Forbidden Science 6: Scattered Castles. The Journals of Jacques Vallee, 2010-2019 (book review).
For those who don’t know, Dr. Jacques Vallee has a master’s degree in astrophysics and a PhD in computer science. He is also a world authority on UFOs/UAPs. This book, ‘Forbidden Science 6: Scattered Castles,’ is the sixth of his books, but from the text they aren’t all journals but cover his life from 2010 to 2019. I didn’t know that I was offered the book, but it is significant because it should be covering the period when the USS Nimitz and its aircraft observed a UAP at sea six years earlier in 2004.
Alas, the index is there to cover people more than events, but you do get some insight into his busy life after his wife Janine died and his marriage of sorts to Flamine, ultimately divided by country preferences. He namedrops a lot, including a meeting with the Clintons, although the president didn’t want to get into the subject. He was also friends with comic book creator Jack Katz and special effects maestro Doug Trumbull.
Much of it involves documenting world events as they occur, as well as Vallee’s various contacts and travels. He has an interest in the Skinwalker Ranch, which has a lot of unusual happenings that you’ve probably seen on Channel 64 in the UK, and I’ve reviewed a book on the subject. I was surprised Vallee had an interest in distance viewing, as I thought the ‘stargate’ named program had ended decades ago. Back in 1950–2011, there had been 2700 books and almost as many videos on UFOs released. Even he’s tired of them going over the old cases so much with little more insight. Like all these experts, they dedicate a significant amount of time to ensure the authenticity of any new evidence. I was surprised to learn that there have been a few instances where UAPs have been seen destroying vehicles, but even they are unsure of the cause.
Something that quickly becomes apparent a decade back is how many people Vallee knows in his work are dying off, but not many younger people are replacing them. He doesn’t state the last, but it does become apparent they are getting short of new blood.
There’s a lot of emphasis on blue globes, the original foo-fighters, as they still pop up. The reference to the Sirocco incident from 1964 was particularly intriguing. I checked to see if the photo of the incident was available online, but it wasn’t, even though it scared or surprised a police officer and had a distinctive symbol on it.
Some observations, such as the existence of reptile/human hybrids, surprised me, as I had previously dismissed them as completely fabricated. Then again, Vallee and his friends are also looking through the Bible for any close encounters. I tend to find that problematic because you still have to distinguish which biblical stories are fictional and factual.
One intriguing point by a former investigator of BAASS was that important UFO sites were Colares (Portugal), Mount Hood (Oregon), and the Northern Tier (Pennsylvania). So I did a little more investigating but was no wiser.
A lot of the reasons for what this group does in creating limited companies are to preserve UFO material from going public domain and being exploited in part rather than showing the entire material. Considering the amount of fake news on the Internet, that’s probably just as well.
Fans of the Nimitz encounter should be aware that the book’s fifth section revealed the footage in 2018. The UAP measured 45 feet in length and travelled at a speed comparable to a camera shutter. The information about it and other aircraft carrier sightings remains incomplete.
This is a long read. Vallee likes meeting people, frequently eating, and travelling around the world for his research. He’s also a bit of a geek when you see the books he reads and the films he watches. He provides some details about his research, primarily focussing on organising his files for future researchers. I think his research and commentary are in other books, but I would have liked more. Oddly, the only criticism I have is towards the end of the book, where he corrects an event that happened from Cornwall to Aberystwyth, although he doesn’t note it was in Wales, a long way away.
It does reveal some flaws in this book. Vallee assumes that you are already familiar with the subject matter he discusses, without providing additional details for those who are new to the book, nor does he offer his personal opinions on the world events he observes along the way. I’m familiar with a lot of it, so that’s no problem, but if you’re not, expect to look things up.
There is some good stuff in there. Some of the UFO metal samples they’ve got and tested have isotopes that are rare on Earth. There were a few other things mentioned that I wish he’d give some more up-to-date information for about what happened next.
Be aware that this is a long read—I was reading 60 pages a day—but it may inspire you to read his other books on the topic.
GF Willmetts
February 2025
(pub: Anomalist Books, 2025. 554 page illustrated indexed enlarged paperback. Price: $27.95 (US), £22.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-949501-360-0)
check out website: www.AnomalistBooks.com
