The encounter left Strieber profoundly disturbed and confused, initially believing he had suffered a nightmare or possibly a medical condition. After undergoing various medical tests including MRIs and psychological evaluations, doctors could find no physiological explanation for his vivid experience. This compelling account formed the foundation for "Communion," which went on to become a bestseller and was later adapted into a film starring Christopher Walken.

Key Takeaways

Whitley Strieber's transformative encounter in December 1985 led to his influential book "Communion," published in 1988.
Medical and psychological testing could not explain Strieber's vivid experiences, adding to the mystery of his claims.
Beyond "Communion," Strieber has authored numerous works exploring paranormal phenomena, including "Superstorm" which was adapted into the film "The Day After Tomorrow."

Whitley Strieber's Background

Whitley Strieber stands as one of the most recognized voices in paranormal literature, particularly in the field of extraterrestrial encounters. His work has profoundly influenced discussions about alien contact and consciousness. Strieber's experiences and literary contributions have shaped modern discourse on unexplained phenomena since the late 1980s.

Writer of "Communion" and Other Literary Works

Strieber's breakthrough book "Communion" was published in 1988, just two years after his life-changing experience in December 1985. This work catapulted him into prominence in UFO literature circles. Before this pivotal event, Strieber had no particular interest in UFOs, making his subsequent career path all the more remarkable.

His bibliography extends well beyond his initial success with "Communion." Notable titles include:

"A New World"
"The Afterlife Revolution" (co-written with his late wife Anne)
"Jesus: A New Vision"
"Superstorm" (co-authored with Art Bell)

Each work explores different facets of consciousness, spiritual experiences, and unexplained phenomena. Strieber continues to be prolific, regularly adding to his extensive collection of published works.

Personal Encounter Experiences

Strieber's encounter on December 26, 1985, fundamentally altered his life trajectory. That night, he experienced what he initially believed was a nightmare—finding himself in a small round room with strange entities observing him. These beings had large black eyes, and smaller dark blue entities moved around the space.

The experience left Strieber in a state of extreme terror. He found himself unable to move from what resembled a hospital bed with rails. A mechanical voice attempted to calm him, asking how they could help him stop screaming.

Upon waking the next morning, Strieber initially had fragmented memories. He told his wife an owl might have entered their home, trying to explain the large eyes he remembered. As the day progressed, he felt increasingly unsettled, and by nightfall, he experienced pain in his head accompanied by more detailed memories of the incident.

Initially believing he had experienced a psychological break or medical condition, Strieber consulted his doctor. After undergoing psychological evaluations, MRI scans, and tests for temporal lobe epilepsy, no medical explanation for his vivid experience could be found.

Media Adaptations of His Work

Several of Strieber's books have been transformed into successful films and television productions. Most notably, "Communion" was adapted into a movie starring Christopher Walken as Strieber himself, bringing his extraordinary experiences to mainstream audiences.

"Superstorm," which he co-wrote with Art Bell, provided the foundation for the blockbuster film "The Day After Tomorrow." This adaptation helped introduce Strieber's ideas to viewers who might not otherwise have encountered his written work.

These screen adaptations have significantly expanded the reach of Strieber's narratives beyond the literary world, cementing his influence in popular culture discussions about extraterrestrial contact and unexplained phenomena.

The Beginning of His Extraterrestrial Contact

His journey with non-human entities began long before the publication of "Communion" in 1988. He had no particular interest in UFOs prior to his experiences. Like most people, he was aware they existed as a concept, but they weren't something he actively thought about or researched. This made what happened next all the more shocking, as he had no framework or expectation for such an encounter.

The December 1985 Encounter

The night after Christmas in 1985 changed everything. He went to bed normally beside his wife, but during the night he became aware of movement and disturbances around him. Upon opening his eyes, he found himself in a small, round room that initially resembled a tent. The beings he saw had large black eyes, and smaller dark blue entities moved quickly around the space.

His terror was absolute. He tried desperately to convince himself he was having a nightmare, attempting to wake himself up, but the situation only became more real. He couldn't move from the hospital-like bed with rails where he found himself. When he screamed, a strange mechanical voice asked, "What can we do to help you stop screaming?"

Key details of the experience:

Located in a small round room
Beings with large black eyes present
Smaller dark blue entities moving around
Unable to move from the bed
Mechanical voice communication

Personal Struggles and Medical Evaluation

The morning after the encounter, he woke confused and physically unwell. He initially told his wife an owl must have gotten into their room, trying to explain the large eyes he remembered seeing. This explanation quickly fell apart as they had no chimney or entry point for such a creature.

Throughout the day, he felt deeply unsettled. That night, he began experiencing pain in the side of his head that triggered more detailed memories of the event. About a week and a half later, he visited his doctor and described what he remembered.

His doctor's response was startling: "You're telling me you were taken aboard a flying saucer by little men." This interpretation hadn't occurred to him, and he was shocked by the implications for his mental state. They proceeded with several tests:

Psychological evaluations
Brain scans
MRI examination
Testing for temporal lobe epilepsy

The medical evaluations found nothing that could explain such vivid hallucinations, which left him in an even more difficult position. Rather than providing relief, the lack of a medical explanation deepened his concern about his mental state.

Aftermath and Analysis

First Reactions and Denial

After his encounter in December 1985, he experienced profound confusion about what had happened. The morning after, he suggested to his wife that perhaps an owl had somehow entered their home during the night, trying to rationalize the large dark eyes he remembered seeing. This explanation quickly fell apart since they had no fireplace or chimney through which such a creature could enter - only a wood stove. Throughout that day, while attempting to maintain normalcy with cross-country skiing and family activities, he felt deeply unsettled.

The physical aftermath manifested as pain in the side of his head, which triggered more fragmented memories of the event. Initially, he feared he might have experienced a psychotic break or developed a brain tumor rather than accepting the seemingly impossible nature of his experience.

Medical Assessments and Testing

Approximately ten days after the incident, he consulted his physician and described his recollections. When his doctor bluntly summarized that he was claiming to have been "taken aboard a flying saucer by little men," the reality of what he was suggesting hit him forcefully. He felt completely bewildered by his own account.

His doctor ordered a comprehensive battery of tests to investigate possible explanations:

Psychological evaluations
Brain scans
MRI examination (a relatively new technology at the time)
Testing for temporal lobe epilepsy

These medical investigations revealed no physiological abnormalities that could explain such vivid hallucinations. Rather than providing comfort, these normal results initially heightened his concern, as they eliminated simple medical explanations for what he had experienced.

Recognizing the Experience

The process of coming to terms with his encounter was gradual and difficult. Two years after the incident, in 1988, he published "Communion," documenting his experience. The episode transformed him from someone who had little interest in UFOs—merely acknowledging their existence as part of popular culture—into someone who had apparently experienced direct contact.

What he initially perceived as a nightmare became increasingly difficult to dismiss as he failed to "wake up" from it. The mechanical voice asking "What can we do to help you stop screaming?" and other vivid details remained firmly imprinted in his memory. The encounter occurred during an ordinary night with no predisposing factors, making it all the more bewildering and transformative.

Whitley Strieber's Alien Abduction: The Communion Experience That Changed UFO History