The UFO phenomenon remains one of the most persistent and perplexing mysteries of modern times. Encounters have occurred for thousands of years, and the activity shows no signs of slowing, with reports coming from around the world. ""UFOs and Aliens"" presents an exciting history of extraterrestrial activity on planet Earth, documenting some of the world's best-verified cases. Readers will learn about famous sightings such as the Washington Nationals and the Mexico City sightings; encounter cases of UFO landings and abductions, like the Hopkinsville ""goblins,"" and the Travis Walton alien abduction case; and explore the mystery of whether a UFO crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. Everything from infamous hoaxes to the physical evidence of alien implants to government cover-ups are presented here with the best evidence available, so that readers can decide what may be fact and what is, indeed, science fiction.Chapters include: Ancient Astronauts, When UFOs Land, Taken Aboard, UFO Crashes, and Conspiracies and Cover-ups.

Renowned UFOlogist Christopher O'Brien blew the lid off the San Luis Valley--now he takes you even deeper into the world's most mysterious locale. The picturesque patch of land that stretches from Southern Colorado into Northern New Mexico, known as the San Luis Valley, has been home to some of the most astounding occurrences in North American history. More strange sightings have been reported within the SLV's radius than in any other part of the country. Shrouded in mystery, a brave few have dared to explore the vast territory--Christopher O'Brien is one of those people. He first took us there in his classic work, The Mysterious Valley. Now he returns with even more astonishing stories, fascinating folklore, and probing insight than ever. Enter The Valley and you'll discover: -UFOs--an in-depth investigation of these SLV incidents -Cattle mutilations--numerous examples of this bizarre occurrence, and shocking theories about why it happens -Local folklore--the Colorado Cannibal, a race of "underground dwellers," America's first serial killers, gnomes, Bigfoot, and more -Covert military activity and underground bases--what is the government trying to hide? -And much, much more!

When United Airlines workers reported a UFO at O'Hare Airport in November 2006, it was met with the typical denials and hush-up that usually accompany such sightings. But when a related story broke the record for hits at the Chicago Tribune's website, it was clear that such unexplained objects continued to occupy the minds of fascinated readers. Why, wonders Thomas Bullard, don't such persistent sightings command more urgent attention from scientists, scholars, and mainstream journalists? The answer, in part, lies in Bullard's wide-ranging magisterial survey of the mysterious, frustrating, and ever-evolving phenomenon that refuses to go away and our collective efforts to understand it. In his trailblazing book, Bullard views those efforts through the lens of mythmaking, discovering what UFO accounts tell us about ourselves, our beliefs, and the possibility of visitors from beyond. Bullard shows how ongoing grassroots interest in UFOs stems both from actual personal experiences and from a cultural mythology that defines such encounters as somehow "alien"-and how it views relentless official denial as a part of conspiracy to hide the truth. He also describes how UFOs have catalyzed the evolution of a new but highly fractured belief system that borrows heavily from the human past and mythic themes and which UFO witnesses and researchers use to make sense of such phenomena and our place in the cosmos. Bullard's book takes in the whole spectrum of speculations on alien visitations and abductions, magically advanced technologies, governmental conspiracies, varieties of religious salvation, apocalyptic fears, and other paranormal experiences. Along the way, Bullard investigates how UFOs have inspired books, movies, and television series; blurred the boundaries between science, science fiction, and religion; and crowded the Internet with websites and discussion groups. From the patches of this crazy quilt, he posits evidence that a genuine phenomenon seems to exist outside the myth. Enormously erudite and endlessly engaging, Bullard's study is a sky watcher's guide to the studies, stories, and debates that this elusive subject has inspired. It shows that, despite all the competing interests and errors clouding the subject, there is substance beneath the clutter, a genuinely mysterious phenomenon that deserves attention as more than a myth.

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In Unexplained: Freaky Phenomena, readers in grades 4–8 will explore a variety of unexplained phenomena. Is dance fever real? Can something be both a plant and an animal? Can a human simply burst into flames? The Unexplained series is designed for readers to be able to flip through until an image catches their interest. Each 32-page book includes spreads that feature a handful of info-packed sentences. Quick tidbits mean the book doesn't have to be read cover to cover, making this series perfect for reluctant readers.

In 1878 in Denison, Texas, a man named John Martin looked up into the sky and saw something he could not explain. Americans have been hooked on the possibility of beings from space visiting Earth ever since. A sense of wonder, and reality, are brought to some popular legends of alien encounters and sightings in this volume. The final chapter explores how these legends have become even more popular thanks to movies, television, and literature.