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The Grays
In the #1 New York Times bestselling tradition of Communion, Whitely Strieber returns with a terrifying novel of alien occupationWe are not alone. Millions of people are confronting aliens that authorities say do not exist.Meet the Three Thieves, a group of Grays assigned to duty in a small Kentucky town. They have been preparing a child for generations. Innocent Conner Callaghan will face the ultimate terror as he struggles to understand who he has been bred to be, and what he must do to save humanity. Colonel Michael Morax strives to keep the secret of the Grays from the public for reasons so sinister, yet believable, that they read like truth. And Lauren Glass, government "empath" to the last surviving captive Gray, known only as B for Bob, has a unique ability to communicate with this captive Gray. But when B for Bob suddenly escapes the highly secure underground Air Force facility that he's been captive in for years, a frantic race begins, as the government must outmaneuver the Grays to keep the secret of their presence intact.The Grays is a mind-bending journey behind the curtain of secrecy that surrounds the subject of aliens, written by the field's great master, Whitley Strieber. If you've never so much as thought about the subject before, this book will make you think deeply, not only about the mystery of who the Grays are, but who exactly we are.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Whitley Strieber
130 books1,152 followersAmerican writer best known for his novels The Wolfen,The Hunger and Warday and for Communion, a non-fiction description of his experiences with apparent alien contact. He has recently made significant advances in understanding this phenomenon, and has published his new discoveries in Solving the Communion Enigma.
Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the blockbuster film about sudden climate change, The Day After Tomorrow.
His book The Afterlife Revolution written with his deceased wife Anne, is a record of what is considered to be one of the most powerful instances of afterlife communication ever recorded.
Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the blockbuster film about sudden climate change, The Day After Tomorrow.
His book The Afterlife Revolution written with his deceased wife Anne, is a record of what is considered to be one of the most powerful instances of afterlife communication ever recorded.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
February 4, 2015
So, if aliens are already here, why haven't any come talk to me. I thought I was cool. I'm bummed. This book was interesting, kinda scary and well a pleasant read.
July 25, 2011
Well, what started out promising didn't really cash in. I have seriously mixed feelings about this review. On one hand, I feel like it was probably better than 2 stars, but it's simply too hokey to be a solid 3. We'll call it a 2.5.
The writing is good. I enjoy Strieber's style in this book enough that I'll probably try more of his work later. The reader is very good too, Stephen Lang. I've listened to him before and I've always been pleased with him.
As I said, Strieber does carry a story along pretty well. But despite that, some of his ideas are out there. I can deal with alien abduction theories, and I can even deal with the fact that the man believes that he's experienced it himself. Whatever. This is a story and I can suspend disbelief.
If the author does his job. Some of the crap was just too cheesy and unbelievable. Some of it straight out didn't make any sense. And it got to the point that I didn't care about most of the characters.
They started out interesting, but wore thin by the end. The main couple were very intriguing in the prologue but by the end of the book I wanted something to abduct them and never bring them back.
Like I said, the idea was interesting and I think Strieber has a talent for writing. This just fell short of what could have been.
The writing is good. I enjoy Strieber's style in this book enough that I'll probably try more of his work later. The reader is very good too, Stephen Lang. I've listened to him before and I've always been pleased with him.
As I said, Strieber does carry a story along pretty well. But despite that, some of his ideas are out there. I can deal with alien abduction theories, and I can even deal with the fact that the man believes that he's experienced it himself. Whatever. This is a story and I can suspend disbelief.
If the author does his job. Some of the crap was just too cheesy and unbelievable. Some of it straight out didn't make any sense. And it got to the point that I didn't care about most of the characters.
They started out interesting, but wore thin by the end. The main couple were very intriguing in the prologue but by the end of the book I wanted something to abduct them and never bring them back.
Like I said, the idea was interesting and I think Strieber has a talent for writing. This just fell short of what could have been.
September 23, 2024
What can I say? one of my favorites of my novels. But I didn’t. I had to read it. I bought it because I didn’t have a single copy in the house.
