Customer Reviews

Sight Unseen: Science, UFO Invisibility and Transgenic Beings

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In a perfect world, we would not yet be entertaining the question, "how did extraterrestrials get here," since we have yet to establish a general consensus that they are here. Sadly, when the evidence is presented, many otherwise reasonable people find it necessary to respond that extraterrestrials couldn't possibly be here, and couldn't possibly do the things they are alleged to do-- hardly a scientific attitude-- and therefore UFOs must be swamp gas, mass hysteria, hallucinations, sleep paralysis, lies, conspiracy, weather balloons, or the planet Venus. So the cart is put before the horse: We have to discuss how they could be here and do what they do before we can even entertain whether or not they're here and, if so, what they're doing.

Worse, we waste a lot of time speculating why extraterrestrials would behave as witnesses describe, as if not knowing their motives permits us to dismiss the idea that they exist. I wish the final answer were "we have no idea why. First, let's establish 'if' and 'what.'"

But it isn't. "We don't know how or why extraterrestrials would do what they reportedly do; therefore, they don't exist." This flawed logic flies surprisingly well with the general public (and examples can be found among the reviews here), and so books like this are necessary to offer some plausible "hows" and "whys."

Carol's part in the book is to entertain such conjectures. Her speculations are the sort that should occur to any reasonably bright person who is interested in both science and UFO phenomena-- in other words, anyone who has any business dismissing UFO reports on scientific grounds. But again, it's an imperfect world. For me, Carol's contribution felt mostly superfluous and the delivery corny, but for the level of thinker who assumes that science rules out the truth of all UFO reports, I think it's appropriate.

Budd's contribution is, as usual, gripping, even if you think he and his sources are making it all up. I find his style clear, coherent, witty, and even insightful. The subject matter is admittedly outlandish, and it's tempting to approach it armored in irony and sarcasm. "Hey, I'm readin' the crazy UFO guy!" Sure, that's fun. But it's not just one crazy UFO guy. To summarily dismiss UFO phenomena as laughable, you basically have to call all the witnesses a bunch of crazies and liars. Keep in mind that this list includes not only ordinary, otherwise sane individuals, but on-duty police officers, RAF aircraft spotters, pilots and their flight crews, security personnel at military bases where nuclear weapons are housed, and governments of NATO powers, among many others.

With this in mind, Budd doesn't seem quite so crazy.

Some have decided that Budd must be implanting suggestions in his hypnotic subjects, making them imagine "memories" that conform to Budd's idea of UFO abductions, but I have never seen anyone offer a single reason to think so, other than the fact that it's theoreticaly possible. Indeed, Budd provides transcripts of his hypnotic sessions in this book and elsewhere; so you'd think that if hypnotic suggestion were responsible for these abduction reports, we'd have plenty of examples of Budd leading the witnesses. I haven't noticed any, and the critics have so far failed to supply any. In fact, I'd say Budd goes to pains to avoid leading his subjects and takes measures to test the credibility of their recall. Furthermore, his witnesses report their abduction experiences before undergoing hypnosis, and many never do undergo hypnosis. They report these experiences, and then some undergo hypnosis to aid recall, not the other way around. Therefore, I fail to see how hypnotic suggestion could be the primary culprit, unless the effect is said to precede the cause.

Again, it shouldn't be necessary to make these points, but such is the level of public discourse on UFOs. So this book addresses a real need, and it's a page turner, too.

As I read the book I become amazed at the technological issues that the UFO occupants have mastered. This book is a wonder. How can one become invisible? Is it possible? Well, the answer is yes, and not simply due to the quantun physics angle of study. Tear into this book and unleash a world of possibility and eye opening experiences that will greatly enhance your understanding of the UFO events. I did really enjoy this book, and I plan on purchasing another of his books to read as well. It was very enjoyable. Well written. And it was noteworthy. I have nothing but praise for this book. It should be on the book shelf of everyone studying the UFO experience. He opens up such a world of understanding, I can't help but think that the UFO community has made an significant increase in our understanding of their technologies, purposes, and intent. THIS IS A MUST READ BOOK.

