Customer Reviews

The Facade

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Dr. Mike Heiser holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Hebrew and Ancient Semitic Languages, as well as masters degrees in Hebrew and Semitic Studies and Ancient History (Israel, Egypt). He's a Bible-believing Christian-and a believer in UFO phenomena.

That's the kicker. Mike is one of very few Christians who isn't afraid to fit ETs and UFOs into a Christian worldview.

The Facade is Mike's debut novel, written as "a break from my dissertation". The story follows Dr. Brian Scott, who, surprisingly (wink wink), is a scholar of biblical Hebrew and ancient Semitic languages. One evening after work, he's kidnapped and drugged by a couple of men in black, and awakens in an underground bunker beneath Area 51.

It seems that a virus of extraterrestrial origin has the potential to disrupt the Earth's climate with disastrous effect. A team of scientists, plus Brian and an elderly Jesuit priest, has been assembled by The Group, a shadow government within the government. Their mission is to figure out how to break the news to the public. Extra care is required because, you see, the virus is being spread artificially by its creators. In short, the UFOs are real.

It gradually becomes apparent, however, that Brian's research into the biblical bene elohim-the "sons of God"-may overturn The Group's plans. The alien entities that have forced The Group to disclose their presence may not be from outside our solar system, but from outside our three-dimensional existence.

He closes the book with a cliff-hanger that left me eagerly looking forward to the sequel, which, happily, he told me he's in the process of outlining now.

There are a couple of threads left loose, and a couple of the scenes feel a bit engineered so as to infuse the book with as much background as possible on the history of UFOs, cattle mutilation, Operation Paperclip (the smuggling of Nazi scientists into the US after WWII), underground bases, and black budget projects like the Aurora aircraft. I can forgive those scenes, however, because the information was so eye-opening that I keep The Facade at my desk for reference, the first work of fiction I've ever used for research. And even during the explanatory scenes, Mike avoids getting bogged down in minutiae, a trap that finally burned me out on Tom Clancy. (I only need to know the terrorists have a nuke, I don't need instructions for building one.)

For the reader interested in doing more research, Mike graciously filled an appendix with recommended books and websites. Unlike Dan Brown, whose Da Vinci Code is filled with errors that should be obvious to anyone who paid attention in Western Civ, Mike actually did his homework and then built his plot around the facts instead of twisting them to fit his worldview.

Mike Heiser is in demand as a speaker at UFO conferences. At first, it may have been for the novelty value; I'd guess that the words "Christian" and "UFO researcher" aren't often used in the same sentence. But Mike has shown, in public and in his novel, that he's not afraid to defend his conclusions based on the evidence. He has publicly offered to debate the leading proponents of the "aliens-created-us" theory anytime, anywhere.

I highly recommend The Facade to anyone with an interest in UFOs, alien abductions, and the like. Through fiction, Mike Heiser shows that it's not only possible, but essential, for Christians to understand the end times UFO deception.

Having read many works in the modern ufo phenomena as well as those from the ancient past, I was pleased and blown away by what Heiser has written. He is so close to the truth that it really is disconcerting - he writes this as fiction (and a damn fine story at that) with every conceivable known fact thrown in - cattle mutes, semitic texts, nanotechnology, Mt. Weather, Area 51, cloning, OBE's, and the list goes on and on.

What he pulls off is one of the most enjoyable and thought provoking reads I've had since reading the late FR. Malachi Martin's works and Steven Hawking. Heiser knows his stuff and weaves a tapestry of fine storytelling without allowing the story to loose its purpose. I can't wait for his next book and plan on purchasing a copy of his disertation when he completes that as well. Even though Heiser doesn't have much use for the work of Zechariah Sitchin I highly reccommend checking out the 12th planet. The contribution of these two men on our origins and place in the universe is immense. Check it out, open your eyes, and hold on for the ride - you won't regret it.

Though the book shows some of the deficiencies of self-publication, The Facade has to be one of the most perspective-changing stories I have ever read. If you can ignore the fact that ninety percent of the action takes the form of a meeting during which opposing viewpoints are bantered back and forth, the real scholarly work shines through and grabs you by the eyes. This book makes me want to go out and learn how to read Hebrew for myself; the concept of a divine council is new to me, and gives the scriptural text so much more credence when viewed in its proper perspective. I hope that Mr. Heiser has a sequel in the works; he certainly left it open for one.

