Book ‘A.D. After Disclosure’ explores UFO mysteries, human race

By Steve Hammons

A new book by a historian and a Hollywood writer-producer about the complex issues of the UFO situation seems to be both radical and conservative, vast in scope and specific in detail.

This book provides a valuable, mind-expanding look at a significant scientific and cultural issue facing us today.

In an article posted online on Nov. 6, 2010, I wrote an overview, preview or preliminary review of this new book, A.D. After Disclosure: The People’s Guide to Life After Contact by Richard M. Dolan and Bryce Zabel.

Working from the press release about the soon-to-be-published book and an advance look at a pre-printing nearly-final PDF, I was able to get a good feel for Dolan’s and Zabel’s valuable information, perspectives and theories.

When I obtained a hard copy of A.D. After Disclosure, held it in my hands and began a detailed reading and study of it word for word, I was struck by how comprehensive the book really is.

It is not just about more disclosure on UFOs. It is also a solid look at the current state of American and global society and the human race on our planet. The book helps us examine where humanity has been, where we are now and where we are going.

Much of the book is actual fact. Other parts of it are logical conclusions or theories based on known fact and reasonable circumstantial evidence. And yet other elements go out on a limb about what the mysteries of the UFO situation might involve and how they could unfold.

MANY POSSIBLE SCENARIOS

When I finished reading the final page, the next phase was trying to absorb and organize in my own mind about the many points, scenarios and circumstances that the authors look into. That’s not easy, though it may be one of the most interesting aspects of reading the book.

Dolan and Zabel invite readers to think seriously about the possibilities.

How will we humans respond to the many possible situations and outcomes if more information becomes public about UFOs and visitors or “others?”

How will I, as an average human being, react? In fact, how I am reacting now to the apparent steadily emerging open source intelligence (OSINT) on this subject available to us at this point in time and in coming days?

Why do I say that, to me, A.D. After Disclosure seems both radical and conservative? This is because the authors look at a very unusual unknown, or really a complex set of many unknowns, from the viewpoint of our current everyday life and the present state of affairs on planet Earth.

Although Dolan and Zabel certainly expand readers’ thinking tremendously, the fact is that human consciousness, with or without more revelations about the UFO mystery, could change in ways that would be more fundamental and more significant than even these authors propose.

They don’t pull many punches. They speculate about the significant changes and adjustments that could occur on virtually all levels of society and in our lives once we reach a tipping point of learning more about these interesting, important, complex and sensitive situations.

Dolan and Zabel don’t sugarcoat it. In fact, many of their proposed scenarios give us reasons to be very careful and even understand the alleged need for decades-long information security on the UFO topic and other possible surprising discoveries.

While the authors obviously advocate for more public awareness about a variety of down-to-Earth subjects and various unusual phenomena, they are not naïve about possible difficult and problematic outcomes. Dolan and Zabel seem realistic. They look at some best-case scenarios and some worst-case outcomes as well as the middle ground.

In some of the more theoretical sections of their book, the authors are giving it their best educated guesses, based on reasonable and logical aspects of history and current events.

And, they freely admit that they may be wrong about some of the possible effects of more public knowledge about UFOs, various kinds of other intelligent beings and the way planet Earth is currently being run.

PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS

From our day-to-day routines to changes in our understanding about Nature and the universe (or even the “multiverse”), our viewpoints will develop further, possibly quite a lot. That is one of their main messages.

In many ways, A.D. After Disclosure reminds me of a well-known chapter in the 1992 firefighter training book, Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control by Charles Bahme and William Kramer. That manual mainly looks at the conventional situations that fire agencies and firefighting professionals can face.

But in the chapter "Disaster Control and UFOs," Bahme and Kramer also address unconventional situations that could require special training and awareness by public safety officials. These include public psychological reactions as well as the kinds of physical dangers firefighters often encounter such as hazardous materials (hazmat) precautions and mitigation.

In other words, it is about preparedness and readiness on many levels. Dolan and Zabel focus on this too.

Psychological and emotional factors, social and cultural issues, defense considerations, public safety elements, intelligence community participation and mass media’s handling of ongoing new knowledge and understanding are just a few of the areas explored in A.D. After Disclosure.

The book reminds us that we must be adaptable to change while retaining our fundamental identity as human beings.

