Magonia - No 08 - 1982

Magazine Overview

MAGONIA is an independently published magazine, issue number Seven (incorporating HUFOB 57), dated 1982. It is devoted to a broad examination of the UFO phenomenon and its interaction with society and the individual. The magazine is published by the Editors, with John Rimmer as the Editor. The editorial panel includes John Harney, Peter Rogerson, Roger Sandell, and Nigel Watson. Subscriptions and correspondence are directed to John Rimmer at 64 Alric Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, UK. The price for this issue is 45p.

Guest Editorial: Jenny Randles

Jenny Randles responds to points raised in a previous MAGONIA editorial, defending her role as a full-time UFO writer. She clarifies that her transition to full-time writing was somewhat accidental, stemming from co-authoring 'UFOs: A British Viewpoint' with Peter Warrington. Despite initial limited career scope and no major commitments, she decided to pursue writing, not strictly UFO writing, but writing in general, a compulsion she's had since childhood. She acknowledges that writers are often poorly paid and that 'UFOs: A British Viewpoint' was rejected by paperback publishers for being 'not commercial' and 'too serious', despite selling around 18,000 hardback copies. She expresses gratitude that Hale accepted her idea for 'UFO Study'. Randles emphasizes her commitment to serious research and writing responsible books, not commercialized junk, and mentions ongoing work on a sociological UFO manuscript with Jerome Clark and David Sargeant, as well as dabbling in science-fiction.

She asserts her intention to keep her ideals to the fore, never sacrificing the interests of ufology for personal financial gain or prestige. She believes there is room for full-time UFO authors, provided they are willing to make sacrifices and accept responsibilities to the UFO community and the public. She invites judgment based on her future writings.

From Conspirators to Contactees: Roger Sandell, Part 3 - Conspiracy Now

Hilary Evans' article explores the pervasive nature of conspiracy theories and their parallels with UFO phenomena. He begins by recounting the case of Luis Castillo, an American petty criminal arrested in the Philippines in 1967, who claimed his mind had been controlled by a mysterious agency and that he was involved in the assassination of President Kennedy. Although Castillo later retracted his story, the incident fueled underground press theories linking UFOs and mind control.

Evans draws parallels between these conspiracy narratives and UFO reports, noting similarities to 'Men-in-Black' reports and the dream-like experiences described in close encounter and abduction cases. He suggests that conspiracy theories and UFO cultism share a belief in superhuman powers controlling the human mind, with governments often implicated in cover-ups. He likens the 'zombie assassin' idea to other conspiracy theories, such as the fluoridation of water supplies for population drugging.

He further discusses how UFO cultism mirrors aspects of spiritualism, with both being accused of leading adherents to madness. Evans highlights the influence of publications like 'Official UFO' magazine, which promoted ideas of aliens brainwashing children and psychiatrists being aliens. He traces the origins of such ideas back to a 1630 witch scare in Milan, where a man claimed to have been abducted by a stranger and taken to a house of demons preparing poisons.

Evans points out how modern conspiracy theories echo medieval and Renaissance ideas of humanity being at the mercy of powerful, evil beings. He notes that ufologists like Keel and Vallee have observed parallels between UFO reports and demon-lore. He references Arthur Miller's play 'The Crucible' as a metaphor for the McCarthy era and how contemporary conspiracy theorists link current conspiracies to historical groups like the Jews and the Knights Templar.

He discusses how the born-again Christian groups in the USA interpret UFOs in demonological terms and link them to Satanism, with Hal Lindsey seeing the Trilateral Commission as preparing the way for the Antichrist. Other writers denounce rock music as being controlled by conspirators using sound patterns to control minds.

Evans then examines the function of these beliefs, suggesting they offer a way to understand societal crises not as societal flaws but as products of external evil. He contrasts this with contactees' descriptions of utopian societies on distant planets. He uses the 1975 disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and a subsequent UFO report claiming to be Hoffa as an example of how UFO narratives reflect contemporary societal concerns.

Why Have All The UFO's Gone?

