Alien Dawn: An Investigation into the Contact Experience

by Colin Wilson

In over 80 books, Wilson has reported on a wide variety of alternate realities involving crime, sex & the occult, all based on the underlying premise that our everyday consciousness is meager compared with powers potentially available to us. This attempt at a synthesis of the alien/UFO phenomenon shows his encyclopedic strength to be also his weakness. In his zeal for inclusiveness, he reports not only on the history of UFOs from mythology thru Kenneth Arnold to Philip Corso (The Day After Roswell), but also writes about Uri Geller, LSD research, crop circles, ley lines, the Loch Ness monster, remote viewing, Jung, hypnotism, poltergeists, Ouspensky, out-of-body experiences, quantum physics & a great deal more. There's little new here: much of the book is composed of unfootnoted 2nd- & 3rd-hand accounts of UFOs, alien encounters & (perhaps) related phenomena drawn from other sources, resulting in an unfocused catalog of anecdotes, the larger import of which is rarely assessed. Periodically he asks, as if talking to himself: "What, then, are we to make of it all?" At times he finds unbelievability a plus: after all, if someone were simply fabricating a story, wouldn't they make it more plausible? By the time readers reach the chapter titled "Oh no, not again!" the phrase has an unintended inflection. In the end, he seems to regard aliens--whatever they are--as agents in the transformation of consciousness, but he provides little solid support for, or elucidation of, such a hypothesis.--Publishers Weekly (edited)

Genres: Nonfiction, Paranormal, Psychology, Mystery

322 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.

Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.

Reviews

[Chris Greensmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Not long before Andrija Puharich’s death, I was asked to write an article about him, and rang him at his home in America. When I asked him what he was working on, he told me that he was studying supernormal children. ‘You wouldn’t believe how many of those kids there are out there. They seem to be on genius level. I know dozens, and there are probably thousands’.
And this, I suspect, is the beginning of the change that the UFOs are working on."

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always gone out of my way to see Ken Russell and have usually left the theatre disappointed. He did The Devils in 1971 based on the Huxley history of the same title and he did that short bit in Aria which almost uniquely captures something of the nature of dreaming or a trip. That's why I return. But little of his other film work has impressed me very much.

So it is that I approach Colin Wilson. He did a few inspired books very, very well, but most of his work is derivative, written for the buck, only tangential to the sources of his considerable enthusiasms.

Alien Dawn, borrowed from Mike Miley's impressive library, is one of Wilson's derivative books. If you want an overview of the alien abduction phenomenon and don't want to read the various case studies by John Mack and others, this is a decent, albeit poorly documented, introduction.

[Owen Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author (a respected philosopher, author, and occult researcher) summarizes and synthesizes the UFO/alien abduction literature in an insightful and compulsively readable manner. "Alien Dawn" provides plausible explanations regarding the "what", "why", and "how" of UFOs and alien activities. Although this book fails to provide definite proof of the phenomena in question (how could it?) it succeeds in presenting loads of compelling evidence suggesting that all things in the universe are interconnected, that the supernatural is real, and that the human mind/spirit is capable of much more than most people realize. Parts of this book are a bit aimless and random but, overall, "Alien Dawn" is a very worthwhile reading experience that illuminates a bizarre topic while enriching one's mind and spirit. After reading this book I understand this topic much better, but there remain in my mind many unanswered questions. But this author is not to blame. Apparently, the investigated phenomena cannot be fully comprehended with available theories and concepts.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of his more gullible books. Did he really believe some of this nonsense? Colin had his faults as I have repeatedly pointed out in my writing. I was 'hooked' when I was 21 so could be said to be biased. Anyone new to his work will have to be patient and sift the gems from the dross!

[Jonathan Hockey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting range of speculations on the alien phenomena in this book. His overall suggestion is that the aliens are somehow related to higher levels of consciousness and awareness. A link to spirituality in a form amenable to our current civilisation.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK but nothing earth shattering

[Mike Rot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of Colin Wilson before buying this book. Someone with common interests mentioned reading it, and I impulse bought it and just as impulsively started reading (despite the large pile of unread books I already had). It became clear in the first couple chapters this was a guy with some pedigree, who could write and has written extensively in the very field I naively thought I had at least a superficial understanding of all the players, but nope. Colin Wilson, wrote like fifty books, wrote this book Alien Dawn, a hokey title with awful cover art. Why did I read this? What compelled me? I don’t know, I’m very glad I did. I was familiar with about seventy percent of the subject matter prior, as Wilson does an incredible job of elucidating the key incidents and individuals that make up the story of the UFO phenomenon up until 1999, drawing upon his knowledge not just of the occult, fringe science, mysticism but artists, science fiction, a vast tapestry of ideas that builds towards a stunning closing chapter that takes all this disparate mania and makes some sense of it, some mission statement for how to be a human being.

[William Wehling · Rating 3 out of 5]

rehashes alot of previously written material. Last two chapters were good

[Shaun McNamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although very much a 90’s era work, like all of Wilson’s other books its an easy but informative read. Not quite a 'must have', but a solid addition to the genre.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book to be fun and informative in the idea of an "alien dawn" well remaining to stay grounded and backed up with facts and details put together well 👍👍

[AVANTI KUMAR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting overview.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you’re a believer in UFo’s or not, this book explores strange phenomena along with high strangeness. I found it a fascinating read.

