CRASH FROM OUTER SPACE

Separating the facts from the fallacies concerning aliens and UFOs, from the 1940s to today.

The spectacular crash of an unidentified flying object in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 triggers national interest. Local rancher Mack Brazel checks out the strange-looking debris with his two kids, later talking with reporters. In the following years, public interest as well as investigations from the military accelerate. Rampant speculation, intense research, and plain hysteria follow, with books, movies, and the forming of UFO groups. Are little green men from Venus preparing to attack our country? Decades later, supposed proof of an alien invasion refers back to the testimony of original Roswell witnesses and reexamined documents. There is an ebb and flow to the discovery of information. In 1997, the Air Force admits to a coverup of a secret operation from the 1940s called Project Mogul. In 2006, the makers of a documentary that purported to show an alien autopsy admit that it was a fake. Research continues up to the present day; readers must decide for themselves. Fleming presents an impressive volume of information in a crisp and concise manner, helping readers grasp the big picture. The real stars of the book, though, are her carefully chosen visuals: Dozens of black-and-white photographs as well as reproductions of official documents, newspaper pages, cartoons, and more add both atmosphere and authenticity.

A vivid, comprehensive account of the Roswell mystery and its aftermath.