This is where it all begin...., 08 May 2001
A long, long time ago, in a place called Vancouver, filming started on a TV series. And that TV series spawned a series of increasingly successful adult novels. This is the first. Be warned. It's very, very good.

Yes, although it's over 6 years old, now, it's very definitely worth a look, and I highly reccommend it. It's got plenty of juicy murders, a bit of mystery, and the most vital part of any X-FILES- tension.

Compared to other examples in the field, Charles. L. Grant is not the best storyteller in the world, with Kevin Anderson and Ben Mezrich better writers, but nevertheless, I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed this book.

It's standard X-FILES fare, ganted, and if you really hate the X-FILES with a passion, this won't change your mind. But if you want a good novel to keep you busy, get this cheap and cheerful (Well, maybe not so cheerful) book and lose yourself in the incredible world of Mulder, Scully, and the mysterious Indian locals...

This is where it all begin...., 08 May 2001
A long, long time ago, in a place called Vancouver, filming started on a TV series. And that TV series spawned a series of increasingly successful adult novels. This is the first. Be warned. It's very, very good.

Yes, although it's over 6 years old, now, it's very definitely worth a look, and I highly reccommend it. It's got plenty of juicy murders, a bit of mystery, and the most vital part of any X-FILES- tension.

Compared to other examples in the field, Charles. L. Grant is not the best storyteller in the world, with Kevin Anderson and Ben Mezrich better writers, but nevertheless, I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed this book.

It's standard X-FILES fare, ganted, and if you really hate the X-FILES with a passion, this won't change your mind. But if you want a good novel to keep you busy, get this cheap and cheerful (Well, maybe not so cheerful) book and lose yourself in the incredible world of Mulder, Scully, and the mysterious Indian locals...

This Whirlwind never really gets off the ground, 18 Mar 2004
Whirlwind is the second TV tie-in novel based on The X-Files. One can't help but compare this to the first novel, Goblins, as both books were written by Charles Grant. While Whirlwind seems more readable than Goblins, in the end Grant once again comes up a little short. His characterizations of Mulder and Scully saw improvement in this novel, but there were still bits of dialogue here and there that just didn't sound like something the agents would say. A bigger problem is found in the characterization of all the other characters, some of whose actions really aren't adequately explained in the context of the novel. The explanation behind the crimes presented here also falls short of believability.

The heart of this particular X-File involves a most unusual serial killer (indeed, I would not use the term serial killer in this context – but the back cover of the book uses it). It all started with a string of cattle mutilations, a subject even Mulder isn't very interested in. Then a local sheriff of a small New Mexico town asks for FBI help when a honeymooning man and wife are killed in the same horrible fashion, and Mulder and Scully are initially assisted on the case by an agent from the regional FBI office. The manner of death in these cases is enough to make Scully uneasy looking at the remains, as basically the victim's skin is shredded and removed from the body – possibly before death, as it happens so quickly. I should mention the fact that it is very hot in the New Mexico desert – the author certainly mentions that fact a lot. Anyway, Mulder and Scully begin the investigation, ask questions that most folks don't seem to want to answer completely, and find themselves wondering what if anything the local and extremely private Konochine Indians might have to do with the unexplained murders.

Whirlwind just didn't manage to satisfy me. The reality behind the mystery is rather fanciful, yet it also manages to come across as too pat of an answer. A more penetrating examination of the important characters – those on both sides of the law – would have helped in this regard, I feel. One character is seemingly dropped like a hot potato midway through the book, and another essential character's erratic behavior is explained away a little too easily for me. I love the X-Files, but, in my opinion, Whirlwind is really just an average novel.

Good story, 22 Nov 2003
I had this book on my shelf for at least 2 years before I picked it up, and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. I expected the writing to be average, but it was indeed very well written, with a gripping storyline and interesting characters (including the brilliant Mulder and Scully of course!). I'd recommend this book to anybody, and if you like the show then definately try to get your hands on this one. It's an original story and never been aired on TV.

Wonderfully new fresh x file!, 04 Aug 2001
This novel has a good storline following an xfile not previously known to tv viewers. New characters, intrigue and suspence are all included. Not to mention well noted interaction between the great Mulder and Scully. A must for an Xphiles, yet still a great read for everyone else.

