The Truth is Still Out There: Thirty Years of The X-Files

by Bethan Jones

In September 1993, a TV show like no other appeared on our screens, asking us to consider the essence of truth and belief, to think about the nature and roles of science and humanity, and to question what we were told by those in power. Combining horror, science fiction, drama, crime, and comedy with cinematic filmmaking, The X-Files transported the paranoia of the sixties and seventies to the technologically savvy nineties as it followed two iconic characters, FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, in their labyrinthine pursuit of truth. Further, The X-Files reversed conventional television gender Mulder was our believer in the paranormal, chasing down clues in search of his abducted sister; Scully was the skeptic, a scientist preaching rationality and objective truth. Now, thirty years later, the nature of conspiracy theories may have changed, but the anxiety surrounding them has not. In an era in which Watergate has been replaced by Gamergate and conspiracy theorists blindly embrace the myth of a stolen election and maintain that an all-powerful cabal of Satanic Democrats—defeatable by only one man—is preying on children, The X-Files remains as relevant as ever, if not more so. Conspiracy theorists are no longer on the fringes of society; they sit in halls of fame, in corridors of schools and universities, and at the heart of government, and The X-Files reflects these apprehensions back at us. Part love letter, part history, part analysis, The Truth Is Still Out Thirty Years of The X-Files examines the social, cultural, and technological impact of the show. Using big ideas from philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies and topical issues such as #MeToo, QAnon, and artificial intelligence, the book highlights how and why The X-Files became a global phenomenon. Drawing on both her own fandom and her academic research, Bethan Jones analyzes the original nine seasons as well as the two feature films and the revival series to explore how the show helps us think about the most provocative questions of our time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Tv, Essays, Fandom

198 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2023

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, thought-provoking and nostalgic listen. And it's out today! Beautiful timing. If you watched and enjoyed The X-Files any time from 1993 until now, this will probably have content of interest to you. We get behind the scenes details, analysis of why the show worked back then and why it still works now, how it's changed along with the culture over thirty years, a dive into the fandom, and thoughts from the creators and actors. My only complaint was that it was written out of order, and the new revival was a bit too focused on for my taste, for their only being two seasons versus the original nine and two movies.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The X-Files The Truth is Still Out There
by Bethan Jones

A very vocal and descriptive fan, she has a broad look at the story of the creations and fandom of the x-files history. She begins with her own collection of X-files history and goes through the entire development of the series. She comments on its influence on society, television, and technology. She does explain problems in production, the movies, and the re-boot. The books and the media change how the story has grown from the television production. With authors providing many storylines and ideas that could not be used on the television network budget. Its a great retelling of the story and provides information for fans old and new.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This was extremely satisfying as a new X-Files fan.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Truth is Out There: Thirty Years of the X-Files' by Bethan Jones is a must for any old or new X-Files Fans and is a fascinating read.

The book is broken down into a compendium of areas that the X-Files has influenced media and the viewers.

It also works as a history of the X-Files and the story of how it came about and the commissioning of additional series and films from its commencement of the early 90's.

The book is well written and well researched and the author is clearly an expert on her field.

The narration of the audiobook is clear and will fill a few hours of your time with interest.

Recommended to fans of X-Files.

Thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley in allowing me to read in return for a review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough. But it felt a bit too academic.

[Zach Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed the "30th Anniversary of The X-Files" appeal of The Truth is Still Out There (stumbling upon it in 2025). But even without that novelty in its favor, I found the book to be a solid look back at the legacy of one of the most influential TV series of all time.

For a very basic overview, here author Bethan Jones examines that X-Files legacy through a number of different prisms. If one could maybe levy a criticism of the book, it would be that at a basic level it is "one person's guess at why The X-Files still has such a strong following" as opposed to a complete oral history. It also doesn't feature any new interviews or insights from key X-Files figures, rather taking the compilation-of-past-interviews-and-snippets approach.

