The Roswell Conspiracy (43 page)
Read The Roswell Conspiracy Online
Authors: Boyd Morrison
Joseph Kittinger’s real exploits on the Project Excelsior high-altitude skydiving program are even more incredible when you consider that he undertook his mission over fifty years ago and no one has duplicated the feat since.
I had a great time at the AirVenture show in Oshkosh last year, and the vast rows of airplanes lined up as far as the eye can see are truly overwhelming. If you love aircraft, for one week in July Oshkosh is your mecca.
The theories for how to move Easter Island Moai are even more varied than the few I list in the novel. However, rocking the statues back and forth to walk them forward does work. Lava tube caves and the colorful paintings on their walls abound on the island.
Although xenobium is fictional, hafnium-3 is an actual isomer of the element hafnium. Its explosive potential is vast, as is its cost to manufacture. Isomer bombs and induced gamma emission weapons are theoretically possible and could produce effects scarily similar to the ones produced by the Killswitch.
Electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear explosion is a very real threat. In fact war-game planners always assumed a Soviet first strike would consist of a massive hydrogen bomb detonated over the central US to disable its electronic infrastructure and hinder the military’s ability to retaliate. Now the same threat comes from terrorists and rogue nations. The target in this book was the United States, but the weapon would work equally well at setting the technological clock of any industrialized nation back by a hundred years.
The Nazca lines and symbols, the Mandala geometric pattern, and the ancient city of Cahuachi in Peru have all become popular tourist destinations, yet no one has deciphered their true meaning as of this writing.
The Roswell incident continues to fascinate me as it does the rest of the world. What really crashed there? Why did the Air Force’s explanation of the event change? What happened to the wreckage that was found? An explanation as prosaic as a stray weather balloon would be a disappointing answer to say the least. But do I think it was an alien spacecraft? I’m a skeptic, though it sure would be cool to think so. However, I’d like to think an alien race that had traveled light-years to get here using technology we can barely imagine could make a better landing. If you’d like to give me a tour of Area 51 and prove me wrong, I will take you up on it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Boyd Morrison is an author, actor, engineer, and Jeopardy! champion. He started his career working on NASA's space station project at Johnson Space Center, where he got the opportunity to fly on the Vomit Comet, the same plane used to train astronauts for zero gravity. After earning a PhD in engineering from Virginia Tech, he used his training to develop thirteen US patents at Thomson/RCA. Boyd then managed a video game testing group in Microsoft's Xbox division before becoming a full-time writer. For non-fiction thrills, he enjoys white water rafting, skiing, scuba diving, and bungee jumping. Boyd is also a professional actor, appearing in films, commercials, and stage plays. In 2003 he fulfilled a lifelong dream and became a Jeopardy! champion. He currently lives in Seattle with his wife.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a novel like this without the help of others would be impossible, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who contributed so generously to making this book a reality.
My agent Irene Goodman has been a rock-steady presence throughout this process, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to guide me on this roller-coaster ride. Her wisdom and support are invaluable.
It’s a privilege to work with my foreign rights agents, Danny Baror and Heather Baror-Shapiro, who are not only the best at what they do, but are also really nice people.
Thanks to my editors Jade Chandler and David Shelley for believing in my storytelling and for helping me create the best book I can. Their enthusiasm got me to the finish line.
I often rely on experts in the field when my research requires, so I’m fortunate to have a talented pool of friends and family to draw on. Nevertheless, any mistakes or intentional alterations in technology, history, or locations are my responsibility alone.
I appreciate Jeff Davis, Noreen Moen, and John Hopkins for answering my questions at the EAA AirVenture show.
My friend, oncologist Dr. Craig Lockhart, provided crucial insights into pancreatic cancer.
My conference pal, Susan Tunis, once again bestowed her keen editorial eye on the manuscript.
Many thanks to my brother, retired Air Force pilot Lieutenant Colonel Martin Westerfield, for his expertise on the military and aviation.
Beth Morrison, in addition to being my sister and curator of illuminated manuscripts at the Getty, is also a whiz at pointing out my bone-headed plot holes.
I sincerely appreciate the time my father-in-law, Frank Moretti, spent in giving me feedback on several different revisions of the novel.
Finally, my wife, Randi, has been more than a mere supporter of my work. She has been instrumental at every phase of the story creation process, from late-night bull sessions on plot direction to character development decisions to multiple editorial passes. It’s no exaggeration to say that I couldn’t have done this without her. And she’s just downright wonderful. I’m a lucky guy.
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