Jeremy Vaeni's "I Know Why the Aliens Don't Land" - A Must Read

I like Jeremy Vaeni. I don't agree with him about much of anything when it comes to politics, but that's par for the course with me and more than a few folks in ufology, who seem to be obsessed with the notion that George W. Bush is a fascist anti-Christ (when he leaves office at the end of his term with no fuss, I'll be the first to say "I told you so"). There is a group that is so far "left" they're sometimes "right"... and almost always wrong. Jeremy is in that group.

But I digress.

I like Jeremy Vaeni. I like him because he makes me think, which is a special ability in a world of conformists and time-wasters. I like him because he has a good sense of humour. I like him because he offered me a free place to stay should I ever visit New York City.

Oops... I digress again.

Look, let me cut to the chase - Vaeni has written a book that should be read by a lot more people (and should definitely be read by the folks at Coast to Coast). I Know Why the Aliens Don't Land is, as Jim Marrs says on the cover blurb, "a wild ride" (note: this is probably the only time I will ever agree with Jim Marrs about anything). It's a fascinating look, not so much about aliens or abductions (Vaeni claims to be an abductee) as it is a shotgun-like stream of consciousness philippic against all that's rotten in Denmark... er, America... er, the modern world. Perhaps all of the above, and more.

Using that humour I mentioned earlier, as well as some pretty pointed observations about this, that and just about all other things, Vaeni slices and dices a lot of sacred cows, all packaged in a messy but always compelling autobiographical package. This is Vaeni's journey - his heart and soul. It's not always pretty, but it makes for wonderfully thought-provoking reading.

I've been trying to think of the highest compliment I can pay Vaeni and his book, and for me, given what I do for a living, it comes down to this - I Know Why The Aliens Don't Land should be adapted into a major Hollywood film. No, that's not true - a major, Michael Bay-style film would ruin it. What needs to happen is that the book gets adapted and made as a decently budgeted indie.

Paul Giamatti could play Vaeni.

It would rock and / or roll.

Here's another compliment I'll send Vaeni's way - I lifted a couple of lines from his book, adapted them, and stuck them in Doing Time as dialogue. He may recognize the following:

Leda thumbs through the book again.

LEDA: It’s not postmodernist, is it?

JANE: No. Would that be a problem, however?

LEDA: I hate postmodernism. It says that there’s so much contradiction on any subject, to the point that because it can’t all be true, none of it can be true. The problem is that it still leaves you with the subject itself, so something about it must be true. There has to be a truth somewhere, so long as there are facts.

Coming soon to a theatre near you, assuming you live in Halifax.

Well done, Jeremy.

Paul Kimball