June 10, 2013
If I were to rate books solely on the basis of enjoyment, The Grays would get four stars. Personally, I found it a page-turner, finishing the thing in two nights as a bedtime book. But then I've reading UFO material since elementary school and so could recognize and appreciate the themes Strieber stitches together in this novel. Otherwise, seen more objectively, this is just another sf thriller.
Years ago, after the publication of Strieber's commercially successful memoir Communion, Samuel Delany wrote a long piece in The Nation questioning the veracity of the account. While I suspect there would naturally have been some embellishment in relating such stories of interactions with intelligent nonhuman entities as Strieber did in that and other works, I also believe there to have been at least some elements of truth to his accounts, uncomfortable truths which Strieber and other "experiencers" have been trying to work out ever since. This novel may therefore be seen as an attempt at constructive rationalization. But, again, that won't mean much to the average reader who has no such experiences in his or her background.
Years ago, after the publication of Strieber's commercially successful memoir Communion, Samuel Delany wrote a long piece in The Nation questioning the veracity of the account. While I suspect there would naturally have been some embellishment in relating such stories of interactions with intelligent nonhuman entities as Strieber did in that and other works, I also believe there to have been at least some elements of truth to his accounts, uncomfortable truths which Strieber and other "experiencers" have been trying to work out ever since. This novel may therefore be seen as an attempt at constructive rationalization. But, again, that won't mean much to the average reader who has no such experiences in his or her background.
August 27, 2008
This is an incredible read. For anyone who has read any of Whitley Stribers books or those that are interested in the UFO phenominon or those that are interested in the comming changes in our world. This is a fictional book, but it has those ellements i spoke of but will keep you on the seat till the end and wanting more.
May 14, 2009
I've read about a lot of articles about aliens/grays/ufos and this book is the only one that is consistent with all of them!
I really liked the story... and i'm not sure that's the intent of the book but i identified with the main character!
After reading this book... one thought remained... how much of this book is true about the grays?
I really liked the story... and i'm not sure that's the intent of the book but i identified with the main character!
After reading this book... one thought remained... how much of this book is true about the grays?
February 8, 2018
By the end of this one I was completely disinterested. It's perfectly possible that I missed some hidden message or "bigger" point to the story, but it was a little too "Ancient Aliens" fan-fiction for my liking. There were "twists" that did not seem to actually impact the story. The biggest example was This was a general pr0blem I had with the characters. I never found a reason to care for them and their actions were so odd that they were distracting.
I stuck with it to the end but by the time I reached the second half of the audiobook, I knew it wasn't for me. The narrator for the audio book added nothing to it and the dialogue was flat. I'm sure there's an audience for this book, but I'm certainly not it.
I stuck with it to the end but by the time I reached the second half of the audiobook, I knew it wasn't for me. The narrator for the audio book added nothing to it and the dialogue was flat. I'm sure there's an audience for this book, but I'm certainly not it.
October 11, 2021
Спряна на 19%. Скука.
May 10, 2019
I would give the first part of the book four stars. I was hooked upon starting it. It was interesting and well thought out and the narrator was great. The second part however, I felt was rushed or maybe written straight through with no editing or even a second read. I felt like details were just thrown in and that character's actions or movements taking place went beyond the endless capability of science fiction and were in fact impossible. I felt that a lot of the characters themselves were flat and unbelievable in their actions. If this is the author's first novel, I would read another of his. If there are others before it and he is no better for it, then I would have to pass.
May 6, 2008
This book is a good read. Strieber has some fascinating ideas about alien life forms, their motives for contact, government involvement and alien technology. I've never had more than a passing interest in UFO's or alien beings, not that I don't blieve there are others out there, I just don't see how that directly relates to me. Anyhow, I picked this book up on a whim and could not put it down. The story plot was interesting and gave me the creepy crawlies late at night and that's something I like from time to time. I'll definitely pick up some more of his books.
May 25, 2010
I loved this book. Even though it is a fictional tale, the story makes you think about life and life around you.
