Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A "Hangar 18" for Monsters?




There's a new Mysterious Universe article from me that starts like this...

"There can be very few people (if any!) with an interest in UFOs who have not heard of the tales of so-called 'alien bodies in the morgue.' Area 51, “Hangar 18,” Homestead Air Force Base, the Dugway Proving Ground, and many more highly secret, fortified installations have all been suggested as the final resting places for the preserved corpses of extraterrestrial entities. But, what of so-called cryptids, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Abominable Snowman, the Chupacabras and other mysterious, or unacknowledged, creatures?
 
"Although they are far less known than those involving their alleged alien counterparts, there are a number of cases on file that suggest it’s not just the bodies of beings from beyond our solar system that are held deep below ground, in well-guarded, bunker-style facilities. Welcome to the controversial saga of the morgue of monsters."

Monday, January 27, 2014

The Next Area 51?



Ryan Sprague (in a new article) takes a look at what might be termed "the next Area 51."

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Crashed UFOs...in the UK???




That's the subject of my new Mysterious Universe article, which you can find here...

Have there been actual, so-called "British Roswell's?" Well, yeah...maybe. Or, maybe not. Certainly, there is no shortage of stories suggesting exactly that.

Does that mean there is some underground "vault" filled with extraterrestrial debris and alien bodies? That's the big question, one which after years of investigating and pondering on, I'm still just not sure...

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

The "Welsh Roswell" - 40th Anniversary


There's a new Mysterious Universe article from me on what is without doubt one of the most controversial UFO cases of all time. And it starts like this...

"January 23, 2014 will mark the 40th anniversary of a curious event that occurred in North Wales and which – for some, at least – has become known as the “Welsh Roswell.” To be sure, it’s a very strange story, one filled with all manner of threads and themes, some of a very down to earth nature, and others that would have had Fox Mulder absolutely foaming at the mouth. It goes like this:

"On the night of January 23, 1974, numerous people in and around the North Wales village of Llandrillo reported seeing strange lights in the sky. The lights were accompanied by additional reports that suggested something had slammed violently into the huge Berwyn Mountains range that dominates the area. The police responded, but reportedly found nothing. Even the Royal Air Force got involved in the search for…well, who knows what? They too came up blank."

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Zombie Book: Coming in September



Coming in September is a new book from me and Brad Steiger. Its title: The Zombie Book. The publisher: Visible Ink Press. And here's VIP's book-description:

"Rampaging, driven, killing machines. Soulless and dead. Infected and infectious. Zombies. The epidemic of the living dead is stronger than ever in today’s pop-culture, but long before exotic viruses, biological warfare, and sinister military experiments brought the dead back to life in our cinemas and on our television screens, there were the dark spells and incantations of the ancient Egyptians, the Sumerians, and the Babylonians. Blending the historical with the modern, the biographical with the literary, the plants and animals with bacteria and viruses, the mythological with the horrifying true tales, The Zombie Book: The Encyclopedia of the Living Dead is a comprehensive resource to understanding, combating, and avoiding zombies.

"More than 250 entries cover everything from hit television shows, books, and movies, including The Walking Dead, World War Z and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, to zombies’ ignominious role in folklore and mythology, such as the Greek god Asclepius, ancient Voodoo religion, and the Native American Wendigo legend. The Zombie Book: The Encyclopedia of the Living Dead examines mad cow disease, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the Centers for Disease Control preparing for the end of the world, and much, much more."

Dogman Latest



Linda Godfrey updates us on the latest news regarding the "Dogman" controversy...

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Ufology's Future...



The title above is the subject of my new Mysterious Universe article, which starts...

"Some of you may have seen the recent news that Errol Bruce-Knapp decided to close down his much acclaimed site/discussion list UFO Updates. It opened its doors – so to speak – in November 1996 and went from strength to strength. Indeed, for a number of years it was the place to go to if you wanted to see who was arguing with who, who was demolishing someone else’s theories, and who was demanding blood. Well, the “demanding blood” reference may have been a bit of an exaggeration (or maybe not…), but you see what I mean!

