8.25.1998 Letter

Magazine Overview

This document is a letter from the Ancient Astronaut Society, dated August 25, 1998, addressed to 'Eric.' It serves as an explanation for the decision to cease publication of their journal, 'Ancient Skies,' on February 28, 1999. The letter details the reasons behind this significant decision, which marks the end of a nearly quarter-century endeavor.

Reasons for Ceasing Publication

The letter outlines several key factors contributing to the cessation of 'Ancient Skies':

Personal and Time Considerations

The publishers, having reached their seventies, feel it is time to dedicate their remaining years to pursuing other endeavors that were previously put on hold. They emphasize that the publication of 'Ancient Skies' and other Society activities have been extremely time-consuming, and they wish to 'move on' while they still have the time and energy.

Technological Advancements and Obsolescence

The rapid evolution of technology in publication, communication, and information dissemination has rendered the Society's traditional methods obsolete. The letter states that changing to new methods would involve too much time, effort, and expense, making it impractical to adapt.

Maintaining Editorial Quality

Delegating the production of 'Ancient Skies' to someone else is deemed extremely difficult, if not impossible, without compromising the quality and purity of their editorial policies. Even if a suitable person were found, it would still require significant oversight from the current publishers.

Field Competition and Audience Engagement

The competition within their specific field, as well as in related sensational subject matter, has grown tremendously. This has made it challenging to attract new members. The rise of the Internet, where people can obtain information by viewing illuminated screens and exchange ideas via email, is cited as a major competitor. Additionally, the exponential growth in annual conferences in related fields means they are all vying for the same audience.

Lack of Original Material

There is a perceived scarcity of new, original information being produced in their field. This makes it very difficult to consistently publish 'Ancient Skies' with fresh material every two months, and even a shift to a quarterly journal would not significantly reduce the workload.

Administrative Burden

Beyond the work of producing and distributing the journal, the clerical tasks involved in maintaining Society memberships represent a substantial burden. The publishers have managed these responsibilities without financial compensation and without employees. Transitioning to a computer-based system with paid staff would necessitate a much larger budget than the Society currently possesses.

Conclusion and Editorial Stance

The letter concludes with warm regards from 'Istre,' who identifies the Ancient Astronaut Society as a tax-exempt, not-for-profit scientific, educational, and literary organization. The overall tone is one of thoughtful reflection on a long-standing commitment and a pragmatic acceptance of changing times and personal circumstances. The editorial stance throughout the letter is transparent, honest, and focused on the practical realities of continuing such a publication in the late 1990s.