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Monuments of Mars with Book: Evidence of a Lost City on Mars?
The Viking orbiters photographed a peculiar human-like face on the surface of Mars. Dismissed by Nasa researchers, the photo lay ignored for three years until two computer scientists rediscovered it. Here is their theory and their story that challenges Nasa's conclusion that the photo was a mere accident.
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First published January 1, 1987
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About the author
Richard C. Hoagland
17 books33 followersAmerican author, and a proponent of various theories about NASA, lost alien civilizations on the Moon and on Mars and other related topics.
His writings claim that advanced civilizations exist or once existed on the Moon, Mars and on some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and that NASA and the United States government have conspired to keep these facts secret.
One of his most known theories is the "Face on the moon" which he claimed was a statue of a face.
His writings claim that advanced civilizations exist or once existed on the Moon, Mars and on some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and that NASA and the United States government have conspired to keep these facts secret.
One of his most known theories is the "Face on the moon" which he claimed was a statue of a face.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 9, 2015
Years ago a friend of mine in Santa Rosa, California showed a group of us a video of Richard C. Hoagland discussing the Cydonia region of Mars, site of the apparent "Face" as well as other structures which he maintained might be artificial. This book covers most of the same material, albeit without any discussion of the Red Spot on the surface of Jupiter, an ancillary topic in the video. Since its first publication in this edition several revisions of the text have appeared reflecting further data obtained relevant to his hypotheses.
While the original video had impressive producion values, Hoagland's excited (he often conveys excitement, even in his writing) presentation gave me pause. The claim that there may be enormous artifacts on Mars is, after all, an extraordinary assertion. Still, this book does make a plausible case for further photographic examination of the area and does cite many reputable experts who echo such a recommendation.
Coincidentally, I picked up this book during my most recent visit to Northern California, at a church resale shop in Fairfax in Marin County.
While the original video had impressive producion values, Hoagland's excited (he often conveys excitement, even in his writing) presentation gave me pause. The claim that there may be enormous artifacts on Mars is, after all, an extraordinary assertion. Still, this book does make a plausible case for further photographic examination of the area and does cite many reputable experts who echo such a recommendation.
Coincidentally, I picked up this book during my most recent visit to Northern California, at a church resale shop in Fairfax in Marin County.
January 24, 2016
I read this book in the mid-1990's when Hoagland was going around on talk shows and late night radio shows talking about his "discoveries" of proof of intelligent life on Mars, which he based on some grainy pictures of the planet. He book was a reach, he made all types of speculations based on a few fuzzy pictures that showed a "face", "pyramids", and other odd looking features on the surface. Since then, Mars probes have taken high definition photos of the areas that Hoagland claimed were signs of intelligent life, and these new photos confirm that the land masses in question are merely natural formations and nothing special. When I was reading the book I thought the ideas the author raised were a stretch and ridiculous. Modern science confirmed this.
April 21, 2013
I wanted to give this book five stars just because I can't believe the poor ratings of some of the other reviews. Either they are part of the conspiracy or they didn't understand the authors desire to provide transparency. Mr. Hoagland states in the book that he wanted to provide the information regarding his studies as they happened which includes false leads and presumptions. Yes, he provides technical data that may put off some readers but what would you do if you had discovered one of the most earth-changing facts in history and you couldn't get anyone to take you seriously?
Simply put, there is enough corroborating technical data confirmed by enough specialists of enough branches of enough disciplines to conclude that there are artificial constructions on Mars and they deserve to be taken seriously and debated in the mainstreams of science and media. I can't believe that this book was first published in 1987 and we're still driving around in fossil fuel vehicles and paying for electricity.
What we have instead is enough chicanery, double-talk, slander and ignorance to fuel a conspiracy theory. So there you have it. If you want to remain oblivious to reality and accept the pablum of fear, greed and hopelessness that is delivered by the media, so be it.
Let me know when you're ready to wake up.
This isn't as much a book review as a societal review, and we are failing. Yes, we're still on top of the heap of failures but we are still failing.
Let it be known that I am for Love and Life and Truth.
Simply put, there is enough corroborating technical data confirmed by enough specialists of enough branches of enough disciplines to conclude that there are artificial constructions on Mars and they deserve to be taken seriously and debated in the mainstreams of science and media. I can't believe that this book was first published in 1987 and we're still driving around in fossil fuel vehicles and paying for electricity.
