From Publishers Weekly
In this pseudoscientific account, Flem-Ath, a Canadian librarian, and Wilson (Alien Dawn: An Investigation into the Contact Experience; etc.), bestselling author and New Age-y jack-of-all-trades, propose a single, geo-historical theory that links the Egyptian, Chinese and South American pyramids and other sacred sites. According to this argument, these civilizations received templates from Atlantis that contained crucial geodesic, geological and geometric information. Furthermore, Atlantean mariners, based in Antarctica, sailed the globe over 100,000 years ago and established more than 60 sacred sites around the world, such as Byblos and Jericho, to preserve the sophisticated wisdom of their culture. They erected these sites, say the authors, before geological disasters wiped out their civilization. Flem-Ath and Wilson take us on a hectic roller-coaster ride through pseudoscientific history, complete with the requisite numerology and mythology. The authors stand proudly on the shoulders of their forefathers, Charles Hapgood featured prominently among them. Before his death in 1982, Hapgood had amassed "irrefutable" proof of civilizations far more ancient than accepted archeology allows for. Flem-Ath and Wilson seem to leave no cultural, geological or paleontological stone unturned in their quest for detailed evidence, touching on everything from the origins of Freemasonry and the Ark of the Covenant, to ancient Japanese pottery in America and angels in the Book of Enoch. Frequently, they claim the interest or support of various famous people, many of whom suffered untimely deaths. Albert Einstein and John F. Kennedy, for instance, died before fully embracing earlier theories about Atlantis. For followers of mystical science, fantasy readers and conspiracy theorists, Flem-Ath and Wilson's enthusiasm and conviction will be a welcoming island in a sea of skepticism.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Booklist
Veteran chronicler of history's mysteries Wilson and his cowriter Flem-Ath have come up with a new theory on Atlantis, or at least an expanded version of an old one. An intelligent society (but probably not from outer space), commonly known as Atlanteans, lived in snow-free Antarctica and left a connection of sacred sites that spans the globe. Whether the authors' theory could possibly be true is hard to divine because their evidence is so convoluted, so filled with measurements and math, geometry and geography, that it would take an Atlantean to work it all out. It doesn't help that the authors feel compelled to throw into their discourse everything but the kitchen sink: the Knights Templars, pyramids, even the Shroud of Turin make an appearance. Still, these sorts of books always generate hype and never fail to attract a solid audience. Pair it with James and Thorpe's Ancient Mysteries (1999), which debunks just this kind of treatment. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
