AFU Newsletter - No 12 - 1978

Magazine Overview

This issue of 'nyhetsblad' (newsletter) from the Arbeitsgruppen för ufologi (AFU) is dated January-March 1978 and focuses heavily on the film "Närkontakt av tredje graden" (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), presenting a range of reviews and opinions. The newsletter also includes reviews of several UFO-related books and discusses historical UFO cases and related phenomena.

Film Review: "Närkontakt av tredje graden"

The central theme of this issue is the film "Närkontakt av tredje graden." The magazine features two contrasting reviews from AFU members. Håkan Blomqvist expresses significant disappointment, feeling that the film, despite its 100 million dollar budget and Spielberg's direction, failed to capture the mystery of the UFO phenomenon. He criticizes its focus on technology, weak character development, and a perceived reliance on special effects reminiscent of 1950s and 60s visions of UFOs. Blomqvist suggests the film represents a technical vision rather than a true UFO encounter and that it could have been made with a smaller budget by focusing on the researcher's investigation, akin to Hitchcock's approach.

Conversely, Åke Franzén offers a highly positive review, calling the film a "true hit" and a masterpiece. He praises its storytelling, particularly the final quarter, and believes it will resonate deeply with those interested in ufology. Franzén encourages viewers to experience the film with their minds and hearts, suggesting it might be a unique cinematic event.

The newsletter also compiles reactions from various Swedish film critics. Many commend the film's technical execution and visual effects, with some noting its "religious" undertones and the way it draws people away from everyday existence. However, opinions on the narrative and acting vary. Critics like Lasse Bergström find it a "religious variant" of sci-fi, while Sven Palm is moved by its "almost religious" light and sound, calling it a technical masterpiece with a warm humanity. Other critics, such as Gunnar Andersson, find it overly theatrical and bordering on the absurd, while Anders Olofsson feels it's too long and lacks substance beyond its technical wizardry. Henry Lundström acknowledges the religious undertones and its entertainment value, while Göran Frankel finds it a well-balanced, albeit sometimes pathetic, story. Mikael Persson hails it as the most technically perfect film ever made, though he notes its Hollywood influence. Uno Ohlsson criticizes the high production costs relative to the substance, finding it leads to childish and sensationalized worlds, with the main takeaway being the technical marvels and a vague, semi-religious message.

Book Reviews

David Tansley: "Omens of awareness"

Håkan Blomqvist reviews David Tansley's book, which explores parallels between UFO phenomena and the "expanding consciousness of man." Blomqvist criticizes the author's tendency to relate UFOs to religious texts, particularly the Bible, suggesting a "Dänikenitis" approach where UFOs are interpreted as advanced technology from ancient times. He notes Tansley's esoteric background, influenced by theosophy and Alice Bailey, and his tendency to make unsubstantiated claims. Tansley's idea that UFOs are a manifestation of "etheric forces" and a form of "koan" (a Zen Buddhist riddle) is discussed. The review suggests that Tansley's work, while potentially interesting to those unfamiliar with occultism, lacks a solid empirical basis and clear source citations. The book was inspired by R. Blumrich's interpretation of Ezekiel's vision as a spaceship.

Jean-Claude Bourret: "The Crack in the Universe"

Anders Liljegren reviews Jean-Claude Bourret's collection of interviews with French radio reporters about UFO sightings. The book, translated from French, is described as a journalistic product that is easy to read and engaging, offering significant insights into UFO research. It is divided into observation reports and opinions. The observation reports detail unusual effects and cases unknown to many, some of which are far removed from the cinematic portrayal of UFOs. The opinion section features interviews with prominent UFO researchers like Jacques Vallée, J. Allen Hynek, and Michel Poher, who discuss alternative hypotheses beyond the extraterrestrial (ET) theory. Liljegren praises the book for bringing UFO phenomena into an intellectual sphere, contrasting it with the more provincial Swedish UFO debate. He suggests it will elevate the quality of discussion and potentially transform our worldview.

Stephen Jenkins: "The Undiscovered Country"

Håkan Blomqvist reviews Stephen Jenkins' book, which explores UFO phenomena from psychological and occult perspectives. Jenkins, with a background in Oriental languages and religions, interprets UFOs as entities from other dimensions, drawing parallels to beings described in various mythologies. Blomqvist notes that the book's interpretation aligns with the arguments of Keel and Vallée, suggesting UFOs are not from our physical universe but from other time-space dimensions. While acknowledging the book's interesting material, particularly regarding ley-lines and personal experiences, Blomqvist finds Jenkins' writing style to be indirect and lacking in clarity. The review mentions the theory that UFOs are related to ley-lines, which connect ancient sites and places of alleged paranormal activity.

Other Content

AFU Information

The newsletter provides contact information for AFU's library and archive services, including phone numbers for the librarian and editor-in-chief. It details the annual membership fee (30 SEK) which grants access to book lists and the newsletter, as well as the AFU's special library. AFU relies on voluntary work and welcomes donations of books, magazines, and financial contributions.