We heard these two at our last convention, and they are very dedicated researchers. His best comeback is for sceptics: Budd says they are the "true believers" because they know a-priori the facts and don't need to consider the truth of the information!! Of course, some people's minds are so pre-programmed that their perception is severely compromised even when they try to read anything!! Too bad; but the majority of UFO researchers are coming to the conclusion that what we are dealing with here in an INTERDIMENSIONAL phenomena. So get ready to hear more about quantum levels known to be there but not seen by physical eyes!!

This book offers what is at once a concrete view into the scientific plausibility of the UFO/CE4 phenomenon, a chilling view of what the phenomenon seems to be doing, and a potential ray of understanding (and perhaps hope - though, this is MY take on it) at why this is perhaps being undertaken.

In "Sight Unseen" Hopkins and Rainey begin with an examination of several cases in Budd's case file. These are fascinating glimpses into the effect of the phenomenon on our consensus reality - specifically, the idea of temporary invisibility.

These cases are fascinating enough, but they are just the beginning. Hopkins and Rainey then go on to explore another fascinating aspect of the phenomenon that has to-date been largely ignored in the UFO literature - that of human-appearing beings that seem to be moving about among us.

In "Sight Unseen" Hopkins/Rainey present some fascinating cases in which apparently "transgenic" beings have appeared in the lives of experiencers. In one case, a character named "Mr Page" lived with an experiencer family for many years. The primary witness in the case, an experiencer with the psuedonym of "Anne-Marie" had a close familial relationship with him for nearly all of that time - about 15 years. It seems to be, on the surface, a very positive relationship. Yet it has it's definite undertones of non-positivity - especially when the would describe how "Mr Page" would take Anne-Marie on "nature hikes", of which she remembers very little. In hypnotic trance, references to these apparent missing-time periods engendered powerful emotional responses. This is similar to the emotional responses which experiencers often have when viewing their childhood "secret friend" in hypnotic trance. The positive veneer seems to become a very mixed bag - still positive in some sense, but with an apparently-underlying darker purpose.

Hopkins/Rainey then continue to develop the idea of transgenics. This is the apparent answer to the criticisms of the idea that the UFO/CE4 phenomenon seems to be centered around human-alien hybridization. The "hybridization" idea has been heavily criticized on the grounds that human and alien DNA - if E.T.s would have DNA at all - would be fundamentally incompatible. Hopkins/Rainey grant this point, and build a good case based upon current human medical technology, for gene transplantation from one species to another.

The purposes for which this might be done are both encouraging and chilling.
- There is the possibility that this is simple exploitation - the very dark side of the idea spectrum.
- At the lightest side of the spectrum is the idea that they are somehow here to enlighten us, to bring us - well, whatever they are here to bring to us...
- Somewhere in the middle is the idea that "They" are scientific explorers/researchers, doing to us what "We" would do to experimental animals.

In the end, they build a good case for possibility that the CE4 phenomenon represents an external biotechnological tinkering with humanity - for unknown purposes. They further build the case that the intermediate results of this project are (at times) present among us. Given some of the similarities between cases Budd Hopkins' case files and those in my own (though Hopkins' case files are nearly an order of magnitude thicker than mine), I can only suggest that he offers some very good arguments.

In the end, I can only suggest that you read "Sight Unseen" for yourself and tell me what you think.

This is a must read book for anybody concerned about the future of our planet. Here is evidence amassed over a long period of time of what the alien agenda is leading to. This book is written not to scare but to enlighten. The co-author Carol Rainey provides a "Dana Scully-like" answer to many of the provoking findings of her husband Budd Hopkins. To not come away from this book with the realization that the future has been changed for all of us here on earth is not to have really comprehended this book. The mantra now is "Look around you. Try to recognize the transgenics." Good luck. God speed.

I've read my share of UFO/abductee books, and as they go, this one is middle of the pack. There's some interesting stories about seemingly human looking aliens living among us, but overall, I didn't find my mind stretched all that much. And the chapters that attempt to explain all this within human science are a "nice try" at best. Considering we may be hundreds of years behind the aliens, it's like 13th century scholars trying to explain the workings of an atom bomb -- they simply don't have the framework for understanding what's happening.

Here and there the book touches on this -- that maybe aliens are actually from other dimensions, that maybe time doesn't exist in the way we think it does -- which means most of the book's Earthly explanations for abductions are going to be wrong.

