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BOOKS McLIBEL: Burger Culture on Trial by John Vidal Publisher: Macmillan, UK, 1997 ISBN: 0-333-69461-9 (332pp hic) Price: AUD$35.00; NZD$39.95; STGE£15.99; USD$24.00 (revised s/c) Distributors: Australia—Pan Macmillan, ph (02) 92261 5611; NZ—Macmillan, ph (09) 415 6677; UK—Macmillan, ph 0171 881 8000; USA—W. W. Norton & Co., ph 1800 233 4830. [ this first book out after the close of the "McLibel" trial (the longest-running libel case in British history), UK Guardian jour- nalist John Vidal explores the trial's clash of two cultures along with its political, legal, economic and social ramifications. Helen Steel and Dave Morris, two green activists who handed out "What's Wrong with McDonald's?" leaflets for London Greenpeace (no link with Greenpeace International), were served libel writs in 1990 by McDonald's, the fast-food multina- tional, and decided to fight. The "McLibel Two" were denied a jury trial—which was significant in view of public interest—and had to defend themselves against a corpora- tion of unlimited means. Their 314-day stand captured the public imagination as a classic David vs Goliath battle, the giant corporation McDonald's representing all that is distasteful about transnational takeover of the world's economies and cultures. In McLibel: Burger Culture on Trial, John Vidal investigates the trial's background and key players, presenting a stark portrait of McDonald's history. He features case high- lights and how points were won and lost on both sides over McDonald's treatment of animals and rainforests, its burgers' nutri- tional value, its advertising/promotions aimed at children, its youth employment record and its litter recycling practices. McLibel was released before the Judge's verdict. The McLibel Two were ordered to pay McDonald's £60,000 in damages, but they are popularly regarded as having won the moral victory. In the aftermath, Vidal warns that important issues raised by the trial must stay in the spotlight. THE CATCHERS OF HEAVEN: A Trilogy by Michael Wolf Publisher: Dorrance, USA, 1996 ISBN: 0-8059-3907-5 (402pp hic) Price: AUD$45.00; STG£24.00; USD$24.00 + USD$3.50 p&h in USA; USD$29.00 foreign airmail Distributors: Aust—Cameron Books, ph (047) 587676; UK—Baker & Taylor Books; Bookshops; USA—Dorrance Publishing Co.,Pittsburgh, PA, ph (412) 288 4543, 1800 788 7654, fax (412) 288 1786. his is another book, written by a former military/intelligence ‘insider’, that has recently caused a stir, not least in UFO cir- cles. Michael Wolf, M.D., Ph.D., now in his late 50s and confronting a potentially termi- nal illness, had nothing to lose by writing a fictional account of his life experiences. (The idea came to him as a child, at a time when he was 'befriended' by a Grey alien who ‘taught’ him the basics of surgery.) Having trained as medical doctor, neurolo- gist, psychobiophysicist and computer scien- tist, Dr Wolf served in Vietnam as a flight medical surgeon, command pilot and coun- terintel officer. He allegedly worked in CIA 72 * NEXUS and NSA black budget weapons and UFO back-engineering programs at Nevada Area 51 and S4 facilities and the Dulce, NM, underground base. He alludes to close asso- ciations with EBEs in and beyond his line of work (in cloning), and to membership of the Majestic 12 Special Studies Group. He also admits to having huge qualms of conscience. In view of the US National Security Act, Dr Wolf has had to avoid Above Top Secret details in his book, The Catchers of Heaven. Instead, Wolf writes intimately of the joys and griefs of a life's journey (his wife and son died in a ‘fixed’ car accident in 1984)— and in the process divulges extraordinary details about time-space realities and intelli- gences on, above and beyond this world. He adopts a stream-of-consciousness, even poetic style to tell his touching story. It is compelling to conclude that Dr Wolf, with such a remarkable career behind him, has thrown much fact amongst his fiction. CATCHERS HeAvE OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1997