Out There

by Howard Blum; Simon & Schuster 1990

Reviewed by Carl Wyant

My first thought when I spotted this book was, "just what we need — another UFO cover-up book." It turns out, however, to be a gripping story, very readable and well researched.

Blum is a former New York Times journalist, twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting. He has also written books on espionage, and his experience inside the various intelligent agencies gives his narrative some extra clout.

The book deals with the US government's clandestine involvement with the UFO scene. It also gives a brief, accurate run-down on "official" UFO projects, such as Project Bluebook, the Robertson Panel and the Condon Report. There is a section on the history of the SETI project, now funded by NASA, which listens for alien communication by means of radio telescopes.

The story revolves around a new government-funded team called the UFO Working Group, established in 1987. One of the goals the Working Group set itself is to determine the authenticity of a mysterious UFO operation called Majestic 12, allegedly formed in 1947. The only clues to the existence of MJ12 are a number of leaked documents. The question is, are the documents real or fake?

UFO debunker Philip Klass is drawn into the fray and gets a very sympathetic hearing. To add to the intrigue, another famous UFO debunker, Donald Menzel, is named as a member of the MJ12. Whether or not this is true, Blum uncovers evidence that Menzel was leading a "double life".

Like most UFO stories, pro or con, the story is inconclusive. But to the uninitiated, the book provides a good look into the convoluted world of governmental UFO investigation.

On a recent Oprah Winfrey show, Philip Klass told Howard Blum of a large number of simple factual inaccuracies in the five or so pages about him in Blum's book. Blum said something to the effect that getting the facts wrong wasn't a concern of his...