Another thing that bugged me was that every abduction case in this book is exclusively devoted to alien hybrids and medical examinations. Yet from the multitude of other abductee books I've read, it seems clear there's a LOT more going on than just that. So why does Hopkins choose to only focus on the medical ones?

When I read the review titled, `Most Significant Book Written in the 21st Century; by Carol Donahue from Amherst, NY, I really had to laugh.

Like Whit-lie a.k.a. the horror novelist, Strieber, Hopkins really has to reach and stretch to reach the conclusions he reaches. But at least he isn't smoking weed and dreaming up stories like Whit-lie. I like Budd, enjoy his books, and even give him a modicum of respect.

But seriously, if you want to know what's really going on, want to find some filament of truth in all the USO/Alien books, then you have to read something credible like "Unconventional Flying Objects, by Dr. Paul Hill. A NASA scientist who investigated UFOs for 30 years, all under the cloak of National Security, all the while NASA stated over and over, `we don't investigate UFOs'. He couldn't publish his decades of notes, they were all classified Top Secret. But his brilliant, heroine daughter, sent them to a publisher after his death, and WOW, they came out in `Unconventional Flying Objects.' The definitive book on UFO characteristics, science, and technology. The Bible!

Or take Colonel Philip Corso's `The Day After Roswell.' A man who served on presidential staffs, a man who swore under oath that what he wrote was true, a man who met his demise prematurely and mysteriously. The highest ranking military officer to admit part in the UFO/Alien cover-up. His credentials are long and factual. His book, although shocking and almost unbelievable, is revealing and a key piece of the puzzle. Another must read. Have you heard of the `Disclosure Project,' or the book `Connecting the Dots?' Just feeding your curiosity..........

And while we're at it, what about Edgar Fouche and Brad Steiger's "Alien Rapture." The biggest selling UFO/Conspiracy/Cover-up book since "Project Blue Book" also by Steiger. I've had the pleasure of meeting people like Sitchin, Marrs, Steiger, Fouche, and Ickes. All who are formidable and have much credibility. And I've met the myriad of UFO/Alien/Cover-up nuts who have published their `pulp fiction,' under the guise of truth. I have to say, Edgar Fouche is bigger than life, really, he's about 6.6", 260 lbs, lean, mean, has a presence that fills a room, and admirable; quite approachable in his demeanor. His credentials have been investigated by the BBC, the Learning Channel, the Discovery Channel, Rense, MUFON, etc. et. al. and nothing he wrote about in `Alien Rapture,' or spoke about in his presentations have EVER been proven in error. He is the one who broke the story on the Ultra Top Secret TR-3B flying triangle (Astra).

I searched and read many, many web pages about Steiger-Fouche `Alien Rapture,' and the author, Edgar Fouche including; startfinish.biz/wise (put in the http and the www) and click on links for Fouche and Flying Triangle. You will find his full presentation.

But last but not least by a mile is Jim Marrs, the author of `Alien Agenda.' This is the end of my list as the four most credible and important authors and their books on the UFO Cover-up. Read the reviews, study their bios, search the internet and you will see why any serious reader or researcher on the subject will end up with these four books. Not to discount Budd Hopkins important research and writings, but really I had to tell you what I've learned after 20 years of my own reading and researching. Unfortunately, this book by Hopkins could have easily been extrapolated from the four books I've mentioned. So nothing really new. But, hey, buy it anyway; I don't want to dis the author.

Speaking as an informed participant in UFO studies, I find this book highly remarkable in many respects. Most importantly of all, it confronts the hardcore data of UFO reports head-on in a rational discussion of what MAY be involved. The attempt is to bridge the gap between what Science Knows (or thinks it knows) and what credible people continue to report, though we may not like what we are hearing, and "Science" continues to turn a blind eye to the data. I have the highest regard for the authors, and heartily recommend this book to serious thinkers on the subject. It is not easy reading, and therefore all the more remarkable that a major publisher would have the good sense (or chutzpah) to publish it. The book raises issues that are of paramount importance, and it deserves to be read carefully and thoughtfully.

I'm a big fan of Strieber and have read Communion, Transformation, Breakthrough, and the Secret School. His books really pulled me in and got my attention. Since I was young I was always facinated with the shows of UFOs and abudctions on TV. This book is the newest one to my collection, and I thought it was really good. I respect Budd and I know his research is accurate. Also his thoughts on the visitors motives are similar to Strieber's. The book gives you move info on how such beings are watching us.

