Magonia Supplement - No 60 - 2006 02 07

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Magonia Supplement, No. 60, dated 7 February 2006, is titled 'THE UNINVITED AND THE UNLIKELY' and features articles by Nigel Watson and Martin S. Kottmeyer, along with book reviews and an editorial.

Article: Nick Pope's 'The Uninvited'

Nigel Watson reviews Nick Pope's book 'The Uninvited' (Dell, 1999), which explores the history and evaluation of abduction phenomena. Pope examines attempts to apply scientific principles and discusses the British government's handling of the subject, having worked in the Ministry of Defence's UFO department from 1991 to 1994. Watson notes Pope's admission that there is no solid scientific evidence for alien abductions but acknowledges that something is happening to people, causing profound stress and trauma. Pope believes the MoD should be responsible for dealing with alien invaders. The review highlights Pope's skepticism towards hypnotic regression but his falling under the spell of John Mack's contention that abduction experiences are too exotic for conventional scientific investigation.

Watson then presents several cases investigated by Pope in Britain, comparing them to US abduction reports:

1. Patsy: Recounts seeing a giant black crab at age 4, entering a strange room at age 7, being lifted by a vortex as a young woman, finding a mark on her thigh, and aliens visiting her workplace in 1995.
2. Mary: Experienced paranormal events in childhood, saw her sister fly, encountered 'fairies' at age 8, had telepathic communication with aliens in London in 1992, and experienced 3 1/2 hours of missing time while travelling from London to Newcastle. She also had dreams of spaceships and medical examinations by 'beings'.
3. Jayne: Woke in 1992 to be taken by aliens to a bright room for examination. Her son saw a light and felt paralysed the same night. She has a history of bedroom visitors, ghosts, and UFO sightings, and developed precognition.
4. Peter: Experienced missing time while driving on a toll road to Boca Raton, Florida. Hypnotic regression revealed his girlfriend looked like a statue as the car was floated 100 feet above the ground. He entered a metallic corridor and a room full of road maintenance equipment.
5. Vaunda Hoscik: As a 14-year-old in 1989, saw 4 grey entities and found herself in a brightly lit metallic room. Aliens communicated telepathically and showed her symbols. She had regular encounters, her school work improved, and she believed she had given birth to a hybrid child. These visitations stopped and restarted in 1996.
6. Maria Ward: Experienced poltergeist and ghostly activities, met 'mud midgets' in the woods, went 'into the moon' at age 9, developed a scar on her navel, and in 1990, saw an illuminated wheel in the sky and was telepathically guided into the sky by a beam of light, taken to a large round room by small brown creatures.

Watson critically analyzes these cases, suggesting that some, like Jayne's, might be sleep paralysis, Peter's a dream, and Vaunda Hoscik a medium or contactee. He points out how elements from these cases echo established abduction narratives from authors like Andreasson, the Hills, Godfrey, Hopkins, and Jacobs. He also discusses the 'Scream Team' program, which featured Alan Godfrey's hypnotic regression, noting that Godfrey's account, though traumatic, was fragmented.

Watson expresses concern about the 'abductionist' framework, particularly the concepts of 'doorway amnesia' and 'screen memories', arguing that these are inconsistent and manipulative. He suggests that abduction experiences might be explained by psychological factors and the influence of abduction narratives, rather than genuine alien encounters. He posits that people with a history of paranormal experiences are susceptible to interpreting unusual events within the abduction framework, which can exacerbate mental health problems.

Article: GHOSTLY GREYS: EARLIER HAUNTINGS by Martin S. Kottmeyer

Martin S. Kottmeyer explores the origins of 'Grey' alien mythology in early science fiction, specifically Eando Binder's 'Dawn to Dusk' from 1934. He highlights an illustration depicting an alien passing through a wall, predating other known examples. The story involves individuals entering suspended animation and awakening thousands of years in the future on a dying Mercury, where humanity has evolved into beings with large craniums, small bodies, and advanced abilities like levitation and wall penetration. These beings are facing extinction due to sterility.

Kottmeyer notes the striking similarities between these early fictional beings and modern 'Grey' alien descriptions, including large brains, small bodies, eye powers, and the ability to pass through walls. He suggests that these commonalities likely stem from a shared cultural storehouse of concepts and a drive to create wondrous scenes in science fiction. He questions if this is the earliest example of Grey-like beings with wall-penetrating abilities, suggesting it's close to the origin, even if not the absolute first.

