1957 09 00 Fantastic Universe - Shapes in the sky

Magazine Overview

Title: FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION
Issue: SEPT
Price: 35c

This issue of Fantastic Universe Science Fiction prominently features the novel "CONAN THE VICTORIOUS" by L. Sprague de Camp and Bjorn Nyberg. Alongside this fictional offering, the magazine includes an "EXCITING REPORT by CIVILIAN SAUCER INTELLIGENCE" that delves into the mysterious phenomenon of "angel hair."

Conan the Victorious

The cover story highlights "CONAN THE VICTORIOUS," a startling new novel by L. Sprague de Camp and Bjorn Nyberg. The cover art depicts a dramatic scene with a devil-like creature abducting a woman, with a globe of the Earth nearby, setting a tone of adventure and fantasy.

Exciting Report by Civilian Saucer Intelligence: Angel Hair, Gossamer Showers and Flying Jellyfish

This extensive report, presented as the fourth bi-monthly column from the Research Section of Civilian Saucer Intelligence (CSI), investigates the phenomenon of "angel hair." CSI publishes a newsletter and maintains an extensive file on UFO sightings and related material.

The Eliason Case (November 10, 1949)

The report begins with a detailed account from western New Jersey, focusing on an unusual UFO observation. Ivan Sanderson heard from Chester Ehrie of Belvidere about an incident involving "angel hair." The investigation led to a hilltop home outside Easton, Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Anna Eliason described an event on November 10, 1949. This date is noted as potentially being the first typical "angel hair" report on record.

Mrs. Eliason, living in Depue's Ferry, Pennsylvania, overlooking the Delaware River, witnessed several round, bright objects in the southwestern sky, comparing them to "electric light bulbs" and noting they were spherical, not disc-shaped. They moved rapidly and horizontally. Shortly after, a substance resembling cobwebs began to fall, festooning bushes and trees with "very heavy drapes of cobwebs." This material melted away like snow in sunshine and was gone by the time her husband, William Eliason (a former Air Force captain), returned home.

Other Witness Accounts and Similar Incidents

The report extends beyond the Eliason case, mentioning observations by Mr. Eliason's father and Mrs. Eliason's cousin, Irene Thomas, who also reported "cobwebs" covering a television antenna. The article notes that while thousands of people might have seen the sky objects, the "angel hair" phenomenon was specifically observed by a few.

To provide context, the article presents two similar incidents from later years:

• October 28, 1954 (Rome, Italy): Three "luminous silver coins" were seen in V formation, followed by falling cotton or wool particles.
• September 30, 1956 (Cherry Valley, Illinois): Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Leonard observed round, white objects that ejected long white streamers. A substance resembling spider webs with the consistency of spun glass was found, and a long piece was plastered on a car fender.

Historical Precedents

The article then explores historical accounts of similar phenomena, predating the modern UFO era, to suggest that "angel hair" might not be entirely new:

• September 21, 1741 (Selborne, England): Naturalist Gilbert White described the countryside matted with a thick coat of cobweb, with a second shower falling throughout the day. The material fell in "flakes or rags" and hung on trees and hedges.
• September 16, 1823 (Bewdley, England): Large quantities of webby substance, some in long filaments, fell, making the atmosphere seem like a "tissue of cobwebs."
• October 1, 1826 (Liverpool, England): Fields were covered with a light, filmy substance mistaken for cotton, which fell thickly from the sky.
• Late October, 1881 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin): A widespread fall of "spiderwebs" in strands from two to sixty feet long was reported, noted for its strength and whiteness, with no spiders present.
• November 21, 1893 (Montgomery, Alabama): A web-like substance fell, described as not spiderweb but resembling fine asbestos fibres with a phosphorescent effect.
• February 20-21, 1955 (Horseheads, New York): Large quantities of "ragged sheets" and skeins of cobwebby grey fibres fell, which began disintegrating and disappearing.

Scientific Analysis and Speculation

The article highlights the difficulties in scientifically analyzing "angel hair." The Horseheads incident involved conflicting analyses: one suggesting it was "extremely short-fibered cotton, heavily damaged in an explosion" and possibly atomic bomb debris, while another proposed it formed from powdered milk. The Atomic Energy Commission endorsed the milk theory, but chemical technicians at a milk plant contradicted this, suggesting a mixture of cotton and wool fibres with copper wire.

The report notes the volatility of "angel hair," which can be stable enough to handle in some cases but fugitive in others. It also points out the complete absence of spiders in most accounts, despite the prodigious quantity of web-like material.

The "Stratosphere Creature" Hypothesis

Based on the collected evidence, the article proposes a speculative hypothesis: that large flocks of spherical entities or creatures, described as "aerial 'jellybirds'" about six feet in diameter, inhabit the Earth's stratosphere. These creatures are capable of great speed and are sometimes observed migrating. During their mating season (September to November), they descend to lower altitudes, forming clusters and extending webby tentacles. These appendages are shed after mating, resulting in the "angel hair" falls. Creatures that perish in mid-air may burst open, leaving a cobwebby "skeleton" that evaporates before reaching the ground, unless death occurs at low altitude.

This hypothesis is presented as a "persuasively 'natural' way" to account for many UFO observations, suggesting living beings rather than piloted machines. The article mentions that qualified students like Ivan Sanderson and Walter Karig have argued for a "space animal" theory.

Conclusion and Call for Samples

The report concludes by encouraging readers who encounter "angel hair" or similar gelatinous matter to collect samples in hermetically sealed containers and send them to the magazine for analysis, noting that the magazine's analysis might be no worse than previous attempts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are science fiction, particularly fantasy adventure with "Conan the Victorious," and the serious investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena through the "Civilian Saucer Intelligence" column. The magazine appears to adopt an open-minded yet analytical stance towards UFOs and related mysteries, presenting detailed reports, historical context, and speculative hypotheses, while also acknowledging the limitations of current scientific understanding. The editorial stance encourages reader participation in scientific inquiry by submitting evidence.