Book

The Roswell Incident

📖 Overview

The Roswell Incident (1980) by Charles Berlitz and William Moore examines the controversial 1947 events at Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico. The book presents interviews, documents, and investigative findings related to the recovery of unusual debris that sparked decades of speculation about extraterrestrial contact. The authors chronicle the initial military press release announcing the capture of a "flying disc," the swift retraction claiming it was merely a weather balloon, and the subsequent decades of questions and theories. The narrative incorporates testimonies from military personnel, local residents, and others connected to the events of July 1947. Drawing from both official records and firsthand accounts, the book reconstructs the sequence of events and examines the broader context of UFO sightings during that era. The investigation includes analysis of physical evidence, witness statements, and the military's changing explanations over time. The book stands as a seminal work in UFO literature that helped transform a nearly forgotten incident into one of the most debated cases of potential extraterrestrial contact in modern history. It raises fundamental questions about government transparency and the nature of unexplained phenomena.

👀 Reviews

Readers describe this book as a straightforward documentation of the 1947 Roswell events, though some note it lacks depth compared to later works on the subject. Readers appreciated: - Clear chronological presentation of witness accounts - Inclusion of military personnel testimonies - Photos and documents from the era - Accessible writing style for newcomers to the topic Common criticisms: - Dated research (published 1980) - Some witness accounts later proven unreliable - Limited analysis of government documents - Repetitive passages Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (224 ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (42 ratings) Sample reader comments: "A basic primer but lacks the investigative depth of later Roswell books" - Amazon reviewer "Important for its time but superseded by more thorough research" - Goodreads reviewer "Worth reading for the firsthand accounts, even if some details are now disputed" - LibraryThing reviewer

📚 Similar books

The Day After Roswell by Philip J. Corso This first-hand account from a former Army Intelligence officer presents claims about recovered alien technology from Roswell being integrated into U.S. military developments.

UFO Crash at Roswell by Kevin Randle and Donald Schmitt The authors compile witness testimonies and military documents to construct a detailed timeline of the Roswell events.

Top Secret/Majic by Stanton T. Friedman A nuclear physicist examines classified government documents related to UFO investigations and the alleged Majestic 12 group.

Witness to Roswell by Thomas J. Carey, Donald R. Schmitt The book presents interviews with over 600 witnesses connected to the Roswell incident, including military personnel and local residents.

The Truth About the UFO Crash at Roswell by Kevin D. Randle and Donald R. Schmitt This investigation traces the chain of events at Roswell through military records and first-hand accounts from participants.

🤔 Interesting facts

🔍 Charles Berlitz spoke 32 languages fluently and came from the family that founded the famous Berlitz Language Schools. 🛸 The book was the first major published work to interview Jesse Marcel, the key military officer involved in the original Roswell recovery operation. 📚 Despite co-authoring the book, William Moore later admitted to spreading disinformation about UFOs as part of a government-connected group. 📰 The book's publication led to the first major television documentary about Roswell, "UFO Cover-Up: Live!" which aired in 1988. 🏺 Before writing about UFOs, Berlitz was best known for his books about the Bermuda Triangle and ancient mysteries, including the bestseller "The Bermuda Triangle" (1974).