1957 11 00 Fantastic Universe - What pilots a UFO - Sanderson

Magazine Overview

Title: FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION
Issue Date: November
Price: 35c
Publisher: ICD

This issue of Fantastic Universe Science Fiction features a prominent cover story titled "WHAT PILOTS A UFO?" by Ivan T. Sanderson, alongside an article "MEET THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL" by Isabel Davis. It also includes stories by F. B. Bryning, Bertram Chandler, and Robert F. Young. The cover art depicts several flying saucers hovering over water with a city skyline in the background, and includes a banner about "SHAPES IN THE SKY by CIVILIAN SAUCER INTELLIGENCE."

What Pilots a UFO? by Ivan T. Sanderson

Ivan T. Sanderson's article, presented as the third in a series, delves into the question of who or what might be piloting UFOs. He begins by reiterating four basic categories for UFOs previously discussed:

1. Objects or phenomena of a physical nature but not themselves alive.
2. Life-forms or animate creatures indigenous to rarefied atmospheres or space itself.
3. Machines constructed by and flown or controlled by human beings on this planet.
4. Machines constructed by intelligent creatures, entities, or life-forms somewhere other than on this planet.

Sanderson emphasizes that this is an exercise in logic and intellectual pursuit, not a definitive theory. He critiques the anthropocentric view that intelligence is exclusive to humans or human-like forms, arguing that intelligence could reside in any entity, regardless of its composition, size, or shape.

He then tackles the definition of a "machine," suggesting that anything "made" by an intelligent entity could qualify. This broad definition includes natural constructions like a snail's shell and even the bodies of animals and plants, which he posits are machines built by immortal germ cells. He challenges the notion that machines must be inanimate and made with tools, pointing to natural examples like wasp nests and ant constructions.

Sanderson further explores the concept of "heavenly bodies" capable of housing such intelligences and machines. He argues that the universe is composed of 92 natural elements and that stars and planets form in predictable patterns governed by laws like Bode's Law. With an estimated 400,000 million suns similar to ours, each potentially having planets like Earth, the possibilities for life are immense.

He defines "life" as something not inanimate, though drawing a precise line between animate and inanimate is difficult. He suggests that life, particularly intelligent life, could have arisen spontaneously through chemical processes, leading to evolution and the development of complex organisms with nervous systems and brains.

Sanderson concludes that intelligent life, whether similar to or vastly different from humans, could exist on countless planets. He speculates that advanced extraterrestrial entities, having evolved millions of years ago, might have developed machines for space and time travel. These entities could be searching for others, studying primitive cultures, establishing colonies, or simply be indifferent. He poses the question: "What, indeed, could not pilot a UFO?"

Meet the Extraterrestrial by Isabel Davis

While the full content of Isabel Davis's article is not detailed in the provided pages, the cover suggests it focuses on encounters with extraterrestrial beings.

Stories by F. B. Bryning, Bertram Chandler, and Robert F. Young

These authors contribute fictional stories to the issue, likely within the science fiction genre, complementing the thematic focus on space, aliens, and advanced technology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFOs, the definition and potential of extraterrestrial intelligence, and the possibility of advanced alien civilizations. The editorial stance, as represented by Ivan T. Sanderson's article, is one of open-minded inquiry, challenging conventional, anthropocentric views and exploring a vast range of logical possibilities regarding life and technology beyond Earth. The magazine promotes speculative fiction and serious consideration of unexplained phenomena within the science fiction context.