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X-Files Book of the Unexplained #1
The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained, Volume 1
From Lands End to Los Angeles, The X-Files is indisputably the hottest show on television.
And while the show is a compelling fictional drama, it is enthralling to consider that the majority of episodes have been inspired by real-life phenomena, legends, conspiracies and urban-mythology.
Whether you're an open-minded Mulder-type or a pragmatic Scully, The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained, invites you to don your trench-coat and explore this extraordinary and thrilling world of ours, in search of the truth.
The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained is an in-depth guide to the mysteries of the paranormal and unexplained which are the basis of the fictional television episodes. It covers every aspect of the strange including UFO sightings, landings, alien encounters, government cover ups, psychic crime solving, faith healing, spontaneous combustion, feral humans, freaks of nature, ghosts and hauntings, reincarnation, a parade of thoroughly modern threats and much, much more.
Each chapter is sparked off by the phenomena contained in The X-Files and features stills from the show, interviews with The X-Files cast and creative team, and astonishing revelations from the world's leading investigators, scientists and officials. The X-Files Book: of the Unexplained, an X-Files guide to the unknown, is a book no X-Files fan or inquisitive reader can afford to miss.
And while the show is a compelling fictional drama, it is enthralling to consider that the majority of episodes have been inspired by real-life phenomena, legends, conspiracies and urban-mythology.
Whether you're an open-minded Mulder-type or a pragmatic Scully, The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained, invites you to don your trench-coat and explore this extraordinary and thrilling world of ours, in search of the truth.
The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained is an in-depth guide to the mysteries of the paranormal and unexplained which are the basis of the fictional television episodes. It covers every aspect of the strange including UFO sightings, landings, alien encounters, government cover ups, psychic crime solving, faith healing, spontaneous combustion, feral humans, freaks of nature, ghosts and hauntings, reincarnation, a parade of thoroughly modern threats and much, much more.
Each chapter is sparked off by the phenomena contained in The X-Files and features stills from the show, interviews with The X-Files cast and creative team, and astonishing revelations from the world's leading investigators, scientists and officials. The X-Files Book: of the Unexplained, an X-Files guide to the unknown, is a book no X-Files fan or inquisitive reader can afford to miss.
339 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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580 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 21, 2018
The truth is out there... for real!
BEYOND THE TV FANTASY
The X-Files has shocked millions of fans around the world since its beginning at the 90s decade in the previous millenium...
...but when you try to read the real facts about paranormal events...
...you aren't so sure which is more shocking!
UFOs, government cover-ups, crime solving using psychic assistance, healing through faith, real hauntings, and many other scaring phenomena is found here, that in several cases were the inspiration for the TV episodes of the cult TV series.
There are many books about paranormal cases, but when a book is made to be tie-in for The X-Files, certainly the appealing to read it increases a lot!
BEYOND THE TV FANTASY
The X-Files has shocked millions of fans around the world since its beginning at the 90s decade in the previous millenium...
...but when you try to read the real facts about paranormal events...
...you aren't so sure which is more shocking!
UFOs, government cover-ups, crime solving using psychic assistance, healing through faith, real hauntings, and many other scaring phenomena is found here, that in several cases were the inspiration for the TV episodes of the cult TV series.
There are many books about paranormal cases, but when a book is made to be tie-in for The X-Files, certainly the appealing to read it increases a lot!
October 29, 2019
I have been sitting on this book for 23 years. 23 years on the shelf, unread.
Yeah, I'm starting to see why my family tells me that I have too many books.
Yeah, I'm starting to see why my family tells me that I have too many books.
May 21, 2022
This book was not what I thought it would be. I was looking forward to reading about the show, but instead, I got stories about possible real life X-Files. Some of the categories kept my attention while with others, I found myself just glossing over them. The book isn't bad, just a little dated, perhaps. My other complaint was the fact that on some pages the print on top of a photo or drawing. As someone with migraines and terrible eyesight, this made some pages very difficult to read.
