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Whitley Strieber was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Kathleen Mary
(Drought) and Karl Strieber, a lawyer. He attended Central Catholic
Marianist High School in his hometown before pursuing higher education
at the University of Texas at Austin and the London School of Film
Technique, earning degrees from both institutions in 1968. Following
his studies, he ventured into the advertising industry in New York
City, ascending to the role of vice president in various advertising
firms. However, in 1977, Strieber departed from his successful
corporate career to embark on a path dedicated to writing. In a pivotal turn of events, Strieber claims that on the evening of December 26, 1983, he was abducted from his upstate New York cabin by entities he describes as non-human beings. This gripping encounter and related experiences became the foundation for his initial non-fiction work, "Communion" (1987). Although the book is commonly perceived as an account of alien abduction, Strieber remains cautious about definitively identifying the alleged abductors. He refers to these entities as "the visitors," adopting a neutral term that allows for the possibility that they may not be extraterrestrial but could exist within his psyche. Despite the widespread interpretation of his experiences as "alien contact," Strieber maintains uncertainty about the true nature of his encounters. He has hinted at potential childhood experiences that might suggest interference by intelligence or military agencies. Seeking answers, he voluntarily underwent extensive testing for conditions like temporal lobe epilepsy and other brain abnormalities, all of which returned results indicating normal brain function. These findings were documented in his book "Transformation." The success of both the hardcover and paperback editions of "Communion," soaring to the top position on the New York Times Best Seller list (non-fiction), attested to its widespread popularity, collectively selling over 2 million copies. Through "Communion," Strieber catalyzed an esoteric subject into the cultural mainstream, unexpectedly becoming a representative figure for a phenomenon that continues to intrigue and mystify audiences.  (Typical Alien Gray)
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