Sekret Machines: Gods

by Tom DeLonge, Peter Levenda, Paul Costanzo (Narrator)

The first volume in Gods, Man, & War, Gods introduces the listener to some of the critical issues that are foundational to an intelligent and enlightened grasp of the revelations that will follow in the next two volumes. There is another Force in the universe of our Reality, another context for comprehending what has been going on for millennia and especially in the last seventy years. Sekret Machines is the result of input from scientists, engineers, intelligence officers, and military officials-a group we call the Advisors-and transcends the speculation of journalists, historians, and others whose conclusions are often either misinformed or only tease around the edges of the Sekret Machines. The listener will not discover wild theories or unfounded claims, but instead will confront a solid-if often unsettling-reality, one that demands the collaboration of all of us in every field of human endeavor if we are to understand it and manage its effects. If nothing else, listeners will come to the conclusion that the Phenomenon is not what they think it is. It is, in fact, much more serious and potentially much more threatening than they can imagine.

Genres: Nonfiction, Paranormal, Aliens, History, Conspiracy Theories, Religion, Speculative Fiction

Audio CD

First published March 7, 2017

About the author

Tom DeLonge is an award-winning producer, author, platinum recording artist, researcher and entrepreneur from San Diego, CA. Today Tom, with his company To The Stars, produces original content that aims to inspire a newfound appreciation of the profound, yet unresolved, mysteries involving science and the universe through entertainment directly informed by science. His first multi-media franchise Love, told the story of an isolated astronaut on the International Space Station and included a double album by his band Angels And Airwaves with the feature film premiering in 600 theatres across the United States. His next franchise Poet Anderson was inspired by a dream study conducted at Stanford University and spanned an award-winning short film, a chart-topping album, acclaimed comic book series, graphic novel and a YA science fiction novel co-written with NYTimes Bestselling author Suzanne Young. Most recently he is working on Sekret Machines which spans both sci-fi fiction and nonfiction thesis informed by unprecedented access at the highest level of the government and science to uncover information about the UFO phenomenon with renowned authors AJ Hartley and Peter Levenda. His Sekret Machines work has won him the 2017 UFO Researcher of the Year award.

For the full experience of Tom’s work, visit www.tothestars.media.

Reviews

[Zy Marquiez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been familiar with some of Levenda’s work, and others such as Richard Dolan, Jim Marrs, etc. this book held decent hopes for me.

Sekret Machines: Gods: Volume 1 Of Gods Man & War by Tom DeLonge and Peter Levenda is an intriguing book, but not without its flaws.

The book does bring about a considerable amount of information on the subject of the UFOs from a broad point of view. Throughout the book, the authors present considerable information that couples to everything from the paranormal, ancient civilizations, the occult, and more. The authors do a fair job of supplanting the book with a veritable amount of sourced material. This definitely gives the book some veracity.

Footnotes are detailed at the end of each chapter, which makes for ease of access which is great. When one has to slog back and forth to the end of a book to conduct verify sources it gets painstakingly asinine. This footnote format certainly streamlines access to that information and is very much appreciated. The only one better would be with footnotes at the bottom of the page, since it is the most efficient.

As an introductory volume to this topic, the book does a good job. The book could have been better, but it could have certainly been worse. The best book out there as an introductory volume to the phenomenon is hands down Richard Dolan’s UFOs For The 21st Century Mind: A Fresh Guide To An Ancient Mystery. Those seeking a more solid foundation from which to jump-off are encouraged to ruminate upon that book.

Now to the bad. The book features sections that could have been better served by some serious editing of run on sentences that give Hemingway a run for his money. Well, perhaps not THAT bad all of the time, but bad enough for it to be noticeable and take away from the content.

Also, one particular point that was quite disconcerting is the fact that the authors take a unilateral point of view of making it seem like UFOs can only be explained by the alien mythos. While this is certainly one possibility, and one with some solid grounding, it is not the only one, and not by far. Dr. Joseph P. Farrell, Walter Bosley, and others have come up with an equally arguable case that argues for human ingenuity as one possible way to explain some UFOs.