[Bill Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Let us take a deep breath and return to the facts.” (p. 55) Wilson plays somewhat fast and loose with “the facts” one might say, but still this is a fun book if you are into the idea of escaping the mundane world. Perhaps the escape is only in your mind, but so be it. I confess this is the second time I’ve read this book, but the first time I wasn’t that into it. I recall a friend once told me he saw an alien but this particular friend I’ve found to be untrustworthy in a pinch so I tend to doubt the veracity. All in all the second time around I’ve engaged in a more systematic approach and thought this book would provide a good overview but I remain unconvinced. Like most conspiracy tales, the UFOs remain ever elusive and unprovable in a court of law. I like Colin Wilson in general, despite the fact that he calls Carl Sagan a “disinformation specialist” (p. 244) and even "a bit of a crook" (p. xxi). Having just read the Achenbach book heavily about Sagan I was struck by the difference between “facts” that would be accepted by Sagan and those accepted by Wilson. Some things in this book appear to my thinking to have been exposed as hoaxes such as the Uri Geller business. Wilson seems to have very little in the way of a skeptical filter. He was friends with the famed Harvard investigator of alien abductions John Mack so there is a certain thread here. I got a lot of good reading suggestions from this book so I can’t fault him for that. Plus he describes one encounter with both aliens and Bigfoot. Like aliens are hanging out with Bigfoot which I found to be a hoot, just the idea of that. Wilson describes the alien-Bigfoot connection as an accepted part of this phenomenon, noting that some UFO investigators have a “Bigfoot procedure” in place. (pp. 248-49) I may keep searching for more on this “Bigfoot presence” because it seems highly cinematic though I know of no movie that makes this connection aside from a brief suggestion in Close Encounters of the Third Kind - in the interview scene with media an old man who is one of the UFO witnesses says “I saw Bigfoot once” and all the cameras shift to point at him. I have read on the web some lady in North Carolina claims to have invented a perfume that will attract Bigfoot, and I am wondering if she could do the same for UFOs. I'm veering away from the review itself here, yes. Wilson takes his topic very seriously but admits that the UFOs themselves often behave in surreal or even unbelievable ways. Are crop circles an elaborate code based on undiscovered principles of geometry and complex musical patterns? Based on what Wilson has written here, one would likely need to be an expert in mathematics or music in order to determine whether the ideas discussed are even close to accurate or merely blowing smoke. If Wilson had been more skeptical (or scientific even), I might trust his “facts” more.

[lynne fireheart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book explores the entire gamut of "alien contact", and comes to some very thought-provoking conclusions.

It provides a sampling of a variety of contact experiences, sometimes revisiting the same experience in different chapters depending on the particular "angle" being explored.

I knew of Uri Geller and his spoon-bending abilities - what I *didn't* know is that he attributes his gaining the ability via alien influence. Did you?

I was also reminded of the fantastic yet true account of the abduction of a lady witnessed by a prominent UN official and his two bodyguards - and was amazed to know the follow-up story that one of the bodyguards had actually "met" the lady abductee before, during his own abductions.

And the train of thought leading to the supposition that these aliens may be "higher-evolved beings", perhaps a branch of human that had broken away from our line a long time ago, when our line insisted on looking at things from a totally logical/rational/"hard"/left-brain perspective, while they were the polar opposites. And that we have absolutely no grasp of just how much we can do with our minds- skills and abilities that these "aliens" have mstered.

I'm not really capturing the book - I admit, I didn't concentrate-concentrate on it... but I definitely think it's worth a read for anyone who wants to know a bit more about what's out there, and like me gets irritated very quickly by the typical breathless sensationalistic conspiracy theory type style. This books is different. A bit draggy at times, but certainly different.

... it's certainly given *me* some things to think about ...

[George Eraclides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, thoughtful, well written and researched, a high quality work, as expected from the late Colin Wilson. The history of UFOs and various theories are discussed and then linked to paranormal phenomena and consciousness-raising possibilities. The evolution of consciousness and awareness of the possibilities of mystical insight, were prevailing themes in the work of Wilson throughout his life. Reality is so much more than the everyday, anxiety-ridden, shallow existence we inhabit. I was lucky enough to meet Colin Wilson in the early 1990s, when he gave a talk at the library I was managing, on the subject of the outsider and peak experiences. He talked for a great length of time to a packed audience and answered their many questions. His generosity and sense of intellectual adventure were unforgettable. I think it may be time that the ideas of Wilson be re-examined in these troubled times.

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd ratae this higher, except that it may be taken as endorsement of the content of this book rather than appreciation for its earnet, wide-ranging and totally uncritical survey of UFOlogy. Not one of Wilson's best crank books though and possibly the beginning of his rather tedious alternate history obsession.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look at an area we often neglect or ignore. Doesn't subscribe to one theory, but makes some guesses at the end. Very well rounded, an excellent introduction to questioning things that often go unquestioned or discussed.

[C.J. Moseley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good writing, intelligent deconstruction, but a fairly flawed appraisal of Ufology.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure I agree with conclusions but appreciate the well researched broad approach to the phenomenon .

[Wyntrnoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right or wrong or in between--Colin Wilson is fascinating reading:)

[Nick Lapokonstadakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its an amazing academic fact collection, with crazy conclusions. The only problem is the title.