The Truth is Still Out There: Thirty Years of the X-Files cover art

The Truth is Still Out There: Thirty Years of the X-Files

Thirty Years of the X-Files

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The Truth is Still Out There: Thirty Years of the X-Files

By: Bethan Jones
Narrated by: Daniela Acitelli
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About this listen

In September 1993, a TV show like no other appeared on our screens, asking us to consider the essence of truth and belief, to think about the nature and roles of science and humanity, and to question what we were told by those in power. Combining horror, science fiction, drama, crime, and comedy with cinematic filmmaking, The X-Files transported the paranoia of the sixties and seventies to the technologically savvy nineties as it followed two iconic characters, FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, in their labyrinthine pursuit of truth. Further, The X-Files reversed conventional television gender roles: Mulder was our believer in the paranormal, chasing down clues in search of his abducted sister; Scully was the skeptic, a scientist preaching rationality and objective truth. Now, thirty years later, the nature of conspiracy theories may have changed, but the anxiety surrounding them has not. In an era in which Watergate has been replaced by Gamergate and conspiracy theorists blindly embrace the myth of a stolen election and maintain that an all-powerful cabal of Satanic Democrats—defeatable by only one man—is preying on children, The X-Files remains as relevant as ever.

©2023 Bethan Jones (P)2023 Tantor Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV History & Criticism Entertainment Fiction
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As an X-Phile myself I recognised a lot of my approach to the fandom of the show through this book. Bethan Jones does a great job of covering various aspects of the show through its various eras without feeling like the book is padded with unnecessary extra information, which, given how much material is out there, would have been all too easy.

However, I was bitterly disappointed that the obvious enthusiasm that the author has put into writing this book did not translate well at all by the narrator. It's obvious to even the most casual fan that the narrator has not seen much of the show by mis pronouncing names of various characters far too regularly. However that would have perhaps been forgiven had the overall tone of the narration been a little more nuanced than what you would get out of a phone's virtual assistant.

The book is great but if you're considering it, get the print version...

Good overview of the show marred by poor narration

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