1954 01 00 Leading Edge - Vol 19 No 1 - Steenland

Magazine Overview

This document is a "Discussions and Communications" section from a publication, featuring a review of the book "Flying Saucers" by Dr. Donald H. Menzel. The review is dated 1953, with the book published by Harvard University Press and being 319 pages long. The reviewer, Nelson C. Steenland, Chairman of the Society's Standing Committee on Reviews, provides an analysis of Menzel's work.

Review of "Flying Saucers" by Dr. Donald H. Menzel

The core of this piece is a critique of Dr. Menzel's book, which aims to debunk the phenomenon of flying saucers. Menzel, a Professor of Astrophysics at Harvard University, is presented as an authority on optics and interstellar phenomena. He proposes that sightings of flying saucers can be explained by illusions resulting from light passing through ice crystals and air lenses, or by natural phenomena such as Northern Lights, comets, and meteors. Additionally, he suggests that man-made objects like kites, balloons, planes, and search lights, as well as practical jokers, could account for some sightings. Menzel further supports his argument by reviewing historical accounts of similar occurrences, dating back to biblical times and including the newspaper reports from the scare of 1897.

The book also delves into the future possibilities of space travel, with two chapters dedicated to reviewing the prospects of a flight to the moon and debating the existence of life on Mars and Venus. The main impediments to a lunar mission are identified as the substantial cost of five billion dollars and the complex task of organizing global scientific expertise.

The reviewer acknowledges that Menzel's book is a well-documented compilation of data relevant to the flying saucer question. However, the review is critical of the book's readability, describing it as "excessively wordy" and an "amateurish effort" in terms of literary quality. The reviewer draws a parallel between the potential for erroneous conclusions in the flying saucer debate and similar instances in petroleum exploration, where incomplete or incorrectly related facts can lead to costly mistakes.

Two specific points are highlighted: a quote from Thomas A. Edison regarding the 1897 scare, where he correctly identified future airships as "mechanical contrivances" but mistakenly predicted they would be "only toys." The second point is a newspaper report from around the time of Menzel's book, describing a disc-shaped airship model inspected by Field Marshal Montgomery in Canada. This airship, featuring a central gyro, reportedly possessed characteristics similar to those attributed to flying saucers.

Conclusion and Future Considerations

Based on this review, the question of flying saucers is not definitively settled. While Menzel's evidence is presented for consideration, the reviewer suggests that the phenomenon remains open to investigation and that more authentic solutions may emerge after a thorough examination of the evidence.

Publication Details

The book "Flying Saucers" is published by Harvard University Press, contains 319 pages, and was published in 1953. The review itself is from page 171 of a larger publication.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are skepticism towards unexplained aerial phenomena, the scientific method applied to popular mysteries, and the historical context of UFO sightings. The editorial stance, as reflected in the review, appears to be one of cautious scientific inquiry, acknowledging the possibility of misinterpretation and illusion while keeping an open mind to further evidence. The review implicitly endorses the application of scientific evaluation to such phenomena, as exemplified by Menzel's work and the reference to Edison's debunking efforts.