Rating:  Summary: Forgot Something? Review: Before I got this book in 1995 I had bought Kal's first effort back in 1985. Both need(ed) a good editor! That aside, this book has its good and bad points. The good ones have been pointed out by the other reviewers. My complaints, as a former editor, are about the poor, pixelated quality of most of the photos - making them almost useless, the excessive use of Kal's name and/or initials on almost every page (ego, here), the continuance of his erroneous claim that Meier's 35mm RANGEFINDER camera is a 35mm SLR, and the worst omittance, that of any meanigful comments and examination of Meier's films which, when viewed, have to give one thought about what is going on with Meier. His photos may have been proven questionable or downright hoax but, please, explain how Meier hoaxed the films. How, as one can see in the video of his films, he made the craft dematerialize and materialize in one frame with the accompanying optical effects. Please explain how the craft MATERIALIZES at the bottom of the mountain after disappearing from the top of the screen and when you see this on frame-by-frame analysis the craft doesn't materialize all at once, as you would expect of a hoax. It does so in stages! Eventually becoming a full craft from a pinpoint that gets "fatter." Explain how a model, no matter how large, can look huge as does the craft that emits lights and does a "pendulum" act in the constant wind (not the one over the tree). Please don't come back with poles and strings. We need Kal to do a similar effort for the films as he did for the photos. And if he does, I hope that the quality of the finished product will improve over "Spaceships..." I admire what he did, but the execution (book) left me wanting.
Rating:  Summary: Everything they don't want you to know... Review: I don't see how anyone with an open mind could possibly come away from this book without having serious doubts about the Billy Meier case. Whatever your position on UFOs, you will find this book fascinating. Although Korff himself has had a UFO experience that he continues to be mystified about, he is a serious UFO researcher who believes that the whole field of UFOology can benefit from rigorous scientific examination of specific UFO claims. Extensively documented with footnotes, the book is marred only by a sometimes overly accusatory tone. Note: Kal Korff recently made a public apology to radio talk-show host Art Bell for making what turned out to be unfounded accusations of blacklisting. Korffs quick and abject apology are evidence of his willingness to admit error when shown to be wrong.
Rating:  Summary: Everything they don't want you to know... Review: I just got my hands on this one, and it was truly a fun read. I've laughed over the shoddy photos of Billy Meier for years now, and this investigation into the clims behind those photos was fascinating. It's everything the saucer kooks don't want you to know - the model spaceships photographed against bonsai trees, the "alien woman" photos which turned out to be a dancer on a variety show, and the cult-like atmosphere meier has built around himself and his lies. I'd reccoment this book to anyone with an interest in the UFO scene, or who wishes to provide a skeptical examination of UFO claims to a friend.
Rating:  Summary: Poorly Researched, Or Has An Agenda! Review: Kal Korff's book about Billy Meier is a thesis on his own imagination. Constantly explaining his in-depth "research" of discovering Meier "hoaxed" all 1,200 photos of UFOs, including 7 8mm films and metal samples that reputable, credible scientists with degrees in their fields have been unable to explain as a hoax backed up by the generality "they're models held up with strings" etc., is proof the book should be displayed in the humor section of a bookstore. Since the compound that belongs to Meier's GROUP (not himself) has an Open Sunday 52 times a year, how can anyone pretend they "infiltrated" it? Showing some honesty and respect will allow anyone to sit and talk to various people there and share their own UFO experiences. Meier knows no one believes him and never will until one of the UFOs lands on their own lawn, or that of the White House on CNN. In the meantime, he writes books about his experiences and his group, the F.I.G.U., has established a Web Site to give free data to interested persons. Checking out www.figu.ch should help people experience and learn some of the data Meier was given, on the condition he would publish it so that people on Earth would have a chance to learn something. A look at the conditions around out planet should convince anyone we could use a new viewpoint.
Rating:  Summary: THIS K K book is excellent, honest, and sound Review: Of course people will always believe. And they'll always accuse anyone who disagrees of "having their own agenda" and "drawing conclusions from their own opinion." (What else can a researcher draw conclusions from? Someone else's opinion? That of someone who agrees with you?) But for anyone with an education, this is an eyeful. It requires some understanding of science and research methodology, however. Would make a great double-feature with Carl Sagan's superb "Demon-Haunted World."
Rating:  Summary: Where Is the Objectivity? Review: Over the years, I have read more than 100 books on extraterrestrial activity. This is the first book on the subject that made no attempt what so ever at being objective. As an author myself, I understand the standards of quality that most publishers demand. I am completely amazed that Korff was able to find a publisher. If you have read Korff's book and thought that it was convincing, try searching the web for an article entitled "Analysis of Korff's Spaceships of the Pleiades" written by Jeroen Jansen. Jansen performed a point by point analysis of Kroff's criticisms in a much more objective light than Korff ever used. Jansen also points out that mainstream UFO organization officers praised Korff's book. By doing that these officers proved that the brilliant article, "The Psychology of Dreamland" by Terry Hansen was right on the mark; the people who have volunteered to be officers of UFO organizations are debunkers who work for the government. To recap, the most interesting aspect of Kroff's book is that he was able to publish a book that was wholly unacceptable by modern journalistic standards.
