Kevin D. Randle is known primarily for his non-fiction books dealing with the U.F.O. phenomena (The Crash at Roswell, The Abduction Enigma), but has also written series of science fiction (Jefferson’s War and The Exploration Chronicles).

When I saw that he had written a novel based on the purported U.F.O. crash at Roswell I had to pick it up. Though I tend to think that what crashed was an experimental weather balloon, I still have an interest in flying saucers. I figured since Kevin had both the background research from his non-fiction work and he had a number of fiction books under his belt, the combo in Operation Roswell should really be something.

On that, I was disappointed. The story is inherently fascinating. A craft not of this earth crashes outside of a tiny New Mexican town that just happens to be the home of the world’s only nuclear bomber group. And though it is fiction, there is the tantalizing prospect that what you are reading might be true!

Unfortunately Kevin Randle is not a competent fiction writer. In fact, he's awful. The writing tended to be simplistic and repetitive. For example: On almost any other base, it would have been impossible to find drivers, that is privates or corporals, who had top secret clearances. But at the home of the only nuclear strike force in the world, many people, because of the 509th’s mission, had top secret clearances. It made it easy to find drivers with the necessary clearances. See what I mean? The entire book follows this pattern. Information is given, then over explained and repeated... usually within one paragraph. As a result, the book felt overly long and plodding.

What's worse is that while certain things were repeated, details were almost always left out. All those little touches that would have given the book the flavor of the 1940's (things like what kind of car they were driving or what their clothes looked like, what song was on the radio or what have you) were always skipped. As a result, though the story takes place in 1947, you wouldn’t be able to tell that if it weren’t for the chapter headings and references to World War II. All of the little touches, slang of the time or references to what was then current pop culture that can give the best historical fiction a feeling of verisimilitude with the time they are presenting were missing.

Some folks don't like the too much description, but here there was almost none. It was especially unforgivable for the scene of the visit to the crash site itself. This should have been the centerpiece of the book. But even here detail was pretty light. Reading this, I wasn't sure: Were the aliens naked? If not, what were they wearing? These details are important. After all, we are being asked to accept and understand something not of this Earth. We should at least understand what they looked like. Description of the ship was handled a little better.

I had this book on my TBR stack for a while and was really looking forward to reading it. But as I got down to less than a hundred pages from the end I was so frustrated with it I considered tossing it aside unfinished.

I would consider reading Mr. Randle's non-fiction. I don't doubt he knows more about U.F.O.s and Roswell than I do. But if you are looking for a fictionalized account of that famous U.F.O. crash, I'd recommend Whitley Streiber's Majestic (and that one's no masterpiece either). ( )