February 24, 2020
An eye opening novel that sheds light into the writer's obvious first hand knowledge of the subject matter he writes about.
The Grays had my mind reeling for weeks. Every bump and knock i heard (even in the daylight) was a Gray, or a CIA operative hiding in plain sight.
Well done, Whitely. Well done indeed.
The Grays had my mind reeling for weeks. Every bump and knock i heard (even in the daylight) was a Gray, or a CIA operative hiding in plain sight.
Well done, Whitely. Well done indeed.
August 14, 2022
Read in 2006. A mind-bending journey behind the curtain of secrecy that surrounds the subject of aliens. My man Whitley.
January 25, 2011
The Grays, by Whitley Strieber, is another one of the books that I picked up for "free" during my Alaska cruise last year, purchased with my free cruise ship allowance. I bought 6 or 8 books that way and this one was the last one I picked up, not certain I would really be interested in it. According to the cover blurbs, it would be about aliens that are already here living among us, a subject that just doesn't normally get me excited.
Perhaps that is the main cause of my mediocre reaction to the novel. The story itself involves a husband and wife who were abducted early in their lives and prepared to reproduce, creating a super-gifted child who would then become the lynchpin between the humans and the aliens. Meanwhile a young female Air Force officer is plucked from her job in procurement and, due to her amazing ESP powers, is placed with the sole alien that is still alive in captivity. Yes, the government knows all about the "Grays" as the aliens are called, going back to President Truman, the first president to meet one. The novel is mostly a science fiction tale but there are large elements of horror in it, as well as some thriller-like adventure especially at the end during the climactic scenes between the aliens and the different factions of humans.
The novel was OK, even pretty interesting for the first half, the half that is more devoted to developing the ideas and the characters of the story. But then the action-thriller stuff picked up and I found myself hoping the end would arrive sooner. Parts of the book downright offended me, especially the conspiracy theory parts with the government (actually surprising because I like a good conspiracy story) because it just made the other people look foolish. And it is obvious that Mr Strieber knows very little about how the US Air Force works. He throws in a few terms here and there to make it sound good but, really, it sounds like he's picked it up from TV. His Air Force characters are either corrupted by power or just plain fools.
As usual I did some research on the author after I had completed the book. He has an interesting past, including what he claims was his own close encounter/abduction with aliens. He used that material to write his most successful book to date: Communion. Prior to that he had written horror novels. Reportedly, The Grays ties in greatly with that abduction work. Regardless, if alien abduction stories are your bag then you may want to check this out, otherwise I'd look elsewhere.
Perhaps that is the main cause of my mediocre reaction to the novel. The story itself involves a husband and wife who were abducted early in their lives and prepared to reproduce, creating a super-gifted child who would then become the lynchpin between the humans and the aliens. Meanwhile a young female Air Force officer is plucked from her job in procurement and, due to her amazing ESP powers, is placed with the sole alien that is still alive in captivity. Yes, the government knows all about the "Grays" as the aliens are called, going back to President Truman, the first president to meet one. The novel is mostly a science fiction tale but there are large elements of horror in it, as well as some thriller-like adventure especially at the end during the climactic scenes between the aliens and the different factions of humans.
The novel was OK, even pretty interesting for the first half, the half that is more devoted to developing the ideas and the characters of the story. But then the action-thriller stuff picked up and I found myself hoping the end would arrive sooner. Parts of the book downright offended me, especially the conspiracy theory parts with the government (actually surprising because I like a good conspiracy story) because it just made the other people look foolish. And it is obvious that Mr Strieber knows very little about how the US Air Force works. He throws in a few terms here and there to make it sound good but, really, it sounds like he's picked it up from TV. His Air Force characters are either corrupted by power or just plain fools.
As usual I did some research on the author after I had completed the book. He has an interesting past, including what he claims was his own close encounter/abduction with aliens. He used that material to write his most successful book to date: Communion. Prior to that he had written horror novels. Reportedly, The Grays ties in greatly with that abduction work. Regardless, if alien abduction stories are your bag then you may want to check this out, otherwise I'd look elsewhere.
