The Day After Roswell

"The Day After Roswell" is an American book about the Roswell UFO incident. It was written by retired United States Army officer Philip J. Corso, with help from William J. Birnes, and was published by Pocket Books in 1997. The book claims that an extraterrestrial spacecraft crashed near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 and was recovered by the United States government, who then sought cover up all evidence of extraterrestrials. The book also contends that several aspects of modern technology, such as fiber optics and computer chips, were developed by a secret government program using information taken from the craft.

When it was released, the book contained a forward written by Strom Thurmond, for whom Corso had once served as an aide. Thurmond wrote, "He has many interesting stories to share with individuals interested in military history, espionage and the workings of our Government." The forward did not mention anything about UFOs, since Thurmond had assumed the book was a straightforward memoir . When he learned about the book's contents, Thurmond asked for his forward to be retracted, saying, "I know of no such 'cover-up,' and do not believe one existed." [William J. Broad. " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E0DB113DF936A35755C0A961958260 Senator regrets role in book on aliens] ". "New York Times". June 5, 1997. Retrieved on August 1, 2008.]

The book appeared on the "New York Times" Best Sellers List for several weeks, [" [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00EFD91138F934A15754C0A961958260 Best Sellers: July 27, 1997] ". Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] [" [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E5D6173DF933A2575BC0A961958260 Best Sellers: August 10, 1997] ". Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] [" [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E6D7173CF934A2575BC0A961958260 Best Sellers: August 17, 1997] ". Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] [" [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E7DF123FF937A1575BC0A961958260 Best Sellers: August 24, 1997] ". Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] but received many unfavorable reviews. Writing in "Skeptical Inquirer", Brad Sparks identified several historical inaccuracies and said the book contained "the tallest Roswell tales to date". [Brad Sparks. " [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_n2_v22/ai_20562403 The Day After Roswell] ". "Skeptical Inquirer". March-April 1998. Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] "Publishers Weekly" described the book as "outlandish", [Genevieve Stuttaford, et al. "The Day After Roswell". "Publishers Weekly". June 2, 1997. 61.] and "Library Journal" advised, " [Corso's book] is only for the few special libraries that have made documenting the unconventional a collecting priority." [Scott H. Silverman. "The Day After Roswell / Beyond Roswell: The Alien Autopsy Film, Area 51, & the U.S. Government Coverup of UFO's". "Library Journal". July 1997. 109.] In 2001, "The Guardian" included the book in its list of "Top Ten literary hoaxes". [" [http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/nov/15/news Top Ten Literary Hoaxes] ". "The Guardian". November 15, 2001. Retrieved on August 1, 2008.]

Notes