Majestic is Whitley Strieber’s historical thriller about the events in Roswell in 1947 and the creation of the alleged secret intelligence organization called Majestic. The novel follows discredited journalist Nicholas A Duke as he dutifully, if not somewhat skeptically at first, informs the public of what really happened when Mac Brazel stumbled across the strange debris while working the ranch for which he was foreman. As Duke records the confessions or chronicle of Wilfred Stone, former director of Majestic, as he quietly dies of cancer in his home, Duke becomes angry with Stone for his years of deception, but this slowly turns to compassion as the man recalls the events that happened to him since his childhood. Events that deliberately entwined his life with the unknown agenda of the others for which he ultimately had no say – the reader develops a sense that Stone was groomed to be where he was. Duke begins to develop a grudging respect for Stone as he realizes the strength of the man’s character that helped him survive a lifetime of encounters with these unknown and totally alien beings. In Stone’s story we read the underlying events that Whitley Strieber alleged happened to him, which he has reported elsewhere in such books as Communion and Transformation. Streiber’s take on his experience with what he terms the “intelligent unknown” is a hair raising and surreal combination of terror and the spiritual. Rather than seeing these unknown beings as evil, Streiber seems to accept that the others are here to help us even as their actions are often traumatic and difficult to accept as benevolent. This almost New Age spiritual take has often caused him to be at odds with researchers such as the late Budd Hopkins, who was motivated primarily out of compassion for expriencers, especially in the later half of his somewhat dubious career. But, regardless of where you fall in terms of accepting or rejecting such realities Strieber is still one of the great practioners of thriller fiction writing today. Majestic is no exception. This book will cause the tiny hairs on your arms and the back of your neck to rise from beginning to end.Streiber states in his introduction that his intent is to use fiction to tell the true story of what happened in Roswell in an attempt to come to terms and even understand what may really be happening. As such he does a great job of blending history with fiction. Changing names of important characters in order to take some fictional liberties -Brazel’s name is changed as is Major Jessie Marcel (Major Grey in the Book), but many historical figures i.e. Truman, General Ramey, remain – in order to take the story in the direction he needs it to go.Majestic is a truly spooky tale. The author, like any great writer of thrillers, knows how to maintain enough of the mystery to leave the reader guessing when they reach the final word on the last page. This is a satisfying read.
Volt egy időszak életemben, úgy nagyjából az általános iskola vége és a középiskolai tanulmányok első fele táján, amikor a kutatói alkatot általában jellemző ellenállhatatlan vonzalom az új, az ismeretlen felé nagyrészt a paranormális és a földönkívüli jelenségekről szóló irodalom habzsolásában nyert kielégülést. Az érdeklődés azóta sem enyészett el teljes mértékben, csupán a nézőpont változott: ma már sokkal inkább a jelenség szociológiai oldala mozgatja a fantáziámat.Így visszatekintve is azt gondolom, nem volt haszontalan végigrágni magam azon könyvek garmadán, amire ma sokan mondják könnyű szívvel, hogy kidobnivaló szenny, egyszerű idővesztegetés. Az intézményes tudománynak például igencsak sok idejébe – s nem kevés presztízsveszteségbe – került, míg rájött, az áltudományos eszmék terjedése ellen nem az agyonhallgatás, a fölényes legyintés vagy a szimpla kigúnyolás az igazán hatékony fegyver, hanem a jelenség antropológiai és szociológiai szempontú tanulmányozása, természetének megértése. Miért is írom ezt? Elsősorban azért, mert Whitley Strieber ezen könyve több szempontból is az UFO-irodalom állatorvosi lova.A szerző a tengerentúlon jól ismert író, sikereit mindenekelőtt egyfajta hibrid regényekkel érte el, melyek félig az ufológia dokumentarista-oknyomozó, félig a sci-fi műfajába tartoznak. Jelen regénye sem jelent kivételt. Strieber az ufológusok alapozómítoszára, az 1947-es új-mexikói történések köré építi fel saját fikcióját, végig kétségek között hagyva az olvasót, hogy hol ér véget a tények birodalma, s honnan járunk immár a kimeríthetetlen írói fantáziavilág ösvényein. Pontosan ez teszi ugyanakkor élvezetessé a Majestic című regényt. Hiszel vagy sem a földönkívüliek látogatásaiban, olvasd úgy ezt a könyvet, mint egy vegytiszta regényt, s kellemes meglepetésben lesz részed. Megérted továbbá, miért tekinthető az ufológia a szó legszorosabb értelmében vett valláspótléknak a 20. század második felében, mely köré igencsak ismerős módon szerveződött az a merchandizing, mely egyszerre húz hasznot belőle és tartja életben. Lehet ez éppenséggel visszataszító vagy ámulatba ejtő, egyvalami tagadhatatlan: van, létezik.
What do You think about Majestic (1990)?
This was written as fiction only to give it protection from National Security oath violations on the part of whomever provided the documents Strieber was able to review. One of the characters, I'm not sure which, must have been based on James Forrestal, U.S. Secretary of Defense, who was "suicided" while confined to Bethesda Naval Hospital, allegedly because he wanted to testify before Congress that UFOs and aliens were real. The real question here is "who gave top-secret documents to Strieber and why?"
—Dale Stonehouse
Based on the famous MJ-12 document, Majestic is the story of the events that led to the clandestine agency's inception and its inner workings as reported to us by fictional reporter Nicholas Duke who is getting this remarkable story from Majestic director Wilfred Stone.My position on the whole UFO phenomenon is that I'm somewhat skeptical, but the events, the conspiracies, and the speculations as to why the aliens are here are just fun to read about. Now because this novel is presented as a work
—Dwayne Caldwell
I also have the post apocalyptic ones sitting around in my to read pile. So, at some point that will happen. I don't remember anything about this. I think I just slogged through. I figure the way you can tell if you are a genetic garbage dump is if aliens have never abducted you. But all I need is a casual glance around at my relatives to tell me that. Bipolar, alcoholism, cancer, dementia...Also excited to see him jumping on the ya supernatural or is it dystopia band wagon, yeah! JOIN US. Please do.
—Marna
