The Coming of the Saucers

The Coming of the Saucers is a book by Kenneth Arnold and Raymond Palmer, first published in 1952. It chronicles one of the most influential early UFO encounters in modern history—Kenneth Arnold’s 1947 sighting of nine unidentified flying objects near Mount Rainier, Washington. This event is widely considered the beginning of the modern UFO era and the origin of the term “flying saucers.”

The book combines Arnold’s firsthand accounts with related sightings, official responses, and speculative commentary, laying the groundwork for the cultural and conspiratorial fascination with extraterrestrials that would dominate much of the 20th century. Co-authored by Raymond Palmer — former editor of Amazing Stories and a key figure in shaping early UFO and fringe science publishing — the book moves beyond simple reportage.

It reflects a growing post-war anxiety and curiosity about aerial phenomena, secrecy, and the unknown. Palmer’s involvement helped merge pulp science fiction with the emerging UFO subculture, blending journalism, mystery, and suggestion of a hidden truth behind government and military silence. The result is a foundational document in the UFO literature canon, one that captures the early tension between public curiosity and official denial.