"As they say, however, all good things come to and end. Even UFO Updates. And I don’t think Errol would disagree with me when I say that it was time. The number of messages posted in the last year or so had dropped dramatically, and the debates were undeniably lack-luster compared to earlier years. So, in my view, Errol did the right thing by going out on top and leaving an excellent legacy."

A Parachuting Mothman??!!



There's a strange story (wait, let me correct that, a seriously strange story) doing the rounds that Mothman's appearance in the 1960s at Point Pleasant, West Virginia was provoked by military parachutists covered in luminous paint!

Er...okay. But, correct me if I'm wrong, while Mothman's eyes might have been highly illuminated (or reflective), I'm not aware of cases suggesting Mothman's entire body was aglow!

You can find the story right here, where it is dissected in fine style by Regan Lee.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

The Best In UFO Fiction

"A few nights ago I was interviewed for a radio show, during which the matter of UFO fiction cropped up, and the question was asked: 'What are your favorite UFO-based novels?' Well, I have to confess that I hardly ever read (or even watch) science-fiction, but I do think that Whitley Strieber’s novel on Roswell – titled Majestic - is excellent. However, of the few UFO novels that I have read, three in particular stand out above all of the rest.

"From 1990 to 1991, author David Bischoff penned a trilogy of novels: Abduction: The UFO Conspiracy; Deception: The UFO Conspiracy; and Revelation: The UFO Conspiracy. If you are into UFOs, cosmic cover-ups and the world of fiction (and all rolled into one), then if you have not read this great series, you really should. They are, in my opinion, the definitive UFO novels."

Those are the opening two paragraphs of my new Mysterious Universe article, which you can find right here...

Monday, January 13, 2014

Bauman, Bigfoot and the Prez



In my book, Monster Files, I told the story of Teddy Roosevelt, a highly dangerous Bigfoot, and the man who told the president the story. Up until now, all we knew about the man was his last name: Bauman.

But now, just maybe, Bauman has been identified...

Chupacabras Versus Chupacabras



My latest Mysterious Universe article is on the subject of the Chupacabras. Or, rather, it's on the subject of the two Chupacabras: the Puerto Rican original and the Texan equivalent. Are they the same animal? Are they totally different? And if the latter, how did they come to share the same name?

Read on...

Friday, January 10, 2014

Mysterious Universe: My Latest...

My latest Mysterious Universe article is on a subject I very, very rarely ever write about, so I figured it was about time I set the record straight...

Owlman: Video Game


 
 
It is a large, humanoid, flying monster with glowing red eyes and huge, powerful wings. It strikes fear into the very heart of all those that encounter it. It’s the infamous Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, right? Nope, wrong. Although it is just about the closest thing that Britain has to the bizarre beast made famous in John Keel’s now-classic book, The Mothman Prophecies. Its name is the Owlman.

In 1976 the dense trees surrounding Mawnan Old Church, Cornwall, England became a veritable magnet for a diabolical beast that was christened the Owlman. The majority of those that crossed paths with the creature asserted that it was human-like in both size and design, and possessed a pair of large wings, fiery red eyes, claws, and exuded an atmosphere of menace. No wonder people make parallels with Mothman.
 

Monday, January 6, 2014

Roswell, MIB, and Multiple Realities


Here's how my latest Mysterious Universe article begins:

"If there is only one thing we can say with any certainty about the infamous events that occurred outside of Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947, it’s that there are multiple theories for what happened. And no-one can offer any real, hard evidence that definitively nails things one way or the other. Of course, Ufology has always been like that. But, Roswell seems to typify that aspect of the UFO phenomenon like no other case."



The article continues: "The many and varied scenarios involve a crashed UFO, a fallen weather balloon, a Mogul balloon used in the detection of Soviet atomic-bomb tests, an experiment based around high-altitude balloons and Japanese people, some sort of atomic mishap, a Soviet ruse involving mutated kids, crash-test dummies, a flying-wing experiment, a craft flown by time-travelers from our future, a vehicle created by an ancient terrestrial race that lives deep underground in vast caverns, and even a demonic, Trojan Horse-style deception."



