Sekret Machines Book 1: Chasing Shadows (1) [Paperback] DeLonge, Tom; Hartley, AJ; Levenda, Peter and Semivan, Jim [Paperback] DeLonge, Tom; Hartley, AJ; Levenda, Peter and Semivan, Jim

Just finished reading, Sekret Machines... I don't read much novelized fiction these days, in fact hardly any at all. I do read a lot of 'non-fiction', on a number of diverse subjects, which include: history, comparative mythology, religions, science, and all things esoteric. I'm familiar with the subject matter presented in this book, as well as the various documented incidents of which this book uses as the' historical background' in which to wrap the fictional narrative with a layer of believability or credibility. I might call this style of writing, "Fictional Historicity", or perhaps "Historical Plausibility" (your choice)?So why did I pre-order this book, sight unseen, almost as if on a whim? Short answer, pure curiosity. The long answer is; I was intrigued by an interview that I listened to on C2C (Coast to Coast) Mar. 27, 2016. It featured the guest-host George Knapp, who was interviewing an ex-rocker named Tom Delong (co-founder of Blink 182), as well as A. J. Hartley, a novelist and co-author of Seckret Machines. What was so intriguing about this interview was a couple of things; the whole four hour format of the show was dedicated to these two individuals alone (versus 1~2 hrs. for a typical guest) with the obligatory audience 'call-ins' in the final hour. There was also the so called "Pitch", as told by Mr. DeLonge; a fascinating tale (that I really can't do it justice here, and would recommend that you find it on youtube or stream it from the C2C archives if you can, especially if you are considering purchasing this book).In a nutshell DeLonge somehow gets an audience with some "Top Brass" military types (perhaps some civilian?), in any case there were a lot of influential guys with Ph.D's connected to 'above' Top Secret programs and technologies. Mr. DeLonge then gives his "Pitch" which includes his personal thesis on the subject and convinces these guys that there is a credibility gap between the general public at large, but more specifically the "twenty-somethings" (Millennials, Gen X and Y?), who still possess the ability to form a rational thought or finish a complete sentence without being distracted to "look the other way", by the constant cacophony of celebrity 'non-issues', media hyperbole, and the continuous onslaught of "Fear-Porn", which permeates the very fabric of our society. It's a compelling story and one 'heck-of-a' pitch, if it is to be believed?So I receive my copy and dive in; 680 pages later (including the foreword by Delonge and afterword by Peter Levenda), I'm here giving a review; It was a fast read, at least for me, as I'm use to much more tedious material. It is a fast-paced, alternating format, which revolves primarily around four main characters and requisite supporting cast. The narrative starts in Central Afghanistan 2014, with Major Alan Young, a USMC combat pilot (Harrier). Next we meet Jennifer Quinn (present day); the adult daughter of a very rich and influential English investment banker. The third main character is named "Timika" (present day); a no-nonsense, New York based investigative reporter who runs a website called "Debunktion" or "Debunk-Nation"? Finally, we are introduced to "Jerzy" (Krakow, Poland, Sept. 1939); a resourceful Polish Jew in his teens; who along with his older brother are swept up by the maelstrom of WWII, the Nazi war machine with its secret weapons programs, and internment as slave laborers in the infamous Wenceslas mines. It will prove to be the boys misfortune to have witnessed too much.This is a storyline which is built entirely upon the co-authors ability to 'connect-the-dots' of the "known", while moving the narrative along with the "unknown" (or at least their collective best guesses). They do this cleverly, in some cases even brilliantly; however there is not total perfection; but then again, we are dealing with fiction, right? So I think one can allow for a bit of speculation, okay