The Book of Mothman - Just Published

Andy Colvin has yet another book out on Mothman! How many that makes now, I have no idea! Eight, nine, maybe even ten?

It looks to be a good one, though. Its title: The Book of Mothman.

Here, below, is the write-up from New Saucerian Press:

New Saucerian Press proudly presents John Keel’s "The Book of Mothman: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Reality Distortion But Were Afraid to Ask."

The chapters in this Keel-approved collection, culled from New Saucerian’s four recently published “Selected Writings of John Keel” books ("Flying Saucer to the Center of Your Mind," "The Outer Limits of the Twilight Zone," "Searching For the String," and "The Great Phonograph in the Sky"), coalesce to create a dazzling, mind-blowing “unified theory” concerning the paraphysical distortions and “glitches” seemingly invading our reality.

Many of the articles in "The Book of Mothman" were written years before Keel’s "Mothman Prophecies," while others were written years afterwards, making it a very unique and valuable source. With the addition of several 1990s lectures and an interview from 2003 – Keel’s last on Mothman – researchers and enthusiasts gain a better sense of just what was going on in West Virginia and the Ohio Valley in the 1960s and ‘70s.

True to form, Keel takes on the endless variety of high-strangeness surrounding Mothman and Mothman witnesses, such as UFOs, MIBs, little green men, hairy monsters, giants, animal mutilations, hypnotism, shapeshifting, psychological warfare, missing time, and phantom aircraft, automobiles, and humans.

This special edition features a brilliant introduction by Gray Barker, a recently discovered foreword by John Keel, and a note from the editor, Andy Colvin.

"Bender Mystery Confirmed"

That's the title of a new book from Andy Colvin's New Saucerian Books, on the matter of Albert Bender's controversial claims concerning the Men in Black.

Here (below) is the info on Bender Mystery Confirmed from NSB, which is a "must buy" if you're fascinated by the MIB enigma!


In 1952, Gray Barker became a state representative in the first civilian UFO group, the International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB), headed by a World War II veteran named Albert K. Bender. Bender, who had been stationed at Fort George Meade (home of the NSA), and Langley Field (today's aerial drone headquarters), seemed to be genuinely interested not only in UFOs, but also in the strange psychic phenomena surrounding their appearances.

After heading the IFSB for one year, Bender abruptly closed the organization, citing encounters with dancing blue lights and terrifying Men in Black, who could appear and disappear at will, and could teleport objects and people around the galaxy.

In 1956, Barker wrote a book featuring Bender's story, "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers," which brought the horror of the Men in Black into public consciousness, and became popular around the world. In 1962, Barker published Bender's own book, "Flying Saucers and the Three Men," which also elicited an excited response from saucer enthusiasts. Controversy also ensued, as opinion became divided into different camps, ranging from those who believed Bender's account completely, to those who thought he had concocted the story for psy-ops purposes.

Later that same year, in an effort to come to some sort of conclusion about Bender's claims, Barker collected correspondence from Saucerian subscribers into this book, "Bender Mystery Confirmed." By reading these letters, one can examine the different theories about Bender, and come to one's own conclusion.

As the title infers, Barker came to believe that Bender was telling the absolute truth. Whatever Bender's original intentions, he had stumbled onto the real paranormal phenomena underpinning the UFO experience, and had paid a price for it.

This special 2014 reprint features Barker's original full-color cover design, which was impossible to print at the time, due to high printing costs. The interior is an exact facsimile of the original, which had become so scarce that only a handful of copies were known to exist prior to this republication. Get it while you can!

The Jessup Dimension

Does anyone know the answer to this? Just recently, Andy Colvin republished the book, The Jessup Dimension by Anna Genzlinger, about Morris Jessup and the Philadelphia Experiment.

The original was published in 1981 by Gray Barker's Saucerian Press.

However, I have a different copy, which is basically a photocopy of Barker's original (minus the original cover; see the photos).

Was this third version I have also published by Barker or by someone else?

There's no other publisher name etc on this copy. I've had this for around 25 years, but can't remember where I got it from.

And...ANOTHER Colvin-Mothman Book!

Return of the Prophecies of Mothman...

Mothman: Two New Books

Andy Colvin, who has already written and published no less than six books on Mothman, now has another two to add to the list!!

They are Beyond the Prophecies of Mothman and  Inside the Prophecies of Mothman.

Here's the background on the books, from Andy himself:
 
"Spurred by the realization that the 9/11 attacks were accurately predicted – in 1967 – by a childhood friend who was seeing Mothman, Seattle artist Andy Colvin began filming a reality series, 'The Mothman’s Photographer,' documenting his experiences growing up in Mound, West Virginia.

