Call Them Non-Humans
Whitley Strieber is not a spooky fellow, as his works reveal an intelligent, open-minded author. He gained fame after the publication of "The Wolfen" (1978). "The Hunger" (1981), and "The Communion" (1987). Don't look for his interview in literary journals, though.
Strieber, who turns 70 on June 13, is different from Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and Edgar Allan Poe. As in the case of "The Communion", he would claim that there's truth to the story. Many reacted with disbelief, followed by derision. But producers of the small screen have found their inspiration. (Whether or not "The X-Files" was Chris Carter's idea would be anyone's guess. Fans of the Fox TV series would think of one, and only one, thing, though.) He didn't invent a new literary genre. There's no doubt about his talent. It would be his knowledge that overshadowed everything else, which would fascinate readers.
The truth is out there
Strieber didn't want to tell the world that aliens abducted him in his (New York) cabin on December 26, 1985. He rather called them non-humans, but there was no question about the illustration in the book cover. Pale, hairless skin. The absence of a philtrum. Penetrating eyes without the eyelashes. Did the author got caught up in the Yuletide revelry? Maybe. Was he unable to pull himself together? Negative. He did encountered someone (or something) that the government wanted to keep under wraps, but Strieber doesn't believe in the existence of alien life form. If Arthur C. Clarke were alive, he might find it rubbish. ("2001: A Space Odyssey" reveal alien civilizations communicating with a tribe of early hominids.)
"The Wolfen" is an intriguing detective story of New York's underbelly populated by the wolfen race. They have the features of a werewolf, but they're not exactly related to them. They prey on the people whom the the police won't search and arrest. Drug addicts and their pimps. Small-time crooks. Mafia wannabe. They existed along the human race, but they don't want to make their presence known. How come? Strieber didn't give a hint or two. Some might be reminded of wolves from other literary works, loners and outsiders. They wanted to change the status quo, but they were too conflicted to group together. This won't be the nature of the Wolfen, though.
"The Hunger" chronicled the life of Miriam Blaylock, a beautiful vampire who was the descendant of Lania. (Hera was furious at her affair with Zeus, so she turned her into a creature who craved for blood.) Miriam witnessed man's cruelty during the heyday of the Roman Empire and the Middle Age, which made her protective of her true nature. But she needed companionship. She was selective, with a promise of immortality that would be hard to resist. What her lovers didn't know was they would age rapidly after two hundred years. Miriam would put them inside (separate) coffins, place it in the basement, and let them live inside the box for eternity. Some readers would be reminded of Anne Rice, but Strieber thought about mortality. And what would happen if a human become immortal. In Miriam's case, she found out after many centuries.
Conclusion
There's nothing in Strieber's personality that would suggest a troubled background, which could influenced his penchant for his horrific and extraterrestrial tales. He wanted more material for his follow up. (His other books were less successful, though.) Don't call him weird, even he's a poster boy for this kind of thing. Instead of wanting the truth, imagine what might be the next scenario. Are you having a hair-raising moment?