You have to admire and respect Budd Hopkins. Through 35 years of research into UFOs and abductions he has remained agenda-free, open-minded and evidence-led, never conclusion-led like the "true believers" and not given to speculation. He follows the evidence where it leads, reports what he finds and never dismisses factual case material because it falls outside current paradigms of understanding. He's been vindicated time and again, and lights the way in showing us all how a true investigator should work.

"Sight Unseen: Science, UFO Invisibility and Transgenic Beings" first published in 2003, was Hopkins' fourth and final book focussed on the alien abduction phenomenon, and the only one ever co-authored - with his then wife Carol Rainey. As with "Missing Time", "Intruders" and "Witnessed", Hopkins breaks new ground. He discusses astounding new evidence and furthers our understanding of what might be going on with this pervasive phenomenon by examining cutting-edge developments in mainstream science and technology.

Hopkins writes to his usual high standards of literacy, intelligence and engaging humour and the complementary sections penned by Rainey work well as a counterpoint as she discourses on recent discoveries in biology, genetics and physics to shed light on some of the more hitherto puzzling but persistently recurrent aspects of abduction cases reported across the world. These include:

* Levitation on beams of light now successfully performed in the laboratory, not just on "Star Trek"

* Persistent reports of the passage of abductees through solid objects and a scientific discussion of exactly how this might be done employing advanced physics

* Invisibility of the abductors and of UFOs to others in close proximity - the ultimate goal of "stealth" tech-research which has experimented with radical new concepts like ionised plasma shielding around "black-project" aircraft

* Radical new work on transgenic manipulation proves the genetic barrier between species no longer exists in biotechnology; these developments support the contention that the oft-reported (by abductees) "hybridization" program may indeed be physically real and is certainly possible even with current human understanding of biogenetics

* Unique genetic commonalities between bovine and human oval cytoplasm not found in other species, which might give insight into the purposes behind the cattle mutilation phenomenon during which bovine carcasses are invariably found to be exsanguinated

* Scary mind-control concepts such as memory-wiping and the temporary co-opting of one species by another to work under a kind of remote-control, examples of which already exist in nature


16 new cases, each highlighting one or more of these initially mysterious or unbelievable characteristics, are detailed by Hopkins from his files. Mostly these are multiple-witness daytime abductions supported by non-anecdotal evidence, and make for absorbing reading. Hopkins' discussion of how people experience then try to rationalize anomalous incidents - like one in which two people driving home suddenly found themselves and their car in the middle of a field at night, with three hours of time passed and no memory or idea how they got there - is insightful and compelling. The main characteristic which emerges again and again is a reluctance to even talk about the experience; a need to find a "conventional" explanation, and for the witness to insist on total anonymity so they won't be thought "crazy." It often takes years before people find the courage to write to the IF about their experiences.

The reports in the book of interactions with human-looking, but possibly not quite human, beings are the most disturbing. (Incidentally such encounters are now reported worldwide - some in Europe to me directly by people who have never met nor corresponded with Hopkins or any other US-based researcher.) Several eccentric but common characteristics of these interactions persistently emerge, and many of these are detailed in the book.

One minor gripe about "Sight Unseen" might be the decision on page-layout: illustrations are sometimes inserted into the page-text in magazine-format, and short essays relevant to the main theme similarly inserted in greyed-out rectangular text-boxes. This format may be less to some readers' tastes than a more classic text-narrative with a dedicated section for illustrations. However it's not too distracting, just different to the usual; the content overall is really first class. "Sight Unseen" is rooted in science and common sense and much of the content is original, radical and new. It's broad-ranging and very well written by the two co-authors; one of the essential works towards a greater understanding of all aspects of the abduction issue, and highly recommended reading.

A nice touch is the book's dedication to 14 named volunteers who have freely given their time and energy to helping manage the thousands of letters and enquiries received by the IF over the years. These volunteers include Peter Robbins, Ted Davis, Lisa Langelier-Marks and trained regression therapist Jed Turnbull (to name but four).

Since this book's 2003 publication, the title "Sight Unseen" has been used by other authors (such as Robert Goddard). Don't be misled: buy the original by Hopkins and Rainey! Good hardcover copies are getting expensive, but paperbacks plentiful.