Additionally, when one couples the possibility of human ingenuity with certain incisive issues such as Military Abductions [MILABS] then one has an exact mirror for the phenomenon that’s equally disturbing in certain respects. The point of me stating this is not to convince anyone of one possibility or another, far from it. It’s simply to put the light the fact that there’s extensive evidence by Farrell & Bosley which shows an alternative to the unilateral assertion that extraterrestrials are behind everything.

In fact, one could argue that the authors’ belief in the ET-only hypothesis is dogmatic, and it would be hard to argue against it. The fact the authors chose the “Cargo Cult” jargon for humanity speaks volumes of how low they see humanity on the totem pole, even though evidence abounds of there being more than their conformist point of view.

If you haven’t read any UFO books, or are a fan of DeLonge’s work, you will probably find some value in this book. That said, if you are seeking more solid ground that’s just as intriguing, footnoted to the hilt and not dogmatic, then please read any of the following:

UFOs & The National Security State: Chronology Of A Cover Up [Volume 1] by Richard Dolan
UFOs & The National Security State: The Cover Up Exposed [Volume 2] by Richard Dolan
UFOs For The 21st Century Mind by Richard Dolan
Our Occulted History by Jim Marrs
UFOs: Generals, Pilots, And Government Officials Go On The Record by Leslie Kean
Alien Agenda By Jim Mars
Triangular UFOs: An Estimate On The Situation by David Marler

And books that cover the human aspect behind part of this phenomenon:

Saucers, Swastikas & Psyops: A History Of A Breakaway Civilization: Hidden Aerospace Technologies & Psychological Operations by Dr. Joseph P. Farrell
Covert Wars And Breakaway Civilizations: The Secret Space Program, Celestial Psyops & Hidden Conflicts by Dr. Joseph P. Farrell
Cover Wars & Clash Of Civilizations: UFOs, Oligarchs and Space Secrecy Dr. Joseph P. Farrell
Origin: The 19th Century Emergence Of The 20th Century Breakaway Civilizations

The sad part is that the scope of this phenomenon is wider and more intriguing than what many people state it is. That’s why the books above are mentioned, for those seeking further information in order to be able to decide for themselves whether ET really is the only actor in this stage, or if there’s more to this abstruse topic.

Ultimately, what you think is up to you. But to be able to come to a decision one has to know the resources available, and at least now some know part of what’s out there and can make up their own mind on the matter.

[Evans Light · Rating 3 out of 5]

"by Tom DeLonge". That's hilarious, especially as the actual author of the book refers to Tom in the third person multiple times throughout the book.
I was hoping to read something new here, but honestly 95% of it was rehashed ancient alien theories while claiming not to be. The only material that was a significant expansion on what I'd read before was regarding theories about the "nephilim".
The book was readable and well edited but presented in a overtly "scholarly" fashion, most likely to boost its credibility factor.
Ultimately, there are zero new revelations or ideas here (despite all of Delonge's media promises), and quite a few sections are redundant.
This book tries to be different by suggesting that UFO phenomena are possibly as much esoteric as physical, if not moreso, but then the end of the book imagines an actual physical alien invasion (the only few paragraphs that read as though Delonge might have been involved in writing) which pretty much contradicts much of what was speculated before. There's never a clear summary presented of what the author believes to be true, rather it's a "throw everything at the wall" approach.
There are many teases throughout about what's coming in volumes 2 & 3. Sorry folks, but I won't be buying them. If you've never read anything about alternative theories of the history of mankind, then this book would probably blow your mind.
If you've seen even a handful of ancient aliens episodes, you've probably heard most of this before.

[Jenna Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. I'll preface this by saying that I've always been interested in the Phenomenon. I'd do some reading here, watch a documentary or a YouTube video there, but I've never engaged with the material in a 393 page book. With that being said, I was very pleased with the first volume in this non-fiction series, as I was with the first volume in the fictional series of the same (Sekret Machines) name. Someone who has spent a lot of time and many hours pouring over similar texts may not share my enthusiasm for this text, but if you're wanting to dive into this material, it's a great place to start. Both DeLonge and Levenda have spent a lot of time with this material, and I think their thesis is fresh and relevant. It's also full of extensive citations and footnotes so that topics discussed can be easily referenced for further reading. (Whoa, Tom DeLonge wrote a text book?! That is cool)! Anyway! If you have interest in this material, definitely pick up this read and see where this ride to the stars takes you.

