Andrew Collins has always been a sensible and rational writer on matters which border on the paranormal, particularly - as in this case - the UFO mystery. His writings on ancient civilisations are very worthwhile and his book on Atlantis (Gateway to Atlantis) is certainly one of the best on that subject.
The present book is a development on his earlier small tome Alien Energy, about how light forms may be interacting with the human mind, a book which should have enjoyed a wider audience. However, it seems to have had a short life, and one not very mainstream. Here, it seems the publishers have set out to market the present book by having a picture of an alien being on the cover, and a subtitle which, until the book is read, when the reasoning becomes clear, has the air of New Ageism about it.(One wonders though if this was the author's subtitle or the publisher's.) For anyone seeking spacecraft with pilots from Zeta Reticuli and elsewhere, don't look here. Which is why Collins spends some time summarising the spurious and infamous Roswell event of 1947, before going on to cover the stories of numerous UFO (and mystery lights) 'hot-spots' such as Marfa, Avebury, Warminster, Rendelsham Forest,etc. together with accounts of some alleged 'abductions'. If all this seems old hat it's really a means to an end. And a very interesting end it is. In these days of quantum physics it's not such a big step to contemplate a development of earlier ideas which didn't take off at that time amongst researchers and thinkers on this subject, such as the research of Wilhelm Reich and the books of Trevor James Constable, who posited the concept of bioforms in the atmosphere which could somehow interact with human consciousness. Take this a step further and we enter the esoteric realms of the Theosophists etc. Such sentient energy forms and plasma constructs may be manifestations of higher dimensional realities and a part of Earth's development and evolution. When the effects of geological disturbances, faulting etc. so active in the very hot-spots we read about are added then we are in a world more wonderful and exotic than structured spacecraft. And, we might say, more properly earthbound.
This book deserves to be acknowledged for renewing and developing a concept for UFOs and strange nocturnal events. Any acceptance it seeks might have to run a gauntlet between two schools as it were. The book's appearance will be attractive to ufological and general 'borderland' people but might tend to alienate the very people who should consider it, scientists of various persuasions, especially when they see that a part of the story involves encouraging personal visualisations (a theme Collins has always been keen on in a sympathetic way) in an attempt to communicate with the light intelligences. This smacks of an Aetherius Society for new times. Yet it's this very matter which is crucial to any understanding of what the mystery is all about - an interaction by at least some people at certain places and times with a truly (currently) alien world which involves human consciousness. This at least deserves attention. The previous reviewer rightly suggested that further space should have been given over to more discussion on these themes. Yet - one step at a time maybe...?
There are one or two errors in the text that perhaps should be noted. In the Warminster section Sybil Champion is incorrectly named Chapman. Also Cradle Hill is southeast, not northwest of where the author's party saw a ball of light; and Imber, on Salisbury Plain, is four miles east, not west of the same position. But these are minor points in a very readable book written in an enjoyable personalised style.