Kottmeyer also corrects a previous assertion, noting that Sandra Larson's 1975 account of aliens going through a wall predates the Andreasson Affair. He also discusses a case reported by Don Worley involving Greys struggling to pass an abductee through a wall due to power issues with their light beam, and another where Greys vanish into a light beam instead of passing through a ceiling, highlighting the folkloric humor in these accounts.

Literary Criticism: Reviews by Peter Rogerson

Peter Rogerson reviews three books on conspiracy theories:

• Conspiracy Encyclopedia by Collis Brown (2005): Described as a companion to a series on conspiracy books, it covers documented conspiracies to theories from disordered minds. It emphasizes US-originating theories, possibly due to First Amendment protections and lax libel laws.
• The Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories by James McConnachie and Robin Tudge (2005): Praised for its insightful commentary, balance, and sanity, it is recommended as the cheapest and best of the three.
• The Encyclopedia of Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories by Michael Newton (2006): Criticized as a typical Facts on File tome, written by a hack with factual errors, padding, and tendentious commentary.

Rogerson notes the absence of British conspiracy theories, such as those surrounding the Provisional IRA's alleged CIA funding, and the Profumo affair. He categorizes conspiracy theories into those stemming from greed/venality and those based on the 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' doctrine. He observes that grander theories often echo themes of cosmic evil or the downfall of the powerful by petty lunatics or incarnate forces. He also touches upon the idea of 'clerks' (those hired to protect interests) being traitors, and the notion that 'they' (an unseen controlling force) hold secrets, have stolen 'fairy gold', and are witches.

Literary Criticism: Reviews by Peter Rogerson (Continued)

Rogerson also reviews two books on psychical research:

• Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach (2005): Roach takes a less reverential look at life after death evidence, covering ectoplasm, weighing the soul, reincarnation, ghost hunting, and electronic voice phenomena. Rogerson notes that experiments often echo earlier, indecisive results. He highlights the 'Chaffin Will' case, where a supposed ghost revealed a hidden will, but Roach suggests the signature might be a forgery.
• The Truth About Medium by Gary E. Schwartz and William L. Simon (2005): Schwartz's book focuses on Allison DuBois. Rogerson finds Dubois's statements to be typical mediumistic waffle and clichés, often relating to Suzy Smith. He criticizes the lack of full transcription of statements, making it difficult to assess Schwarz's selection process. Rogerson suggests that a better test would involve presenting all statements to a large group for verification or having physicists engage mediums in technical conversations.

Editorial: 'GHOSTLY GREYS: EARLIER HAUNTINGS'

The editorial discusses a purported 'baby alien' figure found in Norfolk, described as a 30 cm figure stored in liquid with a US serial number. The editorial dismisses it as a feeble hoax, questioning the details provided. It references Professor Adam Roberts, an expert in science fiction literature, who examined it. The editorial notes the US Air Force's denial of involvement and suggests that such denials are standard. It concludes that the 'silly season' has started early.

Roger Sandell Memorial Essay Competition

An announcement for the third Roger Sandell Memorial Essay Competition is made, commemorating Roger Sandell, described as a leading British expert on conspiracy theories surrounding the Kennedy assassination. Two topics are offered:

1. Conspiracy Theories: Examining the history, development, societal effects, and shaping influence of theories.
2. Make Ufology History: Questioning whether ufology is a science or a hobby, and if it could ever be a science.

Contributions should be 6000-7000 words, in English. The prize is £100 (or equivalent), and winning entries may be published in Magonia. The closing date for entries is 1 June 2006.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena, abduction experiences, and conspiracy theories, often with a critical lens. There is a strong emphasis on examining the cultural and historical influences on these beliefs, particularly the role of science fiction in shaping modern UFO narratives. The reviews and editorial express skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, such as the 'baby alien' artifact, while acknowledging the psychological and sociological factors that contribute to belief in these phenomena. The magazine also engages with the academic study of these topics, as evidenced by the essay competition and the critical reviews of books in the field. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to understand the origins and impact of these beliefs rather than simply accepting them at face value. There is a recurring theme of questioning the scientific validity of ufology and abduction research, suggesting that many accounts may be influenced by pre-existing narratives and psychological predispositions.