How UFOs Conquered the World: The History of a Modern Myth

How UFOs Conquered the World traces the modern UFO myth from Kenneth Arnold’s 1947 sighting, when reports of flying objects were transformed by newspaper coverage into the flying-saucer phenomenon. David Clarke combines social history with his own long involvement in ufology, from childhood skywatching and membership of a UFO society to journalistic investigations of sightings and government files.

The book considers alleged alien abductions, hoaxes, conspiracy theories and beliefs that visitors may be angels or demons. Clarke also follows the work of Britain’s former Ministry of Defence UFO desk, while examining how science fiction, popular culture and the human desire to believe shaped reports of phantom rockets, flying saucers and other aerial mysteries.