The Myth and Mystery of UFOs

This excellent piece of work from Kansas University Press is authored by Thomas "Eddie" Bullard, professional academic folklorist and long-time serious researcher into UFO/abduction phenomena from sociological and phenomenological perspectives. Editors Jerome Clark and Dr. David M. Jacobs share the credit, according to Bullard, for "devoting efforts above and beyond the call of duty to whip my unruly writing into shape" and pruning the author's more than 700 original pages down to a more manageable, but still substantial, 315.Bullard's decades-long examination of UFO phenomena through the lens of academic folklore pre-dates and parallels Jacques Vallee's better-known `Magonia' essays on a similar theme. Commonalities in structural narrative between legendary encounters with elves, fairies and other-worldly beings and more recent UFO and abduction experiences are explored with great insight by the author. UFO phenomena, the author demonstrates, exist on two levels: the hard experiential and evidential case data, and the resultant place these phenomena occupy in historical societal myth which then, in circular fashion, re-informs subsequent witnesses' interpretation of their experiences.Bullard however does not construct an argument on `spurious similarities' but has a deeper grasp of his subject. His essay examines millenarianism in all its manifestations including apocalyptic and grand-conspiratorial belief systems (especially in Ch6) and how they intersect with the societal position occupied by the UFO phenomenon.The writing is well organized, thoroughly researched and beautifully structured. Bullard has a bright intellect and deep encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject matter, and this work is obviously that of a serious mind engaged in a serious study over many years.This book is more likely to appeal to the professional academic or educator with pre-existing knowledge of the case data rather than to the more casual UFO buff who, if looking for lightweight reading on the subject, might find Bullard's eloquent and multiply referenced prose hard going (and his fence-sitting posture unconvincing). Despite the studied academic skepticism, Bullard reveals in the final chapter a personal conviction that when all the societal trappings are stripped away we find a real, anomalous phenomenon underneath.The likely readership of a work like this is a small one: a pity, as the book is thoughtfully written by an intelligent writer who knows his subject. Its densely-written pages contain original and valuable insights, and it deserves to be read more widely.As you might expect from a University Press, editing is exemplary and the text completely typo-free - which in itself marks out this book as a comparative rarity in this field.

The subject (UFO phenomena) is squishy, a big loose balloon we try to hold in our arms, and it always feels as if something is slipping out of our grasp. This book does justice to that fact of life, with a major focus on the human side of the equation, the "subjective field," the cultural and social and psychological models through which we necessarily filter everything we think we know (as if it is objective knowledge). When the subject is anomalous, that is, does not easily link in modular fashion to the other components of how we construct our world views, any book that does not address the subjective field and how it tames, distorts, and makes familiar the unfamiliar, the eerie, and the unknown, is lacking; so the approach Bullard chooses is essential to beginning at the beginning, and his wealth of knowledge and understanding tenderizes this subject appropriately, because he knows what he doesn't know, and when he doesn't, knows that he doesn't know what he doesn't know! Still, the data as described and examined objectively, leaves any reasonable explorer with unexplained and inexplicable events and Bullard concludes with these too, those encounters and observations that strongly suggest a phenomena that is real, approachable through SOME categories of thought, and well worth the effort, because of the implications for those very categories of thought that have been illuminated, including our place kin the natural world and in the cosmos. Along with "UFOs and Government: A Historical Inquiry," which approaches the subject from a different POV, this book is essential to understanding what we bring to this daunting subject and how that influences the subject itself. Highly recommended.

This is a superb piece of scholarship and a joy to read. In this magnificent work Dr. Bullard proves that he is a thorough and meticulous researcher who is able to integrate many different themes into a smooth and compelling narrative. This book has it all: blurry lights in the skies, structured craft, aliens on Earth, abductions, government secrecy and cover-up, and yes, even crop circles and cattle mutilations. He explores UFOs as possible signs of extraterrestrial intelligence, as ancient myths recast in space-age garb, as products of our collective imagination, and as created by individual minds. A wide range of fields including astronomy, physics, anthropology, psychiatry, psychology, sociology and religion are all given their due. Classical UFO-lore is presented in a new light and he introduces many fresh ideas. Dr. Bullard maintains a delicate balance between critical thinking and an open mind but is not afraid to offer conclusions. If you are looking for resolute debunking, instructions for building a starship, or warning of an impending alien invasion this is not the book for you. If you are looking for an intelligent, instructive and engaging discussion of one of the greatest cultural phenomena of modern times, then read this. The Myth and Mystery of UFOs - no doubt many years in the making - is recommended for seasoned veterans (with scores of UFO books under their belts) and newcomers alike.

Book better than description, great vendor.

Pompous, vapous, double talking, pretensious, empty, verborragic, you name it. The author tries to pose as sophisticated, but it has so many contradictions and its premises, and weak points indeed that it is becoming an incredibly difficult and tedious task to read the book.The author pressuposes how the UFO has to react in order to be legitimate otherwise it became a cultural artifact, if you realise that there is a government cover up, becareful, he will call you a conspiracy theorist. And if you led by evidence, understand that there is an different intelligence dealing with us, then you are a cultis. He is very good at name calling and into classifying people.

As someone who sits on the UFO phenomenon periphery, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this work. It is excellently written, well thought-out and the product of what appears to be a very reasonable mind. It's also entirely free from typographical errors or poor proof reading, which seems to bedevil so many modern publications.The author approaches the subject using cultural models and compares modern belief about UFOs with traditional folk beliefs. He makes comparisons and clearly marks the difference between the experiential point of the 'UFO' and the post-experience cultural interpretation. It is quite clear from his argument that in many cases the former suffers from the impact of the latter.I'd imagine this book works best for those with an open mind or simply the casual observer rather than those who already hold strong views. Regardless, I don't hesitate to recommend this work most highly. It's a first class achievement.