Hilary Evans' article, 'Why Have All The UFO's Gone?', reflects on the enduring nature of the UFO phenomenon as a modern myth, drawing parallels to Carl Jung's subtitle for his book on UFOs. Evans notes that despite a quarter-century passing, the UFO phenomenon continues to inspire a vast array of interpretations, from scientific to sociological, religious, and political. He suggests that UFOs can be 'all things to all persons,' appealing to a wide range of individuals and serving various psychological needs, from providing solace to offering an escape from boredom.

Evans critiques Peter Rogerson's article (presumably from a previous issue), questioning its assumptions and methodology. He challenges Rogerson's assertion that faith in modern technology is declining, citing the popularity of Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' program as counter-evidence. He also disputes the idea that the 'Age of Aquarius' represents the last swan song of belief in progress, arguing that the struggle for a better world and belief in progress are enduring human traits. Evans suggests that quietism can be a prelude to radicalism, referencing E.P. Thompson's work on the English working class.

He proposes that Rogerson's analysis oversimplifies the issue by treating 'the UFO experience' and popular interest in UFOs as synonymous, when different populations may be involved. He also questions whether UFOs are always seen as a matter of 'ultimate concern,' suggesting they might simply be a way to overcome boredom for some.

Evans advocates for a more nuanced approach, suggesting that a multi-stream graph illustrating how different attitudes towards ufology fluctuate in response to cultural trends, political events, and societal shifts would be more illuminating than a linear sequence. He acknowledges the difficulty in proving such trends and warns against using isolated sentences or events to characterize entire generations.

He then presents a selection of letters from 'Letters to the Air Force on UFOs,' showcasing a wide range of beliefs and expectations regarding UFOs, from scientific proposals to spiritual messages. Evans concludes that while pattern-making is tempting, it can lead to oversimplification, and that the UFO problem is complex and multifaceted.

Notes & Quotes

This section features several items:

• Book Catalog: A mention of a catalog from 'Middle East Books,' a firm specializing in second-hand and antiquarian books, which includes a UFO section covering classics and recent publications. Readers are advised to send a large stamped, addressed envelope to John and Judy Trotter for the catalog.
• Fund-Raising Appeal: A renewal of the appeal for used postage stamps, which have a market value and can be realized to help the magazine.
• Book Reviews:
• 'Preuves Scientifiques OVNI L'Isocelie' by Jean-Charles Fumoux: Reviewed by Hilary Evans, this book presents a scientific analysis of French UFO landings, claiming to find statistically significant patterns related to the Golden Number. Evans finds the book's conclusions remarkable but questions the underlying data and the leap to linking UFOs with ancient esoteric traditions.
• 'Last Battle for Earth' by Walter Wier: Also reviewed by Evans, this book presents revelations from the OAHSPE text. While acknowledging Wier's extensive reading and a 'sane, inquiring mind,' Evans finds the book's approach indigestible and its conclusions weak, suggesting it's a fantasy.
• 'Are We Being Watched?: true UFO sightings by children around the world' by Janet Bord and Colin: This children's book is praised for its comprehensive roundup of CEIII cases, though it notes that some cases presented at face value have later been revealed as hoaxes.
• 'The UFO Verdict' by Robert Sheaffer: Reviewed by JH, this book is described as an attempt by a UFO skeptic to debunk UFO reports by investigating them and showing them to have normal explanations. The reviewer criticizes Sheaffer's literal-mindedness and oversimplified view of ufology, particularly his dismissal of 'new wave' ufologists and his treatment of 'Men in Black' accounts.
• 'Mind out of Time: reincarnation claims investigated' by Ian Wilson: Reviewed by PR, this critical study of reincarnation claims exposes alleged evidence, including Dr. Ian Stevenson's studies, as defective. Wilson's treatment of hypnotic regression is highlighted, noting its similarity to theories of apparitions and his suggestion that unconscious fantasies play a role in such claims.
• 'The Story of Ruth' by Morton Schatzman: Reviewed by PR, this study of hallucinations, haunting, and 'possession' is highly recommended. It details the case of 'Ruth,' haunted by the apparition of her abusive father, and Schatzman's treatment which focused on gaining control over the apparition and changing perception.
• 'The Kaikoura UFOs' by Bill Startup and Neil Illingworth: Reviewed by PR, this book details the controversial Kaikoura film. The reviewer notes the film's unimpressiveness and the subsequent media attention and 'explanations' that escalated the strangeness of the story. The review questions the interpretation of the phenomenon and the role of the witnesses.
• 'Photographs of the Unknown' by Robert Rickard and Richard Kelly: Reviewed by PR, this book is criticized for containing fake photographs and uncritical text, detracting from Rickard's earlier work.
• 'The Pulse of the Universe: Harmonic 288' by Bruce Cathie: Reviewed by PR, this book is dismissed as 'incomprehensible twaddle' and a mystery of publishing how such a load of nonsense gets published.
• 'The UFO Encyclopedia' by Margaret Sachs: Reviewed by PR, this book is considered passable as a directory but not a serious encyclopedia, with unsigned articles adding little new information.