What we have instead is enough chicanery, double-talk, slander and ignorance to fuel a conspiracy theory. So there you have it. If you want to remain oblivious to reality and accept the pablum of fear, greed and hopelessness that is delivered by the media, so be it.
Let me know when you're ready to wake up.
This isn't as much a book review as a societal review, and we are failing. Yes, we're still on top of the heap of failures but we are still failing.
Let it be known that I am for Love and Life and Truth.
February 9, 2011
I read half of this.. It's a great effort and the subject matter is interesting and important. However, this book has no, and I mean, no organization. The content of the book is thrown together in every chapter like stew. It would be much better if Hoagland had decided whether he wanted to a) approach the subject matter in a narrative of how he came to the discovery, or b) approached the book as an informative piece of non-fiction. Instead, we have a mix of everything and it's hard to make heads or tails for that reason. Plus this book is pretty outdated. I would like to read an updated version.
June 29, 2007
Video lecture shows the STS mission with the "fallen angels" coming into view. Then they get fired upon by a railgun. Too bad they missed. Need more targetting practice!
March 7, 2014
I'm not sure I buy all of what Hoagland is saying here but the idea is an interesting one. Science should get over their own self-importance and start exploring some alternative methods.
March 13, 2014
Hoagland takes his time to tell his story. I have listened to him on the radio for years. Whether true or not, his book is worth the read. It will get you to think about the possibilities.
December 2, 2014
A good introduction to a lot of the basics of what could become the biggest discovery in the history of, well, history. I'm not aware of any major scientific discovery that did not go through an initial period of being considered crackpot pseudoscience. Perhaps this has happened so consistently that if your idea is instantly popular that should be seen as cause for concern. The concerns found in the Brookings Report about the threats that major scientific discoveries could present to established belief systems and power structures seem to be playing a big role here. Good old human nature is also, with so many people finding what they expect to be possible rather than what is there. I've tried to listen to both sides of the debate but the critics of Hoagland who I've run across have been spending a lot of time on name calling and changes of subject without addressing the major pieces of evidence in any meaningful way, so to me it looks like one side is sort of winning by default. Keep up the great work, RCH. At least we've made enough progress so you're not under house arrest like Galileo was. And if your ideas ever cause actual rioting in the streets like Darwin's theory did at first, maybe that will mean you're really on the right track.
February 10, 2014
Presumptuous, opinionated, not much evidence beyond wishful thinking and some clever geometry. Believe me, I'm not a debunker. I would love to believe these things, but this is a weak effort to convince me. And I have to question Hoagland when he goes off on his 19.5 degree tangents, especially measurements that are close to 19.5, but not really 19.5 degrees. Either that number is significant or it's not. "Close to" doesn't cut it. On the surface, it's compelling stuff, but once you get down and dirty with the "data," it's just not convincing. And seeing what Hoagland has been up to the past few years, he's either a turned into a straight-up, street-level charlatan, or he's gone bananas.
April 12, 2020
The Monuments of Mars – A City On The Edge Of Forever by Richard C. Hoagland is a thought-provoking and profound expedition into much maligned subject of space oddities that abound throughout the Solar System.
In The Monuments of Mars, Hoagland, who was a former NASA consultant himself, takes an incisive approach outlining all the data he and his colleagues collated that reveal that NASA has undertaken a cover up of unprecedented proportions.
Having sifted through accrued research for many years, Hoagland searched for evidence of artificiality in places such as “The Face” on Mars, which was discovered by the Viking Mission, as well as other places, while also giving a rather thorough look at Cydonia. What Hoagland found was that these locales contain geometrically precise anomalies that should not be there whatsoever.
Whether one agrees with Hoagland argument or not, his approach is coherent, cogent, and exceptionally academic in its precision. Hoagland (and his colleagues) found compelling information that should be taken quite seriously about artificial structures not only on Mars, but also on the Moon, Iapetus and elsewhere.
The author also makes an intriguing argument in connecting The Great Pyramid of Egypt to Mars. That in and of itself should be quite remarkable because, as the author notes:
“…what were the random probabilities that there would exist two isolated worlds, both with “pyramids” and “sphinxes,” and now, that the one site on this planet where the most perfect, most archtypal forms still stand – Cairo – would also form the key linguistic bridge that links those worlds…!?“[1][Bold, Underline & Italics Emphasis Added]
Why would Hogland make such an assertion? Because in Arabic, Cairo means Mars.
