1958 07 00 Fantastic Universe - Truth about Flying Saucers - Jessup

Magazine Overview

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

This issue of Fantastic Universe Science Fiction, dated July, presents a cover featuring a dramatic space scene with a large spacecraft, smaller rockets, Earth, and astronauts planting an American flag on a lunar surface. The main cover headline highlights "THE TRUTH ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS" by Morris K. Jessup.

The Truth About Flying Saucers by Morris K. Jessup

Morris K. Jessup, author of "The Expanding Case for the UFO," contributes an article that delves into the phenomenon of UFOs, which he argues is part of a broader field of "borderland knowledge." Jessup notes that ufology began with reports of Flying Saucers around 1947-48 but soon expanded to include various aerial phenomena. The U.S. Airforce officially termed these "Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFOs).

Jessup critiques the limited nature of much UFO research, which often consists of mere tabulation and classification. He suggests that true research requires more than just cataloging sightings. He posits that the fundamental difficulty in understanding UFOs lies in failing to recognize that ufology encompasses a vast amount of "borderland knowledge," which includes phenomena like ESP and potential materializations from other dimensions.

He discusses various interpretations of UFOs, including religious and metaphysical ones, such as the idea of "visitors" being divine entities or reincarnated "Masters." Some believe Jesus Christ is directing spacemen from Venus. Jessup, however, aims to stay within the framework of science, though he acknowledges the importance of these other perspectives.

Jessup introduces a working hypothesis that advanced civilizations existed prior to our own, possibly developing a "science" based on gravitational laws rather than modern physics. He connects this to reports of "Little People" seen in UFO sightings, drawing parallels with archaeological and anthropological evidence of Pygmy races. He suggests that these ancient Pygmies, who existed over thirty million years ago, may have possessed advanced knowledge and built megalithic structures worldwide, such as those found at Easter Island, Peru, Baalbek, Ankor Vat, and Zimbabwe. He questions how these massive stones were moved without modern technology or knowledge of contra-gravity.

He highlights the enigmatic nature of Pygmy cultures, their scattered distribution, and their potential connection to ancient aerial transport. Legends from the Maya and discoveries of Pygmy remains in North America further support this idea. Jessup also points to the Great Pyramid as a structure built by "little people," containing complex astronomical and mathematical data related to Earth and the Solar System, indicating a sophisticated understanding of gravity.

Jessup further explores the possibility that these ancient peoples, who he refers to as "little people," may have invented space flight millions of years ago. He discusses the Pygmy religion's concept of a sky god and their connection to celestial phenomena. He also mentions reports of Pygmies in Japan and the Malay Archipelago, some of whom have legends of sky gods and green beings from space.

He references Dorothy Kilgallen's account of a UFO crash in England in May 1955 involving "little people." Jessup suggests that it might be simpler to assume this race invented space flight in the distant past than to believe they are arriving from remote space.

Selenology and the Moon

The article then shifts to "Selenology," the science of the Moon, as another source of evidence for ufology. Jessup notes that since the invention of the telescope, observers have reported strange phenomena on the Moon, including craters that appear and disappear, walls that move, lights on the dark side, and even a bridge twelve miles long. He mentions Flammarion's observations of structures in lunar craters and the presence of clouds on the Moon, which lacks an atmosphere. He also discusses the disappearance of the crater Linné and the increasing number of dome-like objects observed there, questioning if these are landing sites or part of a colonizing scheme.

Broader Implications of Ufology

Jessup concludes by stating that ufology encompasses the entirety of our environment, including aspects we are only beginning to become aware of. He believes that true enlightenment in this field comes not just from counting sightings but from understanding the broader context, including telepathic communication with "space people," the connection to spiritual phenomena, and the possibility of travel through a fourth dimension. He also references accounts in the Holy Bible that suggest constant visitation and supervision from space throughout history.

Other Features

The issue also features three novelettes by William C. Gault, Evelyn E. Smith, and Robert Silverberg, and an article titled "Satellites of the Future" by Werner Buedeler.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of science fiction, ufology, and the mysteries of the universe. The editorial stance, as represented by the inclusion of Jessup's detailed article, appears to be open to unconventional theories and the exploration of phenomena that lie at the fringes of established science, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations. The emphasis is on questioning, research, and the integration of various fields of knowledge to understand complex phenomena.