With so many theories out there, they clearly cannot all be correct, can they? Well, what if, yes, they definitely are all real? If so, how could that possibly be? Read on...

The Eighth Tower - New Edition



If you're a fan of John Keel's work (and if you're not, then you need your head examining) check out the brand new edition of John Keel's acclaimed book, The Eighth Tower, from Anomalist Books.

Here's what the good folks at AB have to say about their latest release:
 
The Disturbing Follow-Up To The Mothman Prophecies

Is there a single intelligent force behind all religious, occult, and UFO phenomena?
Strange manifestations have haunted humans since prehistoric times. Beams of light, voices from the heavens, the “little people,” gods and devils, ghosts and monsters, and UFOs, have all had a prominent place in our history and legends. In this dark work, John Keel explores these phenomena, and in doing so reveals the shocking truth about our present position and future destiny in the cosmic scheme of things.

Are we pawns in a celestial game?

In the Orient, there is a story told of the seven towers. These citadels, well hidden from mankind, are occupied by groups of Satanists who are chanting the world to ruin. Perhaps this is just a story; perhaps there is some truth behind it. But what if there is yet another tower, a tower not of good or evil but of infinite power? What if all our destinies are controlled by this cosmic force for its own mysterious purposes? And what if UFOs and other paranormal manifestations are merely tools being used to manipulate us and guide us toward the cosmic role we are fated to play? Perhaps, after all, we are not independent beings but are instead the creations and slaves of the eighth tower.

About the Author:JOHN A. KEEL (March 25, 1930 – July 3, 2009) was an American journalist and influential UFOlogist best known as the author of The Mothman Prophecies. The least known of his tremendously influential works, The Eighth Tower was derived from material left out of The Mothman Prophecies. Keel’s first book, Jadoo, and his breakthrough UFO book, Operation Trojan Horse, have also been reprinted by Anomalist Books.

Don't miss this new edition of John Keel's Grand Unified Field Theory of High Wierdness. At the time of publication, the price for a used copy of this book ranged from $128 to more than $2,800. That's crazy! Our brand new editon sells for just $15.95.  

New Book: Admissible - UFOs & Strange Creatures




Admissible: The Field Manual for Investigating UFOs, Paranormal Activity, and Strange Creatures is a new book from Chase Kloetzke and Richard Dolan that I was hired to edit.

If you want to know how to prepare for a field-investigation, what you'll need, the hazards to look out for, dealing with witnesses and much more, check it out!

Here's the publisher's info on the book:

"The first-ever manual that shows you how to investigate UFOs, strange creatures, and the paranormal--like a professional. Clear, comprehensive, no-nonsense, Chase Kloetzke and Richard Dolan have set a new standard for investigators of strange phenomena. UFOs, ghosts, and strange creatures like Bigfoot are some of the most interesting subjects in our world, mainly because they challenge the very sense of reality that most of us grew up with.

"These things aren’t supposed to exist. The problem, however, is that reports of them just keep coming, even well into the 21st century. Conducting a good investigation of these elusive subjects is not easy. How do you plan your investigation? What’s the best way to interview your witnesses? What kind of equipment should you bring?

"What kind of clothing? How do you do a proper stake-out of a location? What safety precautions should you take? How do you obtain, handle, and preserve evidence? How do you document your case for posterity, so that others can learn from it? Also, what kind of strangeness should you expect from investigating these very odd encounters? What do you need to know? How can you prepare for something that exists at the edges of our shared reality?

"The purpose of this book is to teach you these things. Until now, there hasn’t been a clearly written general guide for investigators of the weird, whether seasoned or brand-new. This is the first-ever field manual that will show you how to investigate UFOs, strange creatures, and the paranormal, and to do it in a professional manner.

Multiple Nessies



There aren't many sites or blogs I check out every day, but one I do is Roland Watson's blog on the Loch Ness Monster.

Right now Roland has an excellent new article on an issue that doesn't get touched on that much: witness reports of more than one Nessie seen at any given time and, just occasionally, even three!

Here's the link.

Archiving 2013 Gigs

As we're into a new year, I am removing my gig dates from 2013 and listing them below.