May 31, 2019
3.5
Another book that has been sitting on a shelf at home, waiting to be read. Alien abduction is not really my thing, so at first I was hesitant. The first chapter was slow, detailing the abduction of Dan and Katelyn in 1977. Once I got past that chapter, the book picked up greatly and it was difficult for me to put down which is always a pleasant surprise!
Essentially, aliens are here and the government knows about it. They have modified their own bodies so much they no longer feel emotions. So they tend to pick up children in an effort to breed an intelligent being that will continue not only their race but that of humans. Kately and Dan are the parents of that child.
Lauren Glass, a member of the U.S. Air Force, has recently lost her father to mysterious circumstances. She is quickly swept up in replacing him as the “empath”, a communicator with the remaining gray - what aliens are referred to as - in captivity. This portion of the novel reminded me of the movie Arrival a little.
Not everyone believes the grays are here to help civilization. A faction of the government has converged to form an elite group. If the population of Earths drops from six billion to one million, they won’t have any use for us, right? This group, the Trust, plans to wipe out the majority of civilization to save the world from the grays.
Quite the page turner. Could have done without the forced romance of Lauren and Langford, but I guess she needed a happy ending?
While my copy of the book says that it will soon be a major motion picture, I cannot find anything that supports this. To my knowledge, a film was never made for this book. But it certainly reads like it could be a movie, one I would definitely watch. Especially after learning that The Day After Tomorrow was based on another one of the author’s books. I love that movie!
Another book that has been sitting on a shelf at home, waiting to be read. Alien abduction is not really my thing, so at first I was hesitant. The first chapter was slow, detailing the abduction of Dan and Katelyn in 1977. Once I got past that chapter, the book picked up greatly and it was difficult for me to put down which is always a pleasant surprise!
Essentially, aliens are here and the government knows about it. They have modified their own bodies so much they no longer feel emotions. So they tend to pick up children in an effort to breed an intelligent being that will continue not only their race but that of humans. Kately and Dan are the parents of that child.
Lauren Glass, a member of the U.S. Air Force, has recently lost her father to mysterious circumstances. She is quickly swept up in replacing him as the “empath”, a communicator with the remaining gray - what aliens are referred to as - in captivity. This portion of the novel reminded me of the movie Arrival a little.
Not everyone believes the grays are here to help civilization. A faction of the government has converged to form an elite group. If the population of Earths drops from six billion to one million, they won’t have any use for us, right? This group, the Trust, plans to wipe out the majority of civilization to save the world from the grays.
Quite the page turner. Could have done without the forced romance of Lauren and Langford, but I guess she needed a happy ending?
While my copy of the book says that it will soon be a major motion picture, I cannot find anything that supports this. To my knowledge, a film was never made for this book. But it certainly reads like it could be a movie, one I would definitely watch. Especially after learning that The Day After Tomorrow was based on another one of the author’s books. I love that movie!
August 29, 2012
I have read quite a few science fiction books lately and so I was hoping this one would be a bit different from the others and that I would feel okay about the ending and book in general.
Well....this book didn't let me down.
I enjoyed The Grays because it had a very human side to it and you felt for the characters both alien and human....there were times when I was actually a bit afraid to go on...not wanting to know what would happen next but not being able to stop listening. There were a couple of slow parts which I just daydreamed through but overall I was particularly enthralled with this book and the idea of the human race being saved by a little boy. I couldn't help but wonder what would it be like to be his mother and how would I react to all the craziness that came my way. I was particularly happy with the ending for most of the science fiction books I have read lately have been such a downer.....but this book gave me hope and was filled with hope in the midst of danger....and I felt relief in finding a book that would end on a high note.
Thanks to this little novel my hope in science fiction reads has been restored again.
Well....this book didn't let me down.
