Magonia - No 62 - 1998 02

Magazine Overview

MAGONIA issue 62, dated February 1998, is a publication focused on UFO phenomena, psychology, and historical analysis. The cover prominently features articles by Matthew Graeber on the links between ink blots, cave art, and UFOs, and Martin Kottmeyer on the historical origins of the 'Grey' alien stereotype. The issue also includes a section on the future of Magonia, letters, reviews, and 'Northern Echoes' by Peter Rogerson. The price is £1.25, and it celebrates 'Thirty Glorious Years' from 1968-1998.

Key Articles and Content

Northern Echoes by Peter Rogerson

Peter Rogerson reflects on his 25 years in ufology, moving from a belief in clear-cut positive and negative cases to a more skeptical stance. He discusses the complexities of analyzing UFO reports, noting how narratives are often distorted through multiple retellings and the influence of investigators' agendas. Rogerson highlights the problems with memory, confabulation, and the tendency for witnesses to adopt cultural narratives. He suggests that many UFO reports are not factual accounts but 'memorates' that reflect cultural beliefs, and that the process of investigation often adds layers of interpretation and ideology.

A Fatal Illusion by Matthew J. Graeber

Graeber examines the psychological underpinnings of UFO experiences, particularly the 'abduction' phenomenon. He notes that while many UFO buffs are well-intentioned, they can be manipulated by charlatans. He points to extreme cases, such as cult suicides linked to UFO beliefs, and the psychological impact of abduction experiences, which can involve spiritual or intellectual heightening. Graeber discusses theories about alien motives, such as bolstering their genetic pool or preparing for Earth's dramatic changes. He also draws parallels between UFO sightings and Rorschach inkblot tests, suggesting that the ambiguous nature of UFOs, like inkblots, can trigger the projection of subconscious material and archetypal imagery, especially when individuals have a profound emotional need.

Varicose Brains: entering a Grey area by Martin Kottmeyer

Kottmeyer investigates the historical origins of the 'Grey' alien stereotype, proposing that the idea emerged in the 19th century, coinciding with the development of evolutionary theory. He traces the concept through the ideas of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, who posited that species evolve through adaptation to environmental pressures, and Alpheus Hyatt, who suggested racial senescence. Herbert Spencer's theories on the future of humanity, involving larger brains and potential degeneration, are also discussed. Kottmeyer highlights H.G. Wells's novella 'The Time Machine' as a significant fictional precursor, depicting the Eloi as a delicate, child-like race and the Morlocks as subterranean beings. He argues that the 'Grey' image is a product of cultural anxieties about degeneration and the search for higher intelligence, influenced by scientific and philosophical trends of the era.

Other Content

The issue includes subscription details for Magonia, listing rates for the UK, Europe, USA, and elsewhere, along with instructions for payment. It also mentions the role of the editor, associate editor, web editor, and book review editor. The magazine is available by exchange or subscription.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the psychological and sociological aspects of UFO phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on analyzing UFO reports not just as potential sightings of physical craft, but as expressions of human consciousness, memory, and cultural narratives. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, moving beyond simple belief or disbelief to explore the deeper meanings and influences behind UFO beliefs. The issue champions a skeptical yet open-minded approach, encouraging readers to consider the psychological, historical, and cultural contexts of UFO experiences. The exploration of the 'Grey' alien as a cultural construct, rather than a definitive extraterrestrial entity, exemplifies this critical perspective.

This issue of Magonia, identified as issue 61 and dated January 1998, features a prominent cover story titled "E.T.H. Extremely Tenuous Hypothesis" by John Rimmer. The magazine focuses on critical analysis of ufology, UFO hypotheses, and related phenomena, including book reviews and discussions on conspiracy theories and psychology.

E.T.H. Extremely Tenuous Hypothesis by John Rimmer

John Rimmer's article critically examines Jerome Clark's book, "Spacemen, Demons and Conspiracies," which explores the evolution of UFO hypotheses. Rimmer critiques Clark's focus on minor sub-theories and his attack on 'New-Ufology' ideas from the sixties and seventies, particularly the works of John Keel and Jacques Vallee. Rimmer argues that Keel introduced irrationalism into ufology and that both Keel and Vallee demonstrated that the UFO phenomenon could not be contained within a simple ETH pigeonhole. The article also addresses the psycho-social hypothesis (PH), which suggests that UFO experiences are rooted in cultural imagination and altered states of consciousness. Rimmer notes that American ufology tends to be insular, often ignoring international cases and focusing heavily on government cover-up theories. The article concludes by challenging Clark to provide evidence for the ETH, questioning the validity of cases like Trans-en-Provence.

Book Reviews

The issue includes several book reviews, offering a critical perspective on recent publications in the UFO and paranormal field:

