1958 06 00 Fantastic Universe - Shapes in the sky

Magazine Overview

Title: FANTASTIC UNIVERSE
Issue: Vol. 9, No. 6
Date: June 1958
Publisher: KING-SIZE PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Country of Publication: USA
Price: 35¢

This issue of FANTASTIC UNIVERSE presents a diverse collection of science fiction stories and articles, with a strong emphasis on UFO phenomena. The cover prominently features the story 'Trainee for Mars' by Harry Harrison, but the interior content includes a significant article titled 'Shapes in the Sky' which delves into numerous UFO sightings and their peculiar effects.

Fiction Contents

The magazine opens with a selection of short stories and novelettes:

• Trainee for Mars by Harry Harrison (Page 4)
• Fall of Knight by Bertram Chandler (Page 18)
• Who Rules Space by Lester del Rey (Page 25)
• There's Always Tomorrow by Eric Frank Russell (Page 37)
• Operation Peanut Butter by Robert F. Young (Page 44)
• Thundering Death by Lee Priestley (Page 55)
• Zoo by Edward D. Hoch (Page 91)
• Lost Aurora by Franklyn Roberts (Page 93)
• Science and Anti-Science by John Christopher (Page 101)
• The Tie That Binds by George Whitley (Page 122)

Feature Article: Shapes in the Sky

The article 'Shapes in the Sky' by Civilian Saucer Intelligence (Page 104) is a detailed examination of UFO reports, particularly those from the extraordinary sighting wave in early November 1957. It focuses on what the French author Aimé Michel calls 'hallucinated machines' – UFOs that not only were observed but also appeared to exert an electrical effect on nearby mechanical devices.

The article highlights several cases:

• Levelland, Texas; Orogande, New Mexico; and Kearney, Nebraska: Witnesses reported that their automobile engines failed when the unknown object was in the vicinity. The article notes that while the Kearney report had elements of a hoax, the engine stalling was a reported fact.
• Gulf of Mexico: The Coast Guard cutter Sebago tracked an object by radar for 27 minutes. The visually observed object, possibly Sputnik II, did not appear connected to the radar returns.
• Covington, Indiana (October 15): Mrs. Robert Moudy reported her husband, a farmer, sighted a flat, 'dish-shaped' object hovering 1500 feet above their farm. The object emitted a piercing noise and shot off at high speed. During the sighting, the motor of the combine Moudy was driving inexplicably stopped, and two cars on a nearby road were also stalled.
• Casper, Wyoming (October 30): Two residents encountered a large, shiny object with pointed peaks. Their car engine kept stalling as they tried to turn around.
• Springfield, Illinois (November 3): Dorothy L. Stevens saw a bright light that caused her car lights to dim and the motor to stop. The car resumed normal function after the light departed.
• Alberta, Canada (November 5): Miss Edna Ireland and two friends saw a blinking light that appeared to be about 15 times the visual size of a star. As the object passed over their car, the motor acted up, and the headlights flickered. The blinking of the object was noted as similar to the behavior of the 'egg' at Levelland, where motors and lights quit when the object blinked on.
• San Antonio, Texas (November 5): Lon Yarbrough reported seeing a bright, egg-shaped object that caused his radio to fade, lights to go out, and his car engine to stop. After the object rose and moved away, the lights and radio returned, and the car started.
• Hobbs, New Mexico (November): An unidentified clerk and a friend saw a 'reddish colored' light that rose straight up and travelled parallel to their car. As the object passed overhead, the car motor began acting up, the lights went out, and the motor quit. The car battery was dead the next morning, and the dashboard clock had stopped.
• Plattsburgh, New York (November 7): Several residents reported their cars were stopped by a 'strange object' flying overhead. The object was described as having a red light at one end and a white light at the other, with no motor noise.

The article also notes that it's not just car motors, but also headlights, radios, searchlights, TV sets, and indoor lighting that have been affected by UFOs.

• Elmwood Park, Illinois (November 4): Two policemen and a fireman observed a red-orange, egg-shaped object hovering over a cemetery. As they followed it, their car lights flickered, and the spotlight shone on the object almost went out. The object appeared to fold up and then sped off.
• Washington, D.C. (June 26, 1955): Four observers at National Airport saw a brilliant round object. Airport ceiling lights went out when the object approached and returned to operation when it passed.
• Bedford, Indiana (August 25, 1955): Mrs. Lester Parsons and Mrs. Lloyd Wright saw a large white object with a black stripe. The lights inside their house appeared to dim while the object was present.
• Tamaroa and Du Bois, Illinois (November 14, 1957): A ten-minute power failure may have resulted from a low-flying UFO. Witnesses heard a sputtering noise and saw a moon-shaped object with a tail that emitted loud booms and flashes.
• Hammond, Indiana (November 10): Police received calls about a 'mysterious flying object' causing interference on radios and TV sets. Officers saw an object with red and white lights.
• Whiting, Indiana (November 10): Police reported seeing a saucer-shaped object with red, yellow, and blue lights.
• Martinsville, Indiana: Mrs. Louise Wood saw a basket-shaped UFO fly low over her barn.

The article concludes by noting the diverse nature of UFO origins, purposes, and operating methods, as evidenced by the varied reports of noise, silence, and different electrical effects.

Other Sections

• Universe in Books by Hans Stefan Santesson (Page 113): This section provides reviews of recently published books.
• Erratum: An correction is noted for a previous article regarding the date of Kenneth Arnold's famous saucer observation, correcting it from June 30, 1947, to June 24, 1947.
• Subscription Offer: A coupon is included for readers to purchase back issues of FANTASTIC UNIVERSE, with prices listed for single copies and multiple copies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in this issue, particularly highlighted in 'Shapes in the Sky,' is the unexplained phenomena associated with UFO sightings, specifically their capacity to interfere with and disable electrical and mechanical systems. The magazine appears to present these reports factually, drawing from newspaper accounts and witness testimonies, without offering definitive explanations but rather emphasizing the mystery and diversity of these events. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, presenting evidence and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. The inclusion of various fiction stories also aligns with the magazine's focus on science fiction and speculative themes.