I enjoyed The Grays because it had a very human side to it and you felt for the characters both alien and human....there were times when I was actually a bit afraid to go on...not wanting to know what would happen next but not being able to stop listening. There were a couple of slow parts which I just daydreamed through but overall I was particularly enthralled with this book and the idea of the human race being saved by a little boy. I couldn't help but wonder what would it be like to be his mother and how would I react to all the craziness that came my way. I was particularly happy with the ending for most of the science fiction books I have read lately have been such a downer.....but this book gave me hope and was filled with hope in the midst of danger....and I felt relief in finding a book that would end on a high note.
Thanks to this little novel my hope in science fiction reads has been restored again.
January 25, 2016
Whitley Strieber's
The Grays
is an interesting read from front to back, and never disappoints. In fact, it's hard to know what to expect at any time throughout the novel, as the author provides enough twists and turns to keep readers constantly guessing.
On the surface, The Grays at first appears to be a fairly typical alien-abduction story, but quickly expands to a cataclysmic scale, and the author's imagination provides for some unique ideas, and an interesting climax.
On the whole, The Grays is extremely successful in weaving a complex plot around a fantastic and believable set of characters. From the uber-genius child, to the militant fanatic, to the ailing relationship of the parents, to the unique capabilities of the Grays, the book succeeds on all levels.
The story builds nicely to the climax and resolves pretty much all of the plot elements. It's a book that defies expectations, but does not leave the reader disappointed.
On the surface, The Grays at first appears to be a fairly typical alien-abduction story, but quickly expands to a cataclysmic scale, and the author's imagination provides for some unique ideas, and an interesting climax.
On the whole, The Grays is extremely successful in weaving a complex plot around a fantastic and believable set of characters. From the uber-genius child, to the militant fanatic, to the ailing relationship of the parents, to the unique capabilities of the Grays, the book succeeds on all levels.
The story builds nicely to the climax and resolves pretty much all of the plot elements. It's a book that defies expectations, but does not leave the reader disappointed.
September 8, 2009
#1 The Grays (Alien) Sci Fi series
Very good, exciting & entertaining. Whitley Strieber claims he was abducted by aliens in 1985 and wrote a non-fiction book ("Communion") based upon that experience.
In The Grays, a fictional sci fi book, the aliens are already here, though very small in number. This secret is known only to a handful of people and is protected by the military by death, if necessary.
Adam, a name given to an alien who has been communicating with difficulty with one human since 1947, is giving enough pieces of a puzzle to the military for certain hypothotheses (sp?) to be drawn about the aliens' reasons for their interest in Earth.
Without spoiling, the reasons for the alien abductions and interest in Earth are fascinating.
There's a race against time element, a UFO, several black ops no-holds-barred military groups working at cross purposes (conspiracies), and a quiet small town neighborhood with VERY strange goings on, and a cast of solidly drawn characters.
#2 2012: The War for Souls in this two book series is en route!
Very good, exciting & entertaining. Whitley Strieber claims he was abducted by aliens in 1985 and wrote a non-fiction book ("Communion") based upon that experience.
In The Grays, a fictional sci fi book, the aliens are already here, though very small in number. This secret is known only to a handful of people and is protected by the military by death, if necessary.
Adam, a name given to an alien who has been communicating with difficulty with one human since 1947, is giving enough pieces of a puzzle to the military for certain hypothotheses (sp?) to be drawn about the aliens' reasons for their interest in Earth.
Without spoiling, the reasons for the alien abductions and interest in Earth are fascinating.
There's a race against time element, a UFO, several black ops no-holds-barred military groups working at cross purposes (conspiracies), and a quiet small town neighborhood with VERY strange goings on, and a cast of solidly drawn characters.
#2 2012: The War for Souls in this two book series is en route!
November 1, 2012
I was a big fan of Whiley Strieber's "Communion" books. In this work of fiction, Strieber takes the whole of UFO lore and wraps it up in a story about a dying race of aliens and a dying earth. Grays (both short and tall), Nordic aliens, black triangles, glowing orbs, abuctions and implants -- Strieber has it all. For good measure, he throws in a group of corrupt corporate leaders called "The Trust" who wish to hasten the end of the human race so they can rebuild it in their own DNA image.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book until the climatic end. I felt it was heavy handed and overdone. The idea that a renegade government operator could singlehandedly turn an entire town into a pack of violent, mindless zombies, or the sight of a corporate demigod flying an invisible airship down Pennsylvania Avenue wreaking devastion on Washington, DC -- well, it strained even my willing suspension of disbelief.
Fortunately, Strieber made up for it with his epilogue. If he hadn't, I would have only given this three stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book until the climatic end. I felt it was heavy handed and overdone. The idea that a renegade government operator could singlehandedly turn an entire town into a pack of violent, mindless zombies, or the sight of a corporate demigod flying an invisible airship down Pennsylvania Avenue wreaking devastion on Washington, DC -- well, it strained even my willing suspension of disbelief.
Fortunately, Strieber made up for it with his epilogue. If he hadn't, I would have only given this three stars.
May 23, 2014
I suppose that you either believe that aliens exist or you do not. If you are one who does believe then Strieber has given you a way to accept that their mission may not be the destruction of our planet. Moreover, if you also believe that the US government has covered up the existence of such beings, then you will be pleased as well.
The author neatly intertwines all of the things that we think we know about possible aliens and their abductions of humans for experimentation. The reasons the author gives for these events in ‘The Grays’, make perfect sense. What’s more, we can almost sympathize with there dilemma. Now that is the freaky part of this story.
There are two sides to this story and you can route for either side. The government that wants to destroy them or the government that is assisting and protecting them. However, in both of these scenarios, humanity loses.
A truly chilling and creepy tale. One that keeps you thinking...what if?
January 30, 2012
here's my full, published, review of Whitley Strieber's THE GRAYS:
http://scene360.com/articles/735/the-...
I'm currently at the back end of a re-read of this story - I still liked it and it's still a wonderful read, it's still a 3/5 for the reasons given in the original review on Scene360 but I really enjoyed some of the wild-ride stuff in this book.
WILD RIDE.
http://scene360.com/articles/735/the-...
I'm currently at the back end of a re-read of this story - I still liked it and it's still a wonderful read, it's still a 3/5 for the reasons given in the original review on Scene360 but I really enjoyed some of the wild-ride stuff in this book.
WILD RIDE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2014
4.5
This was great. I've been wanting to read it for a while but wasn't sure what to expect or if it was even fiction!
This being my first Strieber book, I can say he delivered. It's exactly what I was looking for. Invasion of the Fourth Kind: abductions, implants, ulterior alien motives, mankind at stake. Loved it.
This was great. I've been wanting to read it for a while but wasn't sure what to expect or if it was even fiction!
This being my first Strieber book, I can say he delivered. It's exactly what I was looking for. Invasion of the Fourth Kind: abductions, implants, ulterior alien motives, mankind at stake. Loved it.
July 6, 2010
A very good fictional work based on the premise that an alien race is interacting with humanity. Much of the book's storyline and characters are based on information from UFO studies. It was very good read, regardless whether one believes in UFOs or not.
November 8, 2007
Nice sci-fi novel that may actually contain true information.
The book starts off as if written by a novice, but it quickly gets better as you read.
The book starts off as if written by a novice, but it quickly gets better as you read.
December 12, 2007
Makes you wonder how much of it is actually true ! Interesting story .
June 7, 2009
Talk about adventurous. Definately one of those great alien abduction tales. Keeps you on the edge of your seat.
April 1, 2012
It was entertaining, but at times confusing, felt like the story did not know where to go, and a little too far fetched here and there.
May 4, 2016
Awful. Simply put, it was awful.
October 27, 2023
So much to comment on!….
In my early teen years, I tried reading Communion. While I was fascinated by the alien abduction phenomenon, it creeped the bejesus out of me, and I could not finish the book. Seeing this book, and noting the author, grown-up me started reading this book with some trepidation. The first chapter with the young children being abducted was, as I expected, chilling. Then it went downhill….
