What do you think?
XF-ULTRA: The X-Files, Conspiracy Culture and the National Security State
From the co-author of The Complete X-Files, comes the deepest dive on The X-Files ever.
XF-ULTRA is an exhaustive yet accessible guide to the only TV series that really matters, going places no other book dare go. Whether you're already a hardcore X-Files fan or just a novice, this is the one book you have to read to truly understand what you're seeing play out on your screen.
First, we start with the
A behind-the-scenes look at the creation and development of The X-Files.
A comprehensive examination of the TV shows and movies that influenced The X-Files.
UFO Conspiracy An introduction to the history of UFOlogy, as well as the parapolitical figures and events that shaped The X-Files’ storylines.
Human An overview of the dark history of medical abuse that lies at the very heart of The X-Files.
Deep background on each of the series’ eleven seasons.
Case Detailed reviews covering all the episodes and feature films, packed to the gills with behind-the-scenes information and presented in an accessible, concise format.
A Season of Overviews of the controversial and significant real-world events that occurred during each season of The X-Files.
Then we go DEEP…
The Mytharc for A comprehensive primer that breaks down and lays out the X-Files Mythology arc in an easily digestible format.
Myths Behind the An extensive deep dive into the ancient myths that influenced The X-Files’ Mythology.
The First Toxic An insider’s perspective on how The X-Files inadvertently fostered unhealthy and abusive online communities.
TV in the Wake of A detailed survey of the TV shows and movies that were influenced by The X-Files.
But wait! There’s more!
“Real-Life X-Files”: A skeptical examination of the UFO disclosure cult and the so-called “real-life X-Files.”
Ancient A look at the ancient cults that worshipped mysterious flying objects, including one that devised a method for initiating alien contact!
An exploration of Chris Carter's groundbreaking crime drama.
The Lone Gunmen and 9/11: A hard look at the X-Files' spinoff and its eerie foreshadowing of one of the darkest days in American history.
Deep dives into some of the real-world characters whose lives eerily parallel those we've seen on The X-Files.And an absolutely mind-blowing “Ultimate Fan Theory” that will have every X-Files fan looking at the series in an entirely new light.All this and much, much more besides...
XF-ULTRA is an exhaustive yet accessible guide to the only TV series that really matters, going places no other book dare go. Whether you're already a hardcore X-Files fan or just a novice, this is the one book you have to read to truly understand what you're seeing play out on your screen.
First, we start with the
A behind-the-scenes look at the creation and development of The X-Files.
A comprehensive examination of the TV shows and movies that influenced The X-Files.
UFO Conspiracy An introduction to the history of UFOlogy, as well as the parapolitical figures and events that shaped The X-Files’ storylines.
Human An overview of the dark history of medical abuse that lies at the very heart of The X-Files.
Deep background on each of the series’ eleven seasons.
Case Detailed reviews covering all the episodes and feature films, packed to the gills with behind-the-scenes information and presented in an accessible, concise format.
A Season of Overviews of the controversial and significant real-world events that occurred during each season of The X-Files.
Then we go DEEP…
The Mytharc for A comprehensive primer that breaks down and lays out the X-Files Mythology arc in an easily digestible format.
Myths Behind the An extensive deep dive into the ancient myths that influenced The X-Files’ Mythology.
The First Toxic An insider’s perspective on how The X-Files inadvertently fostered unhealthy and abusive online communities.
TV in the Wake of A detailed survey of the TV shows and movies that were influenced by The X-Files.
But wait! There’s more!
“Real-Life X-Files”: A skeptical examination of the UFO disclosure cult and the so-called “real-life X-Files.”
Ancient A look at the ancient cults that worshipped mysterious flying objects, including one that devised a method for initiating alien contact!
An exploration of Chris Carter's groundbreaking crime drama.
The Lone Gunmen and 9/11: A hard look at the X-Files' spinoff and its eerie foreshadowing of one of the darkest days in American history.
Deep dives into some of the real-world characters whose lives eerily parallel those we've seen on The X-Files.And an absolutely mind-blowing “Ultimate Fan Theory” that will have every X-Files fan looking at the series in an entirely new light.All this and much, much more besides...
551 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
June 6, 2026
Much like the Sopranos, the X-Files is cursed by a legion of fans who only engage with it on a surface level. Take a look at their respective reddits for a good example. Mostly inane quoting of favorite moments and bashing of the show’s creator. I discovered author Chris Knowles as a guest on an xfiles podcast. His insights opened my eyes to just how dull many of the other guests had been prior and just how little my understanding of the show was being challenged. This book finally gave me the full survey of the series from Chris’ perspective. I’m also happy to see that he is a diehard Season 1 enjoyer like myself. Barring a JW Rinzler style comprehensive behind the scenes book about the making of season 1 ( and season 2 for good measure), this is probably the last book about the X-Files I will ever need.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review