UFO Sightings Catalog

The magazine includes a detailed catalog of UFO sightings from 1962, with entries providing dates, locations, descriptions of the objects, and witness accounts. Notable entries include:

• August 1962: Sightings in Duas Pontes, Brazil, involving dwarfs and a hat-shaped object, and later, a shapeless shadow-like entity and spheres emitting fiery rays.
• August 1962: Lake Movil, Minnesota, USA, where a red object with figures inside was observed.
• September 1962: Angaco, Argentina, with a circular object taking off silently and burning grass.
• September 1962: Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy, with encounters with tall individuals and a spinningtop-like craft.
• September 1962: Overfield, England, where a luminous object hovered over a car.
• September 1962: Emerson, New Jersey, USA, with strange tracks found after an object landed.
• September 1962: Oradell, New Jersey, USA, with reports of bright discs and a saucer-shaped object landing in water.
• September 1962: Capay, California, USA, describing a large, flat-bottomed object with lights.
• October 1962: Vienna Woods, Austria, where a woman reported a machine shaped like two saucers edge to edge, with occupants who delivered a moralistic message.
• October 1962: Jacksonville, Florida, USA, with reports of small balls of light and electrical blackouts.
• October 1962: Mar del Plata, Argentina, where a flash of bluish light was seen, and burn marks were found.
• October 1962: Ogallala, Nebraska, USA, with a white glowing object landing on a hill.
• October 1962: Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado, USA, with a report of a huge orange object landing.
• October 1962: Cedaredge, Colorado, USA, with sightings of parachute-like objects and a discoid object.
• October 1962: Salisbury, Australia, where an oval object with figures was observed.
• November 1962: Rio Colorado, Argentina, where an object shot rapidly into the air, leaving burned grass.
• November 1962: Tucuman, Argentina, with an egg-shaped luminous object hovering over a road.
• November 1962: Salta, Argentina, where a glowing sphere landed on a hill, causing motorcycle engines to cut out.
• November 1962: Var, France, where a garage owner reported seeing fantastic birds and a luminous object resembling two plates.
• November 1962: Abra Grande, Argentina, with a 'robot' emitting phosphorescent flashes that rose and landed repeatedly.
• November 1962: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with sightings of a bluish sphere of light hovering over a school bell-tower and later reports of a phenomenon causing sleepiness and incoherent speech.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of MAGONIA revolve around the intersection of UFO phenomena with conspiracy theories, psychological interpretations, and societal anxieties. The magazine explores how individuals and groups construct narratives around unexplained events, often projecting fears of hidden powers, external control, and societal breakdown onto UFOs. The editorial stance, as expressed by the editors and contributors like Jenny Randles and Hilary Evans, is one of critical inquiry, seeking to understand the phenomenon from multiple perspectives, including psychological, sociological, and historical. While acknowledging the fascination and impact of UFO reports, the magazine encourages a nuanced approach, cautioning against simplistic explanations and sensationalism, and emphasizing the need for rigorous analysis and documentation. The inclusion of a detailed sightings catalog suggests a commitment to documenting the raw data of UFO reports, while the articles and reviews engage with the broader cultural and psychological implications of these reports.

