What do You think about The 12th Planet (2015)?
Unlike Erich Von Daniken who wrote "Chariots of the Gods", Zecharia Sitchin is an internationally well-regarded religious scholar that can read the Sumerian Cuneiform tablets. Sitchin's book the Twelfth Planet, mixes rigorous research into traditional archaeology, astronomy, and comparative religious studies to present his version of the ancient alien hypothesis. Do not get me wrong, Von Daniken is a brilliant, courageous man who is often misunderstood. He does not claim to be a master of ancient languages or cultures, but more of an assemblers of great questions left resoundingly unanswered by traditional academia. Charles Fort was really the first to propose the ancient astronaut theory over 100 years ago, but Von Daniken put drove it into popular culture helping bring about television shows like Ancient Aliens. Sitchin's book is really interesting in that he argues from reading the ancient Sumerian creation epics that our Solar System actually has an extra planet that has a 3,600 years elliptic. He argues that the tablets make claims that hold true today about astronomy that they had no technology to know. For Example, they knew we lived in a helio-centric system. They knew about Uranus and Neptune even Pluto a mind-boggling 6,000 years ago. Moreover, he uses evolution to explain how suddenly out of nothing, man went from the stone age to living in an agricultural city, knowing astronomy, and doing math with numbers containing 15 digits. Evolution is not that fast. I found his arguments very exciting and importantly backed up by science and history. When are we going to start asking multi-disciplinary teams of doctorate level scientists to look into these ancient mysteries? Such as how did people cut granite with and move 200 ton stones without the wheel. Who built the pyramids? The traditional answers to these questions are preposterous. We would have a difficult time building the Great Pyramid at Giza today. It is 2.3 million metric tons of precisely cut stones that displays precision down to the millimeter. Modern day engineers just shake their head. Puma Punku in Peru is another impossibility. The stone cutting required harder metals than people had at that time according to traditional accounts. So what, we just say who knows? I do not think that is sufficient. Someone with modern technology built many edifices on this planet and they were either lost to history or they were given help. Why not five stars, because my eyes started to glaze over at the vast amount of supporting research he includes. I am better for having read this brave, massive effort by a brilliant scholar.
—Benjamin Atkinson
I wonder how many people have heard about Zecharia Sitchin. He has written extensively over the last thirty five years on topics that most people would consider important for a variety of reasons; cosmology, cosmogony, archeology, paleontology, linguistics, history, geography, ufology, Sumerology, theology, and a few other 'ologies' as well as being one of the few people on earth who can actually read and decipher ancient cuneiform writing.Born in Russia, he immigrated to Israel and then moved to New York where he died. His knowledge in the fields he writes about is broad and deep and the passion he reveals for the related topics he writes about is evident in every one of his books. His writing abilities are matched by his expert knowledge in a broad range of fields that literally encompass the entire planet.So, just what is it about Zecharia Sitchin that makes him a unique man, writer and teacher?The answer to this question is simple; he not only wondered about the beginning and cause of our solar system and the beginning of mankind, he did something about it ~ he dug into the trash-bin of the ancient past and put together the intricate pieces of a story that literally surpass any science-fiction book ever written. Once you begin to get acquainted with Mr. Sitchin and his writings, I feel certain you will be captured by what he has to say; the conclusions he makes with reference to the history of our planet, from its 'creation' to the present time, as well as mankind's fate.Below is a list of books that Sitchin has published which compriseThe Earth Chronicles:The 12th Planet (1976)The Stairway to HeavenThe Wars of Gods and MenThe Lost RealmsWhen Time BeganThe Cosmic CodeThe End of DaysCompanion Books:Genesis RevisitedDivine EncountersThe Lost Book of EnkiAutobiographical Books:The Earth Chronicles ExpeditionsJourneys to a Mystical PastIf you love a mystery; if you're interested in what the ancients thought and wrote about pertaining to earth's beginnings and mankind's entrance onto its landscape, as well as a comprehensive understanding of mankind's relationship to the "Lofty Ones"; those who came down to earth 450,000 years ago and created a full-blown civilization then you will love what Zecharia Sitchin has to say in his excellent rendition, fully encompassed in The Earth Chronicles.
—Jessie Jess
Though now a bit dated, The 12th Planet was published in 1976, it is still an interesting read. Originally, I had read the book in the late '70s and it was fascinating. But reading it now, it all seems a bit dated and hokey -- the whole business about the Nephilim's space program reads a lot like the American Apollo Program of the '60s. Still, having said that, it was a fascinating entertainment. The whole Ancient Aliens meets Middle Eastern Religion/Myth trope is a fascinating one. For myself, these books are simple entertainment and nothing more. If you are looking for a rundown on the criticism directed at Mr. Sitchin you will find it on his Wikipedia page -- I feel no need to go into these here. After all, books like this are not, by the general reader, meant to be taken all that seriously. They are fascinating modern mythologies, and some out of control attempts to squeeze myth and religion into an off-the-cuff, almost psychotic, agenda. I, however, can't help myself -- I love these books. Also, much of the contemporary Ancient Alien hypothesis [and I am being generous with the term] found its origin here and with the work of Erich von Däniken. Therefore, as source material it is still an important read. The average reader may find a lot of the material repetitive, because many of the ideas presented here have made their way into the works of other Ancient Alien theorists, but there is still much that will be new for readers who are interested in fringe thinkers. 4 out of 5 stars Recommended for Ancient Alien theorists and those interested in speculative/fringe history/myth. Lots of fun.
—David
