Genesis

This book was mentioned by a Coast to Coast AM caller, and I was intrigued enough to purchase it. To be honest, Im only about a third of the way through it at this time, but I wanted to field a couple of thoughts to those who might be considering this purchase. Im intrigued by the general concept, as I understand it thus far, but the syntax of the writing leaves a great deal to be desired. I have not noted an enormous number of spelling errors thus far, but there have been a few incorrect words which throw off the flow of the reader. Back to syntax, however... The author really, Really, REALLY likes writing with commas, but doesnt have (in my opinion) a true grasp of how to use them elegantly. So much of what Ive read could have been stated much more eloquently by compositing sentences rather than using comma after comma after comma to present descriptions. In too many cases, the descriptions would appear to feed back on themselves rather than clearly addressing the initial subject. A lot of the writing feels very repetitious, with descriptions or details repeated. A good editor would have been able to do wonders for this book, but as it is, too much of it feels... stilted. It is making it a chore for me to read, although I want to uncover the story and see it through. I mainly submit this to counter the horrible review which has been made and to clarify what I believe the other reader may have meant, based upon my own observations. The structure could use a lot of work in many places. Many, many places. (syntax) I will update this once I finish the book.

I read this book as a young man (at the time quite fond of science fiction) shortly after it was first published. I remember that at the time it seemed to be a hard read and difficult to stay interested in. I recall that only the subject matter kept me plodding through until the ending. Years later I would remember the central concepts fondly, although I had forgotten the authors name and title. I finally decided now, in the early years of the 21st Century, so figure out if the book was really that bad, or if my relative youth during that first reading was to blame. After some Googling on the recalled subject matter, I decided that the book must be Genesis by Harbinson. I got a copy for my Kindle and dove in. Within the first few pages, I realized that my general dislike of the book back then was not due to my youth. It is quite simply a poorly written piece of literature. However, the central conceit remains strong and engaging. It is just too bad that the man who did the research and put the story together does not happen to have the skill or talent one expects from a good author. My major issues with Harbinsons writing style are listed below: - Boring structure, word use and syntax. In an opening passage about an encounter of a US Army bomber over WWII Germany, it seems like all statements issued by crew members are followed with the descriptive, he bawled. For example (and with paraphrasing on my part); Were all gonna die, bawled the captain. Theyre coming at us again, bawled the waist gunner. Aaiiieee, bawled the nose gunner. It really does read like that. While descriptive the first time it is used, it grows noticeable and tiresome after the first couple repetitions. Skilled authors know how to avoid this kind of thing. - Poor editing on the part of both the author and editor. Reading extended passages puts one in mind of History Channel documentaries, where after each commercial break a lot of the same information and personal introductions are repeated for those who joined the show in progress, or who have short memories. In a single paragraph, the same piece of information is restated, as if the author decided to relocate it and forgot to delete the original. This happens a LOT and draws attention to itself. - Lots of typos. We all make them, and I have probably made some in this hasty review, but jeeze! Maybe somebody made these errors when the text was retyped/scanned for Kindle....? I dont have the original printed version to check. But in what I am reading, there are many words that are missing, incomplete, or replaced by similar looking words that are clearly wrong. - Descriptive passages that just go on and on. Authors usually try to find a balance between not fleshing out characters, locations, and events thoroughly enough, and bloating the text with too much exposition. Harbinson goes for the latter, and my interest fades after a while. I have noticed many times that the text seems to be offering nothing new, with nothing advancing the story or my understanding of what is happening. Then I start skimming ahead, and two pages later it is still going on and I realize that if those two pages were deleted nobody would notice. It is almost like Harbinson simply thinks through the longest list of details, or longest rambling pointless discussion between two people, and just writes it all down without any authorly editing. - Inconsistent character identifiers. There are times when I just cannot get a grasp of who the author is talking about after the plot jumps around in time and place. It might be later in the paragraph or on the next page that I finally know. I finally say to my self, Oh! Last time he just referred to this character by his last name and now he is using the first name. Since I dont have this problem with any other books I read, I conclude that this is the authors shortcoming. (spoiler) Run-on sentence coming: Anyway, if you really like reading about an American genius who works with the greats of early aviation and rocketry development after already being far beyond their accomplishments, only to grow bored and defecting to the Nazis, only to use the German war resources for his own gains and finally running a secret empire with hidden bases and moving around by various flying saucers and pulling the strings of governments and research, you will still find this worth a read.