Letters to the Editor

Boris Jungkvist writes in response to a previous review of his book "UFO: En fantastisk verklighet." He expresses disappointment with the review, feeling it was overly critical and did not adequately represent his work. Jungkvist defends his inclusion of the ET interpretation, stating it's the most plausible for many UFO researchers, and also mentions his exploration of tachyon theory and other aspects. He clarifies that his book presents various hypotheses and does not aim to brainwash readers. He also mentions his ongoing research into parapsychology and a forthcoming book on the subject.

Anders Liljegren replies to Boris Jungkvist, emphasizing that his criticism is generally applied to the field of UFO literature rather than being personal. He cites a survey from the Center for UFO Studies where only 50% of experienced researchers believed in the ET hypothesis, suggesting it's not as universally accepted as Jungkvist implies. Liljegren also distinguishes between parapsychology (scientific study of phenomena beyond known senses) and spiritualism (belief in spirits of the dead), noting that Jungkvist's "souls of the dead" theory falls under the latter.

Book and Publication Listings

The newsletter includes a section titled "NYTT PÅ BOKFRONTEN" (New on the Book Front), listing recent UFO-related books available for purchase or review. These include works on close encounters, historical UFO cases, and the Bermuda Triangle. There is also a section for "NYTT I LLKOMMEN LITTERATUR I AFU:s BIBLIOTEK" (New Literature Arrived at AFU's Library) and a listing of periodicals like "Flying Saucer Review."

Historical UFO Cases

Anders Liljegren writes about Loren Gross's work documenting UFO observations prior to 1947, specifically mentioning Gross's publications "Charles Fort, the Fortean Society & Unidentified Flying Objects" and "The Mystery of the Ghost Rockets." He highlights the meticulous research involved in cataloging historical cases, including those from Sweden. The newsletter also touches upon the phenomenon of "ghost rockets" in Sweden during the 1940s and the controversy surrounding the Morro do Vintem incident in Brazil.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical analysis of popular culture representations of UFOs (specifically the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"), the exploration of alternative and esoteric interpretations of UFO phenomena (parapsychology, occultism, religious parallels), and the documentation of historical UFO cases. The editorial stance, as evidenced by Anders Liljegren's response to Boris Jungkvist, appears to favor critical analysis, a rigorous approach to evidence, and a skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, while still acknowledging the complexity and fascination of the UFO subject. There is a clear emphasis on intellectual discussion and research, distinguishing AFU's approach from what they perceive as more sensationalist or provincial UFO discourse.

Title: UFO-Aktuellt
Issue: 1
Volume: 1978
Publisher: UFO-Sverige
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
ISSN: 0347-1953

This issue of UFO-Aktuellt from 1978 serves as a comprehensive update on UFO-related activities, research, and sightings, primarily within Sweden but also touching upon international developments. It functions as a newsletter for UFO-Sverige, providing news about various local UFO groups, reviews of relevant literature and media, and summaries of reported incidents.

International UFO News and Reviews

The magazine begins with a review of John Keel's commentary on Steven Spielberg's film, which Keel describes as "cheap, flashy, tiresome profit-film." It also mentions Jerome Clark's theory about UFOs as a control system, as discussed in an interview with Clark in Fate magazine (Feb. 1978).

BUFORA Journal (Jan-Feb 1978) is reviewed for its presentation of UFO events in England. A significant summary is given of the Tom Dawson case from August 1977 in the USA, which was chosen as the strangest UFO case of 1977. In this incident, Tom Dawson reportedly heard someone say "I am Jimmy Hoffa" from a landed UFO. The article notes that Jimmy Hoffa, the well-known American labor leader, had disappeared under mysterious circumstances some time prior, prompting speculation about the meaning of the message.

WATSUP Journal (Issue 7), published by Wessex Ass. for the Study of Unexplained Phenomena, is described as containing interesting and well-documented material. It includes an article by A.R. Jones on "The Folklore Connection" and a personal account of an incident at Cradle Hill by a group.

Swedish UFOlogy: Organizations and Events

The section "SVENSK UFOLOGI" (Swedish UFOlogy) details the activities of various Swedish UFO organizations and individuals:

• Boris Jungkvist gave a presentation on UFOs to about 150 people in Stockholm on November 25th. He had previously been interviewed on TV's Barnjournalen on October 20th, where he shared his views on the subject for approximately seven minutes.
• UFO-föreningen Cosmos in Markaryd, with 20 members, was featured in the Ljungby newspaper Småläningen on December 20th. Chairman Mats Nilsson and secretary Knud Jensen were interviewed.
• Henry Svensson spoke about UFOs on local radio in Skaraborg on January 2nd.
• UFO Sandviken, previously with about 15 members, has changed its name to TITI UFO Sandviken. Jouko Säärela explained that the name change signifies a commitment to serious and scientific work.
• The Kalmar-Ölands UFO-Förening held its annual meeting, re-electing Arne Andersson as chairman and appointing Gunnar Schelin as an honorary member. The organization planned to host an internal planning conference for UFO-Sverige on October 14th.
• The Ludvika and Bärke UFO-föreningar merged at their annual meeting to form Västerbergslagens UFO-Förening, with approximately 90 members. Juan Manzanares was elected chairman, and Gudrun Andersson became secretary.
• UFO-Ådalen, a multidisciplinary association, was presented on Nyar Norrland on February 4th. Reinhold Carleby and Bo Pettersson from the Sollefteå-based group discussed plans including an alarm phone and a field research course for 1978.
• UFO-Nyköping announced a UFO week, "UFO-78," scheduled for the summer (week 28), featuring lectures, debates, and film screenings.
• Håkan Blomqvist was scheduled to speak about "UFOs and the Western Mystery Tradition" in Stockholm on May 24th.
• The Hallstahammars UFO-klubb was founded, with Lars Hall as chairman and approximately 20 members.
• Köpings UFO-förening proposed that the municipality support the establishment of a dedicated museum for UFOs and space research in Köping.

