John Alva Keel was a prolific Fortean author and journalist renowned for his investigations into UFO phenomena and paranormal subjects. Best known for his book "UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse," Keel popularized theories linking contemporary UFO sightings to ancient folklore and religious encounters. His work introduced now-iconic concepts such as the "men in black," mysterious figures said to intimidate UFO witnesses, and he explored connections between UFOs and psychic phenomena. Keel's influence extended beyond ufology, as he rejected narrow categorization, preferring the broader term "Fortean" to describe his multidisciplinary approach to the unexplained.
Keel began his writing career at the age of 12 and became one of the most widely read and controversial figures in paranormal research. His theories evolved significantly over time, yet he maintained a reputation for originality, challenging conventional explanations for anomalous events. Beyond "UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse," his writings on West Virginia's "Mothman" legend further cemented his legacy as a pioneering investigator of the unexplained. Keel's work continues to inspire researchers and enthusiasts in the fields of ufology and Forteana.
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Fickle Finger of Fate
1966
Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Jadoo
1957
2
Operation Trojan Horse
1970
3
The Complete Guide to Mysterious Beings / Strange Creatures From Time And Space
1970
4
Our Haunted Planet
1971
5
The Flying Saucer Subculture
1973
6
The Mothman Prophecies
1975
7
The Eighth Tower / The Cosmic Question
1975
8
Disneyland of the Gods
1995
9
The Book of Mothman
2015
10
How to Start a Club and Rob the Mail
2018
11
The Big Breakthrough
2018
12
The Big Blackout
2019
13
The Pickled Finger of ET
2021
14
The Big Bamboozle
2023
Collections
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Best of John Keel
2013
2
Flying Saucer to the Center of Your Mind
2013
3
The Outer Limits of the Twilight Zone
2013
4
Searching For the String
2014
5
The Great Phonograph in the Sky
2015
6
The Perspicacious Percipient
2015
7
The Passionate Percipient
2015
8
Pursuing the Addenda
2016
9
I Never Would Have Slept With You If I Had Known You Were a Giant Birdman From Outer Space