"Beyond the Prophecies of Mothman chronicles the thoughts and feelings of several Mothman experiencers and researchers, beginning five years after the attacks (2008-2010). These revealing letters, penned during a wave of odd synchronicities, sightings, and encounters, indicate that Mothman may be a guardian angel of mind-bending proportions.

"Interwoven with these personal diaries are replies and other posts from Colvin, which reach back into the mysterious history of the Ohio Valley, providing not only a fuller context for the phenomenon, but also illustrations of how the paranormal and the media work together to help form public opinion and belief.

"In their thought-provoking attempts to figure out just what Mothman might be up to, Colvin and company look at every possible myth, legend, and conspiracy theory they can find, leading the reader on a wild, entertaining, and often poignant ride into high-strangeness. "


And, if you're wondering, Andy's other books are The Mothman's Photographer, The Mothman's Photographer II, The Mothman's Photographer III, The Mothman Speaks, The Mothman Shrieks, and The Mothman Squeaks.

UFO Books: Old Titles Re-Released

I received in the mail a couple of days ago the latest review-batch of book releases from Andy Colvin that his New Saucerian Books company has published. 

I have said it before here at my blog, that if you are into old UFO-themed books from the 1950s/1960s etc, then NSB is definitely a company to support, since they are doing a great job of bringing out decades-old originals in new editions.

The new titles are reprints of Howard Menger's From Outer Space to You; Flying Ships, Humanoids, and Creatures of the Subterranean World; Jim Moseley's Book of Saucer News; Gray Barker's Book of Adamski; Woody Derenberger's Visitors from Lanulos; Alvin Moore's Mystery of the Skymen; and Michael X's Secrets of the Saucer People. There's also Robert R. Lyman's Forbidden Land: Strange Events in the Black Forest, Vol. 1; and Amazing Indeed: Strange Events in the Black Forest, Vol. 2.

New Saucerian Press: New UFO Titles

If, like me, you find the earlier years of Ufology to be far more interesting than those of today, then you'll want to get your hands on the latest from Andy Colvin's New Saucerian Press.

Andy (the author, of course, of The Mothman's Photographer series of books) is doing a great job of re-publishing old, flying saucer-themed books. And, right now, there are three new additions.


The first is Secrets of the Saucer People: Flying Saucer Revelations, written by "Michael X."

Andy says of this book (his words in bold):

New Saucerian is proud to issue a high-quality facsimile of one of the classics of 1950s West Coast saucering, Secrets of the Saucer People: Flying Saucer Revelations. This special 2014 reprint features wonderful period cover art by Bill Randall.

Written in 1957, this is an "educational and inspirational course of study" dealing with "interplanetary" craft such as flying saucers. It was especially written and intended for "New Age Individuals" everywhere.

The following five lessons are included in this special study:

1. The Saucer People on Earth

2. Flying Saucers at Giant Rock, California

3. Secretes of the Saucer People

4. The Magic of Ether Ships

5. Discs, Destiny, and You

As the introduction to the book makes clear, this work is based on "scientific" findings, ufological data accumulated by numerous researchers, intensive personal investigation, and "mystical revelation" by the author, the enigmatic and reclusive "Michael X."

Some say Michael X still lives, due to an agreement he made with the space beings, who have allowed him to live longer on Earth, as their emissary. If this is true, then we should thank the spacemen for keeping the words of this mystic sage alive, for new generations to hear and interpret.

The second book that Andy has republished is Mysteries of the Skymen, by Alvin E. Moore. 

And, again, here are Andy's words about the book (in bold, again, too):

Of all the UFO experts, Commander Alvin E. Moore sported one of the most impressive backgrounds. His skill in engineering and other sciences, and his expertise in history, law, and intelligence work uniquely qualified him to present and evaluate the mass of ufological data presented in this book.

Educated at the U.S. Naval Academy, The American University, and the George Washington School of Law, he holds B.S. and M.A. degrees. He is a retired line officer of the U.S. Navy, has specialized in aeronautical engineering, and was patent engineer and attorney for the Wernher Von Braun team of space scientists at Huntsville, Alabama. Moore has been granted more than 50 U.S. patents on his inventions - mostly on aircraft, marine craft, and automobiles.

Due to his basic nature and long governmental service, Commander Moore has a strong sense of duty. After 25 years of UFO observation and research, he was spurred by his obligation to his family, his nation, and to mankind, to publish this book.
 

The third of the new releases from New Saucerian Press is John C. Sherwood's Flying Saucers Are Watching You.

Once again, over to Andy...

