Strange Secrets: Real Government Files on the Unknown [Paperback]

Nick Redfern (Author), Andy Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2003

IF YOU THOUGHT THAT THE X-FILES WAS ONLY FICTION, THINK AGAIN!

For as long as extraterrestrial and paranormal phenomena have been investigated, the official government response to any events deemed "otherworldly" or unexplainable has been well documented: DENIAL. Not because they aren't interested in UFOs, monsters, and psychic abilities -- but because they have their own secret agendas for using this knowledge.

In this thoroughly researched compendium of conspiracies and cover-ups, the remarkable findings that have been documented (and supposedly debunked) by the governments of the United States, Great Britain, and the former Soviet Union are finally revealed, including

• Attempts by the U.S. Air Force to build a fleet of nuclear-powered flying saucers...

• The British military's files on the Loch Ness monster and other mysterious beasts...

• The Cold War race between the CIA and the KGB to create the perfect psychic spy/assassin...

• The real story behind the enigmatic "Men in Black," who terrify UFO witnesses into silence...

For anyone who wants to know the truth -- or the truth behind the truth -- Strange Secrets is the ultimate resource to understanding exactly what the government doesn't want us to know -- and why they want to keep us in the dark.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Redfern and Roberts, both experienced writers on UFOs and the paranormal, preface their study of real-life X-files by admitting that "the nature of intelligence work requires agencies to obtain information on just about anything and everything that might conceivably have a bearing on national security." So it's no surprise that "documentation on the 'unknown' has been created and studied at an official level." The authors have uncovered such files from the U.S., British and former Soviet governments touching on alien visitations, the use of psychic spies and other strange subjects. A local vampire legend was used by the U.S. in the Philippines as part of a psy-ops program. The authors discuss reports that the British government convened a secret ministerial briefing to discuss the mysterious crop circles that had started appearing in the 1980s. And they explore the possibility that some supposed UFO sightings were actually of highly advanced, secret technology being tested by the U.S. government. This is a trove of entertaining stories for X-files fans and government skeptics.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Nick Redfern began his writing career in the 1980s on Zero -- a British-based magazine devoted to music, fashion, and the world of entertainment. He has written eight books, including Body Snatchers in the Desert: The Horrible Truth at the Heart of the Roswell Story, and has contributed articles to numerous publications, including the London Daily Express, Eye Spy magazine, and Military Illustrated. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; Original edition (May 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743469763
• ISBN-13: 978-0743469760
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #476,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nick Redfern is a full-time author and journalist specializing in a wide range of unsolved mysteries, including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, UFO sightings, government conspiracies, alien abductions and paranormal phenomena. He writes regularly for the London Daily Express newspaper, Fortean Times, Fate, and UFO Magazine. His previous books include Three Men Seeking Monsters, Strange Secrets, Cosmic Crashes, and The FBI Files. Among his many exploits, Redfern has investigated reports of lake monsters in Scotland, vampires in Puerto Rico, werewolves in England, aliens in Mexico, and sea serpents in the United States. Redfern travels and lectures extensively around the world. Originally from England, he currently lives in Dallas, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, there are real X-Files!, July 20, 2003

By 

reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strange Secrets: Real Government Files on the Unknown (Paperback)

Redfern and Roberts have assembled a masterful
collection of what cryptozoological,ufological and
other mysterious material is to be found in
official intelligence files.

For general readers unaware of the interest that
the intelligence network has had in these unexplained
cases, this book is a revealing insightful look at that
topic. For those who are extremely knowledgeable
about a wide spectrum of the unexplained, they will
be disappointed if they set the yardstick on "newness"
- an objective that is not that of the authors.

The casual reader will be interested in the texture
of the material that actually intrigues the government,
and this book reviews the evidence that such, indeed,
has been a concern of spies, spooks, and bureaucrats.

The style, also, is easy to read.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Watching the Watchmen, July 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Strange Secrets: Real Government Files on the Unknown (Paperback)

I felt this book was worth the time spent reading for what was left out as much as what it contained. It dwells on the reams of unclassified files from American and British archives and the strange things studied by these governments. The authors go out of their way to say that they have not uncovered evidence of Bigfoot, the Greys, or psychic powers. Considering the subject area, these disavowals keep the overall tone of the book impartial and believable.

That is NOT to say that both the American and British governments were never interested in these and other subjects. The authors dwell on actual files discussing crop circles, the Mt. Ararat anomaly, UFOs, psychic phenomena, cattle mutilation, the Loch Ness monster, and spontaneous human combustion. There is extensive quotation from such documents throughout the book, which provides an insightful look at how our governments approached these issues. In a few places the authors put forth plausible theories behind certain events, but never do they cross the line into overblown speculation.

Our society's fascination with the paranormal is as important as paranormal events themselves. This book is a great resource for someone interested in how official investigations have tackled the subject.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is the truth in there?, July 6, 2003

By 

David Group (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strange Secrets: Real Government Files on the Unknown (Paperback)

Authors Redfern and Roberts have done a masterful job of compiling government files, both British and American, about everything from UFOs to Spontaneous Human Combustion, shedding much light on what there governments really know (at least, based on files that were released to the public). Though some mysteries are solved or, at least, given plausible explanations, others still remain up in the air (so to speak).

The book could have benefitted a little by being fleshed out with outside material. The chapter on Men in Black is intriguing, but ultimately leaves some nagging questions. And a few case histories from medical literature could have helped the chapter on spontaneous human combustion. The section on UFOs is well done, but those looking for insights into Roswell, MJ-12, or the Rendlesham/Bentwaters incident will find nothing here (though, in all fairness, each of those topics have been the subject of numerous books of their own).

Despite these caveats, and the fact that this book will be disappointing to the hardcore conspiracy buff (who will, no doubt, distrust just about anything the government says), this book is highly recommended for those looking for solid answers based on genuine research and solid reasoning.