December 27, 2022
My friends all know that I love The X-Files. Ok, that I LOVE The X-Files!!! So I was only too eager to see what was inside The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained, Volume One, by Jane Goldman. It started out talking about ghosts, so I thought that maybe the entire book was going to be really hokey. But then it started to get more interesting and just…weird. As the title of the book indicates, it’s all about phenomena that are unexplained. And it is so cool, as an ardent fan, to read about the events, places, and people who have inspired ideas for the show.
That’s not to say that everything in the book is to be believed at face value. On the contrary, it should all be taken with a grain of salt, so to speak. Spontaneous human combustion (‘Dear diary, today my heart leapt when Agent Scully suggested spontaneous human combustion’), transmigration of the soul, government cover-ups, and a real-life counterpart to Fox Mulder (although the hotness did not get translated), make for an entertaining, fascinating, and thought-provoking read.
The author is obviously British, and so it’s amusing to read all the British spellings (e.g. Defence, colour, etc.) and the interview snippets with British people. They have a more formal/elegant way of speaking than us uncouth Americans 🙂
Goldman prefaces each chapter with Mulder/Scully’s case notes from one or two episodes, and then proceeds to tie in the real-life happenings which form the basis for the episode(s). It’s all Season 1; the book was copyrighted in 1995, so everything is really, really old!
As an aside, I remember when I was in college and buying the DVD sets for all nine seasons, and I wondered if it was even worth it. I mean, after spending hundreds of dollars on these DVDs, who’s to say I would enjoy watching them after a year or two? It’s been well over ten years, and I am still watching the heck out of those DVDs! And, quite timely with finishing the book and writing this review, tonight I also had a small gathering of fellow Philes to watch a few episodes of our favorite show 🙂
That goes to show that even though this book is referring to episodes that aired two decades ago, it is still as enjoyable as ever. If you’re an X-Files fan, I highly recommend this book for a fun read!
Now, the big question is… who’s going to get me Volume Two??????
That’s not to say that everything in the book is to be believed at face value. On the contrary, it should all be taken with a grain of salt, so to speak. Spontaneous human combustion (‘Dear diary, today my heart leapt when Agent Scully suggested spontaneous human combustion’), transmigration of the soul, government cover-ups, and a real-life counterpart to Fox Mulder (although the hotness did not get translated), make for an entertaining, fascinating, and thought-provoking read.
The author is obviously British, and so it’s amusing to read all the British spellings (e.g. Defence, colour, etc.) and the interview snippets with British people. They have a more formal/elegant way of speaking than us uncouth Americans 🙂
Goldman prefaces each chapter with Mulder/Scully’s case notes from one or two episodes, and then proceeds to tie in the real-life happenings which form the basis for the episode(s). It’s all Season 1; the book was copyrighted in 1995, so everything is really, really old!
As an aside, I remember when I was in college and buying the DVD sets for all nine seasons, and I wondered if it was even worth it. I mean, after spending hundreds of dollars on these DVDs, who’s to say I would enjoy watching them after a year or two? It’s been well over ten years, and I am still watching the heck out of those DVDs! And, quite timely with finishing the book and writing this review, tonight I also had a small gathering of fellow Philes to watch a few episodes of our favorite show 🙂
That goes to show that even though this book is referring to episodes that aired two decades ago, it is still as enjoyable as ever. If you’re an X-Files fan, I highly recommend this book for a fun read!
Now, the big question is… who’s going to get me Volume Two??????
January 15, 2018
Personal response:
I absolutely love this book! Scully and Mulder grow to trust each other. They test the limits of their trust. They also test the limits of danger and death. I think that is why I love this book so much. This book is actually what made me want to start forensic investigation.
Plot Summary:
Special Agent Scully was assigned to the “X Files.” She was assigned to the X Files because Agent Skinner needed a scientist to keep Mulder inline. Mulder liked to make conspiracies about aliens. He thought that every case that was handed to him had something to do with the Alien race. Scully was there to keep him away from that. They encountered many cases. Scully had to defend Mulder many times. Scully landed herself in the hospital many times which led to Scully disappearing. Mulder was certain she was abducted by aliens. She came back, and Mulder was set on proving to her she was abducted by aliens.
