Sight Unseen by Budd Hopkins

Sight Unseen by Budd Hopkins

http://www.amazon.com/Sight-Unseen-Science-Invisibllity-Transgenic/dp/B0...

[Edit - Added review/description ~ Dunamis]

The great investigator's final work explores new advances in science to shed light on the abduction issue, December 3, 2010
By Archer Books "Archer Books" (Hemel Hempstead, UK)

You have to admire and respect Budd Hopkins. Through 35 years of research into UFOs and abductions he has remained agenda-free, open-minded and evidence-led, never conclusion-led like the "true believers" and not given to speculation. He follows the evidence where it leads, reports what he finds and never dismisses factual case material because it falls outside current paradigms of understanding. He's been vindicated time and again, and lights the way in showing us all how a true investigator should work.

"Sight Unseen: Science, UFO Invisibility and Transgenic Beings" first published in 2003, was Hopkins' fourth and final book focussed on the alien abduction phenomenon, and the only one ever co-authored - with his then wife Carol Rainey. As with "Missing Time", "Intruders" and "Witnessed", Hopkins breaks new ground. He discusses astounding new evidence and furthers our understanding of what might be going on with this pervasive phenomenon by examining cutting-edge developments in mainstream science and technology.

Hopkins writes to his usual high standards of literacy, intelligence and engaging humour and the complementary sections penned by Rainey work well as a counterpoint as she discourses on recent discoveries in biology, genetics and physics to shed light on some of the more hitherto puzzling but persistently recurrent aspects of abduction cases reported across the world. These include:

* Levitation on beams of light now successfully performed in the laboratory, not just on "Star Trek"

* Persistent reports of the passage of abductees through solid objects and a scientific discussion of exactly how this might be done employing advanced physics

* Invisibility of the abductors and of UFOs to others in close proximity - the ultimate goal of "stealth" tech-research which has experimented with radical new concepts like ionised plasma shielding around "black-project" aircraft

* Radical new work on transgenic manipulation proves the genetic barrier between species no longer exists in biotechnology; these developments support the contention that the oft-reported (by abductees) "hybridization" program may indeed be physically real and is certainly possible even with current human understanding of biogenetics

* Unique genetic commonalities between bovine and human oval cytoplasm not found in other species, which might give insight into the purposes behind the cattle mutilation phenomenon during which bovine carcasses are invariably found to be exsanguinated

* Scary mind-control concepts such as memory-wiping and the temporary co-opting of one species by another to work under a kind of remote-control, examples of which already exist in nature

16 new cases, each highlighting one or more of these initially mysterious or unbelievable characteristics, are detailed by Hopkins from his files. Mostly these are multiple-witness daytime abductions supported by non-anecdotal evidence, and make for absorbing reading. Hopkins' discussion of how people experience then try to rationalize anomalous incidents - like one in which two people driving home suddenly found themselves and their car in the middle of a field at night, with three hours of time passed and no memory or idea how they got there - is insightful and compelling. The main characteristic which emerges again and again is a reluctance to even talk about the experience; a need to find a "conventional" explanation, and for the witness to insist on total anonymity so they won't be thought "crazy." It often takes years before people find the courage to write to the IF about their experiences.

The reports in the book of interactions with human-looking, but possibly not quite human, beings are the most disturbing. (Incidentally such encounters are now reported worldwide - some in Europe to me directly by people who have never met nor corresponded with Hopkins or any other US-based researcher.) Several eccentric but common characteristics of these interactions persistently emerge, and many of these are detailed in the book.

One minor gripe about "Sight Unseen" might be the decision on page-layout: illustrations are sometimes inserted into the page-text in magazine-format, and short essays relevant to the main theme similarly inserted in greyed-out rectangular text-boxes. This format may be less to some readers' tastes than a more classic text-narrative with a dedicated section for illustrations. However it's not too distracting, just different to the usual; the content overall is really first class. "Sight Unseen" is rooted in science and common sense and much of the content is original, radical and new. It's broad-ranging and very well written by the two co-authors; one of the essential works towards a greater understanding of all aspects of the abduction issue, and highly recommended reading.

A nice touch is the book's dedication to 14 named volunteers who have freely given their time and energy to helping manage the thousands of letters and enquiries received by the IF over the years. These volunteers include Peter Robbins, Ted Davis, Lisa Langelier-Marks and trained regression therapist Jed Turnbull (to name but four).

Since this book's 2003 publication, the title "Sight Unseen" has been used by other authors (such as Robert Goddard). Don't be misled: buy the original by Hopkins and Rainey! Good hardcover copies are getting expensive, but paperbacks plentiful.