of an Ice Age, one also has realize that the oceans would have to also be much lower, much of their water being trapped within the ice). The background information on how the theory of the Ice Age first came into being and other historical points was very helpful, too. Very carefully, Brennan explains the logic and reasonings behind many long established scientific theories, then, just as carefully, tears them all down.

This book definitely needed more publicity to go along with it's findings when it came out and it's a shame that it's now out of print. Not only a very plausible, well-thought out book on Atlantis, but a very entertaining read, too. Even if one has only a passing interest in ancient history, they'll be interested in this one.

Herbie Brennan is a professional writer on a variety of subjects and should not be considered an authority on the subject he has chosen for this book. The fact he provides no bibliography of any kind indicates he did not wish to be quoted as writing serious non-fiction. However, what he does write is as good an hypothesis of what has happened to our Earth in the past as any other general theory put forward -in fact he provides enough evidence linking his "base suggestion" together to make it just as plausible as some of the more accepted ideas. His "base suggestion" i.e. a fragment from the Vela supernova attained a significant % of the speed of light and entered our solar system around the time of the global catastrophe of circa 12,000 years ago and had very specific effects on each of the planets as it travelled through the solar system. His skill is his ability to put this information in an orderly way (he is a professional writer)and build up a plausible argument citing actual known events and facts to fit his suggestion. He provides sufficient of these to make this work worth reading.

I see there are some making reference to the fact of whether 45 light years distance is correct or not - I'm not sure if that makes any real difference to the essence of what is being put to us. Maybe it only means the source star was incorrect...everythng else could still apply.

I say this is definitely worth reading as a preliminary to reading the book titled *The Cycle of Cosmic Catastrophies". This (other) book also gives an inside into who originally claimed Vela as being the "culprit". What the authors of these two books have to say can mesh in reasonably well together and at the end you will definitely be left thinking....and looking up at the night sky.

This is an extremely well documented study of alternate Ice Age theories and does an excellent job outlining and explaining the bizzarre simultaneous occurences on Earth 11,600 years ago. Brennan outlines and explains in detail with well researched facts a plethora of simultaneous anomolies that happened during the aforementioned date in such a way that there is very little left to debate. Walking away from this book after double checking Brennan's resources, it can't be denied that all the facts he provides prove that a major catastrophe happened on Earth and in its solar system precisely 11,600 years ago. It also gives a highly likely cause of the catastrophe, the Vela F Supernova, and it is hard to argue for another cause after faced with Brennan's facts.

What's more, Brennan doesn't jump to wild conclusions like Zechariah Sitchin. There is no need to bring aliens or genetic engineering into the discussion to explain the anomolies of our ancient past, so Brennan doesn't go there. His explanations are more convincing, more fact based, and definitely more believable. Everyone who has been programmed by the current education system should read this book in order to allow their minds to question accepted doctrines that just don't make sense to the informed person.

J. Lyon Layden

The Other Side of Yore

according to several reviewers, the distance stated by mr brennan of the vela supernova is incorrect. he said it was 45 light years away. now, the gum nebula in which the supernova remains reside in is about 1000 - 1300 light years away. ive seen in another source that it is only 815 light years away. the explosion occured some 11,000 years ago. perhaps in that time the gum nebula and our solar system have put distance between each other.

45 light years away.

this number was not made up by mr brennan, but instead by proposed by jb delair and ds allan, the authors of cataclysm (when the earth nearly died). it has been discussed in more than only the atlantis enigma. perhaps 3 writers know what they are talking about and perhaps the many people who have discussed this issue arent all idiots. im still not sure so check yourself. its more possible than you give it credit

the theory of vela-f/ Phaeton is very interesting and possible in my opinion

One weak idea built on top of another, in the end it's very sketchy. It seems the author just borrowed all his ideas from the book Cataclysm. The last part about a supernova fragment is ridiculous. Still, the first 2/3s of the book is good.