maybe a lot; but again, it is a fiction; kind of?Without giving too much away - The historical, and/or "known" subjects of which this creative narrative is woven around, include: The "Die Glocke" (aka. the Nazi Bell [no connection with 'Kecksburg' is hinted at or attempted]), "Operation High-Jump" (including a Nazi redoubt in Antarctica c. 1947), The 'Roswell incident' (or at least a connection to it), Area 51 (to include: 'Dreamland', 'Groom Lake'; aka. the place everyone goes to in the middle of the desert in the film "Independence Day"), Rachel NV. (and the "Little Ale' Inn"), the Barney & Betty Hill case of 1961 (added for context?), along with a spate of other seemingly 'connected' but otherwise unrelated anecdotes; again added for context and good measure. There also appears to be a biblical "Old Testament" connection, which is not fully fleshed-out.As a former aviator (USAF & JAL, Ret.), I have a somewhat unique perspective on much of the material in this book (I have yet to see what I would call a UFO). I have seen "Secret" aircraft and have signed non-disclosure statements to conduct aerial refueling of the "Stealth" fighter from a KC-10A (prior to F-117's public debut), this during the late 1980's. I have participated in 2 "Red Flag" Exercises (C-130E, mid 80's) staged at Nellis AFB, NV. The exercise airspace is located near or adjacent to the notorious 'Area 51', where our daily pre-flight briefs included a much emphasized reminder that any pilot or aircrew who inadvertently or deliberately violated this "Restricted" airspace, would as a matter of course, lose their wings! Trust me when I tell you that it was (and likely still is) taken very seriously. However I've always concluded that this had more to do with keeping secrets from hostile 'nation-states', especially concerning advanced ('very-advanced') weapon systems; in other words, it was/is a matter of national security; always has been. Is it possible that the 'rabbit-hole' might go a lot deeper? Absolutely; in fact I'm now fairly certain that it must. However, back in the day; let's just say, I wasn't asking too many questions.I did stop once, with a friend (returning from Vegas), to get a beer and a bite to eat at the "Little Ale-Inn" in Rachel Nevada, right off Hwy. 375 (aka. The "ET" Highway); which was pretty much what one might expect. Yet for some reason I find it difficult to imagine pilots or personnel attached to the Groom Lake base, would be hanging out there to have a few beers and swap war stories, much less "talk shop." Personnel, (military or civilian), just can't unwind in a place where someone might overhear something that might be classified, especially in a joint that small.As for Major Young's transition from his USMC flight duties to those in a "black" program; all I can say is that it all seemed rather "laissez-faire", while lacking depth and detail. It was a bit unrealistic from my perspective, yet perhaps a matter of convenience for the story teller? Additionally, if you are buying and reading this material to gain some further insight into the "nuts and Bolts" details of what makes these craft tick, you might be a bit disappointed? Perhaps future 'non-fiction' publications from co-authors DeLonge and Hartley will address these issues in more detail?Bottom line; this is a darn good read, I tore through all 680 pages, and enjoyed it as a fictional exercise into the arcane hinterlands of secret-black projects and their funding, international and governmental intrigues, rumors of the 'fantastic'; miraculous machines such as flying craft using technologies that defy known physics, and of course the possibility that, as President Harry S. Truman was once quoted saying:"The only thing new in the world, is the history we don't know."Which brings me to Peter Levenda's 'Afterword', where he hints at ancient technologies lost (and found); while the books last page(s) hints [Spoiler Alert!] at the gods (little 'g') of antiquity, of whom may have never left, or are still around? This is a thread I find most compelling, and I wonder where the authors will take it?

