Rating: 
Summary: Missed the Mark
Review: I wasn't interested in seeing the movie but the idea of the book captivated me so I was pleased when it was re-released. Unfortunately, I found the book somewhat disappointing.The premise of Mothman Prophecies is interesting but the actual execution of the book doesn't live up to the promise of the subject matter. Keel tries to include too much information and too many diverse happenings. While everything in the book contributes to the premise - that strange things did indeed happen in West Virginia one year in the mid-sixties - he never really focuses on any one aspect. Mothmen are one of many phenomena he describes. And while he gives a great deal of background on the many phenomena, he never really lets us know what he thought caused the upheaval that year. There are many case studies but very few conclusions as to the cases he encounters first-hand. And when he does cite previous studies or encounters, his sources seem a little shaky. Citing established sources is one thing but citing what I would think of as fringe publications causes me to question the validity of both his conclusions and the original source material. I do, however, understand that legitimate, well done research is produced by less established organizations and publications. While there are flaws, Keel does make the book enjoyable. It could be dry and lifeless but he injects a good sense of humor into his study keeping the reader engaged. And while you may believe nothing about what he claims happened, he does make a strong case for himself. Its hard to avoid admitting that something outside our collective realms of experience happened that year.
Rating: 
Summary: Little Value
Review: It is understandable why his other books, according to his own admission, were not well received.
Mr. Keel offers some rather off the wall explanations with little or nothing in the way of proof except HIS word. For those unfamiliar with this subject, controversial as it is, the book may have some interest even if of very little value.
Mr. Keel dismisses, with a wave of his hand, everything written by valid and serious investigations. Admittedly there are those who have written who do not deserve to be taken seriously and Mr. Keel is at the top of that list.
Desmond
Rating: 
Summary: Decent book
Review: While this book contained some interesting stories about "aliens" and abduction scenarios, it is also very disjointed and out of step. Keel bounces from one unrelated story to the next, and I can't for the life of me understand his ridiculous "energy beings" theory on UFO's; from what I could gather of his ideas, he makes people who think the dark side of the moon is inhabited by aliens seem almost mainstream. Despite my frustration with Mr. Keel's writing style and theories, I would still recommend this book to anyone interested in the paranormal.
Rating: 
Summary: A monumental work of the paranormal
Review: Having read most of John Keels's other UFO-paranormal books I was still not prepared for the knock-out dramatic conclusion to this one. I've read some other reviews in here and they seem to be all over the place. What you need to know about John Keel is that he investigated and traveled around the world to the sites of as many UFO and paranormal events as he could to see where the event took place and meet the people involved. This is in contrast to some of the so called 'investigations' made by the Air Force's Project Blue Book and armchair UFO investigators who often relied solely on second hand information. This quest was combined with a keen insight into the underlying nature of UFO and paranormal phenomena. For that reason I trust his opinions and speculations more than any other researcher out here. Keel also used news clipping services as all UFO writers do, to locate sightings and correlate information from everywhere to help piece the whole paranormal puzzle together. Information is a good thing. Information that is checked out is even better. Keel also did not try to exclude certain information that seemed too bizarre or that might not support the 'extraterrestrial' hypothesis that the old school of UFO research is obsessed with. This is one of the very best books ever written on the UFO and Paranormal subject and is considered a classic. I highly recommend both this and all of John Keel's UFO books.
Rating:
Summary: The real story
Review: This is the real story behind the movie. This story is more compelling than anything Hollywood could make up.
Rating:
Summary: Movie First, Book Second
Review: Another reviewer recommended seeing the movie first and reading the book second. This is a good idea as the movie is good for entertainment value and about 10% truth. Keel's book is the actual events as they took place. The book is told in a straight-forward and scientific manner. I was very glad that the author did not spend the whole time talking just about the Mothman. He also included parts of related phenomenon, such as the men-in-black. Definitely a book that needs to be read by UFO enthusiasts.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but read the fine print....
Review: Ok, we have seen the movie, some of us have read Keel's book (this being a reprint). What no one seems to mention is the fine print located on the copyright page, which reads: "This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously." If you don't believe me, glance at the copyright page. Obviously, this paperback edition was prepared as a movie tie-in. Touted as a "true event" the publisher then informs us it is all a work of the "author's imagination." And therein must lie a lot of truth. Yes, the book is mildly entertaining, if a bit choppy in parts. My advice is, read THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES with a large dose of salt (and the movie is much better).
Rating:
Summary: Changed my outlook on the world
Review: I never read 5 star reviews because they usually just gush about how wonderful the book is and don't provide a balanced view. Yet here I am doing just that. But this book is perhaps the only of the many I have read on UFOs, the "paranormal" or the occult that truly deserves it. First and foremost, Keel is a great storyteller. He transcends the dry facts of the phenomena he investigates and weaves them into compelling human stories while, at the same time, challenges the readers to examine their own assumptions and biases about paranormal phenomena. I began reading about flying saucers and related phenomena because I thought they were silly and they appealed to the same part of me that appreciates Alfred Jarry or Marcel Duchamp. But by reading Mothman, I discovered that there are real human stories, real lives changed forever by these events that I found so silly. That reality is so much stranger and wonderous than I was willing to accept.
Rating:
Summary: Good Investigation
Review: I read this book many years ago when it first came out.It is excellent and written in the style of John G Fuller's Incident at Exeter and The Interrupted Journey. This is certainly not your run of the mill type book that follows a movie release.
Rating: 
Summary: The movie and the book are not the same thing!
Review: I just had to clarify the fact that the movie is "based" on the events that are recorded in Keel's book. The book is by far and away better than the movie. First off the book takes place in 1967/68 not the present. Besides giving you a look into all the paranormal phenomenon floating around Point Pleasant at the time it also gives you a look into the attitude and fear the people of the small town were feeling at the time.
There are stories of aliens, strange lights, men in black, mysterious phone calls and of course the mothman. The name is misleading as he does not resemble a moth at all (in fact the name came from a reporter making a reference to a Batman villian). But to anyone interested in cryptozoology he is a beast that is worth looking into.
True the book is a little egotistical as John Keel makes himself out to be a superhero at times but I genuinely enjoy his take on the situations. His writing style is a little choppy and sometimes jumps into other accounts of unexplained events but it is easy to get through.
As this is really the only book that centers on the Mothman and the events in Point Pleasant it is definately reccommended reading for paranormal fans. There is even a section on Indrid Cold (another being worth looking into for the interesting and sometimes ridiculous story).
Just please don't slight this chilling tale because of the terrible movie apparently made from the book's cliff notes.
| 
