UFOS EXPLAINED

by Philip J. Klass ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 2, 1974

Addressing himself to the ""truly complex nature of the mystery"" of the 10,000 UFO incidents on record, Klass finds sound, plausible, mundane explanations. Drawing on his background as an electrical engineer and his resources as avionic editor for Aviation Week & Space Technology, he identifies balloons (weather, spy), meteors, rocket boosters, airplanes, trains on a mountain, stars, ""sub-suns"" (reflecting ice crystals), ""plasma"" (electrified air), camera lens' flares, radar ""angels"" (blips that turn out to be moisture, bird flocks, insect swarms, or atmospheric reflections) -- not to mention dreams, hoaxes, publicity stunts, and frauds. But no extraterrestrial beings. Yet because some features are still not accounted for, he offers ""UFOlogical Principle #1: Basically honest and intelligent persons, who are suddenly exposed to a brief, unexpected event, especially one that involves an unfamiliar object, may be grossly inaccurate in trying to describe precisely what they have seen."" If, especially, they have heard that UFO's are in the vicinity, they are prone to view any suspicious object as such. Klass slams the media for giving front-page coverage to sightings but burying subsequent explanations. He relates virtually all the famous cases, including the recent Seattle flap and the tale of ""kidnapped"" Mississippi workers. At times this involves him in some extraordinary detective work. While Klass insists that ""we must withhold final judgment,"" he points out that even if we can't account for an incident, ""it does not really provide evidence. . .that spaceships from other worlds are visiting earth."" This is one of the sanest books on the subject, and dupes like J. Allen Hynek (The UFO Experience, 1972) should read it.

Pub Date: Jan. 2, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1974

Categories: NONFICTION