But I wouldn't let that dissuade you much (if at all) from The Truth is Still Out There, because author Jones does a solid job of picking out those key legacy points and exploring them. The book does have a slight effect where in the early chapters you may think this is a really narrow or highly academic reckoning of 30 X-Files years. Jones examines the show from a gender lens, a government lens, a Trump Era lens, and a postmodern lens, for example. But just when you think "this is maybe a college film/TV course text", there will be a chapter about the show's place in TV history, its writers, or the chemistry between its actors. By the time all is said and done, Jones turns in a well-rounded exploration here.

One note: Jones does not shy away from Seasons 10 & 11--which most fans would probably like to ignore. The book doesn't harp on them consistently and it certainly covers the "classic" material, but Jones does include those controversial "revival" seasons into each analysis.

Overall, I found The Truth is Still Out There to be an informative and fun examination of a show that I also consider a top-five TV series of all-time. Via multiple different angles of analysis, Jones ultimately gets as close as one person (without direct interview backing) can to the heart of the show's fandom and staying power.

[Book.Mountain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author’s X-Files fandom and enthusiasm of the subject matter are infectious and had me going back rewatching episodes to relive that early magic of the shows run. Her research was thorough and commendable, I enjoyed her takes on the show and it’s social impact and implications for the most part. However there were a few instances where the author interjects personal political views that took away from the book. For example, the author tries to make the argument that the television show provoked anti vaccine ideologies and helped usher in the rise of far-right extremist groups and overall mistrust of government, as if there haven’t been enough actual events to provoke a little government mistrust even amongst the most pro government folks. Another example, on multiple occasions, the term era of “anti-intellectualism” is used which feels like a propaganda fueled, buzzword term to discredit any ideology that doesn’t fit with the agenda of the day. If you align politically with the author you’ll likely love the book, yet if you’re on the other side of the fence, its still a highly enjoyable book but be prepared for a handful of eyeroll inducing statements.

The book is an enjoyable read and I truly enjoyed the nostalgia aspect of reliving the show and the author’s enthusiasm towards it. The final section of the book was the high point for me, diving moreso into the history of the show, how it influenced other television/media, the various spinoffs, fan fiction and interaction. Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an advanced audio copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Truth is Still Out There: Thirty Years of the X-Files
By: Bethan Jones
Narrated By: Daniela Acitelli

WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY?
An interesting and enjoyable deep dive into a cult classic show.

HOW I FELT ABOUT IT:
I went into this book with such high hopes. I thought it would be a fun, behind the scenes view of the X Files from a fan. Instead, it read more like a political piece with X files pieces sprinkled into it.

DO I STILL RECOMMEND IT? No

——

The Truth is Still Out There: Thirty Years of the X-Files was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Tantor Audio. Thank you for allowing me to read this book!

Release Date: out now

One of my oldest friends loved the X Files when we were teenagers. As a result, I ended up watching the show with her, and learning more about the behind the scenes. I never considered myself a huge fan, but I genuinely liked the show. So when I saw this ARC on Netgalley, I was excited to read this.

Sadly, it did not live up to the hype, which is such a bummer. It felt like a paper someone wrote in college. Maybe others will enjoy it more, but it was definitely a pass for me.

Did you watch the X Files when it was on?


#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #overhypedbooks #overratedbooks #audiobook #audiobooks #netgalley #thexfiles

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of the show, this audiobook was a treat. Unlike the author, I don’t know any quotes by heart, nor can I recall all the episodes, but I remember waiting anxiously all week for every episode, in Spain. Bethan Jones was also watching, in England, and this fandom has united all us geeks from my generation onwards. Its lasting appeal makes this book not only understandable, but necessary. It explores not just the X Files, but also the huge influence that it has had on pop culture and even real life. Daniela Acitelli has a nice voice and a friendly manner, even if it’s a little strange to hear the words of a British person in an American accent. Thirty years after its premiere, it’s still relevant. It was fun to recall Mulder’s fondness for conspiracy theories (which now sound tame by comparison to what you can find online), and Scully’s remarkable influence on girls explains how the STEM field is now filled with women. It’s not always obvious, but this was a show ahead of its time. This is a pleasant walk through memory lane and will be enjoyed by X-philes and newbies alike.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Tantor Audio! was a show ahead of its time.