This is where it all begin...., 08 May 2001
A long, long time ago, in a place called Vancouver, filming started on a TV series. And that TV series spawned a series of increasingly successful adult novels. This is the first. Be warned. It's very, very good.

Yes, although it's over 6 years old, now, it's very definitely worth a look, and I highly reccommend it. It's got plenty of juicy murders, a bit of mystery, and the most vital part of any X-FILES- tension.

Compared to other examples in the field, Charles. L. Grant is not the best storyteller in the world, with Kevin Anderson and Ben Mezrich better writers, but nevertheless, I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed this book.

It's standard X-FILES fare, ganted, and if you really hate the X-FILES with a passion, this won't change your mind. But if you want a good novel to keep you busy, get this cheap and cheerful (Well, maybe not so cheerful) book and lose yourself in the incredible world of Mulder, Scully, and the mysterious Indian locals...

This Whirlwind never really gets off the ground, 18 Mar 2004
Whirlwind is the second TV tie-in novel based on The X-Files. One can't help but compare this to the first novel, Goblins, as both books were written by Charles Grant. While Whirlwind seems more readable than Goblins, in the end Grant once again comes up a little short. His characterizations of Mulder and Scully saw improvement in this novel, but there were still bits of dialogue here and there that just didn't sound like something the agents would say. A bigger problem is found in the characterization of all the other characters, some of whose actions really aren't adequately explained in the context of the novel. The explanation behind the crimes presented here also falls short of believability.

The heart of this particular X-File involves a most unusual serial killer (indeed, I would not use the term serial killer in this context – but the back cover of the book uses it). It all started with a string of cattle mutilations, a subject even Mulder isn't very interested in. Then a local sheriff of a small New Mexico town asks for FBI help when a honeymooning man and wife are killed in the same horrible fashion, and Mulder and Scully are initially assisted on the case by an agent from the regional FBI office. The manner of death in these cases is enough to make Scully uneasy looking at the remains, as basically the victim's skin is shredded and removed from the body – possibly before death, as it happens so quickly. I should mention the fact that it is very hot in the New Mexico desert – the author certainly mentions that fact a lot. Anyway, Mulder and Scully begin the investigation, ask questions that most folks don't seem to want to answer completely, and find themselves wondering what if anything the local and extremely private Konochine Indians might have to do with the unexplained murders.

Whirlwind just didn't manage to satisfy me. The reality behind the mystery is rather fanciful, yet it also manages to come across as too pat of an answer. A more penetrating examination of the important characters – those on both sides of the law – would have helped in this regard, I feel. One character is seemingly dropped like a hot potato midway through the book, and another essential character's erratic behavior is explained away a little too easily for me. I love the X-Files, but, in my opinion, Whirlwind is really just an average novel.

Good story, 22 Nov 2003
I had this book on my shelf for at least 2 years before I picked it up, and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. I expected the writing to be average, but it was indeed very well written, with a gripping storyline and interesting characters (including the brilliant Mulder and Scully of course!). I'd recommend this book to anybody, and if you like the show then definately try to get your hands on this one. It's an original story and never been aired on TV.

Wonderfully new fresh x file!, 04 Aug 2001
This novel has a good storline following an xfile not previously known to tv viewers. New characters, intrigue and suspence are all included. Not to mention well noted interaction between the great Mulder and Scully. A must for an Xphiles, yet still a great read for everyone else.

The first novel based on The X-Files, 15 Mar 2004
Published in 1994, Goblins was the very first novel based on The X-Files television series, which at that time was relatively new, original, and growing in popularity. The action, in this case, takes place not long after the X-Files had been shut down and then reopened by the FBI (which basically puts it somewhere in the second season time period). This is a book that has its good points and its bad points. It is not a bad story in and of itself, but it doesn't fully capture the X-Files spirit; its primary weakness is the addition of two unknown agents working beside Mulder and Scully on the case at hand: Hank Webber, a gung-ho agent of the annoying type, and Licia Andrews, a cold and disagreeable person who certainly doesn't seem to be made of FBI material. Webber's association with Mulder's new supervisor Arlen Douglas (who is not Mulder's biggest fan) is used to cast a suspicious backdrop to the story, but this little subplot doesn't go very far.