[Gabe Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lays the groundwork for understanding the broader UFO Phenomenon for what it is - a complex reality that spans history, war, politics, science, and philosophy. It is an absolute must read. Unlike several other books on the topic, this work focuses on what is known and what is likely to be true rather than making wild claims, and the cargo cult thesis is both sensible and profound.

[Chris Greensmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Is this planet not really a prison, but an asylum? "
.......(exhales)..this was tough, I don't really know or understand what I have just read.....heavy..
....on a re-read, pretty good.

[Kitap · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. This book is utter garbage, making von Däniken and Sitchin look like Pulitzer prize-winning journalists. What a waste of wood pulp. I'm stunned this brainstain was published at all, let alone as a hardcover, but I attribute that solely to the rock star status of the ostensible co-author DeLonge.

If I could sum up this book in a few sentences, and I can, it would be this:

Aliens visited humanity in the ancient past, in what the authors call 'the Phenomenon,' to sound like they've found something new. The authors assert this as fact by looking at the dramatically different beliefs, symbols, and languages of the ancient religions of Egypt, China, India, and Tibet, and assuming what they set out to prove - that this diversity, when looked at from a particularly askew perspective, reveals an underlying sameness that could only have been caused by ancient aliens. The ancient Egyptian practice of mummification? Proto-space travel, for the dead. The visions and celestial flight of the ancient Chinese shamans? Proto-space travel, for the living. Chakras & mandalas, sutras & shastras, yantras, mantras, & tantras (oh my)? Proto-space travel, for the living, but in a place that wasn't China (at least until 1959). Etc. And reference after reference to the next two hardcovers in the series, along with the trilogy of fiction being released concurrently. Where all this—"the Phenomenon"—will finally be explained. Ugh.

I seriously cannot stress how bad this book is, although its one saving grace is that it is a relatively quick read for something so thick. (OK, two saving graces: 400-plus pages gives you a lot of toilet paper in a pinch.) It is filled with misspellings, graceless writing, and paragraphs that literally contradict themselves, suggesting that the budget for the hardcover printing was at the expense of any editing, proofreading, or just plain giving a shit.

What blows my mind most is that this book, and DeLonge's entire "To the Stars" project, was written up and recommended by a contributor in a recent issue of the Mensa Bulletin. WTF?! All I could think of when I was reading this POS was the old Dennis Miller routine about ads for National Enquirer:

"'For inquiring minds like me.' Yeah, these folks have Mensa written all over them, don't they?"

Apparently now they do. UGH.

[Chris C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt this could of been better- I always find the subject matter compelling and Interesting but this didn't pull me in like i thought it would of. Might be me, too many books on the go, not enough time, etc - I may dip in and out of this in the future. The Novel was quite enjoyable and had a nice pace, not so much this book. Also, it the start of the year, Tom promised some kind of announcement alluding to disclosure within 60 days, still waiting!

[Roger · Rating 2 out of 5]

In terms of information related to various themes that could be variously described as the ancient alien hypothesis, the interdimensional hypothesis, the relationship between religion and UFO phenomena, and the "harmony" of world mythologies when considered in light of these, there's not much new in this book. If you've spent any time reading in this area, most of all the things you've read will be restated or reconsidered in this book (Sitchin, Erich von Däniken, etc.).

That being said, two things make this book remarkable.

First, the authors push an explicitly Gnostic interpretation of the UFO/abductee/contactee phenomenon (or, as they write it: the Phenomenon). What isn't clear by the end of the book is what, precisely, that final Gnostic interpretation means.

Second, and this is what makes the first important, is DeLonge's claims that the interpretation of these phenomenon presented in the book are derived explicitly from data and information obtained from high-level government officials in American intelligence, defense, and NASA. This claim is substantiated, at least somewhat, when one visits DeLong's To The Stars website and sees the number of former officials connected to his organization. Of particular note is the fact that three named people on his website who function as either advisors (2) or members of the TTS board of directors (1) have CIA credentials.

