Area 51 by Annie Jacobsen

When it comes to mystery and intrigue, nothing represents it more than the famous Area 51 military base.

Shrouded in secrecy for years, little reality is really known about the facility. Does it really exit and does it hold alien spaceships?

Author and Los Angeles Times editor Annie Jacobsen has sought to shed some light on this mysterious place with her book, AREA 51, AN UNCENSORED HISTORY OF AMERICA’S TOP SECRET MILITARY BASE. The rather lengthy book gives a history of the base located in the Nevada desert.

The author tells how the base was created in 1955 to support the CIA operated U-2 spy plane. The base has since been used by various other organizations such as the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

According to the book, Americans knew little of the base until 1989 when physicist Bob Lazar came forward to tell what he had seen while working there. However, there is some question as to Lazar’s claims since he reportedly lied about his schooling and credentials.

The book details the development of the U-2 spy plane, touches on multiple atomic tests done on the base, discusses the reconnaissance aircraft A-12 codenamed Oxcart, and mentions the March 3 0-21 drone operations including a nighttime test flight accident on July 30, 1966.

In addition, the book discusses the ‘Apollo Moon Landing Hoax’ in which some believe Area 51 was used to film the astronauts pretending to be on the moon.

While AREA 51 touches on numerous aspects of mystery, it leaves a number of questions still unanswered. The book gives lots of details as it fuels thought for more uncertainty. AREA 51 is a must have for the library of mystery lovers, history buffs, and science fiction enthusiasts

Area 51, An Uncensored History of America‘s Top Secret Military Base by Annie Jacobsen, Little, Brown and Company, @2011, ISBN: 9780316132947, Hardcover, 544 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of a blog tour and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.