Look Out!
Are you ready for this? Really ready? Brit-based UFO writers Dave Clarke and Andy Roberts are baaaaaack! And with a brand new, forthcoming book titled Flying Saucerers: A Social History of UFOlogy. Like all of their titles, this one is bound to create controversy - and I say there’s nothing wrong with that.
Dave and Andy aren’t into telling it gently or saying what you want to hear. Nope. They’ll tell it as they see it - the good, the bad, and the utterly insane. Personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way, as the subject needs a good kicking at times. I haven’t seen the book yet, but based on the blurb at the publisher’s website, we can expect some “interesting” things.
As the aforementioned blurb states:
“Since August 1945 the Western world has been fascinated with the notion of ‘flying saucers’, subsequently termed ‘Unidentified Flying Objects’ or ‘UFOs’. Numerous ‘experts’ have offered explanations, often involving extraterrestrial entities. These early experts promoted their beliefs enthusiastically. Some were undoubtedly sincere - although somewhat maverick - while a few might have been intentional ‘psychological conmen’.
“The various opinions of these ‘experts’ generated extensive tabloid and media attention in the 1950s and 60s with the result that reported sightings became wrapped up in any number of beliefs and legends. David Clarke and Andy Roberts carefully unpick the origins of these beliefs, looking carefully at the key individuals involved. This reveals how the paranoia of the Cold War era generated its own myths and also shows that many aspects of the subsequent ‘New Age’ ideology had their origins in the UFO cults.
“Flying Saucerers is not written for people who believe in UFOs. Readers are not expected to believe in their ‘nuts and bolts’ existence, still less the prospects of a Close Encounter of the Third Kind. Instead it is both a social history and a history of ideas, revealing how the notions of a few inspired ‘experts’ evolved into prevailing modern day myths.”
Modern day myths? I can almost detect the rising of ufological blood-pressures all across the planet right now. But you’re going to have to wait another 3 months to read it. No-one can say they haven’t been duly warned! Needless to say, I’ll be reviewing the book on publication. This is one, I suspect, that is definitely going to be talked about.
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Jan 16 2007 
January 16th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Dave Clarke has asked me point out the following on his and Andy Roberts’ behalf:
“The dictionary definition of ‘myth’ (as in modern-day myth) is NOT something which is intrinsically false by its very nature, despite the fact the people (often journalists) misuse or misinterpret the meaning of the word in that context (i.e ‘urban myths’ - stories that are untrue etc) - myth actually means: ‘a traditional narrative sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.’
“Therefore the ETH is perfectly qualified as a ‘modern myth’ as an explanation for UFOs!”
January 16th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
I was just about to say, “You’ve done it again, y’swine, you’ve got me all fired up over yet more madly interesting UFO related info: only this time, during a lull when there’s no need to fight me kids to the death just to get on a terminal, you go and tell me I’ve got to wait three bleedin’ months to find out any more!”
…fortunately, however, I’ve just spotted your ‘comment’ to your blog, and for some reason - possibly the simple fact of instantly receiving new information - my ire, not to mention my general wrath, seems now to be gently abaiting…
Ahhh, isn’t life grand? More tea, Vicar…? Another chip butty, your Majesty…?
Eng-ger-land!
January 17th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Keep counting down the days until those 3 months are over, Alan. Then the storm will begin, I suspect! LOL
January 17th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Clarke and Roberts usually do good work. Even if you disagree with them, they provoke debate. I look forward to picking up their latest.
Paul
January 18th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Paul
In the UFO community, Andy and Dave often get put down for one reason and one reason only: they don’t buy that UFO reports offer good evidence for ET being here. And, for the most part, that’s it.