The Pocket Essential UFOs by Neil Nixon (Pocket Essentials, 2002)
If you were to give fifty people seperately the task of documenting, in the
space of less than 100 paperback pages, the 'essential' information about
UFOs, these writers would write you fifty quite different books.
It's a matter of opinion, for example, which are the so-called 'classic cases.'
And, even, if you were to get an agreement on what these cases are,
there are assuredly too many of them to fit into a book of this size, along
with anything else you decide to categorise as 'essential.'
In this book, Neil Nixon runs down what he considers the highlights from UFO history, but also takes a lot of time pontificating on what they - UFOs - and the subject in general might or might not really be about.
The 'theory' that there is extraterrestrial involvement with this planet is documented and considered to a substantial extent, along with other fringe/scientific theorists, one of whom, Albert Budden, is described eulogically as 'in a great scientific pioneer spirit' (I've not read his books, but venture to suggest that Mr.Budden didn't live up to this description when I heard him interviewed on LBC radio).
This book calls to mind a population of UFO theorists comparable to the people living on either side of the Berlin Wall - the author doesn't, as it were, conclude that the 'belief systems' on either the east or the west side of the Wall are better, though he's obviously studied both at length.
There seem to be very few factual errors here, though the reader might well be misled by certain passages. This one, for example: 'Truman Bethurum's book Aboard A Flying Saucer (1954) is a connoisseur's contactee. His romance with Aura Rhanes, who is "tops for shapeliness and beauty," is classic pulp science fiction, but it is presented as fact.' Yes, the book 'Aboard A Flying Saucer' was presented as fact; but what Neil doesn't mention while dismissing it in a few lines is that no evidence has emerged in the 48 years since publication to suggest that it was anything other than fact. Mr.Bethurum had supporting witnesses to the factual existence of these apparent extraterrestrials, and there were aspects to his encounters that were significantly different to 'classic pulp science fiction.'
Overall, though, 'The Pocket Essential UFOs' is well-written and I think that there are enough interesting ideas interlacing the historical data to hold the attention of most readers with much interest in the subject. For just under £4, this book is good value for money and I recommend it.
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Truman Bethurum historical articles
