Chroniques des apparitions extra-terrestres is not only a very cool vintage aesthetic book (with its marvellous cover art). The early 1970s marked the birth of modern skepticism and the shift from naive UFO belief to psychological and sociological analysis — and this book captures that transition perfectly.
This French edition, with its 1970s design, typography, and tone, exudes that retro-scientific mystique— a rare blend of vintage curiosity and intellectual inquiry. Vallée later became a central figure in serious UFO discourse (even influencing Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind). His early works have become collectible precisely for their mix of speculative courage and scientific credibility.
Vallée wasn’t a pulp writer — he was a NASA computer scientist and astronomer associated with early ARPANET research. His UFO studies approached the phenomenon as a lens into human consciousness, culture, and myth, not as mere science fiction.
metaphysical inquiry, which would influence generations of UFO researchers and skeptics alike.
Condition: Good. No markings.
Author: Jacques Vallée Publisher: Éditions J’ai Lu Year: 1972 (originally 1969) Language: French Format: Softcover Condition: Good Weight: 165 g Dimensions: 11 × 16.5 × 2 cm
