Communion: A True Story [Hardcover]

Whitley Strieber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1990

On December 26, 1985, at a secluded cabin in upstate New York, Whitley Strieber went siding with his wife and son, ate Christmas dinner leftovers, and went to bed early.

Six hours later, he found himself suddenly awake...and forever changed.

Thus begins the most astonishing true-life odyssey ever recorded -- one man's riveting account of his extraordinary experiences with visitors from"elsewhere"... how they found him, where they took him, what they did to him and why...

Believe it. Or don't believe it. But read it -- for this gripping story will move you like no other... will fascinate you, terrify you, and alter the way you experience your world.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA Strieber has a reputation for writing well-researched nonfiction. Were it not for this reputation, readers would be more tempted to dismiss as fantasy this account of visits he has received from a non-human group. In the winter of 198586, the visits became both more frequent and more visible. Strieber sought the help of a counselor/hypnotist, who did not accept the alien hypothesis. Eventually Strieber's wife was also hypnotized. The accounts both Striebers gave under hypnosis and the memories that surfaced after hynosis, as well as several witnesses to aspects of the visitations all corroborate that something abnormal occurred. Strieber is careful not to jump to any conclusions; in fact, he philosophizes at length about the possibilities which include aliens, an as yet unidentified aspect of the human mind, or some generally invisible earth inhabitant such as fairies. The book is fascinating as long as it sticks to the basic account, and the ways in which the Striebers chose to research the phenomena. The passages of hypothesizing are more longwinded and will be of less interest to young adults, but they do remind readers that the Striebers have not accepted a single answer to the puzzle even now. Any readers who have interest in the unexplained will appreciate this book. Dorcas Hand, Episcopal High School, Bellaire
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Strieber comes through as both sensible and sincere...His book deserves to be taken seriously.” (Boston Herald )

“Patently honest...There is no doubt this man has endured experiences of compelling realism.” (Vermont Sunday Magazine )

“Vividness of detail and depth of feeling...Convincing!” (New York Tribune )

“A convincing case.” (Houston Chronicle )

“Should give second thoughts to even the most hardened skeptic!” (Dow Jones News )

“Powerfully written and involving!” (New York Times )

“A fascinating story...And it certainly could be true.” (Detroit News )

“Powerful...Strieber’s storytelling ability makes his own terror and confusion feel real to the reader...Compelling reading.” (Seattle Times )

“...COMMUNION is surely the most throught-provoking book on UFOs and alien visitation published so far.” (Rocky Mountain News ) --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 299 pages
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing (October 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517057565
• ISBN-13: 978-0517057568
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,868,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You WILL Believe. (or at least be thoroughly entertained), June 11, 2001

By 

A. K. Berger "filburt_girl" (Nebraska, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Communion: A True Story (Mass Market Paperback)

One of my friends, a deep NON-believer in extraterrestrials, told me that she was moved by this harrowing work. Out of mere curiousity I read it. And...it changed me. Most books on the subject of UFO's and extraterrestrials whiz right by me, and I've forget their message within days. However, Communion has stuck with me, and Whitley Strieber's riveting account continuously resurfaces in my mind. But, sadly enough, this book is not for the faint-of-heart. Its bizarre stories and explicit descriptions are downright frightening; I can honestly say that I have lost sleep over this book, lying awake, wondering if it's true. I would not recommend this book before bed. If Strieber's accounts of his alien abduction are true, then this book is more than a nonfiction work: it is undeniable proof that "they" do exist. But even if Strieber is lying through his teeth, Communion makes for a highly entertaining read.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite a ride, fact or fiction., December 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Communion: A True Story (Mass Market Paperback)

You can believe him, or you can think he's crazy. But after reading this book, you will believe that Strieber firmly believes in what he's saying.

Once in a great while, a book comes along that changes the way one perceives reality. For me, and I venture to say many others, Communion is such a book.

I don't know if Strieber's "visitors" are real physical beings, multidimensional travelers, creations of the human mind, or none of these things. Neither does he. But some of the things Strieber describes in Communion have been experienced by far too many people, to be pure fantasy. There is SOMETHING very strange going on, be it alien abduction or widespread shared dreams. Either way, the subject deserves serious investigation.

Read this book. If you come away believing it, you'll be a changed person. If you come away believing it's fiction, you'll have read one hell of a story.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Intelligently Written Account, November 13, 2001

By 

"carolyn5000" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Communion: A True Story (Mass Market Paperback)

I have wanted to read this book for years but always held off because I was sure it would be terrifying. While it does contain a large amount of scary aspects, the book is mostly a very well written, very intelligent examination of one man's experience with the unknown.

Strieber's experiences with missing time, bizarre implants, and the now farmiliar Grey creatures are riveting and offputting at the same time. What makes this book really stand out from most of the ufoology is that Strieber really tries to figure out what the "visitors" as he calls them want with us. He comes up with several interesting theories, and the book is fresh and interesting throughout, never bogging down.

I would highly recommend this read for the open minded and the curious.