Lying Wonders of the Red Planet By: S. Woodward

The history of the Red Planet features enchanted fiction, diabolical deception, frustrated hopes, cutting-edge science, and dark occult beliefs. Over the past half-century, this story intensified as the exploration of our planetary neighbor expanded with satellite photo-flybys and robotic science labs creeping across the Martian surface. Despite discovering Mars’ unsuitability for life of most every kind, myths continue to flourish about intelligent life once present there, channeled encounters with aliens, rapid space travel back and forth to Mars, and a massive military base some ancient alien theorists believe exists below its surface.

An unpredictable development in popular culture, Ancient Astronaut Theory grows more mainstream. The work of Zecharia Sitchin, Eric Van Däniken, and David Hatcher Childress, made popular on The History Channel's Ancient Aliens, offers a new spirituality for the pseudo-scientifically minded. Most viewers know little of the history of this deceptive theory which finds its origin in Madam Blavatsky's nineteenth-century esoteric Secret Doctrine, American 20th century science fiction writers, creators of famous pulp fiction short stories and novellas (Asimov, Bradbury, Heinlein), but especially so with the celebrated dark fiction of H.P. Lovecraft written during the 1920s and ‘30s.

Giving context to all Ancient Alien Theory, Woodward supplies a compelling account of personages and their theories on Mars which reveals the secrets behind the alien story: the enigmatic Percival Lowell; French astronomer/spiritualist Camille Flammarion; physics genius Nikola Tesla; the German rocket scientist Werner von Braun; romantic scientist/author Carl Sagan; and late astronomer Tom Van Flandern. Whether scientist or author, all saw in Mars as a stepping stone to the stars and the means through which humanity would discern its place in the Cosmos.

“(Woodward) hits every important topic regarding the burgeoning UFO phenomena in what may become a researcher’s go-to guide for UFOs, ET, and whether intelligent life ever existed (or exists today!) on Mars.“ - L. A. Marzulli (from the Foreword)

S. Douglas Woodward has written seven books on alternate history, biblical eschatology, religion, and philosophy. A former corporate executive, today Woodward is a featured speaker at conferences and frequent guest on television and radio programs. Woodward lives with his wife Donna in Oklahoma City.