FAQ

• What is the main focus of the magazine MAGONIA? MAGONIA is an independently published magazine devoted to a broad examination of the UFO phenomenon and its interaction with society and the individual.
• What is the primary theme of the article 'Conspiracy Now' by Hilary Evans? The article explores the parallels between conspiracy theories, UFO reports, and the human tendency to believe in hidden forces controlling events and minds, drawing connections to historical beliefs and modern anxieties.
• What is Jenny Randles' defense of her role as a full-time UFO writer? Jenny Randles argues that she feels a responsibility to write about the truth as she sees it and that her work, while requiring sacrifices, is not a disservice to ufology, provided responsibilities are accepted.
• What kind of UFO cases are cataloged in this issue? This issue includes a catalog of UFO sightings from the 1960s, detailing various encounters, objects observed, and their reported characteristics and effects.
• What is the editorial stance of MAGONIA regarding UFO phenomena? The magazine adopts a critical and inquiring stance, seeking to understand UFO phenomena from multiple perspectives, including psychological, sociological, and historical, while cautioning against simplistic explanations and sensationalism.

This document appears to be a page from the magazine "MAGONIA", identified by the volume and issue number "820209 B". The publication date is partially visible as "20 JA 630PM", likely indicating January 20, 1981. The publisher is "MAGONIA MAGAZINE" located in New Malden, Surrey, United Kingdom. The language of the original content is English.

Book Review: UFO Study by Jenny Randles

The primary content visible is a review of Jenny Randles' book, "UFO Study; a handbook for enthusiasts", published by Robert Hale in 1981, with 271 pages and priced at £7.95. The reviewer, identified by the initials "PR", notes that the book serves a good purpose by providing information for schoolchildren seeking help with UFO projects. The reviewer states that the book is aimed at this audience and succeeds quite well, being far better than other UFO books supposedly written for children by people without a background in the subject.

The review highlights that bibliographies are included at the end of most articles, though their quality varies. The biographical and group information was gathered from questionnaires, and while the coverage is wider than in "Story", it may be dated. The reviewer points out irrelevant entries for celebrities who have had UFO experiences.

Ufologists might consider purchasing the book for biographical information, and libraries that cannot afford the "UFO Encyclopedia" (Story Version) might find it a preferable alternative to the "execrable UFO Guidebook".

Critical Analysis of 'UFO Study'

The reviewer offers a more critical assessment, stating that large parts of the book will be useful to other beginners, provided they are not put off by the 'things to do' sections at the end of most chapters. The author is at her best when dealing with her own experiences. However, the reviewer notes that Randles is "perhaps too prone to take the work of others at face value". Specifically, the reviewer mentions that "every single one of her 'Checklist of Discoveries' in Chapter 17 is subject to serious controversy, and several are very suspect indeed."

The reviewer also addresses comments made by Randles about their own articles. The reviewer clarifies that they raised the possibility of some BAVIC cases being hoaxes, rather than stating it as fact. They also did not assume there was only one kind of UFO in an article titled 'The Concrete Dream', although they did imply that a psychological interpretation of some 'plasma' reports is plausible. The reviewer further explains that their description of some ufologists as having a "pre-pubescent interest in toy telescopes" was not intended to denigrate attempts to explore UFO experience in physical terms, but rather to address the "appalling naivety of many such attempts."

Recommendation

Despite some reservations regarding details, the reviewer generally recommends the book as a useful introduction to the subject. They conclude that it remains worthwhile even for the more experienced ufologist.

Mailing Information

The page also contains mailing information for "Arkivet for UFO-Forskning" (Archives for UFO Research) in Norrköping, Sweden, indicating a correspondence or subscription activity. The postage marks suggest a mailing from Kingston, Jamaica, with a "REDUCED RATE" and "PRINTED PAPER" designation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the critical review of a UFO-related book, assessing its value for different audiences within the ufology community. The editorial stance appears to be one of balanced critique, acknowledging the book's merits for beginners while also pointing out significant flaws and potential biases, particularly concerning the acceptance of evidence and the interpretation of past research. The reviewer's personal involvement in the field is also evident through their defense of their own published work.