I read this decades ago and always wanted to reread it. Ancient Alien theorists say, Yes! Great book.

By no means is this the best fiction book Ive read. I know that Harbinson put an incredible amount of research into the book, even fleshing the premise out to an entire series (Projekt Saucer) and a non-fiction book describing the theory of earth-based flying saucers. The plot, in spite how far out it may seem, is laid out such that it seems chillingly plausible. While large sections of the book are long, and seem too much like Im reading a textbook, I find the premise facinating. The idea that these flying saucers, and alien abductions are some sort of pre-cursor to one mans desire for world domination gives me chills. So much so, this book is one on a short list of books Ive read more than once (Im finishing my second go-around with it). I guess my largest issue isnt what he says, but how he says it. The book can be very dry at times, and there are long stretches of dialogue that sound more like a college professor lecturing a class than what you might expect in a sci-fi thriller novel. The book itself never really draws me into it; I enjoy the book because Ive already been interested in UFOs ever since watching the X-Files growing up. Thus, I would recommend the book really only to people who believe in UFOs and the air of conspiracy that surrounds them. They would be far easier converts than someone looking for a fast-paced sci-fi novel.

That dovetails with enough truths to lend credence and food for thought in current times. German ingenuity (historically) is without dispute and give one pause in terms of Antarctica (perhaps having the coldest temperatures on Earth yet larger in size than the US and Mexico combined) and corresponding myths. Also without doubt are serious concerns on the part of the UK and US in terms of alleged UFO sightings and public awareness in the 40s, 50s, and ever since. Dissolving truths and falsehood into public policy has always been tilted toward secrecy and profitability, but the coming days and years may dictate otherwise. And rightly so.

Harbinson brought an amazing number of facts and events together to wind quite a fun and intriguing tale. True? God and Wilson alone know. Enjoy!

While Genesis is the third book in the Projekt Saucer series, it is the first one Harbinson wrote, and as such it was this book that started the brilliant series. Starting off with a prologue where Allied pilots in 1944 encounter mysterious glowing objects (the feuerballs or Foo fighters), the story then moves onto the main plot, which is set from 1974-1979. The main characters of the story are two American UFO investigators- the young Robert Stanford and the elderly Frederick Epstein. Also featured is an ordinary guy from England, called Richard Watson, who has a not-so-ordinary experience when he is abducted by one of Wilsons flying saucers. For those not familiar with the series, the character John Wilson is the main focus of the entire series- the man who runs the ultra-advanced saucer base in Antarctica and hopes to eventually take over the whole world. After Epstein mysteriously disappears, Stanford goes on a quest to find his old friend and also get to the bottom of the whole flying saucer issue. His journey takes him from the fields of Texas, to the sweltering jungles of Paraguay, and eventually to the frozen wastes of Antarctica. The chapters in the story alternate from third-person chapters showing whats happening to the storys characters in the present, to first-person chapters where Wilson narrates what happened in his past. This works quite well in the story and allows the reader to get a better insight into the UFO mystery that is the main theme of the whole series. As always, the characters are portrayed quite well. Harbinson does a good job, for instance, of portraying Stanfords increasing frustration at being left in the dark over the mystery of the UFOs and their connection to Epsteins disappearance. Eventually, however, Stanford gets all the answers he seeks, but at a price. I wont give away too much though. Read the book to find out what happens. Overall, yet another excellent novel from W. A. Harbinson.

Contrary to the stated info, this book is actually book 3. Ive had it before and believe that Phoenix is book 2. Excellent story and is better for the historical facts that are the kernel from which it grew.

The only sci-fi that was truly interesting.

I was extremely disappointed with this book, as I read immediately after the first books in the Projekt Saucer series, Inception and Phoenix. The Wilson character is more bland in Genesis. Also, the book is way too long and has unnecessary swearing and crudity. Fans of