Making the mysteries of the Mysteries of the Unknown known. (Image: Youtube)
Turn on just about any channel of American TV between 1987 and 1991, and there was a pretty good chance you would be treated to strange tales of spontaneous psychic connections that were “DISMISSED AS COINCIDENCE.” Or a normal-looking guy talking about a magician’s honeymoon in the Great Pyramid, before harping on his friend to “Read the book!” You mighteven see a young Julianne Moore telling a story about an out-of-body experience.
These were all commercials for Time-Life’s Mysteries of the Unknown series, a mail order book seriesthat not only blanketed the airwaves with unforgettable commercials, but captured the zeitgeist of a burgeoning New Age explosion. The bookseries was a collection of thin, black volumes that delved into every corner of the mystical, metaphysical, and paranormal. But for all of their admirably in-depth explorations of everything from “Earth Energies” to “Mysterious Creatures,” one mystery remains: how did they get so popular?
Fittingly enough, it may have just been fated in the stars.
The Mysteries of the Unknown phenomenon began in 1987 when Time-Life Books began to test the waters for a series of books on the paranormal. Time-Life Books, a conglomeration of the two titular magazines, sold books via monthly subscriptions. Their series and titles usually focused on broad historical or utilitarian subjects like The Old West or Home Repair and Improvement, and were mainly sold directly to the consumer via television ads that blanketed the cable and broadcast airwaves. They were the kinds of books one’s dad or grandparents might buy.
This is the televised version of a pop-up ad. (Image: Youtube)
Even within Time-Life, the series was nicknamed, “books as furniture,” saysTom Corry, former Product Manager for Time-Life Books, who helped develop the paranormal series and the ad campaign that saw it take off. According to Corry, who is now CEO of his own company, Healthcare Data Insights & Analytics, the roots of the Mysteries series are actually pretty mundane. “We already had a book series called the Enchanted World, and it was elves and fairies,” he says. “It was a pretty popular series.” Having found an audience for these books, Time-Life decided to see what other left-field topics readers might be interested in.
Moving a bit away from the myth and folklore of the Enchanted World, Time-Life began polling its marketing database to see if they could get a little more mysterious and metaphysical. The database was a collection of people who had filled out business reply cards (the company tip emails of the day), or purchased previous series from Time-Life. They responded with”decent interest,” says Corry. “We thought we could probably squeeze a series out of this.”
The art collected for the series put OMNI Magazine to shame. (Image: Youtube)
Butthe Time-Life editors weren’t that interested in the idea of this comparatively out-there new series. “Oh yeah. They hated that stuff,” says Corry. Time-Life had made itsreputation on sober publications like This Fabulous CenturyandThe Life Nature Library, so runs like the Enchanted World and Mysteries of the Unknownwere far more fringe. But the customer interest was strong enough, and the sales projections made sense, so the project went through. While it may have lacked very much magic in its conception, Mysteries of the Unknown was about to beguileAmerica.
The series debuted via Time-Life’s direct mail campaigns in early 1987, receiving, as Corry puts it, a “mediocre” response. But then came the Harmonic Convergence, a global meditation event organized by New Age author José Argüelles, that called for believers from all around the world to gather where they could in order to meditate on a common karmic goal. According to Argüelles, on August 16-17 of 1987, the planets aligned as predicted in an ancient Mayan prophecy, ushering in an age of global rebirth.
Who knows what effect the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 had on the karma of the planet, but the massive popularity of the event certainly marked a turning point in the sales of Mysteries of the Unknown. “There was the Harmonic Convergence, and then there was the power of crystals.” Corry says. “All this stuff out in the news, and out in the market, starts hitting on the Harmonic Convergence, and crystals, and out-of-body experiences. UFOs were kind of big … Right after that, in the fall of ‘87, we couldn’t print enough books.”
The ad that started it all.
While a seemingly cosmic synchronicity may have kicked off the series’ popularity, it was the TV ads that made Mysteries of the Unknown immortal. Afterthe standard promotion cycle of direct mailings, followed byprint advertising and reply cards, the first Mysteries of the Unknown television commercial hit the airwaves in September of 1987.
Developed by advertising agency Wunderman Worldwide, the ad had an ominous voiceover presenting the viewer with a series of seemingly unexplainable events, against a sinister John-Carpenter-lite soundtrack. “Northern Texas. An unidentified flying object is reported by at least a dozen people,” the voiceover intoned. “Although there were no storms in the area, it’s dismissed as lightning.” Then,during the same ad, came the image of a man who brought a coat hanger bent into the shape of an ankh to Stonehenge, getting zapped with a surge of yellow “power.”
