Customer Reviews

Mysterious Valley

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

 

 

I'm afraid I have some bad news for reviewer Fred Bauder: I recently talked to the author of this book (he no longer lives in Crestone), and he told me that the reports of mysterious phenomena stopped cold in November of 1998. Unless that reviewer lived in Crestone before then, he would not have seen any UFOs. As far as the book, it may seem a little lacking in definite conclusions, but what conclusions can be made for experiences like this?

This book is solidly full of true life mysterious phenomena. Anyone who is wondering what may be behind all these "government conspiracy" theories will devour this book! Adding to O'Brien's believability is his genuine desire and search for the TRUTH - which at times even places him in danger. Don't expect to find all the answers here, but just the exploration of questions is far more thrilling than any fiction novel. Go for it!

I have not finished reading this book, however, I find that it rambles and is poorly written. Having lived in this valley back in the 1950's I am also confused about where he is taking us with all this rambling and location information. Why is there no map included. It would be very orientating. Where is a photo of the cattle mutilation.? Why is the print so small? I am trying to get through it, but it is difficult.

This is a hot-button issue with many people judging the book by their comfort with the subject matter rather than offering an objective look at how the author presents his research. I should also contradict one previous reviewer in that, living near the valley myself and spending lots of time there, I've met people who thought Mr. O'Brien did an objective and accurate job of reporting what they had to say. Many still consider him an expert in the field. (He's apparently still reporting on it with people living in the valley writing to give him updates.) As I've never met the author, I have no dogs in this fight. I do, however, think that a reviewer should actually be reviewing the book rather than digging up "he said, she said" gossip about the author.

What's good: Mr. O'Brien does a good job at presenting the facts as they were presented to him and appears to be generally more objective than most who cover these topics, especially in the media. While his style of writing may be a bit dry, the stories are nonetheless interesting and directly stated. Even contradictory witness interviews are expressed without bias, allowing the reader to gauge his own response.

What's bad: More editing is needed for the book. Some places, including town names, are misspelled or otherwise incorrect. (For example, it's "San Acacio", not "San Acasio"; "Eagle Nest" rather than "Eagle's Nest", just to name a few. For that matter, "Maxeyville" is an actual location on a map rather than just a nickname people use for the area, which he also misspelled.) He should have known these areas in the valley as he was covering them. This implies he didn't do his homework as a researcher. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the style of writing is generally dry. He should have engaged his audience a bit better. Though I love the subject matter, I found his style choppy and felt like it hampered my ability to truly enjoy the book. Other editing mistakes, such as thinking that 30 days after February 1st is May 2nd, are littered throughout the book. His coverage of the "crystal" skull is also remarkably poor and less objective. Finally, though the author frequently discusses photographs he had either seen or taken, none are given. This would have greatly benefited what he was discussing and added some weight to his theories.

Overall, if you are interested in UFOs and the paranormal, this makes a good general guide book. It does an adequate job discussing this very historic and strange part of the world.

I'm not much of a believer so I read this book with somewhat of a light-hearted attitude. Chris O'Brien writes very well, with a terrific sense of pace and atmosphere. No one could travel to the San Luis Valley after reading his book without looking up. Best of all, the "voice" of his narration is true and honest and without pretense. He seems like a good man and that comes out in his writing. I think you will enjoy this book.

One of the reasons research in unexplained phenomena has almost zero credibility, and has been banished to the tabloid media is the fact that no qualifications are necessary to participate in this area, and anyone can anoint themselves as an "investigator".

In regard to this book, the review from New Mexico hits the nail squarely on the head. The author's questionable reputation is well known in the local area and among other researchers. Those questioning the validity of the book are invited to interview the witnesses mentioned in the work, to see how accurately their experiences were "documented" by the author. And as far as his technical and scientific qualifications to be an investigator, shouldn't one know what the acronym "FAA" stands for (Federal Aviation Administration)?

This book may be embraced by those who wish to be titillated by the intrigue of unexplained phenomena, and are not concerned about letting the facts stand in the way of a good story. However, those who approach the subject using critical faculties will reject this book outright.

O'Brien, the self-proclaimed "renowned ufologist" whom no one had ever heard of before he managed finagle a book contract, has authored a poorly written, sleazy tabloid paperback that does nothing to enhance the stellar reputation of UFO research.

The book, which is actually semi-fictional (just ask any of the major figures in the book if their accounts were portrayed accurately), also contains ludicrous examples of the total lack of scientific and technical knowledge of the author. In one instance, he refers to a Geiger counter measuring ultraviolet radiation!

At the end of the book, he completely misrepresents a case where someone found an ordinary blown-glass skull as being one of the rare crystal skulls found in various places in the world, even though everyone who had seen it realized it was ordinary glass. He later had to issue an embarrassing retraction.

This book would be zero stars if that was an option.

Christopher O'Brien writes a thoroughly researched, descriptive account of the odd and amazing happenings of the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado/northern New Mexico. He also recounts the rich history of this wonderfully old, culturally diverse region of the country that attracts people from all over the world. He amasses a lot of info, and coherently and cogently presents it for the reader, creating a tremendously thought-provoking, exciting web of tales, that lures the reader to this "Mysterious Valley".

After reading this book and seeing the movie Close Encounters, again, I see several similarities between the two. The cattle mutilations and the black helicopters are only some of the bizarre and extremely interesting things that Mr. O'Brien points out. Is our government doing something unbelievable in Southern Colorado? Is it possible, with the proximity of some of America's most secretive mountain bases that we are being lead down some path of doom? There are still some questions I have regarding some facts in The Mysterious Valley, but other than that it's a good read. Personally, I'd love to see another book or an updated version of it. Skeptics should save their money and time. Believers should read it and, as always, pass the title along to a friend

Great research and first hand accounts of the unexplained in very mysterious valley. I have witnessed many things there that the book doesn't even touch on, but many things in this book are I know of first hand, and others I have heard about - and some I haven't!