Flying Saucerers

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The Flying Saucerers A social history of UFOlogy by David Clarke & Andy Roberts - Rated
This is without doubt the most interesting and worthwhile book I have
read on the topic of UFOlogy. You will not find any detailed
discussion of secret underground research facillities in the
Nevada desert! However you will find a fascinating social history of
UFOlogy in Britain from the 1950s to the late 1970s. Generally the UFOlogists in
themselves make far more interesting subjects than do UFOs, the same can
be said for 'contactees'. Clarke and Roberts provide their account of the history
of UFOlogy with a social and political background, the Cold War climate
played a crucial role in allowing the idea that Earth could
be visited by Martians or Venusians to gain credibility amongst the
public, and certain figures within the establishment. The book is
written with humour, but that is not to say that the authors simply
mock or ridicule the characters they describe, however I defy anyone
not to laugh out loud when they read the story of George King's
tranformation from taxi driver to spiritual guru:

"According to King himself, following several years of yoga and
estoteric study,that moment came on the morning of 8 May 1954 as he
was washing up in his Maida Vale flat, when he heard a disembodied
voice anounce, 'Prepare yourself you are to become the voice of
Interplanetary Parliament'"

The Flying Saucerers is a superb book that combines a serious social
and historical narrative, with undeniably entertaining accounts of some very
eccentric and quite appealing personalities. In some respects the world
is probably duller place for their absence.