Characterization:
Scully became more aware and faithful in Mulders theories about Alien invasions. She falls in love with Mulder and she feels she can’t be away from him. She understands him more as a person. After many many many cases with Mulder she comes to understand his beliefs more.
Mulder comes to understands Scully’s science predictions more as they work together. He still finds a way to persuade Scully into believing him.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who like a little romance. I also recommend to anyone of any age who like a little comedy. I recommend to anyone who likes action and everyone who likes FBI/Criminal justice.
I absolutely love this book! Scully and Mulder grow to trust each other. They test the limits of their trust. They also test the limits of danger and death. I think that is why I love this book so much. This book is actually what made me want to start forensic investigation.
Plot Summary:
Special Agent Scully was assigned to the “X Files.” She was assigned to the X Files because Agent Skinner needed a scientist to keep Mulder inline. Mulder liked to make conspiracies about aliens. He thought that every case that was handed to him had something to do with the Alien race. Scully was there to keep him away from that. They encountered many cases. Scully had to defend Mulder many times. Scully landed herself in the hospital many times which led to Scully disappearing. Mulder was certain she was abducted by aliens. She came back, and Mulder was set on proving to her she was abducted by aliens.
Characterization:
Scully became more aware and faithful in Mulders theories about Alien invasions. She falls in love with Mulder and she feels she can’t be away from him. She understands him more as a person. After many many many cases with Mulder she comes to understand his beliefs more.
Mulder comes to understands Scully’s science predictions more as they work together. He still finds a way to persuade Scully into believing him.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who like a little romance. I also recommend to anyone of any age who like a little comedy. I recommend to anyone who likes action and everyone who likes FBI/Criminal justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2013
Great companion and real life phenomena comparison. Loved it.
January 10, 2014
My life is incomplete without the x files
February 6, 2020
At that time, as a teenager obsessed with the TV series, I would read anything that had to do with the Paranormal. What I liked about this book was that it was not fiction, it was not a story. It was more of a written documentary that tried to lift the curtain of the show and tell us that indeed there are things out there that look so far-fetched and bizarre, yet there are documented cases around them. That the show was maybe loosely based on some of these documented cases. That maybe the truth was actually out there.
I enjoyed it throughout, and I would recommend this to people who want to question things while keeping an open mind. It's a collection of topics, of cases that where recorder, and scientists tried to explain. It will not freak you out, or try to feed you conspiracy theories. It's up to you to research more.
I enjoyed it throughout, and I would recommend this to people who want to question things while keeping an open mind. It's a collection of topics, of cases that where recorder, and scientists tried to explain. It will not freak you out, or try to feed you conspiracy theories. It's up to you to research more.
August 22, 2020
An amazing book that I got lost in so easily. This book touches on so many interesting aspects from the show which showed how crazy the world is, from AI to reincarnation to genetics I just loved reading about it. My only complaint with the book is the design of the book, some pages are unreadable because of the print behind the text, other than that it’s a must for any x files fan. The truth is out there 👽
May 28, 2022
Picked this up in a charity shop bit of a bargain ! Was at university when this was originally released so didn't buy it because it was this or food (& to be fair pub!) But reading it now it's rekindled my fondness for The X Files (no mean feat after Season 11!)
October 16, 2022
Enjoyable, well-written coffee table book combining X-Files geeky facts and interesting profiles of paranormal subjects. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
October 3, 2017
If you watched the series, you have to read this book. I love the story line and the search for those things that are hard to explain and should never be dismissed.
September 11, 2018
Prendendo spunto dalla serie TV, analisi, tesi e pareri su eventi inspiegabili, tipo la combustione umana spontanea, teletrasporto, ecc. ecc.
October 12, 2018
Despite the fact that this is an old book and now way out of date, it is still an interesting read.
May 8, 2021
Very interesting and informative!
April 26, 2022
Excellent if your into the X Files and stuff about ufos and strange phenomena. Certainly leaves unexplained questions unanswered.