I appreciate and enjoy alien abduction stories. I can even appreciate and accept that the author believes this has happened to him. However this story dredges up and incorporates every internet conspiracy; from Atlantis, to aliens building the pyramids, to astral projections, to evil secret societies; to the point that you need a tin-foil hat to take it seriously. The best being the end of the world happening in 2012….yeah, that didn’t age very well, did it?
Aside from the descent into nuttiness that the story takes, there are a lot of faults in the book itself. It was clearly not edited properly, as I found typos, sentences with words reversed, scene changes without any sort of breaks, poorly structured sentences that I had to read out loud, to make sure I was reading them correctly, etc. I think the publishers were hoping to cash in on the author’s name and reputation with the subject material, and only gave it a cursory look-over.
The plot, I thought, was generally okay (if you suspend your disbelief), though there were far too many useless subplots (for instance, there was no need for the Marcie affair). The dialogue, at times was cringeworthy, and I found myself pausing and asking out loud, “who talks like that?” (serious? “Schmendrick”? I have not heard that since the 80’s!). It was hard at times to believe these characters could be real, let alone empathize with them.
Then there are the titular Grays. These beings are supposed to be billions of years old. Such a civilization’s motives would be unknowable to us (imagine trying to explain why we have/do things like roller coasters, scuba diving, social media to a cave man). Their technology so advanced that they would be gods (imagine the fleet of the Roman Empire encountering one of our cruise ships or aircraft carriers). Instead we get these creatures flying around in (effectively) hot air balloons, with motivations that make perfect sense. You want them to be creepy? Don’t let us know much about them! Don’t let us get into their minds! They are supposed to be so far beyond us, so keep their motives secret. The moment the curtain is pulled too far back, the sense of menace is gone.
And speaking of menacing, let’s talk about the Three Thieves. Frankly, they should be renamed “The Three Stooges” with the way they “talk” ( “shit up!”, “no, you shut up!”) and act (your entire civilization’s survival is dependent on a decade’s long plan staying secret, so you abduct a woman, deliberately make her scream in a ship landed in a field near a dozen witnesses? You are not very good at this thing, are you?). The author made it very hard to take these aliens seriously,
Lastly there is the non-ending ending. Lots of loose threads, which suggested a sequel was planned. Seventeen years on and nothing seems to be in the works. It’s probably for the better that we leave this story where it is.
All in all, I did enjoy the story, even though I didn’t think it was particularly good. Some rewrites, and proper editing would, in my opinion, make this a fun, spooky tale. For now it falls way short.
In my early teen years, I tried reading Communion. While I was fascinated by the alien abduction phenomenon, it creeped the bejesus out of me, and I could not finish the book. Seeing this book, and noting the author, grown-up me started reading this book with some trepidation. The first chapter with the young children being abducted was, as I expected, chilling. Then it went downhill….
I appreciate and enjoy alien abduction stories. I can even appreciate and accept that the author believes this has happened to him. However this story dredges up and incorporates every internet conspiracy; from Atlantis, to aliens building the pyramids, to astral projections, to evil secret societies; to the point that you need a tin-foil hat to take it seriously. The best being the end of the world happening in 2012….yeah, that didn’t age very well, did it?
Aside from the descent into nuttiness that the story takes, there are a lot of faults in the book itself. It was clearly not edited properly, as I found typos, sentences with words reversed, scene changes without any sort of breaks, poorly structured sentences that I had to read out loud, to make sure I was reading them correctly, etc. I think the publishers were hoping to cash in on the author’s name and reputation with the subject material, and only gave it a cursory look-over.
The plot, I thought, was generally okay (if you suspend your disbelief), though there were far too many useless subplots (for instance, there was no need for the Marcie affair). The dialogue, at times was cringeworthy, and I found myself pausing and asking out loud, “who talks like that?” (serious? “Schmendrick”? I have not heard that since the 80’s!). It was hard at times to believe these characters could be real, let alone empathize with them.