I wanted to dislike this book because I thought it was going to be another celebrity writing another book that was self serving and, frankly, stupid. The spelling of Sekret didn't help my preconceived notion. Seriously, I hate that. HATE.The book though? I didn't hate it. I didn't even dislike it. It thoroughly held my interest with good pacing and the chapters kept you just hooked enough that you'd keep reading until the next one about that particular character rolled back around again. The story it told ended up being pretty riveting, and I'll look forward to reading part 2 when it comes out.I'll note that this book definitely wasn't written by Tom Delonge. Parts of it might have been, as you can hear his voice here and there in the book, but the vast majority of it was definitely written by AJ Hartley. His voice is much more prominent in the book. I know that Mr. Delonge is a hardcore UFO/Space/Aerospace nut, and a series like this is his dream, and it looks like that's working out. It's a well written, engaging, and entertaining book.

On his website and in the book, Tom DeLonge lays out that he wants to create a vertically integrated media company engaged in slow disclosure and desensitization of the public to the existence of unconventional physics and advanced technology that will rewrite our history books, challenge our religions, change our understanding of fundamental physics, underscore Ike's warning about the military industrial complex, make us fear international corporations, and that once we understand it all and get a handle on it - - it will be awesome. Minus the confusing commercialism aspect, I am with him. Having been interested in the edges of science and history for along time I frankly didn't think much of Mr. DeLonge's public foray into unexplained phenomena until after the NYT and Politico came out on December 16th, 2017 with articles about Bigelow Aerospace modifying buildings in Las Vegas for the storage of metal alloys and other materials that Mr. Elizondo and Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program contractors said had been recovered from unidentified aerial phenomena. FOLKS, THAT'S DISCLOSURE THAT WE HAVE MATERIALS WITH UNEXPLAINED PROPERTIES RECOVERED FROM UFO SITES. The articles also linked to video showing encounters between a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet and an unknown object and between two Navy F/A-18F fighter jets and an unknown object, both videos provided by the Defense Department. The pilot in the Hornet UFO video clearly says that what he thinks he's seeing is a drone. Still, at minimum FOLKS, THAT'S DISCLOSURE THAT (FILL IN THE BLANK ON WHO'S THEY ARE) NON-CONVENTIONAL DRONES ARE IN OUR SKIES. Put aside you're ideas of little green men and take a look at the detailed site reports over at the MUFON site. So there's a lot of activity up there, whatever the origin(s).The Department of Defense sub-agency making these disclosures, the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, was formerly run by Luis Elizondo. According to the NYT article, Harold E. Puthoff, (an engineer who famously worked with Ingo Swann in researching ESP for the C.I.A.) also worked for the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program... people in government keep treating Mr. Puthoff as legitimate, think about the implications there. Both of these men are now associated with Mr. DeLonge's media company To The Stars. Their association with Tom DeLonge piqued my curiosity. Somebody got the ball rolling. I was now interested in what Mr. DeLonge had to share and a few days ago I purchased and quickly read Sekret Machines: Chasing Shadows.Now the Review:At this early stage of Mr. DeLonge's disclosure career and media company, anyone picking up his books (it should be assumed) will already be well-versed in the lore surrounding ufos, unconventional tech, the Nazi Bell, Admiral Byrd's Operation Highjump, etc, etc. In reading it, I was looking for two things: First, I the light of some level of legitimacy to be shone on certain information from among all the stories and ideas floating around out there; Second, I want to find a book that I can give to friends and family that are not so curious, that they won't immediately laugh at. I did not find either thing, exactly, but it is an effort towards both ends. The intro, or beginning is interesting and appears to be written by Mr. DeLonge himself. In it, Mr. DeLonge explains his ties to people-in-the-know (without naming them) and then leaves this reader with the impression that he's wrapping true discrete information shared with him into narrative fictions, to help the public take in the truth in stages, without shock. I'd have preferred a one page list of legitimate reports, but I think the book's narrative approach starts to work on that knot of fear that is so tightly bound around the public mind about bringing ridicule on oneself by having any proximity to unexplained phenomenon or myth. And for that effort I give Mr. DeLonge three stars and hope lots of people who are not usually interested in this area will pick it up and read it. But in it's current form I doubt they will. Many of you (who are interested already in these topics) will skim the stories to see what information is being "confirmed", and it is interesting, not only the incidents highlighted, but to see Mr. DeLonge's approach and the beginnings of his media empire.Two things I'd change in the Revision: First, Write this and future books to appeal on two levels, for new students and for those already immersed (footnotes and links are powerful things); Second, Delete the incongruous backtracking from disclosure language in the end (people who care won't wear your logo if you hold things out and then snatch them back).