Is it just "swamp gas," or are flying saucers indeed watching you?

Written in 1967, Flying Saucers Are Watching You is one of the rarest of Gray Barker's Saucerian publications, chronicling the legendary 1966 Michigan UFO sightings - on the spot, as they occurred.

This book is a collection of news clippings, eyewitness drawings and interviews, photographs, and personal recollections of a young engineering student, John C. Sherwood, who was there - in Michigan - when it all happened. Sherwood kept an extensive scrapbook, conducted his own investigations, and shared his results with Barker. (Later, he would work with Barker on other articles - using the pseudonym "Richard Pratt" - that would rock ufology with their intellectual and scientific complexity.)

Literally hundreds of civilians, college students, law enforcement personnel, and military personnel witnessed almost nightly sightings of strange lights and craft in and around Dexter, Michigan for three weeks in March of 1966. It became a national news story at time, along with a similar flap that was occurring simultaneously in the Ohio Valley (which preceded the mysterious "Mothman" sightings).

This 2014 reprint edition, with an introduction by Gray Barker, is a remarkable overview of one of the landmark UFO flaps. It also shares interesting insights into issues surrounding journalistic freedom, government secrecy, and the metaphysical nature of reality. A rare must-have for serious UFO researchers.

The Case For The UFO - Reprinted

I'll have a new article on this online in a day or two, but for those who follow the "Philadelphia Experiment," you'll be interested to know that Andy Colvin's New Saucerian Books has just republished the infamous annotated version of Morris Jessup's 1955 book, The Case for the UFO.

Strange Mutants of the 21st Century

And another new, great release from Andy Colvin's New Saucerian Books, and a total must-buy for fans of Mothman and John Keel: Strange Mutants of the Twenty-First Century. And here's Andy with all the info:

John A. Keel is considered by many to have been a significant influence within ufology and Forteana. He died on July 3, 2009 in New York City, at the age of 79. At the height of his career, he was interviewed by luminaries such as David Letterman, Johnny Carson, and Merv Griffin.

"The Mothman Prophecies," perhaps Keel's most famous book, was an account of his investigation into sightings in West Virginia of a huge, winged creature called the "Mothman."

"Strange Mutants of the Twenty-First Century" contains Keel's very first ruminations on Mothman, as well as a variety of strange reports on black "demon" dogs, phantom cats, Bigfoot and other North American giants, flying humanoids, flying saucers, flying snakes, and even stranger mutants that Keel believed reside with us on Earth.

This book was originally printed in very small quantities over 30 years ago, and became extremely rare and expensive. Finally, it has been available to the general public.

"Strange Mutants" is a classic read that provides an entertaining glimpse into John Keel's bizarre world of the unknown. This 2014 reprint edition features cover art by David Sankey, an introduction by Keel, several illustrations, and a chart of all the early Mothman sightings. This is a book that belongs on the shelf of every Keel fan.

Visitors From Lanulos - Back In Print

Andy Colvin's New Saucerian Books is doing an excellent job of providing us with new editions of old UFO-themed books. One of the latest is Visitors from Lanulos, by Woody Derenberger, and which was originally published in 1971.  For fans of Mothman, the strange saga of Indrid Cold, and the work of John Keel, this is a book not to be missed!

Here - below - is the info from NSB on this new title:


New Saucerian Press proudly presents the "lost" ufological classic, "Visitors From Lanulos!" Initially published in 1971, this book became perhaps the rarest "contactee" book ever. Prior to its 2014 reissue, there were only a half-dozen copies remaining in the world's library system, with the rest trading for thousands of dollars each.

Woodrow Derenberger, the author of the book, claimed to have had a series of strange adventures beginning on November 2nd, 1966. While driving home from Parkersburg, West Virginia to his suburban home in Mineral Wells, he suddenly found the highway blocked by a large gray object. Someone emerged from the object and walked to the passenger side window of his car. The man introduced himself as "a searcher," and offered words of comfort to Derenberger.

After noting that he would come again, the "spaceman," who called himself "Indrid Cold," stepped back into the object and it rose out of sight. Derenberger went home and told his story to his wife. He then called the police and the press. Soon after, other witnesses came forward to say that they, too, had seen Cold talking to Derenberger by the side of the road. (In time, several locals would have their own encounters with Cold.)

Two days later while driving in his car, Derenberger began to receive telepathic communications from Cold, who described himself as from the "galaxy of Ganymede." Cold also supplied some information about his life, including the observation that people on his planet (Lanulos) lived to be 125 to 175 of our Earth years.