In its totality, this is the type of book that if it were thoroughly considered by the establishment and researchers around the world, it should have flipped everything we know about history, space, and other subjects on its face. But such is not the case.
That’s why it’s up to individuals on the grassroots level to examine the book by themselves and come up to their own conclusions. That’s one of the only ways we as a society are going to get to the core of the truth, irrespective of where that venture leads too.
Hoagland’s incisive expedition has located some archeological gems that should be taken quite seriously and examined at length. If only a sliver of what Hoagland proclaims is true, history as we have been taught is fraught with deception, and is a lot more fascinating than what we could have ever imagined.
_______________________________________________________
Source:
[1] Richard C. Hoagland, The Monuments Of Mars – A City On The Edge Of Forever pg. 289.
_______________________________________________________
Suggested Reading:
UFOs for the 21st Century Mind: A Fresh Guide to an Ancient Mystery by Richard Dolan
The Secret Space Program & Breakaway Civilization By Richard Dolan
In The Monuments of Mars, Hoagland, who was a former NASA consultant himself, takes an incisive approach outlining all the data he and his colleagues collated that reveal that NASA has undertaken a cover up of unprecedented proportions.
Having sifted through accrued research for many years, Hoagland searched for evidence of artificiality in places such as “The Face” on Mars, which was discovered by the Viking Mission, as well as other places, while also giving a rather thorough look at Cydonia. What Hoagland found was that these locales contain geometrically precise anomalies that should not be there whatsoever.
Whether one agrees with Hoagland argument or not, his approach is coherent, cogent, and exceptionally academic in its precision. Hoagland (and his colleagues) found compelling information that should be taken quite seriously about artificial structures not only on Mars, but also on the Moon, Iapetus and elsewhere.
The author also makes an intriguing argument in connecting The Great Pyramid of Egypt to Mars. That in and of itself should be quite remarkable because, as the author notes:
“…what were the random probabilities that there would exist two isolated worlds, both with “pyramids” and “sphinxes,” and now, that the one site on this planet where the most perfect, most archtypal forms still stand – Cairo – would also form the key linguistic bridge that links those worlds…!?“[1][Bold, Underline & Italics Emphasis Added]
Why would Hogland make such an assertion? Because in Arabic, Cairo means Mars.
In its totality, this is the type of book that if it were thoroughly considered by the establishment and researchers around the world, it should have flipped everything we know about history, space, and other subjects on its face. But such is not the case.
That’s why it’s up to individuals on the grassroots level to examine the book by themselves and come up to their own conclusions. That’s one of the only ways we as a society are going to get to the core of the truth, irrespective of where that venture leads too.
Hoagland’s incisive expedition has located some archeological gems that should be taken quite seriously and examined at length. If only a sliver of what Hoagland proclaims is true, history as we have been taught is fraught with deception, and is a lot more fascinating than what we could have ever imagined.
_______________________________________________________
Source:
[1] Richard C. Hoagland, The Monuments Of Mars – A City On The Edge Of Forever pg. 289.
_______________________________________________________
Suggested Reading:
UFOs for the 21st Century Mind: A Fresh Guide to an Ancient Mystery by Richard Dolan
The Secret Space Program & Breakaway Civilization By Richard Dolan
December 23, 2013
I have tried several times to get through this book, but its poorly written and its just a garage sale of his work on the subject of Mars. He has some interesting theories and I am not saying he is wrong in all of them, some may have indeed occurred I just do not have a way to know for sure. There is so much that we do not know and to say one way or the other is going down a road that is hard to turn back from. I am on the fence regarding this book, it did not win me over, but I dont think its just trash, he raises some good questions
January 4, 2013
Some technical and math info that is not for the lay person but has great information about structures on Mars. Great read.
May 1, 2023
The Monuments of Mars: A City on the Edge of Forever" by Richard C. Hoagland is a provocative and thought-provoking book that delves into the possibility of ancient Martian civilizations and the potential evidence of their existence through various structures and monuments. Hoagland, a former NASA consultant and science writer, presents his theories with enthusiasm and a deep sense of curiosity that engages readers from the very beginning.
The book focuses on the mysterious "Face on Mars," a formation discovered in the Cydonia region of Mars by the Viking 1 orbiter in 1976. Hoagland goes beyond this enigmatic structure and examines other intriguing features on the Martian surface, such as the "D&M Pyramid" and the "City," which he believes are remnants of an ancient, advanced civilization.