[Casey Halvorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this arc!

5/5 stars

I've been a Phile since the 90s, and this was such a fun trip down memory lane. Most of, if not all of, the background info for the first 7 seasons I already knew, but the insight on how 9/11 affected the final few seasons of the show so deeply was really interesting. I stopped watching by that time so a lot was new to me! I love the different sections, the quotes, the fan insights - I remember when Bethan was asking for input from Philes for this book, and was excited to share my thoughts! This really helped rekindle my love for XF - as evidenced in my excessive consumption of fanfic lately, HAH. The narrator was alright, but it would've been better if they not only got an English person (as the author is English) but at the very least made sure she knew how to pronounce character names correctly - the way I died when she pronounced Krychek and Frohike for the first time 💀💀💀💀💀💀

This was a really fun, nostalgic, and enlightening listen and I will always be grateful for this series and the friends I've made along the way 💚🛸👽

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a card carrying X-Phile so I was excited to read this examination of the series. I am always fascinated (and envious) of people who manage to build professionally/academically off of fandoms and write critically about pop culture. It's glorious. And here is this book - an examination of what influenced the writers, the effects of the X-Files on the 90s, and its enduring legacy. Some of the behind-the-scenes tidbits were interesting. I think the only problem I had with the book is that occasionally it strayed a bit too far into personal opinion. Also, I personally didn't like the 8th and 9th seasons and was underwhelmed by the revival so it was helpful to have some of the those aspects pointed out because I had mostly forgotten those plots. Daniela Acitelli is a lovely narrator (although I did find it funny that the author is very clearly British and the narrator was American.) Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of The X-Files when I was a kid. I watched it religiously. So when I saw this book was coming out, I knew I had to read it. The author’s love of the show is infectious and her depth of knowledge was amazing. She brought up many interesting points about the different episodes, which made for a very thought provoking read. Some of the information presented by the author did feel very political and heavily swayed by her own opinions and beliefs. She clearly has strong opinions about conspiracy theories and the people who believe in them. I enjoyed learning about the history of the show and learning more about some of the different actors and things they are passionate about.

I think all fans of The X-Files will enjoy this book, wether you are a causal viewer or part of the hardcore fandom.

[Martyn Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book. A celebration, a commentary, a critical appraisal and a scholarly look at the social impact of The X-Files.

Recommended?: To those that aren’t already fans, this is likely to be one book that won’t make your list of must reads. However, if you loved the show, books, comics and games, this look back over 30 years of The X-Files, its highs and lows and everything in between with reference to the different technological times and political climates is not to be missed.

[Katie Lowther · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator was fantastic. I thought this was going to be an X-Files story, but it was a deep dive into the how and why each level of conspiracy in the show came about. This is not what I was expecting but was an enjoyable experience. It was well researched and thought out and makes me feel like I need to up my game in the researched paper department.

[Brendan T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the academic take here and it’s definitely a book that’s personal to Jones, but it just didn’t do it for me. That’s probably my fault given I largely have no interest in engaging with fandom. I feel like anything objective to say about The X-Files has largely been said and I’ve read subjective takes I found more interesting.

I’d rather read stuff from the point of view of the creatives which is out there and I’ll get to it.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book with such high hopes. I felt like it we be an interesting “behind the scenes” analysis of the show. Instead, it was nothing but the writer’s political leanings. There were some interesting points, but overall, it’s a huge pass for me.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, slim volume of academic analysis of a show that has been one of my personal favorites since I was a kid eagerly waiting for Friday nights (and then getting permission to stay up late on Sunday nights when they changed time slots). Worth the read for sure.

[Tracy Heck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, but would have liked to see more episodes discussed.

[Alan Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable commentary exploring how politics influenced the content of the show.

[Eleanore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congrats to my lovely friend Bethan on this work! A great job done.

[Georgette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent essays, including the revival.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick look at X-files effects on pop culture and fandom.

[Samantha Nowatzke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will consume any X-Files related content but this was a little too political. I need more skepticism and leaning into the conspiracies. :)