Otherwise
Meehan provides a fine list, with brief (sometimes not-so-brief) summaries of
storylines.
There are a
few nagging goofs which made the book irritating, mostly spelling
inconsistencies. On page 4, Meehan
correctly refers to abduction researcher David Jacobs. But later in the same paragraph, the name is
misspelled “Jacob.”
One of
Meehan’s recurring topics is considering whether movie treatments of aliens and
UFOs influenced ensuing reports of “real” encounters. And, versa, whether contactee or
sighting news made it onto the big screen.
There’s a
big slip-up in the chapter “Invasion (1945-1959)” when Meehan wonders if the
Kelly, KY cabin siege by bulletproof diminutive humanoids influenced the film Invasion
of the Saucer Men. Good question
… except the movie was released in 1959.
Then he summarizes the Kelly incident, which happened in 1965. He says, “This was one of the early occupant
cases to receive media attention, and may have provided some of the inspiration
for Invasion of the Saucer Men” (page 72). One problem … How can a 1965 alien encounter
have “inspired” a movie from 1959?
On page 74
we have a misspelling of composer Paul Sawtell’s name as “Swatell.” Then we are informed that, in The
Creeping Unknown, Brian Donlevy played “the hard-changing rocket
scientist Dr Bernard Quatermass.” I bet
he met “hard-charging.”
On page
198, in his survey of 1941, Meehan calls actor Slim Pickens
(1919-1983) as Slim “Pickins.”
On page 226
Meehan writes that Steven Spielberg was “adverse” to making sequels to E.T.
or CE3K. Of course, the
correct word is “averse.”
On page
248, in the chapter “The Abduction Scenario (1985-1993),” Meehan goes on a
misspelling spree. He miffs on Kim
Basinger’s name thrice, calling her “Bassinger.” A paragraph later he talks about Walter
Koenig’s Star Trek character “Chekhov.”
In the
chapter “Science Fiction (1994-1997),” Meehan makes another nomenclature error
when discussing the film Contact.
On page 194 he correctly introduces Tom Skerritt as Dr David Drumlin,
but on pages 195-196 this character is misnamed “Drummond” five times.
I make my
case, gentlebeings: Human proofreaders
are best!
See you Monday!