This raises an obvious and necessary question (in my mind): Why would the CIA (and NASA) be interested in advocating a specifically religious--and Gnostic, at that--interpretation of UFO-related topics?

The book does not answer that question. Whether the second volume begins to answer that question remains to be seen (for me). But, the CIA connection to this "project" has me interested.

I'll have more to write on this topic at my own website, if you will forgive me a selfish and shameless plug.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

An attempt to bridge the realms of science, spirituality & supernatural/unexplainable phenomena through the lens of imagining ancient myths & religious texts as attempts to transmit information about actual experiences to future humans.

I found parts interesting, I found parts tedious. There is a degree of “flattening” that occurs when you cherry-pick examples from across cultures and compare them side-by-side without the lived experience of insiders to that religion/culture to illuminate and bring to life the significance of their beliefs. (The narrator’s occasional but persistent mispronunciations were also quite grating in the audio version)

Overall, I consider their subject matter worthy of consideration and love confronting the deeper questions about the meaning of human life on earth and its origins. However, I didn’t find much “new” here — there is less wild speculation than some theorists who play fast & loose with the truth, but no satisfying conclusion; the mysterious remains so. We will see what picture they continue to paint in their subsequent volumes…

[Matthew Prevost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acknowledgement!#

I chose this rating because finally someone was able to communicate to the rest of humanity that we are not alone. We have a lot to learn as a human species. This is just the beginning of what's to come. I'm looking forward to the now and the future!

[Jordan White · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dig blink as much as any fan. But y'all need to get out of Tom's ass with this sophomoric conspiracy theories.

[Stephanie Svarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written! Super informative, and extremely in-depth look at ancient and modern-day religions, as well as customs and beliefs that can be viewed as possible interactions with the divine, supernatural, otherworldly, and alien. I absolutely loved this read, and learned a lot. It was written respectfully, with a ton of sound research and resources cited and indicated throughout the book. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book sucks. The writing is terrible. It jumps around all over the place. The writer can’t stick with the point of the chapter or section. It commits the same sins it launches at other researchers. It's like a name dropper, but instead of dropping names it drops archaic facts, evidence, points, etc. I complete waste of time.

[Chase Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great look into a religious case for UFOs. Not as good as the fiction series in which it corresponds to. Becomes monotonous 3/4 into the book.

[☺Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting theories . . .
Human lifespans are short . . .
Too short to spend pondering ideas that, for the majority of us, have no impact on our daily lives.
Time that would be much better spent feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and otherwise assisting the less fortunate around us.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this in depth study of mankind's mythologies is somewhat a recap of previous Levenda books, I enjoyed it immensely. He is so thorough with his footnotes and research, it is a pleasure to read another author that seems to "get it", the other author being Jacques Vallee, who wrote the preface to this Book 1. I have been reading Peter Levenda since the advent of Unholy Alliance in the '90s, so I recognize his style and methods. I doubt that Tom DeLonge had much to do with this volume other than providing the publication.

If you have little knowledge of the history of UAPs or our world's various legends and myths, this book is especially for the reader with interest in alien contact, UFOs and the histories of Earth religions. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is the lack of a revelation of DeLonge's secret intelligence supposedly revealed by informed government sources, which are promised to be announced in a later volume. I also enjoyed the fictional account, which I read first, although there was nothing new or particularly astonishing in its story.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not the target market for this book, I have followed the topic and weird stuff for my entire life. I have hiked to Area 51, done remote viewing and have read more books on both UFO's and religion than I will ever be able to track. So this book did not have anything new for me. In fact the book does not have much a thesis at all... Finding connections between the world religions is nothing new, but rolling out a jump to conclusions mat and saying that equals aliens from another planets ignores the fact that for people of faith religion works. This book ignores all the weird stuff around UFO's and in the end says all it's conclusion are coming in two more books, titles that I will read due to be curious but I can't say I am excited about it.
While I loved the fiction book in this series, I just don't think there is much here to live up to the hype... and really there is no 'hype' to the topic it is a niche of a niche.

[Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom and Peter are doing their investigation right. There is no doubt a "tell all" confession from Tom about his sekret meetings with high ranking government officials would sell more copies and hold the readers attention more, yet he and his co-author have decided against this. Their goal is loftier - to inspire a revolution of thought, challenging ideas that have been held about religion and science for years. Thoroughly researched, the authors have done their work and it shows. Once again, if you are looking for a confession with all the goodies, go pick up a copy of Cosmopolitan. But if you want to know about the UFO phenomenon, including its long history and connection to human events and religion, then this is the place to start.

[Zoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Learned a lot about Neolithic religions & shamanic practices of the past that I never knew about. Has some interesting correlations between religious similarities of various cultures & non-terrestrial contact. But correlation doesn’t prove causation, nor the existence of extraterrestrials. It is delusional to interpret the motives of higher intelligence through human perspectives, maybe they are completely out of our understanding.

If you search for the gods of different cultures, the images of several chapters were taken from Wikipedia. Very weak on sources.

[Nick Hailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I am interested in the UAP phenomenon in general and feel that this book had some interesting talking points - they did not make a very coherent or well put-together piece here. I think the citings at the end show some great research was performed, but I just felt like I was reading my crazy uncles ramblings for over a hundred pages. I'm neurodivergent and this book was hard for even me to follow. Worth some reading, maybe not all of it though.

[Frank Deschain · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times, it's a bit tedious. It's a bit of a summarized view of what some of us conspiracy theorists learned from Zeitgeist. All of the world's religions have common themes. It's called the Phenomenon in this book. Religious obsessives like myself will find it a pretty fun read. Just be aware that if you consider yourself an occult weirdo, this might be familiar ground.

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this free via Goodreads giveaways.

I understood what the subject matter was, however it felt like the author continued to deviate from the content. It felt like every new chapter was different tangent that you would never hear the end of. And they continually referenced Book 2 and 3, which doesn't really do the reader any good in the moment.

[Charles W Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

To much Forest to spot a tree.

I came away wondering what all of that seemingly endless banter had to do with the study of ufos. I couldn't tell what was pro and what was con, or whether either one was being talked about. There were a Perhaps it stated it somewhere, but there was just entirely too much forest to see what particular tree we were supposed to be looking at.

[Matthew Abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst misleading that Tom Delonge's name is on the cover, Peter Levenda is the true author as part of Tom's Sekret Machine's project, an effort to create a multi-media spanning project about all elements of something Levenda calls "The Phenomenon", the idea that alien contact has and is happening all the time and that it covers a variety of different experiences and is displayed throughout histories through various mediums and ideas.

I have huge respect for this project and Tom's desire to encourage constructive thought, debate and investigation into a topic that arguably doesn't get the legitimate scientific investigation it deserves. By releasing music, video, fiction and non-fiction all around this same topic, I think Tom hopes to give some credibility to a subject that is often dismissed due to lack of terminology and tangible, traditional and lasting evidence. One of Levenda's points early on is how opinions contrary to the norm are often ignored, mocked and deemed disreputable without the necessary and proper investigation. Whether you believe or not, I think this attitude to helping make the subject less laughable and a legitimate area of study is commendable.

Levenda assumes a level of belief in the existence of extra terrestrial existence and begins by saying you may not find much from the book ahead if you don't already. I think this is untrue. I'm open to these thoughts and ideas but not a concrete believer, and still found this work quite interesting. I think because it doesn't come across as a piece of propaganda to persuade to believe in the idea of contact, but just that it gets you to consider the "what if" and maybe come around to the idea that yes, this could actually do with some proper investigation by the scientific community and should be immediately debunked.

What Levenda does in quite an accessible tone, whilst still maintaining relevant sources (or detailed at the back in a lengthy reference list) is discuss the idea of a "phenomenon" or contact. By looking at different accounts, historical, literary and religious (using quotes from texts, ancient artworks and scientific references) to show the similarities across the board in the idea of alien contact and how these themes transcend across peoples, cultures and religions, who are deemed never to have had social contact due to historical and geographical placing.

Whilst in some cases highly speculative, Levenda makes it difficult to deny the similarities that occur throughout, especially in religious texts and notions, from across cultures that indicate that there has been some kind of otherworldly influence upon the human race. It's eye opening, but not entirely convincing, which I think is what this project is set to achieve. Rather than say this is how it is, and scientists aren't willing to believe, it's more a suggestive text. Look at the similarities; the claims people have made to the "phenomenon" or alien contact, and the recurring themes across the board of religions. Don't you think the notion is at least worth the investigation? What if they're similar for a reason.