The case that forms the framework of this novel consists of a series of brutal murders by an "invisible man" of sorts - witnesses, none of which are completely trustworthy, report seeing a hand and blade come out of nowhere and then disappear once the deed is done. An old reporter friend asks Mulder to investigate the first murder because the victim was his cousin's boyfriend, but Mulder has no real interest in the matter until Douglas sends him to New Jersey (alongside Scully, Webber, and Andrews) to investigate that very case; they soon meet with unexpected danger. There is basically a lot of running around talking to the locals, working with the local sheriff, and sniffing out the truth of a mysterious Department of Defense project associated with a nearby military base. Mulder comes up with his wild theory, Scully argues against it, etc. – the same drill you typically saw on the television series. Grant's characterization of Mulder and Scully is actually pretty commendable, but the other two agents are simply annoying, unrealistic, and a source of constant frustration for both Mulder and myself. Grant does keep the level of suspense at a nice level throughout the novel, largely by keeping the reader in the dark when it comes to the identity of the "goblin," and I think this makes the story much more entertaining than it would be otherwise. Looking back on the novel as a whole, the plot does hold together, but there are definitely some frayed ends and other imperfections evident in the craftsmanship. Goblins isn't likely to win The X-Files any new fans, but it makes for a fairly interesting diversion for those of us already devoted to the show and its characters.

Excellent, if not a little confusing, 25 Jul 1999
This book is probably my favorite, next to WHIRLWIND (also a Charles Grant X-Files novel.) The beginning, with Mulder's friend, was funny, but I didn't like how he was killed. One of the parts I didn't get was when that guy talked to Mulder by the memorial. Who was he-a government guy? Was it X or Deep Throat (it doesn't say when the book's set) or another ally?

Excellant!!! The Best One I've Read, 12 Jul 1999
I thought the way that Charles Grant wrote this was great! The beginning of this book just pulls you in. It feels like your right there. The murders just keep you pulled in and I couldn't put it down. It was very easy to read it made me think that I was watching the show instead of reading the book. It keeps you guessing down to the last few chapters. The Goblin is a true X-FILE to the very end. And of course someone almost gets killed in our favorite team but I'm not telling.

Goblins is an okay book., 29 Mar 1999
I enjoyed it. It was alright, but not the best. There were a few spots where I'd have to read a paragraph two or three times until I got it, and then sometimes it still didn't help. I don't remember all the cusing that others have talked about. And if there was, it must not have been enough to distract me. All in all it was a fairly good book.

I've read better--I've read worse..., 31 Jan 1999
I was surprised about the previous comments about profanity. I don't recall it bothering me that much. I thought there were some uneven aspects to the pace and plot but overall, it was enjoyable, though certainly not the best x files book. If you're not a fan, then this book will bore you, but even if you are an avid watcher, you might be disappointed in the depictions of Mulder and Scully. However, this is an OK read if you're stuck at an airport or have a long plane flight ahead of you...

This is where it all begin...., 08 May 2001
A long, long time ago, in a place called Vancouver, filming started on a TV series. And that TV series spawned a series of increasingly successful adult novels. This is the first. Be warned. It's very, very good.

Yes, although it's over 6 years old, now, it's very definitely worth a look, and I highly reccommend it. It's got plenty of juicy murders, a bit of mystery, and the most vital part of any X-FILES- tension.

Compared to other examples in the field, Charles. L. Grant is not the best storyteller in the world, with Kevin Anderson and Ben Mezrich better writers, but nevertheless, I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed this book.

It's standard X-FILES fare, ganted, and if you really hate the X-FILES with a passion, this won't change your mind. But if you want a good novel to keep you busy, get this cheap and cheerful (Well, maybe not so cheerful) book and lose yourself in the incredible world of Mulder, Scully, and the mysterious Indian locals...

This Whirlwind never really gets off the ground, 18 Mar 2004
Whirlwind is the second TV tie-in novel based on The X-Files. One can't help but compare this to the first novel, Goblins, as both books were written by Charles Grant. While Whirlwind seems more readable than Goblins, in the end Grant once again comes up a little short. His characterizations of Mulder and Scully saw improvement in this novel, but there were still bits of dialogue here and there that just didn't sound like something the agents would say. A bigger problem is found in the characterization of all the other characters, some of whose actions really aren't adequately explained in the context of the novel. The explanation behind the crimes presented here also falls short of believability.