• Jim Marrs - Alien Agenda: the untold story of the extraterrestrials among us: Reviewed by Peter Rogerson, this book is described as a promiscuous and uncritical collection of UFO lore, promoting conspiracy beliefs and questionable topics like the Alternative 3 hoax. The reviewer questions Marrs' reliability as a researcher.
• Gregory M. Kanon - The Great UFO Hoax: the final solution to the UFO mystery: Also reviewed by Peter Rogerson, this book is criticized for not providing evidence for a UFO conspiracy, instead presenting standard UFO reports and arguments about secret government technology. The reviewer points out a factual inaccuracy regarding the Tehran UFO case.
• John and Anne Spencer - Fifty years of UFOs: from distant sightings to close encounters: This review by Peter Rogerson describes the book as a well-rounded coffee table book that provides a good introduction to UFO history. It covers the changes in ufology across decades and suggests that UFO reports are generated by a mixture of physical phenomena and psychological processes, possibly with government disinformation.
• Kevin D. Randle - The Randle Report: UFOs in the 90's & Conspiracy of Silence: Reviewed by Peter Rogerson, the first book is a collection of essays with an ambivalent quality, offering critiques of certain cases while holding onto the Roswell incident. The second book is a study of the US Air Force's investigation of UFOs, with a promotional focus on Roswell. Randle is noted for his inability to accept that the Air Force might have reached different conclusions honestly.
• Whitley Strieber - The Secret School: Reviewed by MP, this book moves away from traditional alien contact to explore Strieber's own mind and childhood experiences. It is described as a collision between 'The Celestine Prophecies' and Philip K. Dick, with vivid recollections of past lives and future visions. The reviewer questions the interpretation of these memories as real and notes inconsistencies with previous accounts.
• Roy Stemman - Reincarnation: True Stories of Past Lives: Reviewed by MP, this book is admitted to be unscientific, exploring stories of past lives. The reviewer notes that Stemman is aware of skeptical explanations but does not engage with them deeply. The book is seen as contrasting with Western attitudes towards reincarnation.
• Ren Coudris - The Roswell Message: Reviewed by MP, this book uses psychometry to contact alleged deceased aliens from the Santilli 'autopsy' film. The reviewer finds the approach novel but unlikely to be the definitive word on Roswell.
• Spencer John and Anne - The Unexplained: This glossy package includes a PC CD ROM and a book, offering a broad overview of fortean phenomena. It is described as a linear narrative documentary format, providing further information on request.
• Michael Shermer - Why People Believe Weird Things: pseudoscience, superstition and other confusions of our time: Reviewed by Peter Rogerson, this book is praised for its detailed critiques of creationism, new race science, and holocaust revisionism, offering a valuable public service. It also touches on lesser-known beliefs like Frank Tipler's 'Physics of Immortality' and Ayn Rand's Objectivism.
• Stephen J. Dick - The Biological Universe: the twentieth-century extraterrestrial life debate and the limits of science & Albert A. Harrison - After Contact: the human response to extraterrestrial life: Reviewed by MP, these books examine the changing status of extraterrestrial life and attempts to communicate with alleged ETs. Both authors are noted for their skepticism towards the ETH.
• Nicholas P. Spanos - Multiple Identities and False Memories: a sociocognitive perspective: Reviewed by MP, this book extends Spanos's work on hypnosis and multiple personality disorder to UFO abduction claims, arguing that many recovered memories are fantasy. It is considered vital for those engaged in therapeutic activities.
• Charles F. Emmons - At the Threshold: UFOs, science and the New Age: Reviewed by MP, this book is a sociological study of ufologists and scientists. However, the reviewer finds it disappointing due to Emmons's pro-New Age bias and sociological relativism, which downplays the differences between scientists and ufologists.

Letters

The 'Letters' section features correspondence from readers:

• Christopher Allan (Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent): Responds to David Sivier's article on 'Crashed Cups', discussing the distinction between 'ritual magick' and 'Crowleyanism' and the significance of the number six in Aleister Crowley's work.
• Barry Kavanagh (Blackrock, Dublin): Responds to a book review, correcting the statement that the McMartin child abuse case collapsed, explaining that it did not and became a lengthy and expensive legal case. He also argues that alien abduction stories do not cause trouble because, if true, no crime would have been committed, and finds them more plausible than some child abuse allegations.
• Basil Humphries (London): Agrees with the reviewer that alien abduction stories do not cause trouble because no crime would have been committed, finding them more plausible than some child abuse allegations. He notes that many child abuse allegations involve fantastical elements.

Hold the Back Page

This section offers brief, often skeptical, commentary on various topics:

• Thomas the crank engine: Discusses theories about underground railways linking UK government sites, suggesting a 300 mph speed and a connection to the IRA mortar-bomb attack on Number 10.
• Abduction Watch: Welcomes Kevin McClure's magazine as a source of sanity in the UFO world, praising its efforts to check claims and publicize dangers.
• Not all nutters are harmless...: Highlights concerns about ufologists with extreme right-wing political histories and the tendency for ufology to attract individuals drawn to conspiracy and paranoia.
• Tally Ho!: A lighthearted note about rumored fox-napping gangs in London, with a humorous observation about the difficulty of catching foxes.
• Crisp Crossed: Reports on an urban legend about crisp packet collecting for 'lifesaving treatment', denouncing it as a 'cruel hoax' and noting that such stories appear frequently in local papers.

25 Years Ago

This section revisits the first MUFOB of 1973, volume 5, number 5, which featured Peter Rogerson's 'International Catalogue of Type I Cases'. It also mentions a piece by Nigel Watson and a 'Notes and Quotes' feature reprinting amusing quotes from Rex Dutta's 'Viewpoint Aquarius' magazine.

Roger Sandell Memorial Competition

An announcement for an essay competition in memory of Roger Sandell, on the theme of "interpreting contemporary vision and belief," with a £100 prize. Suggested topics include Satanism, fringe political influences in ufology, moral panics, and the historical context of contemporary beliefs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Magonia consistently adopts a skeptical and critical stance towards UFO phenomena, conspiracy theories, and paranormal claims. The magazine prioritizes rigorous investigation, critical analysis, and the application of scientific reasoning. It often debunks unsubstantiated claims, questions the methodologies of researchers, and highlights the psychological and sociological factors that may contribute to belief in the paranormal. The editorial stance is one of intellectual honesty, encouraging readers to question assumptions and to distinguish between evidence-based analysis and speculative or ideologically driven narratives. There is a particular emphasis on debunking what the magazine considers to be 'pseudo-science' and 'superstition'.