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Alien Identities: Ancient Insights into Modern Ufo Phenomena Paperback – January 1, 2001
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length464 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGovardhan Hill Pub
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2001
- Dimensions6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-100963530941
- ISBN-13978-0963530943
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"...stimulating, well organized, and an encyclopedic smorgasbord of UFO data and ancient Indian counterparts...stands to become a classic." -- Berthold Schwarz, M.D., psychiatrist and author of UFO Dynamics
"A Summa Ufologica of great importance...Thompon has written perhaps the most honest UFO book extant in the English language." -- Gnosis magazine
About the Author
Dr. Thompson has done scientific research in quantum physics, mathematical biology, and remote sensing. He has extensively investigated ancient Indian astronomy, cosmology, and spirituality, and he has developed multimedia expositions on these topics. He is the author of six books on topics ranging from consciousness to archeology and ancient astronomy.
Product details
- Publisher : Govardhan Hill Pub; Revised edition (January 1, 2001)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 464 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0963530941
- ISBN-13 : 978-0963530943
- Item Weight : 1.8 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,255,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,063 in UFOs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Richard L. Thompson received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Cornell University, where he specialized in probability theory and statistical mechanics. He has done research in quantum physics, mathematical biology, and remote sensing, and has extensively investigated ancient Indian cosmology and spirituality, developing multimedia expositions on these topics. He is the author of nine books on subjects ranging from consciousness to archeology and ancient astronomy.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book informative and well-written. They appreciate the scholarly approach and objective view of UFOs presented by the author. The book is described as interesting and well-researched.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book informative and well-written. They appreciate the author's scholarly approach and objective view of UFO phenomena. The book provides a comprehensive summary of relevant details, including historical overviews of UFO lore.
"...I highly recommend this book. It reads well, it is interesting, it is informative, and it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not...." Read more
"...It is instead scholarly throughout. Much food for thought here. This work will find a place on my bookshelf between Jaques Valee's "..." Read more
"...to all like me who are irresistibly drawn to the ufo subject, extremely informative,well written and I found the chapters on the ancient Vedanta..." Read more
"...This book takes a refreshingly objective view of the phenomena and does so in a comparative context using Vedic sources and traditions to help the..." Read more
Customers find the book well-written and interesting. They appreciate the author's fair approach.
"...I highly recommend this book. It reads well, it is interesting, it is informative, and it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not...." Read more
"...al. The author is neither credulous nor incredulous but fair throughout. He fields it all with many references and contexts...." Read more
"...are irresistibly drawn to the ufo subject, extremely informative,well written and I found the chapters on the ancient Vedanta connection especially..." Read more
"...with their appearance in Vedic literature, well researched and well written" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2004One of the difficulties in the 'UFOlogy' field is that there are plenty of offbeat accounts, and in some cases evidence but mostly in pieces, or without context, or with potential other explanations. (There is more than most people are aware of, though.)
Authors such as Dr. Jacques Vallee have given interesting historical overviews of UFO lore. Of course, all these accounts are 'accounts' and 'Lore', they are not scientific evidence, but since these experiences don't seem to happen on command inside a science lab, this may account for that problem. The fact that the surgeon general has not yet made a ruling about the existence or effect of UFOs or 'experiences' potentially related, will not change whether they or the experiences exist.
ALIEN IDENTITIES is a book title I cringe to give to people and consider an embarrassment to the content. Consider it was written when such a title (not to mention Streiber as an intro) were apparently considered a hot sell and hence the publisher promo. The CONTENT of the book has a calm, fair, respectability in its own fashion that belies the assumption and hype of the title.
This book is a great introduction for people new to the subject. The first half is a recount of documented Vedic history, which is part and parcel of their religion. The second half is a recount of documented recent history--accounts in the UFOlogy field. Which, like religious history, are equally tenuous and unprovable.
However, when you read the detail from the historical accounts, and then you read the detail of claims from the last half century, the parallel is more than just striking. It's pretty much obvious to anybody with half a brain and no major personal bias that the modern day accounts are clearly talking about some of the same kind of things as the ancient accounts.
In the context of how seriously we should take modern accounts, for which we have little hard proof and a lot of confusion, a realization that they are hardly a novel new result of science fiction books is important.
In the context of religion, "the Gods," and many accounts biblical as well as Vedic, it is thought provoking to say the least.
I highly recommend this book. It reads well, it is interesting, it is informative, and it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. It makes no claims. It is one of the very few UFOlogy related books that I have kept on my shelves for years.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2009This is one of the best books dealing with the subject of UFOs I have read. The author has a very sober and balanced account of the subject. The first part of the book recounts many of the most high profile cases of UFO sightings, abduction et. al. The author is neither credulous nor incredulous but fair throughout. He fields it all with many references and contexts. The second part of the book brings to bear his knowledge of Vedic lore and juxtaposes it with the modern UFO mythos. It is a work that covers something heretofore not explored by any writer to my knowledge - at least in any depth. Thompson has a fine analytical mind in all he writes. I highly recomend this book to anyone interested in this subject. This is not sensational (as so many books on the subject are). It is instead scholarly throughout. Much food for thought here. This work will find a place on my bookshelf between Jaques Valee's
"Passport To Magonia" and Evans-Wentz's "The Fairy Faith In Celtic Countries."
- Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2010this book is highly recommended to all like me who are irresistibly drawn to the ufo subject, extremely informative,well written and I found the chapters on the ancient Vedanta connection especially fascinating. Perhaps most of the UFO and abduction stories are a little outdated, from the 50's and 60's, but relevant nonetheless. I'm a bit of a slow reader, but still read it in 5 days, could'nt put it down. A must read.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2014Too many books attempt to examine and explain UFOs and UFO entities in the constraint and context of modern science. And in doing so, they leave the reader more puzzled then before they opened the book cover.
This book takes a refreshingly objective view of the phenomena and does so in a comparative context using Vedic sources and traditions to help the reader understand that the phenomena is in fact not new, not constrained by physical laws and rules as we know them today, and not limited to three dimension of material space.
Yeah... you will still have many questions in your mind when you finish reading this book, but you will carry them within a much more sensible context of understanding.
This book provides the objective mind a working context for understanding what cannot be understood by normal observation and application of known laws of science today. Which is essential for a phenomena that has been active for thousands of years on this planet.. not just the last 60 years of the "age of the flying saucer"
- Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 20205 Stars! 👍👍 Excellent Book! A real eye opener that you can't easily put down. The long list of highly credible persons who offered their positive endorsements make you wonder: "Either this is all real, or these people are completely nuts!" Decide for yourself. 🙏
- Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2018Complete summary of all the relevant ufo details and an interesting comparison with their appearance in Vedic literature, well researched and well written
- Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2013This order matched my expectations by far ; thanks again for all the chain required to have it sent in Paris.
Bravo
Congratulations for everything
- Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2016Great Book!
Top reviews from other countries
- carlo sansoloReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
One of my favorite books ever, Richard is the single ancient alien researcher who does know a lot about the UFO phenomena. He truly has a great understanding of the Rig Veda, and he draws very interesting parallels between the ufo phenomena and the sacred texts, it is a book who did fill the gap, but I felt it did deserve a second book on the subject, as it very vast and Richard seems to be able to deliver more into that.
- Julkey108Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
A scientific classic from the late and great Sadaputa das.