These eerie/silly advertisem*nts hit like a psychic blast, and Mysteries of the Unknown was on its way to breaking every sales record Time-Life had ever seen at the time. A New York Times article from 1988reports 700,000 orders for the first book in the series, Mystic Places.
As sales of the series stayed strong, more commercials followed over the next few years. Initially mimicking the creepy voiceover formula of the original, the ads moved towards a more personal perspective. They began with dramatizations of people telling their unexplainable stories (Hey there, 1989 Julianne Moore!), before juxtaposing them with a grumpy skeptic. Later in the life of the campaign, the ads got even more elaborate, with one in 1990 promising to send subscribers “power crystals” if they drew a full moon over an image of Stonehenge printed on a mail-in reply card.
Ladies and gentlemen, future Oscar-winner Julianne Moore.
Perhaps the most iconic of the ads were the ones thatspotlighted a conversation between an incredulous disbeliever and a Mysteries of the Unknown subscriber. One classic exchange:
Man 1: Mystic Places?
Man 2: It talks about the Nazca Lines being runways for alien spaceships, and aliens interbreeding with ancient Peruvians.
Man 1: Did they?
Man 2: Read the book. Read about Aleister Crowley and his bride’s honeymoon night in the Great Pyramid.
Man 1: What happened?!
Man 2: Read the book!
“Read the book!” became a favorite catchphrase as people were bombarded with commercials for the series on every 1990s powerhouse network, from MTV to TNT to Nickelodeon.
“READ THE BOOK!!!”
While the ads capitalized on the skepticism surrounding the subject matter, the books themselves were much less flighty than one might expect. The researchers, writers, and editors at Time-Life who worked on the series subjected titles like Psychic Voyages and Spirit Summonings to the same rigors of investigation and annotation as any of their historical titles.
“One thing I have to say about Time-Life is that it was really well researched,” Corry says, “because the guys in New York, the chairman of the board of Time Inc., they had a real focus on editorial excellence.” The volume entitled Ancient Wisdom and Secret Sects alone has a bibliography that references about 178 different sources. The book itself is only 176 pages long. No matter how skeptical one might be, it certainly seemed like the books got as close to the bottom of their mysteries as they could. Although, according to Corry, the editors never really did warm to the subject matter.
When Mysteries of the Unknownwas initially released in 1987, there were only 20 volumes in the series. By 1991, when the series was finally discontinued, it had grown to encompass 33 titles, including Cosmic Connections, Witches and Witchcraft, and The Mind and Beyond. The true hidden powers behind the Mysteries of the Unknown were sales figures, and as those slowed, the series ended.
The interior of Ancient Wisdom and Secret Sects (Image by Eric Grundhauser)
Mysteries of the Unknownlives on most indelibly in the minds of those that were hypnotized by the unforgettable ads (Corry won a Cleo for one of the TV spots, and credits the series for defining his marketing career). Time-Life Books was shut down in 2003, and the company now focuses on selling multimedia things like DVDs and CDs. No mention of the Mysteries of the Unknown series can be found on its website, but copies of the thin black tomes still pop upon eBay, Amazon, and the shelves of used book stores. Physical copies of the books nowseem like mysterious artifacts themselves: half-remembered grimoires filled with the hottest timeless mysteries of the 1980s and ’90s.
FAQs
A tetralogy (from Greek τετρα- tetra-, "four" and -λογία -logia, "discourse") is a compound work that is made up of four distinct works.
What is a 5 book series called? ›
A pentalogy (from Greek πεντα- penta-, "five" and -λογία -logia, "discourse") is a compound literary or narrative work that is explicitly divided into five parts.
What is the first book in a series called? ›
First book: The first book in a series sets the stage for the rest of the series, introducing the main characters, the setting, and key plot points. This initial installment is often referred to as the “pilot” book, drawing a parallel to TV series. No more researching over what is the first book in a series called.
What is a series of 4 called? ›
A series of 4 books = Tetralogy.
What is the 7 version of trilogy? ›
A heptalogy (/hɛpˈtælədʒi/; from Greek ἑπτα- hepta-, "seven" and -λογία -logia, "discourse"), also known as a septology, is a compound literary or narrative work that is made up of seven distinct works.
