The X-Files Book of the Unexplained: Volume 1

I was always a fan of the X Files at the time but didn't get round to reading this book until just recently. I thought it was probably just an extended plug for the tv show but as it turns out this is a thoughtful, thoroughly researched, and well written 'rough guide' to the X Files (Seasons 2 and 3) and to anomalous phenomena in general. There aren't exhaustive walkthroughs of any of the episodes, rather Jane Goldman has written a series of articles trying to get at the truth (if any) behind the subjects covered in Seasons 2 and 3 of the show. I'm a regular subscriber to Fortean Times magazine and was pleased to see that Goldman consulted FT stalwarts like Loren Coleman and Peter Brookesmith to get a rounded view on some of the subjects touched on in the X Files. For readers interested in serial killers and offender profiling, former FBI legend Robert Ressler contributes some fascinating insights on that score. Goldman injects some appropriately dry humour in places, too: 'In more recent reports, the aliens have changed their modus operandi. They stopped saying they were from Mars or Venus, witheld the blue cocktails, and got decidedly frosty. Lovemaking was out. Clinical procedures and sexual assault were in.' My only slight quibble is the lack of footnotes, but since there's a full bibliography for each chapter listed at the end of the book I can't really complain. Now I just have to track down a copy of Volume 1...

Highly recommended for fans of the show. This is just a great compilation of information about real life people, happenings, and mysteries and how they inspired the show. It covers freaky people, Bermuda triangle, voodoo, witches, and more. I don't know how many times I have related the fascinating facts about witches and the real reason for their broom sticks.. and I got it all from this book.

The book open some stuff that I was wondering about in the show. And opened more door about the show to wonder about.

I have both volume one and now volume two- thanks to used book sellers. This book contains "explainations" for some of the best in my opinion episodes. "HUMBUG", "FIREWALKER", "3" - that was the episode that had one of david duchovny's at the time's girlfriend playing a vampire, "War of the coprophages"- heh heh Dr. Bambi, "hell money", "clyde bruckman's Final repose"- the psychic epiisode-one of my all time favorites. Msybe the book was great because it had great episodes in it... or maybe it was great because it seemed to be written better than the first book. The chapters are clearly laid out into catagories: Life outside the mortal form, human enigmas, weird world, ancient beliefs, 20th century threats and paranoias, a cosmic conundrum, investigating the unexplained. It's a well written book- as i've said before. the research goldman did for this book is excellent. it is similar to the first book with quotes from the various episodes... but in my opinion is more interesting than the first one. Maybe it's because goldman had choosen some great episodes to write about. Definately get this book for your x-files collection. I'm glad that i did.

There are many reasons to love that book: First, it had a good appearance and nice quality paper. Second, the pictures in it, the lines from The X-files make a nice reference and makes some stuff easier to understand. Third, it explains a lot of paranormal phenomenon very clearly, with the explanations of scientists, researchers, witnesses, etc. And finaly, all the reasons above explain why I loved it.