Magonia Supplement - No 21 - 1999 11

Magazine Overview

Title: MAGONIA Monthly Supplement
Issue: No. 21
Date: November 1999
Editor: JOHN HARNEY
Publisher: formerly ETH Bulletin

This issue of MAGONIA Monthly Supplement, edited by John Harney, focuses on interpreting contemporary vision and belief, with a particular emphasis on UFO phenomena and related cultural aspects.

Editorial

The editorial section begins with a critique of sensationalism and intellectual dishonesty within UFO literature, contrasting it with authors who are sincere but sometimes unintentionally humorous. The editor highlights a new book for budding UFO investigators that contains clichés and offers what he considers to be amusingly basic advice for contacting MPs, including directions to the House of Commons and the nearest Underground station (Westminster).

The Walton Case - A Multiple-Choice Question

This is the lead article, which revisits the controversial Walton case. The author states that the case has been repeatedly raised as an example where suggested explanations do not make sense, yet has received little response beyond accusations of hoax motives. The article aims to explore the practical difficulties of organizing and executing such a hoax, emphasizing that no definite conclusions have been reached and the goal is to seek the truth. Five possibilities are presented:

1. The story is true: Walton was genuinely abducted by aliens.
2. Atmospheric electricity: The woodcutters encountered a rare atmospheric electrical phenomenon, causing Walton to be knocked out and wander off, with the saucer story being an after-effect of the shock.
3. Hoax by Walton and Rogers: Walton and Rogers orchestrated the event, rigging up something in the forest to fool the other men. At least two men became suspicious but couldn't figure out how it was done.
4. Hoax by multiple parties: Walton, Rogers, and the other five men were all involved. It's also suggested Walton's mother and brother Duane might have been part of it.
5. Other explanation: A different explanation needs to be sought.

The author notes that most people, including believers in the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH), do not accept possibility #1. While some take possibility #2 seriously, many ufologists view it as an attempt to avoid confronting the hoax possibility. The article then delves into the challenges of the hoax explanations (#3 and #4), particularly the lack of agreement on who was involved and how the deception was carried out. It questions how something convincing could have been rigged up to fool the other men, suggesting that the deception might have relied more on carefully rehearsed performances by Walton and Rogers than on sophisticated apparatus. The article also considers the possibility that the police files on the case conveniently disappeared, raising further doubts about the investigation.

Literary Criticism

This section features reviews of several books:

• 'From Other Worlds' by Hilary Evans (1998): Reviewed by Nigel Watson, this book is described as a wide-ranging historical and paranormal perspective on aliens, abductions, UFOs, and the paranormal. It covers topics like Martians, channelling, MIB, ghosts, and major UFO cases. The reviewer notes it's a coffee table book with stunning pictures, suitable as an overview for those unfamiliar with Evans's work, and an 'eye-opener' for those who think UFOs are only about spaceships and little green men.

• 'The Uninvited' by Paul Cornell (1997): This novel is about an ex-photojournalist who stumbles into an alien conspiracy to take over the world. The reviewer notes its origins as a TV series, its emphasis on plot over characterization, and its setting in Britain. The aliens infiltrate the establishment, using technology as their tool. The book is seen as a commentary on modernity, with aliens representing the 'plights of modernity'. It contains clichés and predictable twists, making it an undemanding read.

• 'The Monster Show: A Cultural History' by David Skal (1994): This book explores the overlap between horror, ufology, and Fortean phenomena, viewing horror films as reflections of wider social crises. Skal argues that the horror genre reflects the darker side of American culture, starting with freak shows and moving through the impact of World War I, the rise of monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein's monster as metaphors for societal anxieties (e.g., the Wall Street Crash), and the influence of German cinema. The reviewer finds Skal's historical and social account enlightening, with well-chosen anecdotes. A notable anecdote is Adolf Hitler's fondness for movies, including 'King Kong' and 'Snow White'. The book also discusses censorship issues, the literature of authors like Stephen King, and themes like body mutilation and the Cold War, relating them to horror motifs. It is recommended as an accessible and readable entry into the world of horror.

Letters

This section includes correspondence from readers:

• Guy Aaron Arnott (Friends of Blennerhassett, Seattle, Washington): This letter directly challenges the editor's stance in a previous 'Editorial' (reprinted in 'The Saucer Smear', No. 18, August 1999) regarding UFO crashes. Arnott sarcastically thanks Harney for guaranteeing no alien spacecraft have crashed. He questions Harney's research, asking if he has flown jet fighters over Mount Rainier or experienced the skies near Area 51. He also references the Roswell incident, questioning if Harney witnessed the military's alleged cover-up of alien craft and corpses. Arnott accuses Harney of lacking proper research and uses strong language to criticize his editorial.

• Gareth J. Medway (London): Medway responds to the editor's comment about cases where explanations don't make sense, citing the Rendlesham Forest incident. He notes that while some US airmen reported UFOs, sceptics suggest they saw a lighthouse and stars. Medway points out the objection that multiple trained observers would not all be misled, and suggests that the Air Force's embarrassment might have led to propagating the ET explanation, or that the story was a cover-up for a nuclear accident. Medway concludes by observing that UFO sceptics can sometimes resort to paranoia similar to believers, suggesting secret knowledge and sinister motives within organizations like the US Air Force.

Contact Information

MAGONIA Monthly Supplement welcomes letters and short articles. Contributions should be sent to the Editor, John Harney, at the provided UK address, fax number, or email address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to adopt a critical and analytical approach to UFO phenomena, as evidenced by the editorial's critique of sensationalism and the detailed examination of the Walton case's potential hoax elements. The editor, John Harney, expresses skepticism regarding UFO crashes, as highlighted in the letters section. The inclusion of literary criticism suggests an interest in how UFOs and paranormal themes are represented in popular culture and fiction, and how these narratives intersect with broader societal concerns. The magazine seems to encourage rigorous investigation and a questioning attitude towards commonly accepted narratives within the UFO community, while also engaging with the cultural impact of these subjects.