Disneyland of the Gods

by John A. Keel

Yes, the truth is out there, but much of the UFO community is largely unwilling to search where the evidence really seems to point. In this book, Keel leads the way into this mysterious realm, postulating that what we know--or, rather, think we know--about UFOs & their ilk is in need of serious reconsideration. The possibilities Keel has uncovered through his years of research are controversial, to say the least; what he has to say will undoubtedly infuriate or alienate (excuse the pun) many readers. This is most unfortunate, since Keel is only trying his best to make sense of what seems at times a senseless matter indeed, perpetuated by some eternally manipulative & elusive intelligence. If there was ever a "must-read" for anyone interested in the paranormal, occult etc., this must surely be it.--Michael Lubert

Genres: Paranormal, Nonfiction, Cryptozoology

174 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

John Alva Keel (born Alva John Kiehle) was a Fortean author and professional journalist.

Keel wrote professionally from the age of 12, and was best known for his writings on unidentified flying objects, the "Mothman" of West Virginia, and other paranormal subjects. Keel was arguably one of the most widely read and influential ufologists since the early 1970s. Although his own thoughts about UFOs and associated anomalous phenomena gradually evolved since the mid 1960s, Keel remained one of ufology's most original and controversial researchers. It was Keel's second book, UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse (1970), that popularized the idea that many aspects of contemporary UFO reports, including humanoid encounters, often paralleled ancient folklore and religious encounters. Keel coined the term "men in black" to describe the mysterious figures alleged to harass UFO witnesses and he also argued that there is a direct relationship between UFOs and psychic phenomena. He did not call himself a ufologist and preferred the term Fortean, which encompasses a wide range of paranormal subjects.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in Sonoma, California visiting Michael Miley when I read John Keel's The Mothman Prophecies. I liked it so much that I plowed on ahead into his Disneyland of the Gods and Operation Trojan Horse.

Keel's reluctance to make sense of the weird phenomena he discusses is comparable to the approach of Jacques Vallee. Keel, however, is a better storyteller and much more humorous.

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 5 out of 5]

По стилю и подаче материала эта книжка больше напоминает занимательный советский научпоп по фортеане, вот только время такого научпопа прошло в 60-х вместе с оттепелью в мозгах ученых. В остальные периоды такая литература в этой стране невозможна: когда-то было нельзя, а когда стало можно, авторы скурвились и поглупели. Но книжка в первую очередь полемична, и такой градус полемики в советской спекулятивной литературе никогда не поддерживался: Горбовский, например, был второсортным пересказчиком плохо усвоенного материала. А тут внятная популяризация во вполне журнальном формате (только для нынешнего русскоязычного глянца это все, конечно, слишком умно). И да, опять Кил выступает сторонником синкретического, а не узкоспециального подхода к изучению параявлений и демонстрирует много здравого смысла, что не может не радовать, конечно. Но и по-прежнему, когда речь заходит о зародившейся "контркультуре", он выступает как типичная пыльная вчерашка, что потешно отдельно. Эдакая критика века Водолея из-за его грани, которая вполне смыкается с позицией журнала "Наш соплеменник".

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't what I was expecting. This one is for newbies.

[Giorgio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keel is a great writer, and his theories about UFOs is pretty good...
But the book seems dated (obviously, 1995 edition) and some ideas are wrong.
I gave 3 star because he knows how to tell a story!

[Daniel Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keel is a fascinating writer who really gets to the meat of the woo and offers you a different perspective on everything from folktales to ufos.

[Tone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if I'm more disappointed in this book, or in the fact that 25 years ago I would have bought into this pseudo-science.
Keel probably deserves credit for the 'ultraterrestrials' label (https://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...) which has been a blessing to my fiction. But that's the only real gem in this book. The rest of the ideas are too trite or too played out to be of much use to me.

[Holly Raymond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why was I reading John Keel at my parents' house? I don't know. I was very much interested in him as a teenager and I had a number of his books lying around. I always try to get people who are interested in, you know, Schreber and Walser and all of that to read 'The Mothman Prophecies' as an example of pure paranoid literature, but this wasn't so good.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

This is an ok story, and has a lot of potential, but I was bored at times and the storyline is a little all over the place....You will need to really pay attention on this one..the narration is decent...and like I said it was just ok for me...YMMV

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

John A. Keel is the true heir to Charles Fort. His accounts of weird happenings inspire me and remind readers that this is a crazy world in which we live.

[Todd Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I did not finish this book. The narrator wasn't too bad but I found the story to be very boring. I listened for about 45 minutes and gave up.

[Benjamin Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay it seems to be written by a Paranoid individual. It's an interstellar eye opener.