For that reason, I enjoyed this book. I'm not wholly convinced, but my interest has been piqued and I for one will read the next one, and do further reading on the subject just for my own curiosity. If everyone reads this and feels that way, then surely we're that much closer to making it a legitimate area of study, and subsequently discovering the actual truth? I think this is worth the read for that reason alone.

[Joshua Kreeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gods, the first book in Peter Levenda and Tom DeLonge's Sekret Machines series, is a fascinating and wildly speculative dive into the intersection of ancient mythology, UFO phenomena, and human consciousness. If nothing else, it's a fun idea to entertain: that our gods, myths, and religious traditions might trace their roots to encounters with advanced beings—possibly extraterrestrial or ultraterrestrial.

The book takes the reader on a whirlwind tour through history, anthropology, and theology, weaving connections between ancient structures, mythological stories, and the modern UFO phenomenon. Levenda, with his background in esotericism and deep research, brings an academic yet accessible tone to the narrative. Meanwhile, DeLonge’s contributions inject a sense of wonder and enthusiasm, clearly reflecting his passion for the subject matter.

What stands out in Gods is its speculative nature—it doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, nor does it ask you to believe everything presented as gospel truth. Instead, it invites you to step outside conventional thinking and consider the possibility that the "gods" of our ancestors were not supernatural but technological. The book touches on everything from ancient astronaut theories to the role of consciousness in perceiving otherworldly beings, sometimes bordering on science fiction but never completely abandoning its speculative thesis.

As a reader, it’s easy to see why Gods could be polarizing. Skeptics might dismiss it as New Age pseudoscience, while enthusiasts of ancient mysteries and UFO lore will revel in the connections drawn. For me, the book operates in an intriguing middle ground—one that acknowledges how little we truly know about our origins while having a little fun connecting the dots between mythology and modern mysteries.

Is it all entirely convincing? No, but that’s part of its charm. It doesn’t have to be. Gods is at its best when it’s raising questions rather than providing definitive answers. For instance, could ancient structures like Göbekli Tepe or the Pyramids hint at a deeper, older knowledge that modern archaeology hasn’t fully grasped? Did the myths of divine messengers or beings from the heavens stem from actual contact with non-human intelligences? And if so, what does that mean for how we perceive our place in the universe today?

The book also makes an effort to reframe how we think about UFOs, tying them not just to nuts-and-bolts spacecraft but to something potentially more profound—encounters with intelligence that might manipulate space, time, or even reality itself. It’s a heady idea, and one that certainly stretches the imagination.

Ultimately, Gods is a compelling thought experiment that asks us to reconsider what we think we know about history, religion, and humanity’s relationship with the unknown. It’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy speculative narratives that blend history with mystery, it’s a ride worth taking. At the very least, it’ll leave you pondering the possibilities long after you’ve turned the final page. Isn’t that what good speculative writing is supposed to do?