Over the next weeks, other stories would accumulate that substantiated other parts of Derenberger's story, including independent UFO sightings on November 4th. An initial investigation concluded that Derenberger was not a fraud or hoaxer, and was mentally and psychologically sound.

Throughout this period, Derenberger's direct contacts with Indrid Cold continued. He learned much about Cold's people and their desire for friendly contact. In 1967, Cold took Derenberger for a ride in his spaceship. Strangely, they visited the oilfields of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Cold's lush, jungle planet, which was populated by beautiful humanoids wearing no clothes.

Derenberger told his story frequently over the next few years, and his story was given extended treatment by Fortean researcher John A. Keel.

Through the 1980s, Derenberger assumed a low profile, though he continued to correspond with a small group of people who believed his accounts. In fact, he forwarded many letters from Cold to these fans. (Cold actually lived in a house in Midway, West Virginia before moving to Cleveland in the 1980s.)

In the years since, other evidence has been discovered pointing to Cold's possible intelligence connections, and the fact that he may have actually piloted an early aerial drone designed by the U.S. military.

Was there an underground flying saucer manufacturing plant near Woody's home, perhaps in Point Pleasant, home of the "Mothman?" Were Cold and his associates trying to bamboozle locals into thinking the military drones were from outer space? Or were they really interdimensional "Men in Black" or "spacemen?" Check out this fascinating read for clues both astounding and confounding.

This indispensable special edition of "Visitors From Lanulos" features introductions by John A. Keel and Taunia Derenberger-Bowman (Woody's daughter), an epilogue by the publisher, Andy Colvin, and a special addendum from Gray Barker. It also sports a beautiful and playful cover by British artist David Sankey.

A New John Keel Collection

 
If you're a fan of the writings of John Keel, you definitely won't want to miss this! It's a new collection of the man's writings, put together by Andy Colvin (of The Mothman's Photographer series of books).

Here's the write-up on the book, which is titled Searching for the String: Selected Writings of John A. Keel:

"New Saucerian Press proudly presents Searching For the String, a collection of magazine articles and lectures by John A. Keel, the man many consider to have been not only the premiere investigator of all things unusual and 'Fortean,' but who was also our own, twentieth-century 'Mark Twain.' Many of the articles in this anthology and its companion volumes, Flying Saucer to the Center of Your Mind and The Outer Limits of the Twilight Zone, were revolutionary, and explored ideas popularized in Keel’s classic books. Written in Keel’s engaging trademark style, they are sure to delight fans with their fresh, unparalleled insights into the nature of reality.

"In these pages, John Keel displays the keen observational skills and investigative tenacity that long made him the enfant terrible of ufology. In this no-holds-barred analysis – much of it written decades ago – Keel shreds most of the sacred-cow beliefs still held by many in ufological and 'cryptozoological' circles today, and presents theories so radical that they are only now becoming accepted: the '4-D' or 'interdimensional' thesis; the 'breakaway civilization' theory; the possible role of 'ancient aliens' in human history; the synthetic and/or hallucinatory nature of many 'alien abduction' and 'Men in Black' encounters; the role of spy agencies in paranormal research; and the alarming connection between UFOs, animal mutilations, and attacks on unsuspecting humans.

"Searching For the String showcases not only Keel’s wit and charm, but also his incisive and impassioned intellectual capabilities. This 2014 edition features an expanded 'Letters' section, several photographs, and introductions by the editor, Andy Colvin, and saucer pioneer Gray Barker."

Praise for the Hairy Man - Review

 

My latest article for Mysterious Universe is a review of a new Bigfoot-themed book. It starts like this...

"Praise for the Hairy Man: The Secret Life of Bigfoot, is the new book from Andy Colvin and Jeffery Pritchett. As many readers of Mysterious Universe will know, Andy is the author of the acclaimed series, The Mothman’s Photographer (volumes 1 to 3) and both The Mothman Speaks and The Mothman Shrieks. Jeffery, meanwhile, is the brains behind The Church of Mabus radio show. As for their combined, new piece of work – the aforementioned Praise for the Hairy Man - if you’re into all-things cryptozoological and Bigfoot-themed, well, you won’t want to miss this one!

"Now, whether or not you will agree with the thoughts, ideas and conclusions of our authors (as well as the observations of the people they interview), it’s an undeniable fact that Praise for the Hairy Man is a book that deserves your attention."

John Keel: A New Collection

My latest Mysterious Universe article is a review of a new collection of writings of the late John Keel.

Its title: The Outer Limits of the Twilight Zone (you can see the cover on the right of the photo above).

