The Mothman Prophecies

By: John A. Keel

Narrated by: Craig Wasson

West Virginia, 1966. For thirteen months the town of Point Pleasant is gripped by a real-life nightmare that culminates in a strategy that makes headlines around the world. Strange occurrences and sightings, including a bizarre winged apparition that becomes known as the Mothman, trouble this ordinary American community. Mysterious lights are seen moving across the sky. Domestic animals are found slaughtered and mutilated. And journalist John Keel, arriving to investigate the freakish events, soon finds himself an integral part of an eerie and unfathomable mystery....©1991 John A. Keel; (P)2002 Random House, Inc.; Original Cover Art ©Screen Gems, Inc., Sony Pictures. The motion picture "The Mothman Prophecies" is available in stores on VHSand DVD. Also see Sony Pictures' website, http://www.sonypictures.com.

Smart, compelling, disturbing

A word to the wise: If you're looking for a novelization of the Richard Gere movie, you might want to think twice before ordering this book. John A. Keel's "The Mothman Prophecies" is not a novel, nor is it fiction. It is the sober account of a professional journalist who also happens to be a paranormal researcher. As such, it is one of the best books of its genre. By way of the mysterious figure of the Mothman, who haunted Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in the late 1960s, Keel puts forth his grand unified theory of all things paranormal, which connects such seemingly diverse phenomena as ghosts, fairies, UFOs, men in black, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Mothman, angels, demons, and even The Shadow, the pulp-magazine crimebuster. Keel's clear, engaging style lends credence to the strange goings-on that he collects and documents, and the conclusions that he draws not only ring true but also linger long after the final page. As the Mothman mystery deepens and the author's life begins to imitate a David Lynch film, readers may want to turn on a few extra lights, but they won't be able to turn off this book.

Interesting viewpoint on the supernatural

The book covered a lot of stories about UFO cases, mothman and the "men in black". Good read! Very interesting!

a great holistic account of paranormal phenomenon

Anyone looking for a more involved and objective investigation of all paranormal phenomenon look no further. If you have seen the movie and were disappointed like me, give the book a chance for it is far more enlightening on the subject and less an attempt at a Hollywood blockbuster.

Fun, spooky, intriguing, and thought provoking.

What made the experience of listening to The Mothman Prophecies the most enjoyable?

I grew up in Southeastern Ohio, and so the collapse of the Silver Bridge had a huge impact on me as a child. To connect a supernatural element to all of this makes the story spine-tingling and psychologically menacing. This was a tough audio book to put aside, because I kept finding myself wanting to hear more and more.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

It is a blend of supernatural intrigue with real-life tragedy, and it is done so while completely and effectively capturing the atmosphere and essence of that particular part of the country. This is the kind of work that I can't wait to listen to again. I also like how the author seeks to explain and understand various supernatural theories and how that might apply here. This is a story that still haunts Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia.

What about Craig Wasson’s performance did you like?

I have always been a big fan of Craig Wasson. There are times when his choice of accent and infliction seem, perhaps, stereotypical and safe, but he successfully brings the full potential of the text to life. Mr. Wasson also does so without drawing attention away from the text and onto himself. This is truly a wonderful performance. I wish that Mr. Wasson would read everything that I purchase here at Audible.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This was an amazing audible experience.

Any additional comments?

The author, Craig Wasson, and the producers of this particular production should be very proud of what they accomplished.

Alien Conspiracy Theorists Rejoice

Oh my. It was very hard to take this audio book seriously. It is the digital equivalent to a campfire ghost story. Or am I being mislead by extra-terrestrial beings and mysterious men in black suits. I jumped into this without doing any research. Bad move on my part.