Just finished reading, Sekret Machines... I don't read much novelized fiction these days, in fact hardly any at all. I do read a lot of 'non-fiction', on a number of diverse subjects, which include: history, comparative mythology, religions, science, and all things esoteric. I'm familiar with the subject matter presented in this book, as well as the various documented incidents of which this book uses as the' historical background' in which to wrap the fictional narrative with a layer of believability or credibility. I might call this style of writing, "Fictional Historicity", or perhaps "Historical Plausibility" (your choice)?
So why did I pre-order this book, sight unseen, almost as if on a whim? Short answer, pure curiosity. The long answer is; I was intrigued by an interview that I listened to on C2C (Coast to Coast) Mar. 27, 2016. It featured the guest-host George Knapp, who was interviewing an ex-rocker named Tom Delong (co-founder of Blink 182), as well as A. J. Hartley, a novelist and co-author of Seckret Machines. What was so intriguing about this interview was a couple of things; the whole four hour format of the show was dedicated to these two individuals alone (versus 1~2 hrs. for a typical guest) with the obligatory audience 'call-ins' in the final hour. There was also the so called "Pitch", as told by Mr. DeLonge; a fascinating tale (that I really can't do it justice here, and would recommend that you find it on youtube or stream it from the C2C archives if you can, especially if you are considering purchasing this book).
In a nutshell DeLonge somehow gets an audience with some "Top Brass" military types (perhaps some civilian?), in any case there were a lot of influential guys with Ph.D's connected to 'above' Top Secret programs and technologies. Mr. DeLonge then gives his "Pitch" which includes his personal thesis on the subject and convinces these guys that there is a credibility gap between the general public at large, but more specifically the "twenty-somethings" (Millennials, Gen X and Y?), who still possess the ability to form a rational thought or finish a complete sentence without being distracted to "look the other way", by the constant cacophony of celebrity 'non-issues', media hyperbole, and the continuous onslaught of "Fear-Porn", which permeates the very fabric of our society. It's a compelling story and one 'heck-of-a' pitch, if it is to be believed?
So I receive my copy and dive in; 680 pages later (including the foreword by Delonge and afterword by Peter Levenda), I'm here giving a review; It was a fast read, at least for me, as I'm use to much more tedious material. It is a fast-paced, alternating format, which revolves primarily around four main characters and requisite supporting cast. The narrative starts in Central Afghanistan 2014, with Major Alan Young, a USMC combat pilot (Harrier). Next we meet Jennifer Quinn (present day); the adult daughter of a very rich and influential English investment banker. The third main character is named "Timika" (present day); a no-nonsense, New York based investigative reporter who runs a website called "Debunktion" or "Debunk-Nation"? Finally, we are introduced to "Jerzy" (Krakow, Poland, Sept. 1939); a resourceful Polish Jew in his teens; who along with his older brother are swept up by the maelstrom of WWII, the Nazi war machine with its secret weapons programs, and internment as slave laborers in the infamous Wenceslas mines. It will prove to be the boys misfortune to have witnessed too much.
This is a storyline which is built entirely upon the co-authors ability to 'connect-the-dots' of the "known", while moving the narrative along with the "unknown" (or at least their collective best guesses). They do this cleverly, in some cases even brilliantly; however there is not total perfection; but then again, we are dealing with fiction, right? So I think one can allow for a bit of speculation, okay maybe a lot; but again, it is a fiction; kind of?
Without giving too much away - The historical, and/or "known" subjects of which this creative narrative is woven around, include: The "Die Glocke" (aka. the Nazi Bell [no connection with 'Kecksburg' is hinted at or attempted]), "Operation High-Jump" (including a Nazi redoubt in Antarctica c. 1947), The 'Roswell incident' (or at least a connection to it), Area 51 (to include: 'Dreamland', 'Groom Lake'; aka. the place everyone goes to in the middle of the desert in the film "Independence Day"), Rachel NV. (and the "Little Ale' Inn"), the Barney & Betty Hill case of 1961 (added for context?), along with a spate of other seemingly 'connected' but otherwise unrelated anecdotes; again added for context and good measure. There also appears to be a biblical "Old Testament" connection, which is not fully fleshed-out.
As a former aviator (USAF & JAL, Ret.), I have a somewhat unique perspective on much of the material in this book (I have yet to see what I would call a UFO). I have seen "Secret" aircraft and have signed non-disclosure statements to conduct aerial refueling of the "Stealth" fighter from a KC-10A (prior to F-117's public debut), this during the late 1980's. I have participated in 2 "Red Flag" Exercises (C-130E, mid 80's) staged at Nellis AFB, NV. The exercise airspace is located near or adjacent to the notorious 'Area 51', where our daily pre-flight briefs included a much emphasized reminder that any pilot or aircrew who inadvertently or deliberately violated this "Restricted" airspace, would as a matter of course, lose their wings! Trust me when I tell you that it was (and likely still is) taken very seriously. However I've always concluded that this had more to do with keeping secrets from hostile 'nation-states', especially concerning advanced ('very-advanced') weapon systems; in other words, it was/is a matter of national security; always has been. Is it possible that the 'rabbit-hole' might go a lot deeper? Absolutely; in fact I'm now fairly certain that it must. However, back in the day; let's just say, I wasn't asking too many questions.
I did stop once, with a friend (returning from Vegas), to get a beer and a bite to eat at the "Little Ale-Inn" in Rachel Nevada, right off Hwy. 375 (aka. The "ET" Highway); which was pretty much what one might expect. Yet for some reason I find it difficult to imagine pilots or personnel attached to the Groom Lake base, would be hanging out there to have a few beers and swap war stories, much less "talk shop." Personnel, (military or civilian), just can't unwind in a place where someone might overhear something that might be classified, especially in a joint that small.
As for Major Young's transition from his USMC flight duties to those in a "black" program; all I can say is that it all seemed rather "laissez-faire", while lacking depth and detail. It was a bit unrealistic from my perspective, yet perhaps a matter of convenience for the story teller? Additionally, if you are buying and reading this material to gain some further insight into the "nuts and Bolts" details of what makes these craft tick, you might be a bit disappointed? Perhaps future 'non-fiction' publications from co-authors DeLonge and Hartley will address these issues in more detail?
Bottom line; this is a darn good read, I tore through all 680 pages, and enjoyed it as a fictional exercise into the arcane hinterlands of secret-black projects and their funding, international and governmental intrigues, rumors of the 'fantastic'; miraculous machines such as flying craft using technologies that defy known physics, and of course the possibility that, as President Harry S. Truman was once quoted saying:
"The only thing new in the world, is the history we don't know."
Which brings me to Peter Levenda's 'Afterword', where he hints at ancient technologies lost (and found); while the books last page(s) hints [Spoiler Alert!] at the gods (little 'g') of antiquity, of whom may have never left, or are still around? This is a thread I find most compelling, and I wonder where the authors will take it?
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