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stephen_arvidson's review against another edition
3.0
When Special Agents Mulder and Scully investigate the possible smuggling of a downed UFO and its alien occupant across America, they find themselves being spied on and Mulder faces doubt over the motives of Deep Throat, his secret government informant. The episode on which this book is based is one of the show’s early mythology episodes, most notably for its exploration into the enigmatic Deep Throat character; one of Mulder’s closest shots yet at obtaining undeniable evidence of the ever-elusive Truth; and the introduction of Frohike, Langly, and Byers—better known as the Lone Gunmen.
The story itself is a good one with excellent characters, and it serves as a channel for conspiracy theorists and their paranoid mistrust of authority. There's no denying that the U.S. government has been complicit in very questionable behavior, more than enough to cast suspicion and even doubt on the part of the general populace. Secrets beget violence, as E.B.E. illustrates, emphasizing the ever-growing peril to Mulder and Scully as they inch closer to uncovering the government's shadowy plot to conceal the existence of alien life, and the inherent isolation of their willingness to put themselves in harm's way. There's a certain romanticism associated with devoting one's self to conspiracy theories, one that casts Mulder and Scully in the role of heroic crusaders bent on casting light into the unfathomable void. The story also becomes a surprising exploration of guilt with Deep Throat's confession to committing heinous crimes in conjunction with his lofty government position, and his hopes of atoning for his misdeeds by assisting Mulder in his passionate quest for the Truth.
The book is not without its shortcomings, though. Having watched the episode at least a dozen times, I’m well-versed in all of the character nuances and dialogue. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of added dialogue in the book that doesn’t exactly reflect Mulder and Scully’s well-established characters. The scene in which Mulder and Scully meet with the Lone Gunmen is quite different from the broadcast episode. It’s difficult to say if these discrepancies are the product of the author taking certain liberties with the story, or if it’s because the novella is derived from an early draft of the episode’s script. What’s more, Deep Throat never wore a hat in the show, and the idea of him wearing one here seems almost hokey and out of character.
The story itself is a good one with excellent characters, and it serves as a channel for conspiracy theorists and their paranoid mistrust of authority. There's no denying that the U.S. government has been complicit in very questionable behavior, more than enough to cast suspicion and even doubt on the part of the general populace. Secrets beget violence, as E.B.E. illustrates, emphasizing the ever-growing peril to Mulder and Scully as they inch closer to uncovering the government's shadowy plot to conceal the existence of alien life, and the inherent isolation of their willingness to put themselves in harm's way. There's a certain romanticism associated with devoting one's self to conspiracy theories, one that casts Mulder and Scully in the role of heroic crusaders bent on casting light into the unfathomable void. The story also becomes a surprising exploration of guilt with Deep Throat's confession to committing heinous crimes in conjunction with his lofty government position, and his hopes of atoning for his misdeeds by assisting Mulder in his passionate quest for the Truth.
The book is not without its shortcomings, though. Having watched the episode at least a dozen times, I’m well-versed in all of the character nuances and dialogue. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of added dialogue in the book that doesn’t exactly reflect Mulder and Scully’s well-established characters. The scene in which Mulder and Scully meet with the Lone Gunmen is quite different from the broadcast episode. It’s difficult to say if these discrepancies are the product of the author taking certain liberties with the story, or if it’s because the novella is derived from an early draft of the episode’s script. What’s more, Deep Throat never wore a hat in the show, and the idea of him wearing one here seems almost hokey and out of character.
wildgurl's review against another edition
3.0
Mulder & Scully cross the country looking for the EBE -Extraterrestrial Biological Entity -it could prove we are not here alone....
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
3.0
A direct novelisation of the TV episode of the same name, this competently chronicles the events in an easy-to-read format. Fun to read.
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