December 8, 2023
For an X-Files book, this was jam-packed with a bunch of knowledge!
February 16, 2017
A cash in on the show that pretends to be a guide to real life events where some episodes got inspiration, but everything is superficial.
But since i was a die hard fan on the show, i had to read this.
Doesn't go beyond season 1.
But since i was a die hard fan on the show, i had to read this.
Doesn't go beyond season 1.
December 27, 2011
Ok - i will admit i have had this on my shelf for a long time - almost as long as the series was originally aired - I am not a believer and I do not buy in to all the aspects of the paranormal but I am still interested in what cannot be easily or quickly explained away and I do not believe you can simply dismiss what you do not understand.
That now declared - this book is an interesting mix. It takes aspects of episodes - discusses their origins from the writers perspectives and then discusses documented cases and other stories which either influenced the episodes or contribute to the lore that made them. Not only that but it also then provides bibliographies and further reading on each subject which is presented as a distinct separate chapter. For what first appears as simply exploitation of a popular TV series there is more to this book.
That now declared - this book is an interesting mix. It takes aspects of episodes - discusses their origins from the writers perspectives and then discusses documented cases and other stories which either influenced the episodes or contribute to the lore that made them. Not only that but it also then provides bibliographies and further reading on each subject which is presented as a distinct separate chapter. For what first appears as simply exploitation of a popular TV series there is more to this book.
July 11, 2008
This book reports on the real-life inspirations for various X-files episodes. For instance, where, in one episode, an Artificially-Intelligent computer causes havoc, the Book of the Unexplained contains a chapter discussing contemporary progress in AI systems.
Overall, the book isn't bad, but it tries to cover a lot of ground, and as a consequence some of its chapters run a little thin on interesting cases and stories. This is definitely worth reading if you are a fan of the series; people seeking information on Fortean phenomena and fringe subjects can find better reference works.
Overall, the book isn't bad, but it tries to cover a lot of ground, and as a consequence some of its chapters run a little thin on interesting cases and stories. This is definitely worth reading if you are a fan of the series; people seeking information on Fortean phenomena and fringe subjects can find better reference works.
April 30, 2011
Overall an intriguing book if not exactly what I expected. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read it when I was deep in X-files fandom. It reads a bit like those Time-Life books about various paranormal activities. It gives some answers but leaves you hanging much of the time. It did make me want to go back and watch some of my X-files DVDs though, and maybe pick up more seasons again.
October 16, 2011
This is both highly entertaining as well as highly educational. Each section/ topic is referenced excellently to the X-Files episode with case notes from either Mulder, Scully or both. A great balance of facts and pictures with sometimes a cheeky tone by the author Goldman. My copy at home has so many post-its sticking out of the pages for particular subjects I use in my paranormal/ science fiction.
October 25, 2013
It was a interesting read however I think that it didn't really need to be associated with the x files. Yes it deals with themes and storylines that were in the show, however when it's talking about ghosts and wearwolves its basically talking about the supernatural. I did enjo reading it because i enjoy those subjects i just expected something more.. x files themed. 3/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2015
The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained, Volume 1
Goldman, Jane
this is an odd collection of stories, attempting to explain the story lines of the x files episodes. Its very polymorphic and divergent from the original series.
Goldman, Jane
this is an odd collection of stories, attempting to explain the story lines of the x files episodes. Its very polymorphic and divergent from the original series.
September 7, 2012
I think both volumes were awesome because they covered alot of episodes but also include the real life situatons that inspired the shows. There were alot of topics covered but my favorites were the U.F.O. stories and the government conspiracy stories. Definately a good read.
March 16, 2019
As a huge fan of The X Files, and someone with a huge interest in true crime and the paranormal, this book is an all-round winner! Full of creepy, eerie stories, i can't wait to get stuck into the second one!
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March 7, 2008001.9
May 6, 2008
This book really pushed my love for the x-files. I had no clue when watching it oh so many years ago that some of the stories are based on real life.
January 7, 2009
this book had a lot of typos which really bothered me, but it talked about real life events that happened related to events in xfiles episodes. pretty cool.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews