1In Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell, award-winning author Candace Fleming composes a well-crafted narrative that seeks to further fuel the discussions surrounding one of the most enduring enigmas of post-WWII America: What really happened in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947?

2 The question guiding Fleming’s research is nothing new to the field of ufology. For nearly eighty years, conspiracy theorists, extraterrestrial enthusiasts, and those with a deep-seeded desire to discover the lesser-known activities of governmental agencies have expressed substantial interest in the events that propelled Roswell, New Mexico into a state of alien-centered infamy perhaps only rivaled by Suffolk’s Rendlesham Forest.

3 Fleming’s book is separated into four distinct sections: “Something Crashed… but What?,” “Are They Watching from Space?,” “It Crashed at Roswell… Right?,” and “Who Knows What the Government Knows?.” Within the title of each section, Fleming poses a powerful question to the book’s audience. This forces the reader to consider not only the facts and theories presented within the text, but also the ways in which the narrative’s revelations could disrupt modern society’s expectations regarding the existence of an alien-free universe and a conspiracy-free government. These two crucial elements of the American zeitgeist have been irreparably scored by the cloud of curiosity that will hang over Roswell forevermore, an inescapable reminder of a mysterious past and a testament to the disinformation and deception that brought notoriety to the otherwise barren desert of New Mexico.

4 Fleming opens the first section of Crash from Outer Space, titled, “Something Crashed… but What?,” with a brief introduction to Roswell-area sheep rancher William “Mack” Brazel (3), Major Jesse A. Marcel (25), Brigadier General Roger Ramey (29), and a slew of other individuals whose names are now synonymous with conspiracies, cover-ups, and the potential existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Most importantly, this section describes not only the recovery of the remains of an alleged alien spacecraft, but also the military’s decision to declare the wreckage that of “a weather balloon,” a response that remains hotly debated decades later (35).

5 The second and third sections, titled “Are They Watching from Space?” and “It Crashed at Roswell… Right?,” respectively, contain the majority of Fleming’s commentary on what transpired after the alleged crash in 1947, what information may have been hidden from the public, how depictions of extraterrestrials evolved as alien-oriented “paranoia continued to grow” in a post-1947 world (82), the ways in which the city of Roswell altered its appearance to better appeal to the tourists that “poured into” the town (179), and more.

6One of the most important points Fleming makes within these sections is not a metaphorical “smoking gun” that definitively proves the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence, for no such evidence has been revealed… yet. Instead, Fleming addresses one of the greatest obstacles that impedes the efforts of those seeking the truth: gullibility within the U.F.O. community.

7In the book’s nineteenth chapter, which primarily focuses on Karl Pflock and his interactions with Glenn Dennis, Fleming writes that “ufologists wanted to believe so badly” in Dennis’ Roswell-related claims that “they’d forgotten to take the truth seriously, and follow the facts wherever they led” (177). Unfortunately, this is likely not an isolated incident. In a field filled with smoke screens, fantastical tales, retracted reports, and full-blown fabrications, it can be easy to mix fact with fiction—especially when personal desire interferes with proper pursuit of the truth. 

8Despite being the shortest by a wide margin, the book’s fourth section is unquestionably the most important when considering modern congressional investigations into the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Within these final pages, Fleming’s Roswell-oriented narrative is anchored to twenty-first century ufology through a brief introduction to Louis Elizondo, Commander David Fravor, and Chad Underwood (223-225). The claims of these men have fueled an unprecedented push for disclosure that may soon answer the questions raised by Fleming and countless others in the wake of Roswell’s most infamous incident.

9While Fleming’s Roswell-centered focus is acceptable given the widespread popularity of this New Mexico mystery, a more thorough development of the discussions surrounding non-Roswell incidents would have provided the audience with a better understanding of the prevalence of these events. For example, the abduction of Travis Walton received only a single paragraph of coverage (96), while other notorious events, such as the Phoenix Lights of the late 1990s, were omitted entirely.

10 The greatest achievement of Crash from Outer Space is the ease with which the book’s content can be readily understood by all readers. While several authors have attempted to publish books unveiling the truth behind governmental involvement with extraterrestrial crafts and/or beings, few have managed to do so without relying upon advanced language that limits the approachability of their respective text(s).

11Fleming’s narrative, however, is largely free from the technical jargon that permeates much of the literature surrounding ufology. This allows the everyday reader to find the book as enjoyable as it is informative. Furthermore, Fleming includes a plethora of photographs, diagrams, and other visual aids to better illustrate the otherworldly topics discussed throughout.

12Whether a newly minted ufologist, a seasoned veteran of the field, or simply someone that enjoys learning about the more unusual aspects of modern culture, researchers, and readers alike will find Fleming’s book a refreshing reminder to look to the skies, question accepted narratives, and consider the plausibility of even the most outlandish of claims.

13As Fleming states in the book’s closing remarks, “there is so much more that remains unknown” (234). Perhaps, in the coming months, the secrets once hidden behind closed doors, hushed whispers, and lengths of legal “red tape” will be made available to the public, finally answering one of mankind’s most pertinent questions: Are we alone?