Qualities like basic human decency, honor, strength, compassion and similar positive human traits will serve us well in a variety of possible future situations, whether they are unusual and unconventional or more conventional and normal.

In the closing words of their firefighting manual chapter on “Disaster Control and UFOs,” Bahme and Kramer remind firefighting professionals about the crucial importance of planning, adequate resources and good leadership.

Dolan and Zabel also advise us to consider these factors, and others, as we move inevitably toward change and new understanding of UFOs, several kinds of unusual phenomena and the state of the human race on Earth.

‘Dark Skies’ TV series about UFOs, ETs, secret agency, 1960s era now on DVD

By Steve Hammons

A special DVD collection of the 1996-1997 extraterrestrial and UFO-related NBC TV series “Dark Skies” is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Jan. 18, 2011.

“Dark Skies” follows a young congressional staff member, John Loengard, as he comes to Washington, D.C., during the period from 1961 to 1967.

When Loengard (played by Eric Close) is recruited into a secret government UFO agency, he and his girlfriend (Megan Ward) find themselves in the strange world of extraterrestrial invaders and government operatives trying to deal with the challenging situation.

The release of the series on DVD is sure to increase awareness and preparedness about various scenarios generally associated with the UFO phenomena.

People placing advance orders can receive the DVDs by Dec. 9, 2010, when ordering directly from the Shout Factory! home video company.

A “Dark Skies” DVD collection was also released in the UK in October 2010.

The series was created and written by Bryce Zabel and Brent Friedman. It aired on Saturday nights in 1996 and 1997, and included 18 one-hour episodes as well as a two-hour pilot. Zabel and Friedman have both had distinguished careers involving many successful TV projects.

The special U.S. DVD release includes three hours of audio commentaries with the creators and actors Close and Ward about the series pilot and closing episodes. A 90-minute documentary section gives viewers behind-the-scenes insight into the creative and TV business elements of the series.

TRUTH THROUGH FICTION?

The original NBC promos and Emmy Award-winning title sequence opening each episode featured the provocative statement, “They're here ... they're hostile ... and powerful people don't want you to know. History as we know it is a lie.”

The fast-paced action and suspense drama focused on the experiences of the characters played by actors Close and Ward as they learn more about the disturbing dangers facing the U.S. and the human race.

“Dark Skies” provides insight about possible or probable secret operations and organizations dealing with UFOs, ETs and other unconventional phenomena.

The series also gives viewers perspectives about the 1960s by incorporating real events, music and public personalities of that era.

Other leading actors play fascinating roles. J.T. Ward plays a Navy officer who is part of the secret “Majestic-12” agency dealing with the UFO and ET situation. Jeri Ryan is a covert agent in the same organization.

John M. Jackson also gives an impressive performance. Interestingly, Jackson portrayed the real-life commanding officer of the Roswell Army Air Force base in the revealing 1994 TV movie Roswell.

Many other actors contributed to the series, playing roles of people like President Harry Truman, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Carl Sagan, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Marilyn Monroe, Sen. Robert Kennedy, Navy Adm. Roscoe Hillenkotter, Dr. Timothy Leary and others.

Viewers revisit the 1960s yet see those years in a new light, looking deep behind the curtains – behind what we thought was reality.

THEN AND NOW

There are interesting parallels between “Dark Skies” and the current NBC series “The Event.” Both deal with secret goings-on regarding UFOs and unusual visitors or beings.

In both shows, a naïve young couple find themselves thrust into the middle of frightening and mind-bending conspiracies involving shadowy and dangerous agents and the UFO phenomena. Both series involve a U.S. president and his administration trying to deal with the situation, and deciding how much to tell the public. And, both tell us that beings appearing to be normal humans may not be.

“Dark Skies” creator and writer Zabel also recently co-authored a book with researcher Richard M. Dolan called A.D. After Disclosure: The People’s Guide to Life After Contact. This book certainly dovetails with “Dark Skies,” which was probably a TV series ahead of its time.

There are many video clips, promos and episode segments of “Dark Skies” on YouTube and other online platforms.

Zabel's and Dolan’s website AfterDisclosure.com also contains links to information on the series and the upcoming DVD release as well as related developments and research.

The special DVD collection will most likely be a valuable contribution to the ongoing learning curve and acclimation for Americans and people around the world as we prepare to deal with more information about UFOs, extraterrestrials, unusual intelligent beings and mysterious scientific discoveries.