In 1998 I recall seeing a magazine cover saying "electrogravitics, the coming revolution" and it set off a series of events which would see me learn about the fundamental laws of physics and expand my knowledge into String Theory, M-Theory, Holographic Principle, Quantum Loop Gravity and so much more. And over time, I became aware that something was wrong with gravity. The Standard Model, which does rather well at explaining particles and predicting their masses, works only to a point, but given neutrinos are meant to have no mass, but do, and that the Higgs' mass was meant to be bigger than it is, there are clearly inconsistencies which need to be resolved and it was my realisation that the Lorentz Gauge Condition, which removed two photon-like fields from Quantum Electrodynamics, simply because they'd not been observed, was where things have gone wrong (so I believe). I became aware, over time, that there were scientists and people in engineering who were reporting anti-gravity effects in labs and machines. They're either met with silence, ridicule and funding withdrawal or worse yet, death. A conspiracy? Perhaps, but if the technology does what it says it does, it might be something 'they' would rather stay secret and not see being used by other world powers.When Tom Delonge from Blink-182 revealed his intentions to form a company and group to develop technologies, based on what those in the military-industrial complex were telling us exist in secret, I realised that I wasn't the only person joining the dots together. Something is up. Space, time and gravity are not explained and remain a mystery. We're hunting for dark matter to explain the extra gravity we observe in the cosmos, we've invented dark energy to explain the fact the expansion of the universe appears to be accelerating in pace over time. Whilst I suspect there is a cosmic repulsive force (quintessence or whatever form it might take), and whilst I suspect there may be hidden forms of matter (dark matter) to explain some of the additional gravity we observe, I personally believe what we need is a revolution in the way we think about the force that is, as yet, unexplained.This book fact dressed as fiction and takes the reader on a journey that, while it doesn't mention bosons and gravito-photons, does hit upon the very thing I also suspect, that those who have the technology will stop at nothing to protect its secret existence. Perhaps it is all a little too close to the truth than we might well wish to consider.

Claims that the book is based on real events, should probably be read to mean events people claim to be real...sadly, there are plenty of people muddying the waters when it comes to reports of UFOs, far too many attention seekers, liars and nutters. This book weaves aspects of UFO mythology into a good read which gets increasingly exciting as the protagonists' narratives get ever closer together. I would give the book a higher rating, but I found the first half a little slow going and almost didn't get past the half-way mark, glad I stayed with it though. Toward the very end it does get somewhat messy and confusing as to who is who, how they got there, how they are connected. However, whatever the reality behind the UFO phenomenon, this book isn't it. If you take it as sci-fi fiction, it's a lightweight read.

The positives first: it's a very easy read with some interesting characters and for anyone not clued in to Roswell/Men in Black etc it lays out well rehearsed theories/facts in an enjoyable story.BUT the author promises revellations which I did not find and the book seems to take its 'mission' rather too seriously. Perhaps I've read too many books covering similar ground. If you do not want to wait until further books are published in the series try the Projekt Saucer series of four or five books from the '90s by Harbinson.

Tom de Longe and A.J. Hartley use fiction to add validity to the UFO cover-up and how people's lives become intertwined as a result of it. A little disjointed at first, it soon comes together into a nail-biting plot and an interesting ending. Tom de Long establishes himself well and truly into the phenomenon that is all things UFO. I did not know book 2 was out when I read it but I did hope for it! A great read with lots of details!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've always been a big Blink 182 fan and I've heard a lot about Tom Delonge (the figurehead of this franchise) being a little nutty but if this is even half of what he has started to build then he is a very intelligent man. This book has and will sell, sell, sell and the general concept of a big multimedia franchise based around this including film, books, art, documentaries etc. Is a great ideas.Although Delonge is a big part of this novel all credit needs to go to A. J. Hartley for creating such likeable and enjoyable characters with genuine motives for what they're doing, unlike some books of this genre and a well paced and gripping plot. The novel is shown from the point of view of 3 main protagonists and another from the information released in a journal, in parts, throughout the novel (an idea I have played with myself).The story follows each of these each from their individual point of view all leading for an action packed finale that I struggled to stop reading. I obliterated the last quarter of the book in about the same time it took me to read the other 75%. I have always had an interest in the source content but I've never seen it presented in such a grounded manner. I believe the author tried to mix fact with fiction as much as possible to make both indistinguishable from the each other. This worked phenomenally.There really isn't much I can say without giving too much away but I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in UFOs, conspiracys, modern history and thriller novels. I had this book recommended to me and would to the same to anyone with similar interests to myself.