Alternative 3

 "Alternative 3", is the classic conspiracy book:  It was first published by Sphere Books Ltd., of London in 1978.  Here are the major claims of the book:

FACT:  The Earth's atmoshpere is becoming super-heated and unbreathable.  If this trend is not reversed, life on Earth is doomed.

ALTERNATIVE 1:  Blast "chimneys" in the stratosphere with nuclear weapons releasing heat and pollution.  Project Status: abandoned.

ALTERNATIVE 2:  Relocate Earth's population in massive underground caverns drawing fresh, cool air from the soil.  Project Status: abandoned.

ALTERNATIVE 3:  A bold venture into space built on revolutionary technology.  Officially-sanctioned murder, and a secret international conspiracy.  Project Status: unknown.

The major claim of the book is that a joint United States / Soviet Union space mission made a manned landing on the planet Mars on May 22, 1962.  That is an extraordinary assertion.  This was all started by a weekly British TV show called "Science Report".  The producers of that program were doing research on the "brain drain" in England, and quite inadvertently stumbled upon some amazing information.  They subsequently devoted a whole show based on their findings.  Hence was born the "Alternative 3" mythos.  After the original broadcast, there was an outcry from the viewers in London, who felt terrified by the conclusions of "Alternative 3".  The British government got involved and Anglia TV which produced the broadcast, was forced to publicly state that the program was a hoax, in order to appease the government, and quiet down the reactions of the British people.  Shortly afterward, a book was commissioned by Anglia TV to set the record straight.  The basic issues, according to Anglia TV, were that the "Alternative 3" broadcast was not a hoax, and people died as a result of the revelations in the documentary.  The debate goes on and on, but the centerpiece of the broadcast was a video that purportedly shows the Mars landing of 1962. Click on the video box to see this actual footage.  Please click on this link to purchase a copy of "Alternative 3" from Amazon.com:  Alternative 3

Behold A Pale Horse - William Cooper

"Behold A Pale Horse" by Milton William "Bill" Cooper, has to be the most talked about conspiracy book on the planet.  It covers such subjects as (A) The Secret Government; (B) UFO influence on the United States Government; (C) The New World Order;  (D) The Apollo Program; (E) The John F. Kennedy assassination, and many other conspiracy subjects.  When I first read this book, it frightened me for days!  The information it contains is very, very spooky.  Bill Cooper himself was a very colorful character who was much maligned by many.  He had a talk show on shortwave radio for quite sometime.  It was this show that caused the then President Clinton, to label Cooper the most dangerous talk show host in America.  In the beginning of 2001, Cooper predicted accurately, and publicly, that the Bin Laden organization was poised to attack America.  He was so right on that.  On November 5, 2001, Cooper was assassinated outside his home in Eagar, Arizona by Apache County sheriffs, for dubious reasons.  My guess is that he knew too much and was taken out as a result.  For a good introduction into the life of William Cooper, please click on the video widget.  To purchase a copy of "Behold A Pale Horse" from Amazon.com, please click on this link:  Behold a Pale Horse

The Strange Case Of M. K. Jessup

The mystery of "The Case For The UFO" is undoubtedly one of the strangest in the annals of UFO research.  Morris Ketchum Jessup, the author "The Case For The UFO", committed suicide on April 20, 1959, after being despondent for a period of time.  For many years, the annotated VARO edition of this book, was much sought after as a collector's item, by UFO enthusiasts.  It appears that after its initial publication, some strange annotations were made on it, and it was then mailed to an office of U.S. Naval Research, where it generated a lot of interest. The Philadelphia Experiment is also inextricably tied to "The Case For The UFO".  By the request of the Navy, the VARO Manufacturing Company, in Garland, Texas, printed a special version of "The Case For The UFO", that contained the strange annotations.  Only a few copies were printed.  Gray Barker of the Saucerian Press, was able to obtain one of these copies, and he published it in 1963.   To purchase a copy of "The Case For The UFO", from Amazon.com please click on this link:  The Allende Letters And the VARO Edition of the Case For the UFO

The Stand

Stephen King's "The Stand" is one of my all-time favorite books.  I have lost track as to how many times I have read it, but I do read it at least once a year.  "The Stand" is a perfect portrait of an America in  a severe apocalyptic crisis.  My favorite character in the book is Leo Rockaway, but who can forget The Walking Dude, who is pictured above this post.  Please click on this link to purchase a copy of "The Stand" from Amazon.com:  The Stand: Expanded Edition: For the First Time Complete and Uncut (Signet)

Dhalgren

For a good introduction to post-apocalyptic fiction, I recommend "Dhalgren" by Samuel Delany.  This book pulls no punches, and depicts a post-apocalyptic America in dark, and frightening prose.  I first read this book in 1982, and it is so powerful that it has sometimes haunted my dreams.  I'm just amazed that it has not been made into a movie as of yet.  Please click on this link to purchase "Dhalgren" from Amazon.com:  Dhalgren