[Clinton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came to this book hot off the heels of listening to Sekret Machines Chasing Shadows, the first book in Tom Delonge's fictional trilogy, which was surprisingly gripping. I was intrigued what this first book in Delonge and Peter Levanda's non-fiction trilogy, tackling the UFO subject, would be like and ultimately I'm disappointed. This book posits the theory that all religion is a cargo cult, i.e. early humans saw non-human entities in our past, operating amazing machines, and we formed a religion around this. Furthermore, creation myths and stories hold literal truths about our creation. First of all, I'm not against the ancient alien theory. The main gripe I have with this book is the amount of information combined with its lack of focus. It's clear a lot of research has been done as a lot of information is presented but what is lacking is showing how this information, like old myths and practices, shows that these myths can be interpreted as literal. This book could have done with some serious editing or splitting topics up into sub-topics. Levanda (l'm assuming he wrote most of the book) has a lot of information but lacks the ability to clearly join the dots and articulate some conclusions. The book has value in at least presenting ideas and sources of information to ponder. There is a lot we don't know about the past and it's not beyond the realm of possibility that non-humans visited us, but I also think we've lost connection with the power of spirituality and myth in our modern age and that the truth of the past is a bit more intangible than ancient aliens.
This book could have been shorter, as well. There is a whole long chapter dedicated to blood sacrifice with Levanda trying to say that because aliens created us from their blood/DNA, ancient people suspected blood was important to contact aliens, and so mass sacrifice became a practice. That idea doesn't have a lot of meat, but he pads it out for a long time.
I wish there was a more edited, shorter more focused version of this book because I believe it could have been more convincing if better written. I may delve into further writing on the same topic, so perhaps the book has succeeded at least in piquing my interest in a subtopic of UFOs I don't have much interest in.
This is also interesting to read as a way to observe what Delonge believes is going on, as he's had dealings with US Intelligence, and so you can also try to determine what story the Intelligence community is trying to push/is fine with being out there. I'll continue with these books out of curiosity and interest in the topic in general but it's kind of dampened my enthusiasm for the 2 trilogies. I appreciate what the authors are trying to do, though.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to believe, but when you cant piece together a logical statement then a logical argument is simply impossible. The premise of the book is solid "all religion is derived from space travels and space men" and here are the facts that prove it. Unfortunately this is where the problems begin. You are flooded with cheery picked facts that dont flow in any logical order and are basically just regurgitated at you as if you were already a schooled historian in the subject. Then after this barrage of information VERY LOOSE associations are made in definite degree starting firmly "as you see from the facts this PROVES the point I'm making" Its the classic fallacy of the moon looks like cheese so therefore it must be. The conjecture from the authors in this book is also atrocious. The "as you'll see in the next book" or the endless run on sentences that go no where easily add at least 100 pages to this already chunky 400 page read. This really begs the question of how much fluff is in this book? Tom, I wanna believe but when you back people that cant even make solid arguments it really hurts your own reputation. Read this book at your own risk with a very open and forgiving mindset.

[Richard Kriheli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this book with a lot of apprehension as I've avoided it for almost a decade mostly because I believe this topic to offer not much new to the dialogue and discourse (scientifically) to UAP and our civilization's historical interactions with it. I was right that the material was mostly regurgitated theories and even feels heavy handed and dogmatic BUT I really appreciated it as a standalone historical overview from different vantage points. The one area that felt new'ish to me is the section on shamanism and similar mystical practices and how it ties together with the phenomenon. I was also very surprised by the non-hokey BS the topic usually can't resist falling into, but DeLonge and Levenda did a really solid job keeping it sounding academic, rich with references and authority. Everything presented is plausible and surface level and allows the reader to decide on how they wish to consume it. I also love that it challenges popular Sitchin and Von Daniken takes but treats them with respect. I recommend this over may other UAP related theory books.

[Madison Fitzpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

i did not like how this book was written. levenda (and tom delonge i guess, though i don’t believe his voice comes through in this book at all) has a long, drawn out way of trying to make a point. but i do believe points were made, so i’m going to give it 3 stars.

my only caveat to this is that i am not educated enough on theology or mythology to know if anything they say has any truth. the central cargo cult thesis is viable to me, so i guess i’m drinking that kool-aid.

and i don’t want to “um actually” anyone, especially not tom delonge. but they mentioned the voyager 1 mission and described the probe as having “drawings of a naked man and woman” etched onto it, which is untrue. factoid incorrect. that was the pioneer mission, and i feel like that’s common knowledge. so if they got that wrong, what else did they get wrong? who is to say?

anyway, none of this matters, because i already bought the second book and i’m gonna read it.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing really convincing here, but the value for me was the historical information about Egyptian, Greek, far Eastern, South American, and etc. culture and their ancient views of afterlife, which was fascinating. There are some neat sections that take a mysterious Bible passage and provide other historical evidence and context along similar lines, and a lot of speculation about the Nephillim from Genesis. The big questions regarding humanity's past origins, purpose (alien slaves perhaps? eek), and future are given plenty of thought. There's plenty of theoretical narrative about space visitation and commonalities between ancient stories and more modern accounts. I would guess that's probably the direction the next book(s) in this series will go in more detail. (At the end of the day the book is about UFOs.) This first book is largely a historical compilation. (Audible version)