Hoagland's writing style is accessible, making complex ideas and scientific concepts easy to understand for readers who may not have a background in astronomy or planetary science. He provides a detailed analysis of the various structures and their potential meanings, weaving together a compelling narrative that leaves readers questioning the history of Mars and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.
While some of the ideas presented in "The Monuments of Mars" may be considered speculative or controversial, Hoagland's passion for the subject matter is evident throughout the book. He encourages readers to keep an open mind and consider alternative explanations for the existence of these Martian formations.
The book is filled with photographs and diagrams that help illustrate the various structures and their potential significance. These visuals are a valuable addition to the text, allowing readers to see the formations for themselves and draw their own conclusions.
However, it is important to note that "The Monuments of Mars" has faced criticism from some scientists and skeptics who argue that the structures are simply natural formations and pareidolia – a phenomenon where the human brain perceives patterns or faces where none actually exist. Despite this criticism, the book remains an engaging read for those interested in exploring unconventional theories about Mars and its potential past.
In conclusion, "The Monuments of Mars: A City on the Edge of Forever" by Richard C. Hoagland is an intriguing and thought-provoking book that explores the possibility of ancient civilizations on Mars. While the ideas presented may be controversial, Hoagland's passion for the subject matter and accessible writing style make this a compelling read for anyone interested in the mysteries of the Red Planet.
The book focuses on the mysterious "Face on Mars," a formation discovered in the Cydonia region of Mars by the Viking 1 orbiter in 1976. Hoagland goes beyond this enigmatic structure and examines other intriguing features on the Martian surface, such as the "D&M Pyramid" and the "City," which he believes are remnants of an ancient, advanced civilization.
Hoagland's writing style is accessible, making complex ideas and scientific concepts easy to understand for readers who may not have a background in astronomy or planetary science. He provides a detailed analysis of the various structures and their potential meanings, weaving together a compelling narrative that leaves readers questioning the history of Mars and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.
While some of the ideas presented in "The Monuments of Mars" may be considered speculative or controversial, Hoagland's passion for the subject matter is evident throughout the book. He encourages readers to keep an open mind and consider alternative explanations for the existence of these Martian formations.
The book is filled with photographs and diagrams that help illustrate the various structures and their potential significance. These visuals are a valuable addition to the text, allowing readers to see the formations for themselves and draw their own conclusions.
However, it is important to note that "The Monuments of Mars" has faced criticism from some scientists and skeptics who argue that the structures are simply natural formations and pareidolia – a phenomenon where the human brain perceives patterns or faces where none actually exist. Despite this criticism, the book remains an engaging read for those interested in exploring unconventional theories about Mars and its potential past.
In conclusion, "The Monuments of Mars: A City on the Edge of Forever" by Richard C. Hoagland is an intriguing and thought-provoking book that explores the possibility of ancient civilizations on Mars. While the ideas presented may be controversial, Hoagland's passion for the subject matter and accessible writing style make this a compelling read for anyone interested in the mysteries of the Red Planet.
March 30, 2024
Fundamental book to understand the independent research and the hypothesis which spread from these scientific research. The book covers several years of development of the hypothesis, the ideas, the data from NASA, and the strange attitudes that NASA has towards the very data they put out.
If you are looking for the last findings on the ancient civilization of Mars that is not the book you are looking for, but if you want to find out how the history of this exo-archaeology enterprise started and took shape, then this book is a cornerstone, it is just fundamental, and though a bit out dated in some passages, you can only admire the tenacity of Richard Hoagland and other researchers, who we now can perceive, were right all along, for those of us who are paying close attention to the photos of the rovers, and the whole discussion on the subject, we understand that most claims of these researchers are every day closer to be completely vindicated. One will understand the difficulties of this research once one delves deeper into the literature of this fascinating subject, and understands why NASA does not have interest to be open about inteligent life in an other planet, specially one so close to ours, and that seems to bear so much similarity, to the point to suggest that they may have been the ones that prepared the grounds to our very civilization.