What is a series of 3 books called? ›
A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games.
What is the most common book series? ›
Frequently Asked Questions
With more than 500 million copies sold, the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling is the best selling book series of all-time.
What is a 6 book series called? ›
A hexalogy (from Greek ἑξα- hexa-, "six" and -λογία -logia, "discourse") is a compound literary or narrative work that is made up of six distinct works.
What is a collection of book series called? ›
The collection of books has a name called a pile—and we use that word to refer to the collection. The term “library” can also refer to a collection of books. It can store books in various forms, including physical books, electronic books, and audiobooks. In addition to that, it has books from a variety of genres.
What's a series of books called? ›
Fiction books. A novel sequence is a set or series of novels which share common themes, characters, or settings, but where each novel has its own title and free-standing storyline, and can thus be read independently or out of sequence.
It's called an ennealogy. It means a nine-part series, as in Star Wars, which, like the Conspiracy Chronicles, is made up of three interconnected trilogies, or nine total narrative pieces of the larger pie.
What is the word for a 9 trilogy? ›
A set of nine is called an ennealogy.
What do you call a book that is not in a series? ›
In genre fiction, the term anthology typically categorizes collections of shorter works, such as short stories and short novels, by different authors, each featuring unrelated casts of characters and settings, and usually collected into a single volume for publication.
What is the last of the original trilogy? ›
Return of the Jedi
It is the third and final film of the original trilogy, and was followed in theaters by Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The film was written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan, produced by Howard Kazanjian, and directed by Richard Marquand.
What is the 2th version of a trilogy? ›
A duology is the equivalent of a trilogy for two parts. It's called a duology. A series comprised of two parts, particularly in genre fiction, as defined by Merriam Webster.
What is the end of a trilogy called? ›
The third movie in a trilogy is typically referred to as the "third installment" or "the final chapter" of the trilogy.
What are the 365 books called? ›
365 Days: A Novel (365 Days Bestselling Series)
What is the trilogy in the Bible? ›
Knowing God - The Trilogy: Knowing Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit through the Old Testament.
What 3 books are in the century trilogy? ›
Ken Follett Century Trilogy War Stories Collection 3 Books Set (Fall of Giants, Winter of the World , Edge of Eternity)
What is the #1 best selling book series? ›
Having sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling is the best-selling book series in history. The first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, has sold in excess of 120 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.
The Harry Potter series is far and away the highest-selling series of novels ever.
What is the most read book of all time? ›
The most read book in the world is the Bible. Writer James Chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies each book sold over the last 50 years. He found that the Bible far outsold any other book, with a whopping 3.9 billion copies sold over the last 50 years.
What book series has 4 books? ›
A series of four books is called a tetralogy.
What is the difference between a trilogy and a series? ›
Multi-volume works are usually called a series. Some people call a set of two a duology, and a set of four a quadrilogy, but the trilogy is so very much more common than a set of two, or four (or more) that 'trilogy' is well known. A series of books with four or more is usually called just a 'series'.
What is the longest book title ever? ›
The Guinness world record for the longest book title belongs to Vityala Yethindra for his book “The Historical Development of the Heart from Its Formation From …” In all, the title contains 3,777 words and over 26,000 characters!
What is the longest single book in the world? ›
A la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust
Its title translates to Remembrance of Things Past (first translated into English as In Search of Lost Time) and contains nearly 1.3 million words with an estimated 9,609,000 characters.
What book series has the most words? ›
- The Sorcerer's Stone – 77,325 words. The Chamber of Secrets – 84,799 words. ...
- The Hobbit – 95,022 words. The Fellowship of the Ring – 177,227 words. ...
- Hunger Games – 99,750 words. Hunger Games: Catching Fire – 101,564 words. ...
- A Game of Thrones – 292,727 words. ...
- Eye of the World – 305,902 words. ...
- Twilight – 118,975 words.
I write about tax news, tax policy and tax information. Once again, the most popular names for babies born in the United States are Liam and Olivia—Liam has topped the list for six years in a row, and Olivia has been the top choice for new parents for four years.
What is a large collection of books called? ›
library, traditionally, collection of books used for reading or study, or the building or room in which such a collection is kept.
What is 1 of a set of books called? ›
1 Answer. A set of books is called a series. A series refers to a set of two or more books. 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021.
The Library's collections of books and pamphlets, organized according to the familiar Library of Congress Classification Scheme, are known as the classified or general collections.