Then there are the titular Grays. These beings are supposed to be billions of years old. Such a civilization’s motives would be unknowable to us (imagine trying to explain why we have/do things like roller coasters, scuba diving, social media to a cave man). Their technology so advanced that they would be gods (imagine the fleet of the Roman Empire encountering one of our cruise ships or aircraft carriers). Instead we get these creatures flying around in (effectively) hot air balloons, with motivations that make perfect sense. You want them to be creepy? Don’t let us know much about them! Don’t let us get into their minds! They are supposed to be so far beyond us, so keep their motives secret. The moment the curtain is pulled too far back, the sense of menace is gone.
And speaking of menacing, let’s talk about the Three Thieves. Frankly, they should be renamed “The Three Stooges” with the way they “talk” ( “shit up!”, “no, you shut up!”) and act (your entire civilization’s survival is dependent on a decade’s long plan staying secret, so you abduct a woman, deliberately make her scream in a ship landed in a field near a dozen witnesses? You are not very good at this thing, are you?). The author made it very hard to take these aliens seriously,
Lastly there is the non-ending ending. Lots of loose threads, which suggested a sequel was planned. Seventeen years on and nothing seems to be in the works. It’s probably for the better that we leave this story where it is.
All in all, I did enjoy the story, even though I didn’t think it was particularly good. Some rewrites, and proper editing would, in my opinion, make this a fun, spooky tale. For now it falls way short.
January 24, 2019
A well written book of alien clichés. Well just fine by me, it's what I asked for.
What I didn't expect is that they all mesh together incoherently. Like a love letter to ancient aliens.
Aliens made the pyramids? Check
Aliens kidnap people for tests? Check
Aliens have always been here? Check
Government conspiracies abound? Check
Talking about 2012 being important/ending the world (and really dating the book)? Check
I liked the descriptions and details, the many characters didn't get too bogged down. Except unfortunately towards the end. Towards the end of the book everyone seemed to become screenwriter stereotypes. I liked how they described characters in the beginning but it slowly succumbed to the cliché/bad writing style of "woman pretty" and "mom worried" or "dad fix".
The end of the book seems like a zombie rip off. Government agent implants mind control device into every member of the town, hopes that they all go mad and end up killing the boy the aliens need so badly. Plan goes awry and the child survives, only after being chased through the snow and forest and highway.
Aside from the lazy addition of alien storytelling stereotypes, it doesn't explain the rational behind some people's choices. A government official steals a plane in order to fly it over and spy on a child, without actually killing anyone, despite the plane being a state of the art machine. The aliens put a mind control device in the president only to immediately kill them off (this was to disband "survivors"). One undercover government official was secretly an alien but not a Grey and when they died they went "home" and woke up??? Something about a satellite was immediately disregarded. An earthquake maker destroys D.C. for reasons. Was so many little side intricacies it became annoying.
What I didn't expect is that they all mesh together incoherently. Like a love letter to ancient aliens.
Aliens made the pyramids? Check
Aliens kidnap people for tests? Check
Aliens have always been here? Check
Government conspiracies abound? Check
Talking about 2012 being important/ending the world (and really dating the book)? Check
I liked the descriptions and details, the many characters didn't get too bogged down. Except unfortunately towards the end. Towards the end of the book everyone seemed to become screenwriter stereotypes. I liked how they described characters in the beginning but it slowly succumbed to the cliché/bad writing style of "woman pretty" and "mom worried" or "dad fix".
The end of the book seems like a zombie rip off. Government agent implants mind control device into every member of the town, hopes that they all go mad and end up killing the boy the aliens need so badly. Plan goes awry and the child survives, only after being chased through the snow and forest and highway.
Aside from the lazy addition of alien storytelling stereotypes, it doesn't explain the rational behind some people's choices. A government official steals a plane in order to fly it over and spy on a child, without actually killing anyone, despite the plane being a state of the art machine. The aliens put a mind control device in the president only to immediately kill them off (this was to disband "survivors"). One undercover government official was secretly an alien but not a Grey and when they died they went "home" and woke up??? Something about a satellite was immediately disregarded. An earthquake maker destroys D.C. for reasons. Was so many little side intricacies it became annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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