1958 09 00 Fantastic Universe - Saucer in the Klondike

Magazine Overview

Title: Fantastic
Issue Date: September 1958
Cover Headline: Saucer in the Klondike

This issue of 'Fantastic' magazine features a personal account by C. G. Scholtz titled "Saucer in the Klondike," detailing a purported encounter with an extraterrestrial being and a UFO during the winter of 1913-1914 in the Yukon.

Saucer in the Klondike by C. G. Scholtz

The narrative begins with the author, C. G. Scholtz, describing himself as an office manager for a group of insurance companies, who enjoys sharing unusual stories. He recounts being marooned in his cabin in the Yukon's Klondike area during a severe blizzard in the winter of 1913-1914. While reading about snow demons in the Himalayas, he heard a loud roar, far louder than his fireplace. Upon investigation, he saw the countryside illuminated as if by a searchlight and observed a large, cigar-shaped machine, unlike anything he had ever seen or read about, suspended motionless in the air.

A bowl of shining metal descended from the machine to the snow banks around his cabin, and from it emerged a tall being. The author initially struggled to understand the visitor's dialect, but the alien eventually spoke pure English. The visitor, who was about 10 feet tall, was clothed in what appeared to be shining armor, later explained as a special silver-colored cloth that was effectively his skin.

The visitor stated he was from a planet called Factor 8, located four light years away from Earth, and not from Mars as commonly speculated. He revealed that Factor 8 is the destination for all human beings after death, regardless of their earthly background. On Factor 8, beings assume a similar physical stature but are not composed of flesh and blood. The inhabitants of Factor 8 come from various planets, suggesting the existence of many inhabited worlds in the universe.

Regarding sustenance, the visitor explained that inhabitants of Factor 8 require only one pill per day, which provides all necessary energy and nutrients. The planet has no ground, water, or significant air; it is composed of magnetic rock, with underground rooms housing the population and factories. Transportation is individual, utilizing anti-magnetic shoes that allow users to hover or attach themselves to the rock surface. Movement is controlled by a button arrangement on the shoes, switching between anti-magnetism and magnetism, with propulsion coming from a small receiving set in the visitor's cap that follows energy beams surrounding the planet.

Scholtz inquired about the status of criminals and those with bad records on Earth. The visitor explained that life on Factor 8 is a continuation of a series of experiences, with each life being a chapter in a larger book. Those with bad records on Earth and previous planets are given a servant status, working for those who were 'overlords,' implying that wrongdoers ultimately face consequences.

The life span on Factor 8 is 500 years, and on their 500th birthday, all inhabitants must die. However, no deaths occur before this age. The visitor could not fully explain certain phenomena, suggesting that greater understanding would come in the 'next galaxy.' He also noted that while humans on Earth could only fathom certain phases of life, the rest were reserved for the future. Inhabitants of Factor 8 can pick up thought waves from Earth, maintaining contact with events there, but cannot communicate their own thoughts to Earthlings due to a lack of advanced knowledge on Earth.

While individuals cannot advance their position in the life pattern, it is possible to retrace footsteps on Factor 8. Periodically, super crafts are sent out to check on humanity's progress. On some occasions, individuals are permitted to visit Earth, but they must wear a black cape that renders them invisible. Scholtz speculates this might explain stories of ghosts and unexplainable events.

Scholtz also asked about insects on Factor 8. The visitor described them as creatures that eat rock, about the size of an ordinary cat. The population lived in fear of them, but they could be killed at night when a strange numbness made them unable to fight.

At the end of the encounter, the visitor's ship signaled its readiness for departure. Before leaving, the alien gave Scholtz a small lead box containing uranium, a substance unknown at the time, instructing him to bury it until humanity possessed the knowledge to use it. Scholtz buried the box with misgivings.

Scholtz concludes by stating he has never dared to mention the experience, even doubting his own senses. However, with the current prevalence of flying saucer accounts, he feels he may have been fortunate to have had an 'official visitor.' He leaves it to the readers to decide whether the story is plausible or a dream. He is returning to the site of the cabin, 40 years later, to find the box and its contents, hoping to settle his doubts and provide proof to the scientific world.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine 'Fantastic' appears to focus on speculative fiction, paranormal phenomena, and extraterrestrial encounters. The editorial stance, as suggested by the publication of this detailed personal account, is open to exploring unusual claims and presenting them to the reader for their own judgment, rather than outright confirmation or denial. The inclusion of themes like life after death, reincarnation, and advanced alien civilizations indicates a broad interest in the mysteries of existence beyond conventional understanding.