If you are looking for the last findings on the ancient civilization of Mars that is not the book you are looking for, but if you want to find out how the history of this exo-archaeology enterprise started and took shape, then this book is a cornerstone, it is just fundamental, and though a bit out dated in some passages, you can only admire the tenacity of Richard Hoagland and other researchers, who we now can perceive, were right all along, for those of us who are paying close attention to the photos of the rovers, and the whole discussion on the subject, we understand that most claims of these researchers are every day closer to be completely vindicated. One will understand the difficulties of this research once one delves deeper into the literature of this fascinating subject, and understands why NASA does not have interest to be open about inteligent life in an other planet, specially one so close to ours, and that seems to bear so much similarity, to the point to suggest that they may have been the ones that prepared the grounds to our very civilization.
January 28, 2025
Claims that structural remains can be seen on Mars
December 13, 2023
4.5 rounded up to 5.
I really liked how Hoagland successfully managed to move between academic writing and more speculative style writing, which made this "fringe", but still compelling study very intriguing. I found it fascinating how interdisciplinary this inquiry into the infamous 'Face on Mars' was, which in my opinion, made the case for artificial, technological origin more compelling. Science is best when multiple fields come together and address the same phenomena/issue from different yet converging angles. Originally bridging mathematics, computer science, anthropology, engineering, and even more left-field additions such as mythology, Egyptology, and etymology, Hoagland does just that. I also found the contextual history fascinating, and the lack of true skepticism among "mainstream" science at the time disheartening but not surprising. With books like this, I think you truly have to just see it for yourself and see the case made for a potential civilization now extinct on the planet Mars. Being a true skeptic, you might just be surprised that you'll find a truly skeptical theorist proposing something of that nature, never veering into Christofascist inclinations of conspiratorial ufology, while still emphasizing the extraordinary data gathered.
I really liked how Hoagland successfully managed to move between academic writing and more speculative style writing, which made this "fringe", but still compelling study very intriguing. I found it fascinating how interdisciplinary this inquiry into the infamous 'Face on Mars' was, which in my opinion, made the case for artificial, technological origin more compelling. Science is best when multiple fields come together and address the same phenomena/issue from different yet converging angles. Originally bridging mathematics, computer science, anthropology, engineering, and even more left-field additions such as mythology, Egyptology, and etymology, Hoagland does just that. I also found the contextual history fascinating, and the lack of true skepticism among "mainstream" science at the time disheartening but not surprising. With books like this, I think you truly have to just see it for yourself and see the case made for a potential civilization now extinct on the planet Mars. Being a true skeptic, you might just be surprised that you'll find a truly skeptical theorist proposing something of that nature, never veering into Christofascist inclinations of conspiratorial ufology, while still emphasizing the extraordinary data gathered.
October 10, 2012
Utter baloney. Hoagland is one of those rare people who has a prestigious enough background and speaks with sufficient authority to instill curiosity about his theory. He speaks as a scientist. How then can a bunch of grainy photographs be the basis for his Martian extraterrestrial theory? NASA conspiracies? So he was friends with Arthur C. Clarke? So what - at least ACC could keep his fiction and non-fiction straight. Even if there actually are Martian bases hidden all over the surface of that planet, Hoagland does no good to the cause of finding them by expecting anyone to follow him into his own land of make believe.
August 17, 2015
So I read this book because before you call bullshit you at least have to read the argument. I've concluded that there is nothing to this mars shit and Hoagland is just cashing in on poor lonely people who want to believe that somebody out there is leaving their crap laying around. However it is an interesting read for anyone who wants to get into the head of a crazy person. And this is before Hoagland went off the deep end. And I do mean the fucking deep end. We're talking Glass skyscrapers on the moon and Nazi colonies on other planets.
August 18, 2015
Hoagland obviously knows his photographic analysis. The explanations of how pixels are rendered from limited information, and the ways in which computers extrapolate the data were interesting and informative.
Pity he then failed to apply basic empirical principles to any of his own 'discoveries.'
As for the Cydonia complex, I gave up on that nonsense and left the book unfinished.
The Mars Global Surveyor has vindicated my judgement.
Pity he then failed to apply basic empirical principles to any of his own 'discoveries.'
As for the Cydonia complex, I gave up on that nonsense and left the book unfinished.
The Mars Global Surveyor has vindicated my judgement.
October 24, 2019
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I was familiar with his theory, but had not read it through in his own words. Being a journalist, Hoagland can write, making this a pretty quick read that I enjoyed far more than I had expected. I really enjoyed his insights and thoughts on something that is fun to hope is true. Highly recommended!
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