Communion

Overview

Communion: A True Story is a 1987 book by American novelist Whitley Strieber. It detailed his alleged encounters with "visitors"—non-human entities that abducted him from his cabin in upstate New York.

While Strieber was already a successful horror novelist (author of The Wolfen and The Hunger), Communion was presented as a non-fiction account. It became a #1 New York Times bestseller and is credited with permanently establishing the "Grey alien" image in global popular culture.

Background

The core events of the book began on the night of December 26, 1985. Strieber claimed he was awoken by a peculiar sound and subsequently removed from his bedroom. Under hypnotic regression facilitated by Budd Hopkins, Strieber recalled a series of traumatic and confusing medical procedures performed by four different types of entities:

• The Small Greys: Short, robotic figures with large black eyes.
• The Stout Ones: Smaller, broader beings that seemed to be in charge of physical tasks.
• The "Blue" Doctors: Entities draped in blue clothing.
• The Feminine Being: A slender figure with whom Strieber felt a profound, if terrifying, emotional connection.

The Cover Art

The book’s cover features a striking painting of a "visitor" by artist Ted Seth Jacobs. Strieber has stated that the image is the most accurate representation of what he saw, though he noted the eyes in the painting were "too human." This specific face—large almond-shaped black eyes, slit mouth, and hairless cranium—became the definitive "Grey Alien" icon of the late 20th century.

Themes and Philosophy

Unlike many UFO accounts of the era that focused on "Nuts and Bolts" spacecraft, Communion explored the psychological and spiritual dimensions of the experience:

• The Screen Memory: Strieber discusses how the mind replaces traumatic alien encounters with "masks," such as owls or raccoons.
• The Evolution of Consciousness: Strieber posits that the "visitors" may not be extraterrestrials in the traditional sense, but perhaps "interdimensional" beings or a manifestation of the Earth's own consciousness interacting with humanity.

Reception and Controversy

The book was met with both massive public interest and intense skepticism.

• Mainstream Science: Critics and psychologists suggested the experiences were the result of Sleep Paralysis or temporal lobe epilepsy.
• UFO Community: While many embraced Strieber, some "U