Articles in the Swedish Press

This section highlights various articles and mentions of UFOs in Swedish newspapers:

• A review of Boris Jungkvist's book, titled "Flygande tefat - fantastisk verklighet?" (Flying Saucers - Fantastic Reality?), was published in Falu-Kur. on November 21st, written by Bengt Axelsson.
• Bertil Falk gave a positive review of Jungkvist's book in Kvällsposten on November 25th, calling it a "sympathetic saucer book."
• An article in T. Se (issue 46777) by Lars Pettersson interviews Lars Thörn, who denies "bluffing the world" with his photos.
• An article in Horisont (Finland-Swedish cultural journal) by H.J. examines parapsychology, Danish ufology, and spiritualism.
• GP reported on December 9th about a flying object that shattered a car's windshield near Charlottenberg on the Norwegian border.
• Gunnar Schelin contributed a letter to Ölandsbladet on December 13th, discussing a humanoid observation at Böda on Öland years prior and questioning the media's reporting on such cases.
• An observation from Orsa Finnmark, where a flying craft reportedly "killed" a radio, was referenced in Falu-Kur. on December 27th.
• Anders Nilsson wrote in Örebro-Kuriren on December 27th about Helge Eriksson's humanoid observation, also mentioning an article by Anders Palm in Saxons magazine (issue 11/78).
• Karl-G Fredriksson reviewed Jungkvist's book in Nerikes Allehanda on December 30th, questioning the ufologists' motives.
• Aret Runt (issue 52/77) featured an article by Uri Geller titled "Flying Saucers and My Magical Power."
• Det Bästa (issue 12/77) included an article by Ronald Schiller titled "Was it a Flying Saucer?" which allowed Philip Klass to present his biased view on known cases.
• Tage EkeTöf wrote an article titled "Flying Saucers - A Military Nuisance" in Officersförbundsbladet (issue 9/77).
• Hans Rehnvall wrote in SvD on January 15th about a committee of scientists organizing a campaign against pseudoscience, noting that this committee included Phil Klass and James Oberg.
• Harry Wiklander reviewed Lester Wikström's book "Nyandligt" (New Spirituality) in Svensk Pastoraltidskrift (issue 4/78), discussing new religions.
• UTf Wiberg wrote an article in Norrköpings Tidningar on February 9th about events in the Bermuda Triangle.
• Norrbottens-Kuriren reported on February 25th about two women from Lainio who observed something, with the headline "My dog ran and hid."
• Stig Hällzon wrote in Hemmets Vän (a Christian weekly) (issue 5/78) about the belief in flying saucers as a form of religion.
• Lieutenant Colonel Åke Somnell, chief of staff at F21, was interviewed by Lars Jacobsson in Norrb.-Kur. on March 4th about his observation of a flying object from a Draken aircraft.
• Bo Dahlgren reviewed Jungkvist's book in Sundsvalls Tidning on March 8th, calling UFOs a "fantastic reality."
• Arne Karsberg wrote an article in DN on March 12th about American researchers taking flying saucers seriously.
• Östersunds CUF (a political youth organization) motioned to have authorities address the UFO problem, as reported in Östersunds-Posten on March 13th.
• Astronomer Gösta Lyngå was interviewed by Claes Gylling in Arbetet on March 17th about the possibility of contact with extraterrestrials.

Clips and Comments

• George van Tassel, a well-known contactee, passed away in early February at the age of 67. He had organized annual conventions at Giant Rock in California until 1971 and was working on a dome that he believed could stop human aging using an "electromagnetic generator."
• Ulf Christiernsson, a retired pilot from Helsingborg, who had flown over 11 million km, is highlighted. Known as "Swedish Chris" in war literature, his career included post-flying, being a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, a newsreel pilot, an aide to Folke Bernadotte, and an instructor in the Israeli Air Force. He made a highly noted UFO observation on December 17, 1953, during a flight from Malmö to Stockholm.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reporting of UFO sightings and related phenomena, the activities of UFO research organizations in Sweden, and the critical examination of UFO claims in both popular media and academic contexts. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of UFO reports, while also acknowledging skepticism and the need for scientific rigor, as seen in the mention of the committee against pseudoscience. The publication aims to keep its readership informed about the latest developments in the field, both domestically and internationally, and encourages a scientific approach to the subject.