Published by Andy Colvin (of The Mothman's Photographer books) the book offers an excellent opportunity to get hold of many now very hard to find Keel articles from the 1960s onwards, on a wide range of topics, including Bigfoot, the hostile side of the UFO phenomenon, Mothman (of course!), and the Men in Black.

Here's the link.

PS: the link will take you to the article, which, in turn, will take you to the Amazon page for The Outer Limits of the Twilight Zone.

If you're a fan of Keel's work, do not miss this one!!

John Keel, Mothman, Bigfoot

Just had a parcel delivered, thanks to Andy Colvin: four new books he has published. They are: Praise for the Hairy Man, (a Bigfoot book Andy has co-written with Jeffery Pritchett), The Mothman Shrieks, (written by Andy) and two collections of John Keel's writing: Flying Saucer to the Center of Your Mind and The Outer Limits of the Twilight Zone. Reviews will appear as soon as I have read them...

Mysterious Musings On Misterioso

While hanging out with good mate Greg Bishop at his Los Angeles home last Sunday, I was interviewed for his regular show, Radio Misterioso.

Doing so is always fun, not just because Greg is a mate, but because he has a very refreshing and flexible approach to his show. In other words, just about anything and everything is up for discussion - and it was!

Over the course of about two and a half hours, we dug into such matters as our favorite Fortean books, the state of paranormal TV (total night-vision-dominated crap!), the Contactee movement, and a great deal more.

Greg has now posted the interview online and you can find it right here.

PS: That's Greg, above, in a picture taken by me in December 2010, at the site of George Van Tassel's legendary Integratron. Greg was getting ready to take the skies and make like Mothman, while me and Andy Colvin watched and took photos.

When Mothman Shrieks

Beyond any shadow of doubt, Andy Colvin has written and published more words on Mothman than I have knocked back cans of Tennents Super! Well, maybe...

But, that aside, the news today is that Andy has another book out on the red-eyed, winged thing of Point Pleasant, West Virginia!

This one is titled: The Mothman Shrieks: Controversial Conversations Concerning Cosmic Conundrums - Cryptic Creatures, Chimeras, Contactees, and the Cleverly Coded Coincidences and Correspondences of the Collective Unconscious.

I haven't seen it yet, but when I do, a review will soon follow!

And, as we are told about the book:

"Spurred by the realization that the 9/11 attacks were accurately predicted - in 1967 - by a childhood friend who was seeing Mothman, Seattle artist Andy Colvin began filming a reality series, 'The Mothman's Photographer,' documenting his experiences growing up in Mound, West Virginia. 'The Mothman Shrieks,' the second book in Colvin's 'birdman vocalization' trilogy, looks at the many ways Mothman communicates. Revealing letters from experiencers - penned during a wave of odd synchronicities, sightings, and encounters - indicate that Mothman may be a guardian angel of mind-bending proportions. Increasingly, the Mothman events look to be as important and miraculous as the famous events at Fatima. Interwoven with these personal diaries are discussions between Colvin and other witnesses and experts that reach back into the mysterious history of America, giving a fuller context for the phenomenon. Colvin also tracks the relationship between the paranormal and the media - how the two seemingly work together to help form public opinion and belief. Also included is a chapter of rare material from John Keel, Gray Barker, and others on the dreaded Men in Black and their impact on the early days of ufology. Mothman Shrieks features insightful forewords by Ted Torbich, host of 'The Stench of Truth' show, and Eugenia Macer-Story, editor of'Yankee Oracle Gazette.' Also featured are fascinating interviews with researchers like Adam Gorightly, Keith Hansen, Robert Denton, Jr., Louise Lacey, and Sandy Nichols. 'Really grabs you...' -George Knapp, Coast to Coast AM 'Prepare to have your mind blown, reorganized, and elevated...' -Nick Redfern, author, 'The Pyramids and the Pentagon' 'A breakthrough in how we perceive the mysterious...' -Greg Bishop, Radio Misterioso 'Better than the Hollywood version of Mothman..." Bonnie Brault, Ph.D. "Informative, entertaining adventures in synchronicity..." -Peter Moon, author, "Montauk Book of the Living" "May activate one's interdimensional tendencies...' -Alexandra Bruce, author, 'Beyond the Bleep' and 'Beyond the Secret' 'One of the few researchers truly on the cutting edge...' -Ted Torbich 'Fascinating... A huge book...' -Tessa B. Dick, author, 'Remembering Firebright: My Life With Philip K. Dick'"

The picture below - of Andy - was taken by me in December 2010 when, along with various other friends in the Fortean field, we spent a week or so roaming around Los Angeles, Giant Rock, and George Van Tassel's Integratron in search of all-things bizarre...