The heart of this particular X-File involves a most unusual serial killer (indeed, I would not use the term serial killer in this context – but the back cover of the book uses it). It all started with a string of cattle mutilations, a subject even Mulder isn't very interested in. Then a local sheriff of a small New Mexico town asks for FBI help when a honeymooning man and wife are killed in the same horrible fashion, and Mulder and Scully are initially assisted on the case by an agent from the regional FBI office. The manner of death in these cases is enough to make Scully uneasy looking at the remains, as basically the victim's skin is shredded and removed from the body – possibly before death, as it happens so quickly. I should mention the fact that it is very hot in the New Mexico desert – the author certainly mentions that fact a lot. Anyway, Mulder and Scully begin the investigation, ask questions that most folks don't seem to want to answer completely, and find themselves wondering what if anything the local and extremely private Konochine Indians might have to do with the unexplained murders.

Whirlwind just didn't manage to satisfy me. The reality behind the mystery is rather fanciful, yet it also manages to come across as too pat of an answer. A more penetrating examination of the important characters – those on both sides of the law – would have helped in this regard, I feel. One character is seemingly dropped like a hot potato midway through the book, and another essential character's erratic behavior is explained away a little too easily for me. I love the X-Files, but, in my opinion, Whirlwind is really just an average novel.

Good story, 22 Nov 2003
I had this book on my shelf for at least 2 years before I picked it up, and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. I expected the writing to be average, but it was indeed very well written, with a gripping storyline and interesting characters (including the brilliant Mulder and Scully of course!). I'd recommend this book to anybody, and if you like the show then definately try to get your hands on this one. It's an original story and never been aired on TV.

Wonderfully new fresh x file!, 04 Aug 2001
This novel has a good storline following an xfile not previously known to tv viewers. New characters, intrigue and suspence are all included. Not to mention well noted interaction between the great Mulder and Scully. A must for an Xphiles, yet still a great read for everyone else.

The first novel based on The X-Files, 15 Mar 2004
Published in 1994, Goblins was the very first novel based on The X-Files television series, which at that time was relatively new, original, and growing in popularity. The action, in this case, takes place not long after the X-Files had been shut down and then reopened by the FBI (which basically puts it somewhere in the second season time period). This is a book that has its good points and its bad points. It is not a bad story in and of itself, but it doesn't fully capture the X-Files spirit; its primary weakness is the addition of two unknown agents working beside Mulder and Scully on the case at hand: Hank Webber, a gung-ho agent of the annoying type, and Licia Andrews, a cold and disagreeable person who certainly doesn't seem to be made of FBI material. Webber's association with Mulder's new supervisor Arlen Douglas (who is not Mulder's biggest fan) is used to cast a suspicious backdrop to the story, but this little subplot doesn't go very far.

The case that forms the framework of this novel consists of a series of brutal murders by an "invisible man" of sorts - witnesses, none of which are completely trustworthy, report seeing a hand and blade come out of nowhere and then disappear once the deed is done. An old reporter friend asks Mulder to investigate the first murder because the victim was his cousin's boyfriend, but Mulder has no real interest in the matter until Douglas sends him to New Jersey (alongside Scully, Webber, and Andrews) to investigate that very case; they soon meet with unexpected danger. There is basically a lot of running around talking to the locals, working with the local sheriff, and sniffing out the truth of a mysterious Department of Defense project associated with a nearby military base. Mulder comes up with his wild theory, Scully argues against it, etc. – the same drill you typically saw on the television series. Grant's characterization of Mulder and Scully is actually pretty commendable, but the other two agents are simply annoying, unrealistic, and a source of constant frustration for both Mulder and myself. Grant does keep the level of suspense at a nice level throughout the novel, largely by keeping the reader in the dark when it comes to the identity of the "goblin," and I think this makes the story much more entertaining than it would be otherwise. Looking back on the novel as a whole, the plot does hold together, but there are definitely some frayed ends and other imperfections evident in the craftsmanship. Goblins isn't likely to win The X-Files any new fans, but it makes for a fairly interesting diversion for those of us already devoted to the show and its characters.