Most of the shows are archived, and most of the lectures were filmed, so if you want to check them out online there should not be any hassles.

Here they are:

MUFON Los Angeles - Jan. 15;
MUFON Orange County - Jan. 16;

Coast to Coast AM - Jan. 23;
Museum of the Weird, Austin, Texas - Jan. 26;
Valley Ghost Hunting Radio - Feb. 20;
The Edge - Feb. 23;
Anthony Zapeda Show - Feb. 27;
Effed Up Stories Radio - March 19;
Texas Paranormal Unity Fest - March 23;
Conspiratorial Podcast - May 27;
Paranormal Geek Radio - May 28;
Unknown Origins Radio - June 6;
The Unexplained - June 8;
Bruce Collins Show - June 12;
Marla Brooks Show - June 13;
Texas UFO Radio - June 14;
Barb Adams Show - June 15;
Micah Hanks Show - June 18;
Walking with Spirit - June 19;
21st Century Radio - June 23;
MUFON San Antonio, Texas - June 25;
Allan Handelman Show - June 27;
Madison Morgan Show - June 28;
Grand Dark Conspiracy - July 2;
Richard Syrett Show - July 7;
EPIC Radio - July 8;
Starseed radio - July 9;
Disinfo Radio - July 10;
Higher Side - July 11;
Unraveling the Secrets - July 13;
Behind the Paranormal - July 14;
Royce Holleman Show - July 17;
Grimerica - July 18;
Susanne Taggart Show - July 24;
Beyond the Matrix - July 27;
BTE with Eric Altman - July 28;
Raw Feed Radio - July 31;
21st Century Radio - Aug. 4;
Encrypted Show - Aug. 7;
Rita Louise Show - Aug. 8;
The Bright Side - Aug.11;
Binnall of America - Aug. 13;
Coast to Coast - Aug. 18;
The Deb West Show - Aug. 19;
Cami Skousen Show - Aug. 20;
Raw Feed - Aug. 31;
Scotty Roberts Show - Sept. 1;
EPIC Radio - Sept. 2;
Starseed Radio Academy - Sept. 3;
Kevin Cook Show - Sept. 10;
Paracon, Kansas City - Sept. 13-14;
Ted Torbich Show - Sept. 20;
Royce Holleman Show - Sept. 25;
MUFON Philadelphia - Oct.4 -6;
Jeff Ritzmann Show - Oct. 10;
Paratopia - Oct. 14;
Paradigm Symposium, Minneapolis - Oct. 17-20;
The Paracast - Oct. 26;
The Richard Syrett Show - Oct. 27;
Sean Burrows Show - Oct. 27;
Donna Seebo Show - Oct. 28;
Martin Willis Show - Oct. 28;
Down the Rabbit Hole - Oct. 29;
Sandy Sedgbeer Show - Oct. 31;
Dreamland - Oct. 31;
Jason Korbus Show - Nov. 3;
Para-X - Nov. 4;
Allan Handelman - Nov. 5;
Barb Adams Show - Nov. 7;
Pang Radio - Nov. 10;
Down the Rabbit Hole - Nov. 12;
Mary Jane Popp- Nov. 20;

Saturday, January 4, 2014

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!!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Unconventional Aircraft

There's a new Mysterious Universe article online from me, which begins like this:

"While the British Government has declassified into the public domain literally thousands of pages of documents on UFOs, many of the dossiers are fairly tame in terms of content. There is one file, however – a file that I found while digging through old records held at the National Archives, Kew, England in 1999 – that hardly ever gets a mention. Why, exactly, I have no idea, since it’s one of the most important UK-UFO files to have ever surfaced officially.

"The file is titled Unconventional Aircraft and is of interest and significance for a number of reasons. First, much of the material contained within it was classified at Secret level (with a considerable number of papers stamped Top Secret). Second, the file makes it very clear that the Air Ministry was not the only department involved in the UFO subject during the late 1940s. And third, there is evidence to show that, at the time, the British Government was monitoring the UFO subject on what was, quite literally, a global scale."