Every generation enjoys a drift of social consciousness towards the prospect of extraterrestrial lifeforms living either above, below, or even inside us. Whether such stories are a reflection of the state of society at the time, is always a subject for deliberation, but one thing that remains true is the intrigue such stories of aliens on earth brings; it’s in the same realm of an ethereal deity, an amalgamation of hope and belief, often created by a collective desire for a deep-seated need for connection beyond our gravity-held world.

Whether this is a need or a ‘want’ to believe, is always the big question. In Daniel Lavelle’s Chasing Aliens: Faith and Conspiracy in the UFO Heartlands, the journalist takes a road trip through the open plains of the United States, endeavouring to delve deeper into the tales. It’s an enjoyable investigation to read, with a solid balance of thought from its author, which includes recently released US government Department of Defence information, as well as stories from those who believe they’ve been directly affected. It also offers stories from the UK, including the more famous Rendlesham Forest incident, and overall is an exploration of the fine line between belief and reality, because is everything we’re officially hearing as clear as it sounds, or is there people involved who’ll benefit in a classic States sense: that being marketing and monetising?

Whether you’re a Mulder or a Scully, ripe for believing or sceptical through the science we know we can apply, Chasing Aliens, takes us directly into the action. From exploring alien-analysis in the US all the way back to Roswell, with that original news report included and how the term ‘flying saucer’ came to be, we get first-hand stories from ex-US Military aircraft pilots who’ve seen unexplainable fast-moving objects, seemingly without propulsion, and that question on whether they’re figment of light, tricks of the mind, or a genuine reality that demands to be investigated.

Lavelle also talks to key characters inside this interstellar investigation, from the dubious Luis Elizondo to that Shaman guy from the Capitol riots, and his connection to the era, plus Jeremy Corbell and his ‘trust me, bro’ approach – who is someone who wants to reveal ‘the truth’ so badly that he doesn’t actually want to reveal the truth at all, as well as Avi Loeb’s insights from actual legal processes. There’s even time for a connection to Blink 182’s Tom DeLonge, the seemingly sincerely nice hobbyists from MUFON (the civilian Mutual UFO Network), and even Starseeds; a movement of people who believe they’re actual alien souls inside the human form, and like to misdiagnose genuine human conditions as something other-worldly.

Throughout all this, Lavelle’s process is never too aggressive or discourteous, he’s willing to learn even when the situation feels ridiculous and he (mostly) maintains that open demeanour, his ‘Columbo’ as he puts it, essentially sticking with his sources in a way that hopefully means the most honest answers. And after numerous interviews, and Lavelle gets close to the self-diagnosed insiders, the answers they supply follow a certain rhythm “it’s either here already, out there, or been & gone” and for all the will in the world, you’d like to believe that some of these ‘facts’ would eventually be revealed, yet nothing actually floats to the top, beyond – yes – probably what you’re think that means.

‘…Faith dressed in lab coats’ – Lavelle ponders on some findings

One of the most astonishing things in Chasing Aliens: Faith and Conspiracy in the UFO Heartlands, is how often ‘experts’ talk themselves out of wanting to reveal the ‘truth’ rather than expedite the conversation. They claim they want to expose information and, yet, when it comes down to it, there’s nothing but conjecture and convoluted explanations that are as helpful as dust in the wind. Ironically, for their self-proclaimed fear of either US governments or powers beyond them, many end up sounding like smoke and mirror politicians. It’s difficult to separate the money some of the big names make, like Elizondo, and their lack of willingness to actually share what they say they know – which says more about marketing than it does about alien invasions. And, as Lavelle says, that ‘nobody can tell me this isn’t real’ narrative is acutely apt in this post-truth era, that denial of reality – whether facts exist or not – is a constant. For them the idea, or distinctly belief, is greater than evidence.

In some ways, you can understand why the US government are happy for conspiracies to exist, it’s far easier than trying to explain top secret defence constructions and among the understandable paranoia of country security, let alone the almost natural mistrust that exists within the United States administration, the existence of spy drones or futuristic military inventions – going all the way back from the start of the Cold War until now – are far more secure being sold as beings from another planet, over authentic military defence armaments.

Daniel Lavelle’s Chasing Aliens achieves an appropriate balance of scepticism, dry humour and intrigue, and it even considers his personal journey of improving his own skill set. While he had certain experience, it’s clear this investigation was a whole new home, yet Lavelle was open enough for all sides of the subject and offer valid weight to each idea, plus enabling an important ‘bullshit’ meter into proceedings when required. The book highlights that very human desire to make sense of the nothingness, which is stronger than ever at the moment, and whatever you want to believe, writer Danny Lavelle is fair enough to evaluate and offer his own conclusions with an extremely satisfying read.

Chasing Aliens: Faith and Conspiracy in the UFO Heartlands is out now from Viking Penguin: https://amzn.to/4oDqdEv