Customer Reviews

Book of the Unexplained Volume Files (X Files) (Vol 1)

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

 

 

I was always a fan of the X Files at the time but didn't get round to reading this book until just recently. I thought it was probably just an extended plug for the tv show but as it turns out this is a thoughtful, thoroughly researched, and well written 'rough guide' to the X Files (Seasons 2 and 3) and to anomalous phenomena in general.

There aren't exhaustive walkthroughs of any of the episodes, rather Jane Goldman has written a series of articles trying to get at the truth (if any) behind the subjects covered in Seasons 2 and 3 of the show. I'm a regular subscriber to Fortean Times magazine and was pleased to see that Goldman consulted FT stalwarts like Loren Coleman and Peter Brookesmith to get a rounded view on some of the subjects touched on in the X Files.

For readers interested in serial killers and offender profiling, former FBI legend Robert Ressler contributes some fascinating insights on that score.

Goldman injects some appropriately dry humour in places, too:

'In more recent reports, the aliens have changed their modus operandi. They stopped saying they were from Mars or Venus, witheld the blue cocktails, and got decidedly frosty. Lovemaking was out. Clinical procedures and sexual assault were in.'

My only slight quibble is the lack of footnotes, but since there's a full bibliography for each chapter listed at the end of the book I can't really complain.

Now I just have to track down a copy of Volume 1...

Highly recommended for fans of the show. This is just a great compilation of information about real life people, happenings, and mysteries and how they inspired the show. It covers freaky people, Bermuda triangle, voodoo, witches, and more. I don't know how many times I have related the fascinating facts about witches and the real reason for their broom sticks.. and I got it all from this book.