Customer Reviews
Intriguing fare. - By: Kevin Buchanan, 20 Oct 2002 
No matter what you think, say or feel about the whole 'abduction experience', this book is worthy of attention.
It's not a big "Aliens are here & they've come to steal our cheese!" type of book, nor is it any king of attempt to scientifically analyse the UFO phenomena, blinding the reader with science & throwingin fact after fact about Roswell, the Philadelphia experiment & the Majestic Bureau (Although he does cover some of that material laterin his novel, MAJESTIC).
What Communion does, is take a very personal & deeply psychological look at UFO encounters & 'abductions'. His stories are told from the point of view of a normal human, whose experiences cause concern for his own mental welfare & then the physical safety of his family.
His reliance on Hypnosis does raise some questions as to the authenticity, & later books come to question whether the encounters are extra-Terrestrial or some other kind of phenomena, which many detractors claimed was an admission that he was 'faking it'.
However he recounts many stories, some of which may ring familar bellsin peoples memories. Strange stories from his childhood or recollections that he can't put his finger on. When I first started to read this book my younger sister (unaware that I had or was reading it) described a childhood memory that closely echoed a passagein the book.
If it's factual, then Streiber does as good a job as anyone could of stringing together events & trying to make sense of them. If it's fiction, he's done an equally remarkable job of bringing together common fears & mental imagery.
If you're a UFO 'enthusiast' or a heavy conspiracy theorist then don't look here. This is much more about the human condition than it is about little grey men. If your interest is more casual, or more personal then take a look. There's even a chance it may keep you awake at night for a while.
Perhaps the most disturbing book I have ever read. - By: Sonic (sonics_fridge@yahoo.com), 01 Mar 2002 
To say that I was a true believerin UFOs & Extra-terrestrial visitors would be an exaggeration & to say the exact opposite would be a false claim too, therefore, it was with a completely open state of mind that I approached Whitley Strieber's book.....and it wasin exactly the same frame of mind that I finished the book! However, having said this, the fact that I was not truly convinced by Strieber's accounts by no means lessens the impact of the book as a whole. I found Communion to be one of the most disturbing, intriguing, shocking & incredible experiences I have ever been through as a reader. The author maintains an unflinching honesty throughout the book as he attempts to explain the disturbing events of three particular nights & it is this honesty, & his willingness to hold himself up to intense worldwide scrutiny, that has propelled this book into becoming the international bestseller that it deserves to be! It makes no difference whether you believe or not, it's what Strieber has to say that really matters here. Reading this book is a unique experience that will stay with you long after you have tucked it back into your bookshelf! One of the greatest books ever writtenin any genre!
People interested in alien abductions will like this book. - By: , 31 Aug 1999 This book is a very good bookin the category of alien abductions. The experiences Strieber relates are interesting & strange. The flaw of this book is that Strieber begins to give his own theories about aliens, religion, & society. Those theories can be a bit of a bore from the rest of the book, but anyway. If you are interestedin stories of alien abductions, this book is recommended.
A fun read, but don't take it too seriously. - By: , 10 Aug 1999 
I bought & read this book for the same reason that I went with my wife to see "The Blair Witch Project": To be scared by something very ominous, eerie & terrifying while at the same time finding securityin the knowledge that it is all made up. For the most part, the book did the trick, although I didn't much care for the areas of the bookin which Strieber dwells on his transcendental mumbo-jumbo take on alien abductions or whatever. But I suppose he has to make some kind of sense out of it all. He just didn't need to share it with me. The movie is frightening as well & weird at times like this book. But treat the movie & the book the same, as the telling of a ghost story that you can turn the lights on afterwards. Don't go running off across the desert trying to break into Area 51 or Hangar 8 or whatever. Those people will shoot you!
Reality is changing - By: , 29 Jun 1999 this life experience related here by the author is not only common to him but many other persons all over the world, from all nationalities & social backrounds, including myselfe. It is something so personnal, such a big truthin our selfes, that the fact that it is not acepted by society does not even touches it's foundations of truth inside of you. It doesn't matter because YOU KNOW that it is your reality as much as you have five fingersin your hand. This book will help all those who are starting to become aware that there is more about this living existence of ours that people normaly think to grow into a more universal existence, where love is the engine of all things. Wonderfully fritning & simultaneously beautifull. A must for all those who want to know something more about our reality then it is said to be.
