Alien Abductions: Creating a Modern Phenomenon

by Terry Matheson

Book Overview

Extraterrestrials regularly abduct humans from Earth, often performing bizarre surgeries and experiments on their subjects, according to the popular and profitable "nonfiction" offered by major publishing houses. Books by John Fuller, Budd Hopkins, David Jacobs, Whitley Strieber, and others have helped shape contemporary belief in alien beings.Science fiction scholar Terry Matheson reveals that the alien abduction literary genre has been a part of...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573922447
• ISBN13: 9781573922449
• Release Date: November 1998
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The most interesting approach to the abduction myths

Matheson's analysis of the meaning of abduction myths is the most interesting aspect of the book. His tracing the history and development of the myths is fascinating. I was reminded of the very interesting analysis that has been done of the phenomenon of urban legends. The text was only disappointing when he related the details of individual abduction stories. Rather than wishing that he had abreviated these sections, I wish he would have elaborated more, and provided more direct quotation of the texts he was analyzing. I suspect some publisher told him to avoid burdening the reader with too much information -- but his analysis needed to move more slowly in those areas. Still, this is a minor complaint since the thesis is fascinating. The human capacity for myth-making is a lot more interesting (not to mention, a lot more credible) than aliens who buzz around in search of human reproductive tissue.