John S. reviewed on + 2 more book reviews
The truth is out there. Really. And while that tag line may be the property of Foxs X-Files, it applies equally well to Robert Dohertys Area 51. In fact, if you replace a few of the characters in Area 51 with Fox Mulder and Agent Scully, it would make a splendid episode of X-Files. This is a novel that explores almost as many mysteries as Leonard Nimoys In Search Of television series did, and ties them all together in an entertaining and thought provoking read.
Area 51 introduces us to a secret government program called Majjic 12 that operates out of Area 51. The program is so secret that even the President doesnt know exactly whats going on here: the reverse engineering of alien technology by the United States military. In fact, the military is already flying the saucers; they just cant understand how the technology works.
As the story unfolds, General Gullick, the head of the program, is about to take the program one step further by extending flight tests to the saucers mother ship, something that has never been done before. Hes cautioned against this, however, by Dr. Von Seeckt; a former Nazi recruited to the US atomic program in 1942 and member of the Majjic 12 project since its inception. Gullick, however, will not be deterred from his single-minded vision of flying the mother ship.
The suspense intensifies when Von Seeckt is contacted by Professor Nabinger, an archaeologist who has translated an unsettling message from ancient runes found in an Egyptian Pyramid:
POWER SUN
FORBIDDEN
HOME PLACE (???) CHARIOT (???) NEVER
AGAIN
(???) DEATH TO ALL LIVING THINGS
Nabinger has no clue as to what these runes might refer to, but he does discover a link to Von Seeckt and contacts him with the information. Meanwhile, an out of work reporter is slowly unraveling the mysterious disappearance of a colleague who saw a bit too much of Area 51, and a military operative who has been planted by a presidential advisor tries desperately to contact his superiors with what he has learned. Inexorably, the characters are drawn together in an attempt to stop Gullick and inform the world about the truth of Area 51.
UFOs, ancient pyramids, Atlantis, Easter Island, Nazis and Government conspiracies. Area 51. covers all that and a whole lot more. The book does a great job of tying so many mysteries together in its plot, slowly leading up to the revelation during the explosive conclusion. Area 51 moves along at a brisk pace; theres always something interesting going on that will keep you glued to it, unable to put it down. Youll plow through its 373 pages in no time, as I did.
Area 51 is not without flaws, however. The characters are extremely one-dimensional, and it is difficult to connect with any of them. Fortunately, the action and mystery more than make up for that. There are a few factual errors too, such as an attack by a flight of F-16s from the carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. F-16s are not carrier planes; the navy flies F-14s and F-18s from carrier decks.
Minor quibbles, though, in an overall fun read thats recommended to anyone but especially to those with an interest in UFOs or lost civilizations. Area 51 is the first in a lengthy series of novels. Ill be in search of the sequels, to be sure.
Area 51 introduces us to a secret government program called Majjic 12 that operates out of Area 51. The program is so secret that even the President doesnt know exactly whats going on here: the reverse engineering of alien technology by the United States military. In fact, the military is already flying the saucers; they just cant understand how the technology works.
As the story unfolds, General Gullick, the head of the program, is about to take the program one step further by extending flight tests to the saucers mother ship, something that has never been done before. Hes cautioned against this, however, by Dr. Von Seeckt; a former Nazi recruited to the US atomic program in 1942 and member of the Majjic 12 project since its inception. Gullick, however, will not be deterred from his single-minded vision of flying the mother ship.
The suspense intensifies when Von Seeckt is contacted by Professor Nabinger, an archaeologist who has translated an unsettling message from ancient runes found in an Egyptian Pyramid:
POWER SUN
FORBIDDEN
HOME PLACE (???) CHARIOT (???) NEVER
AGAIN
(???) DEATH TO ALL LIVING THINGS
Nabinger has no clue as to what these runes might refer to, but he does discover a link to Von Seeckt and contacts him with the information. Meanwhile, an out of work reporter is slowly unraveling the mysterious disappearance of a colleague who saw a bit too much of Area 51, and a military operative who has been planted by a presidential advisor tries desperately to contact his superiors with what he has learned. Inexorably, the characters are drawn together in an attempt to stop Gullick and inform the world about the truth of Area 51.
UFOs, ancient pyramids, Atlantis, Easter Island, Nazis and Government conspiracies. Area 51. covers all that and a whole lot more. The book does a great job of tying so many mysteries together in its plot, slowly leading up to the revelation during the explosive conclusion. Area 51 moves along at a brisk pace; theres always something interesting going on that will keep you glued to it, unable to put it down. Youll plow through its 373 pages in no time, as I did.
Area 51 is not without flaws, however. The characters are extremely one-dimensional, and it is difficult to connect with any of them. Fortunately, the action and mystery more than make up for that. There are a few factual errors too, such as an attack by a flight of F-16s from the carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. F-16s are not carrier planes; the navy flies F-14s and F-18s from carrier decks.
Minor quibbles, though, in an overall fun read thats recommended to anyone but especially to those with an interest in UFOs or lost civilizations. Area 51 is the first in a lengthy series of novels. Ill be in search of the sequels, to be sure.
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