1957 03 00 Fantastic Universe - Shapes in the sky

Magazine Overview

Title: FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION
Issue: March
Volume: King Size Publication
Price: 35c
Cover Headline: LONE STAR PLANET
Lead Novel: A New Astounding Novel By H. BEAM PIPER

This issue of Fantastic Universe Science Fiction, dated March and priced at 35c, is a King Size Publication. The cover prominently features the title and a striking illustration for the lead novel, 'Lone Star Planet' by H. Beam Piper. The artwork depicts a statue of Justice holding scales, with a red rocket and various spheres in the background, suggesting a blend of cosmic and terrestrial themes.

Article: Shapes in the Sky

The magazine includes the first in a series of authoritative columns on UFO sightings and reports, written specifically for this publication. This article, titled 'Shapes in the Sky,' is authored by Alexander D. Mebane and Ted Bloecher of the Research Section of Civilian Saucer Intelligence (CSI) of New York. CSI is described as a non-profit organization dedicated to the serious and careful study of reported aerial phenomena, maintaining a comprehensive collection of published and unpublished reports.

The article begins by referencing Ivan Sanderson's observation in the previous month's issue regarding the puzzling variety of shapes reported for unidentified flying objects. CSI's study of over 2000 cases leads them to conclude that no single generalization can be made about these objects, as they are remarkably diverse in appearance and behavior, with an exception for almost every would-be rule.

Classification of UFO Shapes

The article proposes a classification for structured UFOs based on reported sightings:

1. Elongated cigars, spindles, and cylinders: These are typically observed at night, often appearing as moving lights unless performing in a manner impossible for conventional aircraft. However, some nighttime sightings of apparently structured objects are considered genuine unknowns.
2. Flattened discs and lens-shaped objects: Observations of solid objects are usually made during daylight.
3. Spherical, or egg-shaped: These are also observed, often during daylight.

Each of these classifications can be further subdivided. The authors note that these three categories do not encompass all reported shapes but cover the majority of solid-object reports.

Case Studies of UFO Sightings

The article presents five illustrative cases, chosen for their detailed, first-hand accounts:

• Case 1: The Vanishing Cylinder (May 1946): Two young men driving near La Fayette, New York, observed a large, bright silvery, cylindrical object with pointed ends hovering motionless for about two minutes. It was described as smooth, with clear edges, and its length was approximately three times its width. The object disappeared instantaneously, not by moving away, but by vanishing, impressing the observers with its inexplicable nature.
• Case 2: The Luminous Cigar with Chopped-off Ends (October 21, 1955): Mr. and Mrs. William Steig of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, witnessed an enormous glowing object moving horizontally. It had the shape of an elongated barrel or a fat cigar with chopped-off ends, bright white in color. They perceived a dark line running vertically on the object and felt it was moving close to the ground before disappearing over the treetops. The observers experienced definite physical discomfort.
• Case 3: Knobbed Lens Over Manhattan (Late July 1952): Mr. A. C. B. Havens, an eighth-floor resident in New York City, observed a bright red dot approaching, which resolved into a flat-bottomed object with a rounded, nearly hemispherical top and three 'knobs' on the underside. It glowed bright red and passed directly overhead at an estimated commercial-aircraft altitude. As it disappeared, it appeared circular and larger than the full moon. Mr. Havens, a pilot, described it as definitely lenticular in profile and a disc from underneath.
• Case 4: An Oblate Spheroid With A Base (June 15, 1950): Residents of Paramaribo, Surinam, observed a peculiar flattened spheroidal object with a flat-bottomed ridge. The oblate body, described as silvery metallic like aluminum, overhung the base. Its apparent size was equal to a full moon, and it was estimated to be moving at an altitude of 6,000 meters. The object exhibited abrupt vertical descents and horizontal movements before ascending and disappearing.
• Case 5: The UFO Swarm (June 10, 1950): Mr. and Mrs. Robert Todd of Houston, Texas, observed a top-shaped object composed of a swarm of smaller units, resembling large dots. This swarm moved continuously within the overall object's frame, like a swarm of bees, but with a clear outline. The apparent size was about equal to a half-dollar at arm's length. The swarm retained its shape while hovering and moving over the Pasadena and Texas City area for ten minutes, making swings and spurts of high speed estimated at over 1000 miles an hour. Later, the Todds observed a bright white light moving south.

Discussion and Conclusion

The article emphasizes that these five cases illustrate the major shape categories but by no means cover all reported objects, which can also be conical, pear-shaped, arrowhead-shaped, rectangular, and doughnut-shaped, sometimes equipped with propellers or wings. The authors note the difficulty in finding simple explanations for such diverse phenomena.

They reference the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book Special Report No. 14 (released October 25, 1955), which illustrated well-attested cases. However, the article criticizes the Air Force investigators' conclusion that because the objects differed widely, it was unlikely that flying saucers exist, calling it a 'wishful thinking' and a 'logical fallacy' or 'non sequitur.'

Upcoming Features

The issue also previews upcoming content for the next month, including:

• 'The Artifact Business' by Robert Silverberg
• A provocative article by L. Sprague de Camp
• 'When Gabriel...' by John Brunner
• 'Intruders on the Moon' by Edmund Cooper

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the exploration of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), their varied shapes and behaviors, and the critical examination of official explanations. The magazine appears to champion a more open-minded approach to UFO phenomena, as evidenced by its critique of the U.S. Air Force's conclusions. The editorial stance is one of serious investigation and a willingness to present detailed case studies that challenge conventional explanations. The inclusion of a science fiction novel and previews of other speculative fiction stories indicate a broader interest in the genre and its imaginative possibilities.