Rating:  Summary: Where Is the Objectivity? Review: Over the years, I have read more than 100 books on extraterrestrial activity. This is the first book on the subject that made no attempt what so ever at being objective. As an author myself, I understand the standards of quality that most publishers demand. I am completely amazed that Korff was able to find a publisher. If you have read Korff's book and thought that it was convincing, try searching the web for an article entitled "Analysis of Korff's Spaceships of the Pleiades" written by Jeroen Jansen. Jansen performed a point by point analysis of Kroff's criticisms in a much more objective light than Korff ever used. Jansen also points out that mainstream UFO organization officers praised Korff's book. By doing that these officers proved that the brilliant article, "The Psychology of Dreamland" by Terry Hansen was right on the mark; the people who have volunteered to be officers of UFO organizations are debunkers who work for the government. To recap, the most interesting aspect of Kroff's book is that he was able to publish a book that was wholly unacceptable by modern journalistic standards.
Rating:  Summary: Enters the CIA Review: The agenda here is very simple. Kal worked as senior analyst for Star Wars in Livermore California and is out to prove that UFOs don't exist. He tried to do it with a debunking of Roswell, which is another litany of lies. Star Wars is the main boondoggle of a clique of big government spenders, bent on selling politicians the idea that visitors from space have hostile intentions toward earth. That does not sit well with the Billy Meier message that I encourage anyone to read for the survival of our species. Meier's messages and photos begin to surface in 1975. By 1980, the CIA did not know what to do with it. Under the pretense of testing public gullibility, two CIA agents came to Berkeley CAL and presented the public evidence of the Meier story. With insight, it was obviously with the intent to falsfify the story. The falsified story would be later debunked. By 1981, the clique debunkers had created a completely falsified story with numerous outrageous claims that Meier never did, and by painting strings to his numerous photos, when they did not create fakes and attributed them to Billy. Whenever a real and well documented UFO event occurs, agents for the clique create a counterfeit event, closely ressembling the real event, that is later debunked. They did not have to pay Kal, he just fell for it, unless he was paid to write what he did. Whenever one comes across the names of Kal Korff, Richard Motzer, James Oberg, Karl Pflock, Philip Klass, Donald Menzel, Carl Sagan and other official debunkers, bear in mind that all of the above worked or benefited from the clique and are out to spread lies. April Seventeen "Intercession" sold exclusively by Amazon.com
Rating:  Summary: Enters the CIA Review: The agenda here is very simple. Kal worked as senior analyst for Star Wars in Livermore California and is out to prove that UFOs don't exist. He tried to do it with a debunking of Roswell, which is another litany of lies. Star Wars is the main boondoggle of a clique of big government spenders, bent on selling politicians the idea that visitors from space have hostile intentions toward earth. That does not sit well with the Billy Meier message that I encourage anyone to read for the survival of our species. Meier's messages and photos begin to surface in 1975. By 1980, the CIA did not know what to do with it. Under the pretense of testing public gullibility, two CIA agents came to Berkeley CAL and presented the public evidence of the Meier story. With insight, it was obviously with the intent to falsfify the story. The falsified story would be later debunked. By 1981, the clique debunkers had created a completely falsified story with numerous outrageous claims that Meier never did, and by painting strings to his numerous photos, when they did not create fakes and attributed them to Billy. Whenever a real and well documented UFO event occurs, agents for the clique create a counterfeit event, closely ressembling the real event, that is later debunked. They did not have to pay Kal, he just fell for it, unless he was paid to write what he did. Whenever one comes across the names of Kal Korff, Richard Motzer, James Oberg, Karl Pflock, Philip Klass, Donald Menzel, Carl Sagan and other official debunkers, bear in mind that all of the above worked or benefited from the clique and are out to spread lies. April Seventeen "Intercession" sold exclusively by Amazon.com
Rating:  Summary: THIS K K book is excellent, honest, and sound Review: This investigative report is a must read for UFO buffs, no matter your beliefs. Kal Korff, who says he is an honest UFO investigator/researcher delivers a book that is engaging. I started reading it, not expecting to be impressed, but soon I was immersed in the story. Korff has been a researcher of UFOs, and of one of the more sensational contact 'cases,' that of Swiss Eduard "Billy" Meier [hereafter BM] and his fantastic claims of UFO sighting and contact. The gullible press and many New Agers have taken to BM's claims like fish to water. BM first told his little metaphysical group about his experiences 'seeing' UFOs as well as visits with aliens. Soon he produced convincing photos of 'spaceships' and told of amazing revelations from one 'alien' in particular. While Korff doubted the veracity of BM's claims, he decided to go to Switzerland and see for himself. The story of KK's visit to the BM compound is interesting in itself, as Korff had to go there under an alias since he had already written articles that took a negative view of BM's stories. Korff visits and outwits the fanatic followers of ufo cult leader Meier. To be able to do his own research, Korff sneaks into Meier's guarded compound out in the forests, in the middle of the night. FOR THE REST of the review please visit my Amazon associate site, the criticalreviews dot com.
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