Magazine Summary
Ancient Astronaut Society
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Summary
This document is a letter from the Ancient Astronaut Society to its members, dated August 25, 1998, explaining the decision to cease publication of their journal, 'Ancient Skies,' on February 28, 1999. The primary reasons cited are the personal health and age of the publishers (in their seventies), the desire to pursue other long-held interests, and the overwhelming time commitment. They also note that technological advancements have rendered their publication methods obsolete, and changing to new methods would require too much time, effort, and expense. Furthermore, maintaining the quality and purity of their editorial policies would be difficult if delegated. The competitive landscape in their field has grown, with the Internet and email offering alternative information sources, and annual conferences also drawing potential members. The letter also states that there is little new original material being produced in their field, making it hard to continue publishing regularly. Finally, the clerical work of maintaining memberships without compensation or employees is a significant burden, and transitioning to a computer-based system with paid staff would require a much larger budget.
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.
The virtual explosion of technological advancements in the fields of publication, communication, transmission and diffusion of knowledge and ideas has rendered our methods obsolete and for us to change would involve too much time, effort and expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Ancient Astronaut Society ceasing publication of Ancient Skies?
The publication of Ancient Skies is ceasing on February 28, 1999, due to the publishers reaching their seventies and wishing to pursue other interests, the obsolescence of their publication methods due to technological advancements, increased competition in their field, a lack of new original material, and the significant burden of managing memberships.
When will the last issue of Ancient Skies be published?
The last issue of Ancient Skies will be published on February 28, 1999.
What are the main reasons for the cessation of Ancient Skies?
The main reasons include the publishers' age and desire to pursue other interests, the impact of technological advancements on publication methods, increased competition from sources like the Internet, a scarcity of new original material in the field, and the administrative burden of managing memberships.
What is the role of technology in the decision to cease publication?
The rapid advancements in technology have made the Society's existing publication methods obsolete, and adapting to new technologies would require significant time, effort, and expense.
In This Issue
People Mentioned
- EricRecipient
- IstreSender
Organisations
- Ancient Astronaut Society
Locations
- Highland Park, USA