Magazine Summary
AMAZING STORIES
Ever wanted to host your own late-night paranormal radio show?
Across the Airwaves
You’re on the air. Callers bring Mothman, Fresno Nightcrawlers, UFO sightings, reptilian autopsies, and whispers about AATIP and Project Blue Book. Every reply shapes how the night goes.
Summary
This issue of Amazing Stories, dated June 1948, features the cover story 'Ice City of the Gorgon' by Richard S. Shaver and Chester S. Geier. The magazine also includes an article by Marx Kaye, 'Fortean Aspects of the Flying Disks,' which posits that flying discs are either a new weapon or evidence of an extra-terrestrial civilization, drawing heavily on the work of Charles Fort. The article discusses historical accounts of strange aerial phenomena and argues for keeping an open mind to the unknown, challenging rigid scientific systems. It also touches upon astronomical discoveries and the potential implications of atomic power.
Magazine Overview
Title: AMAZING STORIES
Issue: Volume 22, Number 6
Date: June 1948
Publisher: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
Country: USA
Price: 25¢
This issue of Amazing Stories presents a blend of science fiction and speculative articles, with a striking cover depicting a scene from the lead story, 'Ice City of the Gorgon.' The magazine aims to explore the extraordinary and challenge conventional understanding of the universe and humanity's place within it.
'Ice City of the Gorgon' by Richard S. Shaver and Chester S. Geier
The cover story, 'Ice City of the Gorgon,' by Richard S. Shaver and Chester S. Geier, is visually represented on the cover. The artwork depicts a dramatic, icy landscape with futuristic or alien structures, featuring a scantily clad woman and a fur-clad explorer. While the full text of the story is not provided in the scanned pages, its prominent placement and evocative imagery suggest a tale of adventure and mystery in an unusual, possibly hostile, environment.
'Fortean Aspects of the Flying Disks' by Marx Kaye
This article delves into the phenomenon of flying discs, drawing heavily on the work of Charles Fort and his extensive catalog of unusual aerial observations. Marx Kaye poses the question of whether these discs are a new earthly weapon or evidence of an extra-terrestrial civilization.
The Case for Extra-Terrestrial Origin
Kaye argues that if flying discs are not a new invention, then their repeated sightings throughout history, predating modern technology like Zeppelins, strongly suggest an origin beyond Earth. He posits that humanity might be observed by superior beings from another civilization. The author criticizes the human tendency to reduce the unknown to familiar levels of understanding, a psychological weakness that prevents true comprehension of mysteries.
Challenging Scientific Orthodoxy
The article uses historical examples, such as the persecution of Galileo for his heliocentric theory and the initial resistance to Pasteur's germ theory, to illustrate how established scientific systems can be resistant to new ideas. Kaye contends that scientists, like politicians, should be challenged, and their pronouncements should not be accepted blindly. He criticizes the notion that flying discs are merely hallucinations, especially when they are photographed.
Fortean Observations and Theories
Kaye references Charles Fort's research, particularly his concept of 'Super Sargassos' – vast, neutral zones in space where cosmic dust, meteors, and debris might accumulate. He suggests that these formations could be 'sky islands' from which extra-terrestrial visitors observe Earth. Fort's work is cited for numerous instances of strange aerial phenomena, including lights and disc-like structures observed long before the advent of aircraft.
Modern Sightings and Implications
The article mentions personal observations of unusual atmospheric phenomena in the mid-eastern United States in June 1947, coinciding with reports of flying discs. It also recounts an observation of three symmetrical, circular objects flying in perfect formation across the face of the moon, seen through a telescope eighteen years prior. The author speculates that the recent increase in flying disc sightings might be a reaction to humanity's development of atomic power, signaling that Earth has 'come of age' and become a potential threat in interplanetary navigation.
A Call for Unity
Kaye concludes by suggesting that proof of extra-terrestrial beings, whether friendly or hostile, could unite humanity. By recognizing themselves as 'Terrestrials' rather than by national distinctions, humans might band together against potential dangers from the 'great Unknown.'
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the exploration of the unknown, the questioning of established scientific and societal norms, and the possibility of extra-terrestrial intelligence. The editorial stance, as reflected in the articles, encourages critical thinking, open-mindedness, and a willingness to consider phenomena that fall outside conventional scientific explanations. The magazine champions the Fortean approach of meticulously cataloging unexplained events and seeking patterns, even if they challenge current paradigms.
We must shout back at this 'authority' with the righteous indignation of adults whose intelligence has been grossly insulted. Why should people in thirty-nine or more states suddenly all acquire equivalent hallucinations at the same time? How can an hallucination be photographed?
Key Incidents
The writer personally witnessed pressure areas, strange upside-down clouds, cyclones, electrical storms, and flying discs in the mid-eastern US.
Instances of flying disc visitations were recorded in the 19th century.
An engineer friend of the writer related an experience of dangerously large rocks raining out of a starlit sky.
Bodies were reported bursting out of graves in a cemetery and flying eight hundred feet into the air.
Ice blocks have fallen from clear skies, and pebbles have descended inside of hailstones.
Earthquakes have occurred in unusual places, and the atmosphere has been disturbed violently by proximity of extra-terrestrial bodies.
Strange appearances in earthly skies of flying saucers, lights, and Zeppelin-like structures were reported long before the aeroplane.
A four-inch Newtonian telescope observed three symmetrical, circular bodies flying in formation across the moon's surface, traversing the field of vision in approximately three seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main story in the June 1948 issue of Amazing Stories?
The main story featured on the cover is 'Ice City of the Gorgon' by Richard S. Shaver and Chester S. Geier.
What is the argument presented in 'Fortean Aspects of the Flying Disks'?
The article argues that flying discs are either a new weapon from a foreign power or, more likely, the product of an extra-terrestrial civilization, citing historical observations and the work of Charles Fort.
What is the significance of Charles Fort's work mentioned in the article?
Charles Fort's books are cited as evidence for phenomena observed in earthly skies long before modern technology, suggesting that flying discs are not a new phenomenon but rather evidence of past visitations.
What is the author's stance on scientific authority?
The author advocates for challenging scientific authorities and keeping an open mind, suggesting that rigid systems can hinder the understanding of the unknown, much like historical resistance to figures like Galileo.
In This Issue
People Mentioned
- Richard S. ShaverAuthor
- Chester S. GeierAuthor
- Marx KayeAuthor
- Charles FortCited Author
- OrdonezCited Authority
- TorquemadaCited Authority
- AristotleCited Philosopher
- GalileoCited Scientist
- Louis PasteurCited Scientist
- LeverrierAstronomer
- HansenAstronomer
- AiryAstronomer
- +3 more
Organisations
- Fortean Society
- Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
Locations
- Mt. Hacavitz, Guatemala
- Honolulu, USA
- Pearl Harbor, USA
- Seattle, USA
- Sargasso Sea, Atlantic Ocean
- Riobamba, Brazil
- St. Louis, USA
- Twin Cities, USA
- St. Paul, USA
- Moon, Space