Folklore

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore
Issue: Vol. 119, No. 2
Date: August 2008
Publisher: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises, Ltd.
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of the journal *Folklore* contains several book reviews, focusing on themes of UFOlogy, mythology, and gemstones.

Book Reviews

Flying Saucers: A Social history of UFOlogy

Reviewed by Andrew Bennett, this book by David Clarke and Andy Roberts is recommended for folklorists and anthropologists interested in East Asia or comparative material. The review highlights that the book explores the public's receptiveness to flying saucer phenomena during the Cold War era in Britain (1950s-1970s). It acknowledges the presence of undoubted hoaxers but discusses sympathetically those who genuinely believed in UFOs, suggesting that a receptive audience was crucial for hoaxes to gain traction. The reviewer notes that the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming and that some illustrations are difficult to read. The final chapter of the book places UFOs within the context of the human desire for saviors, examines the pursuit of scientific explanations for sightings, and discusses the eventual waning of UFOlogy.

From Satan's Crown to Holy Grail: Emeralds in Myth, Magic and History

Reviewed by Andrew Bennett, this book by Diane Morgan is described as an excellent study of the emerald, written in a lively and informative style. It covers the use of emeralds as gemstones and as objects of magic and belief, includes a chapter on different types of green stones and emerald mines, and features anecdotes about famous emeralds and jewelry. However, the reviewer criticizes the book for feeling like a compilation of recycled information without clear sources, noting that its 'Selected Bibliography' contains only seventeen secondary sources. The review also points out that the emeralds mentioned in the title – those in Satan's crown and the Holy Grail – are not treated in significant depth, with Satan's crown not even appearing in the index.

Relics of the Christ

This book by Joe Nickell is also mentioned, with a brief note that it was published by the University Press of Kentucky in 2007.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal *Folklore* consistently engages with the study of beliefs, myths, and cultural phenomena, as evidenced by the reviews in this issue. The editorial stance appears to favor rigorous academic analysis of subjects that often lie on the fringes of mainstream belief, such as UFOs and the historical and mythical significance of gemstones. The reviews themselves demonstrate a critical approach, acknowledging the value of research while also pointing out potential shortcomings in methodology, sourcing, and depth of analysis.