Which movie has 7 parts? ›
- Dracula (1931)
- Drácula (1931)*
- Dracula's Daughter (1936)
- Son of Dracula (1943)
- House of Frankenstein (1944)
- House of Dracula (1945)
- Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
A saga is one epic story, broken down into multiple movies. The most famous saga is the Lord of the Rings saga (and The Hobbit). It also applies to Tarantino's Kill Bill series, broken into two.
Is there another name for trilogy? ›
On this page you'll find 161 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to trilogy, such as: ternary, ternion, third, triad, trichotomy, and trinity.
What is the word for 3 trilogies? ›
Synonyms of trilogy
- trio.
- triple.
- trinity.
- triad.
- triptych.
- triumvirate.
- triplet.
- threesome.
The Before trilogy consists of three American romance films directed by Richard Linklater. Beginning with Before Sunrise (1995), and continuing with two sequels, Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013). The first film was co-written by Linklater and Kim Krizan.
What do you call one who collects books but doesn't read? ›
Tsundoku: The art of buying books and never reading them.
What is it called when you collect books but don't read them? ›
Article Talk. Tsundoku (積ん読) refers to the phenomenon of acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them. It is also used to refer to books ready for reading later when they are on a bookshelf.
What is the back off a book called? ›
A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dust jacket of a book.
What do you call a trilogy of 6? ›
A hexalogy (from Greek ἑξα- hexa-, "six" and -λογία -logia, "discourse") is a compound literary or narrative work that is made up of six distinct works.
Here's some of it: 2 : Dilogy. 3 : Trilogy. 4: Tetralogy. 5 : Pentalogy.
What is a trilogy of 9 called? ›
It's called an ennealogy. It means a nine-part series, as in Star Wars, which, like the Conspiracy Chronicles, is made up of three interconnected trilogies, or nine total narrative pieces of the larger pie.
Why is it called saga? ›
It is cognate with the English words say and saw (in the sense 'a saying', as in old saw), and the German Sage; but the modern English term saga was borrowed directly into English from Old Norse by scholars in the eighteenth century to refer to Old Norse prose narratives.
What does saga stand for in books? ›
And they were aptly named: saga traces back to an Old Norse root that means "tale." The English word first referred only to those original Icelandic stories, but saga later broadened to cover other narratives reminiscent of those, and the word was eventually further generalized to cover any long, complicated scenario.
What is the English version of saga? ›
A saga is a long story, account, or sequence of events.
What is one of a set of books called? ›
1 Answer. A set of books is called a series. A series refers to a set of two or more books. 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021. Related Questions.
What movie has the most sequels ever? ›
Which Movie Franchises Have the Most Sequels? You Might Be Surprised
- Viewing This Surprising Roster. ...
- Friday the 13th: 12+ Movies 1980 - ...
- Star Trek: 12+ Movies 1979 - ...
- James Bond: 23+ Movies 1962 - ...
- Godzilla: 28+ Movies 1954 - ...
- Carry On: 31 Films from 1958 - 1992. ...
- The Marvel Cinematic Universe: 31+ Movies 2008 -
The Star Wars series has had 12 feature films in roughly 40 years: three trilogies tied to the Skywalker family, two live-action anthology films, and one animated theatrical release in 2008.
What is the best film trilogy? ›
10 Best Movie Trilogies of All Time, According to Reddit
- 1 'The Planet of the Apes' (2011/2014/2017)
- 2 'Star Wars' (1977/1980/1983) ...
- 3 'The Dollars Trilogy' (1964-1966) ...
- 4 'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010/2014/2019) ...
- 5 'Three Colors' (1993-1994) ...
- 6 'Spider-Man' (2002/2004/2007) ...
- 7 'The Oceans Trilogy (2001/2004/2007) ...
Other words for series' of works
| A series of two works | duology |
|---|
| A series of nine works | ennealogy |
| A series of ten works | decalogy |
| A series of eleven works | hendecalogy |
| A series of twelve works | dodecalogy |
6 more rows4 movies- quadrilogy 5 movies- pentology 6- hexalogy 7-septalogy 8-octology 9-nonology.
What is the uncommon numbers trilogy? ›
The Uncommon Numbers Trilogy is comprised of Uncommon Numbers (1996), The Uncommon Numbers Manual (1999), and Uncommon Numbers II (2010). They are the only books in print dedicated entirely to the subject of calligraphic numerals.