Excellent, if not a little confusing, 25 Jul 1999
This book is probably my favorite, next to WHIRLWIND (also a Charles Grant X-Files novel.) The beginning, with Mulder's friend, was funny, but I didn't like how he was killed. One of the parts I didn't get was when that guy talked to Mulder by the memorial. Who was he-a government guy? Was it X or Deep Throat (it doesn't say when the book's set) or another ally?

Excellant!!! The Best One I've Read, 12 Jul 1999
I thought the way that Charles Grant wrote this was great! The beginning of this book just pulls you in. It feels like your right there. The murders just keep you pulled in and I couldn't put it down. It was very easy to read it made me think that I was watching the show instead of reading the book. It keeps you guessing down to the last few chapters. The Goblin is a true X-FILE to the very end. And of course someone almost gets killed in our favorite team but I'm not telling.

Goblins is an okay book., 29 Mar 1999
I enjoyed it. It was alright, but not the best. There were a few spots where I'd have to read a paragraph two or three times until I got it, and then sometimes it still didn't help. I don't remember all the cusing that others have talked about. And if there was, it must not have been enough to distract me. All in all it was a fairly good book.

I've read better--I've read worse..., 31 Jan 1999
I was surprised about the previous comments about profanity. I don't recall it bothering me that much. I thought there were some uneven aspects to the pace and plot but overall, it was enjoyable, though certainly not the best x files book. If you're not a fan, then this book will bore you, but even if you are an avid watcher, you might be disappointed in the depictions of Mulder and Scully. However, this is an OK read if you're stuck at an airport or have a long plane flight ahead of you...

This Whirlwind never really gets off the ground, 18 Mar 2004
Whirlwind is the second TV tie-in novel based on The X-Files. One can't help but compare this to the first novel, Goblins, as both books were written by Charles Grant. While Whirlwind seems more readable than Goblins, in the end Grant once again comes up a little short. His characterizations of Mulder and Scully saw improvement in this novel, but there were still bits of dialogue here and there that just didn't sound like something the agents would say. A bigger problem is found in the characterization of all the other characters, some of whose actions really aren't adequately explained in the context of the novel. The explanation behind the crimes presented here also falls short of believability.

The heart of this particular X-File involves a most unusual serial killer (indeed, I would not use the term serial killer in this context – but the back cover of the book uses it). It all started with a string of cattle mutilations, a subject even Mulder isn't very interested in. Then a local sheriff of a small New Mexico town asks for FBI help when a honeymooning man and wife are killed in the same horrible fashion, and Mulder and Scully are initially assisted on the case by an agent from the regional FBI office. The manner of death in these cases is enough to make Scully uneasy looking at the remains, as basically the victim's skin is shredded and removed from the body – possibly before death, as it happens so quickly. I should mention the fact that it is very hot in the New Mexico desert – the author certainly mentions that fact a lot. Anyway, Mulder and Scully begin the investigation, ask questions that most folks don't seem to want to answer completely, and find themselves wondering what if anything the local and extremely private Konochine Indians might have to do with the unexplained murders.

Whirlwind just didn't manage to satisfy me. The reality behind the mystery is rather fanciful, yet it also manages to come across as too pat of an answer. A more penetrating examination of the important characters – those on both sides of the law – would have helped in this regard, I feel. One character is seemingly dropped like a hot potato midway through the book, and another essential character's erratic behavior is explained away a little too easily for me. I love the X-Files, but, in my opinion, Whirlwind is really just an average novel.

Good story, 22 Nov 2003
I had this book on my shelf for at least 2 years before I picked it up, and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. I expected the writing to be average, but it was indeed very well written, with a gripping storyline and interesting characters (including the brilliant Mulder and Scully of course!). I'd recommend this book to anybody, and if you like the show then definately try to get your hands on this one. It's an original story and never been aired on TV.

Wonderfully new fresh x file!, 04 Aug 2001
This novel has a good storline following an xfile not previously known to tv viewers. New characters, intrigue and suspence are all included. Not to mention well noted interaction between the great Mulder and Scully. A must for an Xphiles, yet still a great read for everyone else.