Magonia - No 02 - 1979

Magazine Overview

MAGONIA is a magazine focused on UFO phenomena. This issue, number 5, dated April 11, 1980, includes a review of John Brent Musgrave's book 'UFO Occupants and Critters'. The review is attributed to (RS) and (PR).

Review of 'UFO Occupants and Critters' by John Brent Musgrave

The review begins by comparing the narrative of a hero saved by friends with supernatural feats to great myths and literature, suggesting that such stories ultimately resist simple analysis and reveal new layers of meaning. This sets a contemplative tone for the review of Musgrave's work.

John Brent Musgrave's book, 'UFO Occupants and Critters', published by Global Communications in New York, is described as a "progress report" on his research into Canadian CEIII (Close Encounter of the Third Kind) cases. The book comprises a catalogue of 90 such cases and includes chapters illustrating different types of occupant encounters. Musgrave categorizes these encounters into distinct types:

• Fly-By
• Stopping for the view
• Stroller, no UFO
• Stroller, UFO
• Tourist
• Pit-stop
• Peeping Tom
• Molester/Contact

The reviewer notes that the book unfortunately details only one or two cases in each category, and even these summaries are described as very sketchy. While acknowledging that there is material for a more detailed study, the reviewer expresses hope that a large commercial publisher will take an interest in developing such a study further.

Musgrave's Interpretation of Occupant Cases

Regarding the interpretation of these cases, Musgrave, while not entirely dismissing the possibility of "nuts and bolts" explanations for a small fraction of UFO cases, finds little evidence to support such a viewpoint for occupant cases. Instead, he proposes that these experiences are more likely evidence of hallucination, dream, or other altered states of consciousness. This interpretation is particularly applied to cases in the latter categories of his classification.

However, Musgrave highlights several puzzling features within these cases. In several instances of 'bedroom visitation' cases, independent witnesses have reported seeing a ball of light in the vicinity at the time of the encounter. Furthermore, some hallucinatory experiences appear to occur within a specific spatial location. These phenomena are also observed in cases of apparitions and hauntings.

The review poses an open question: whether these shared experiences suggest that central percipients can induce hallucinations in others during an altered state of consciousness (an idea previously discussed by Randles and Warrington in their book 'UFOs: a British Viewpoint'), or if some physical phenomenon exists that can trigger these altered states of consciousness.

Additionally, Musgrave points out that abduction cases, when retrieved through hypnosis, frequently mirror the phenomena characteristic of the hypnotic trance itself.

Editorial Notes and Mailing Information

The magazine issue includes mailing information for MAGONIA, with a return address at 64 Alric Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4JW, UK. It also features a stamp and postmark from SURREY, dated 1980-04-11, and an address for ARKIVET FOR UFO-FORSKNING (Archives for UFO Research) in Södertälje, Sweden.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of MAGONIA appears to focus on in-depth reviews of UFO literature, particularly concerning occupant encounters and the psychological or perceptual aspects of these experiences. The editorial stance, as reflected in the review, leans towards a critical examination of evidence, considering both physical and psychological explanations for UFO phenomena, with a particular interest in the subjective nature of witness accounts and the potential for altered states of consciousness to influence perceptions.