Mike was a professor of mine in college. The Facade is not just a novel, it is actually a very theologically sound look into something most scholars care to pass over. Mike, with his expertise in ancient texts, is able to see clearly what most of us have not seen at all. This is not "out of left field" sort of hermeneutic - it is solid interpretation of the text and its very real implications. Modernists will have a hard time with this - that is putting it mildly. Yet, anyone who believes there is another dimension to life and we are not all there is - needs to at least consider the validity of this book. After saying that - I have to say - it is an easy read. Mike has really done a great job keeping the reader entertained as well as educated. I read it fast and then read it again. I have recommended it to all of my friends - and I highly recommend it to you.

While this book is a work of fiction, like all good fiction, it has a depth of true facts interwoven in the storyline. I liked the flow of the book, the story, and especially the little known basis of possible alien deception from ancient times as recorded in the Bible. I think it's a plausible scenario and at the same time an enjoyable read.

I read several reviews before i bought this book and they are telling the truth. It is well researched and a fascinating read. I do not recall reading a 500 plus page book this fast. It has great characters and a twisting plot that will keep you guessing till the last page.
To the ET believers i recommend this book especially. To widen your perspectives and open your mind to a whole new approach to the old problem of lights in the sky and little green men. The author well documents his evidence for his belief of what this whole mystery is about. I highly recommend this book.

"The Façade" by Michael S. Heiser is a fantastic book. If you are even remotely religious and are curious how UFO's can be explained in harmony with the Scriptures, than this novel is for you. While the author is an expert in the translation of ancient languages, and provides his verifiable credentials on [another website], he doesn't make up translations for words to support his hypothesis. What he does is take the information found in the Bible, along with UFO information that can be found through different sources such as the news media or the Freedom of Information Act, and weave all that into a fast paced informative novel. If you are curious about UFO's, Roswell, cattle mutilations, Genesis 6 and the Sons of God, Operation Paperclip, Area 51, Fallen Angels and even the Devil himself, then this novel is a must. A lot of people are anxiously awaiting aliens with open arms. Well, not me if what this book says is true. You certainly won't look at things the same way again.

I was surprised to find that I couldn't put this book down. The suspense kept me going to the next revelation of lies and deceptions between the The Group and the team of experts that they kidnapped.

The Facade is not only a page-turner, but a provocative read. Although I've found the subject of UFOs and alien contact interesting (for example, I was a big X-Files fan), I thought that was all just science fiction. But Heiser's story presents enough of the evidence that I feel the need to re-examine my beliefs. His presentation of the Biblical material is also eye-opening, and has changed the way I read those passages; still, as a conservative Christian, I believe that Heiser's theology is consistent and well-grounded. In fact, everything in this book is based on fact! The possibility that Heiser's interpretation of those facts is the correct one seems to me highly plausible--and scary. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

This is the most thought provoking book that I have ever read on the subject of UFO's.

Michael Heiser uses actual official documentation, quotes from actual historical figures, and translations from ancient texts. In this context, he writes a fictitional accounting of a group of folks abducted by our "government" to assist in the UFO problem. He provides some of the most obvious lies given to the Americans by the U.S. government and a possible explanation as to why the G-men lied.

Even if you never had an interest in UFO's, this is one of the best written mystery, horror, and/or conspiracy novels.

After having read a lot of Jacques Vallee works, this is the next step in that line of thought. I would review more, but I really wish for you to read this book and I don't want to give away the story.

The author has a website at which you may find all the places which carry this novel for sale.

Having read many works in regard to the modern UFO phenomena as well as those in our ancient past, I was pleased and blown away by what Heiser has written. He is so close to truth that it is really disconcerting - he writes this as fiction (and a damn fine story at that) with every conceivable known fact and conspiracy thrown in - cattle mutes, semetic texts, nanotechnology, Mt. Weather, Area 51, cloning, OBE's, and the list goes on and on. What he pulls off is one of the most enjoyable and thought provoking reads I've had since reading the late Fr. Malachi Martin's works. Heiser knows his stuff and is able to weave a tapestry of fine storytelling without allowing the story to lose its purpose. I can't wait for his next book and plan on purchasing a copy of his disertation when he completes that as well. Check it out, open your eyes, and hold on for the ride - you won't regret it.