OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: June 1994
Cover Headline: UFO CONSPIRACY PART THREE

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated June 1994, features a prominent cover story titled "UFO CONSPIRACY PART THREE," alongside a secondary headline, "DINOSAUR DRAMA: DID THE BIRDS COME FIRST?" The cover art depicts a futuristic spacecraft against a stylized cityscape and dramatic sky.

Articles and Content

FIRST WORD: EXTRATERRESTRIAL NIGHTMARES: Aliens aren't the first creatures to capture our dark imagination

By David Brin, a self-proclaimed "futurist/space expert," this column explores the phenomenon of UFO believers and their intense emotions. Brin draws parallels between UFO aliens and figures from folklore, such as elves and faery creatures, suggesting that these beings occupy a similar psychological niche. He posits that either humans have an innate tendency to hallucinate such figures, or these beings have been long-term neighbors rather than recent visitors. Brin critiques the "magical thinking" prevalent in UFO cultism, where objective truth is secondary to desired beliefs. He argues that UFO enthusiasts often exhibit a yearning for mystery, questioning why aliens would be "high-IQ vandals" rather than open visitors. Brin likens some alien encounter narratives to those of "selfish cowards" rather than benevolent beings. He also touches upon the idea of an "elder race" offering salvation, contrasting it with humanity's hard-won progress. Brin concludes by humorously urging readers to "Keep watching the skies."

ARTS: ALIEN INSPIRATION: On the set of Roswell, the movie.

By Bill Moseley, this article discusses the Showtime original movie "Roswell," scheduled for a summer 1994 debut. Based on the nonfiction book "UFO Crash at Roswell" by Kevin Randle and Donald Schmitt, the film is written by Arthur Kopit and directed by Jeremy Kagan, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Kim Greist, and Martin Sheen. The movie uses flashbacks to recount the 1947 Roswell incident, where the U.S. Army claimed a crashed object was a weather balloon, while eyewitnesses and military personnel alleged it was an alien spacecraft. The article highlights that the film focuses on relationships, secrets, and cover-ups, likening it to "The JFK of UFOs." It mentions references to "Majestic 12" and "Area 51." Executive Producer Paul Davids shares his personal sighting of a "domed disk" in 1987. The article details the actors' preparation, the special effects used for the alien creature, and producer Ilene Kahn's thoughts on the evolution of humanity.

LAST WORD: UFOS IN NEW YORK: Roll out the red carpet and come on down!

By Peter Callahan, this column presents a satirical account of two aliens, Quisp and Quake, who allegedly landed in Times Square, New York, only to be robbed and beaten. The story gained traction through a videotape, leading to public sympathy and donations. However, it is revealed to be a hoax. Detective Clifton Leaf of the Police Department's Fraud Investigations Unit exposes the "Martiangate" scandal, detailing how the aliens staged the beating and were involved in scams, including unpaid bills, rental car damage, and a pyramid scheme. The book deal for their "exclusive story" yielded only newspaper clippings. The column also notes their ability to cheat the transit system by sucking tokens from turnstiles. The video of the beating is confirmed as fake, with the aliens laughing during the staged event. Detective Leaf concludes that the aliens were simply smarter than the New Yorkers, having cased the city for a long time.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFOs, alien encounters, and conspiracy theories, exploring both the serious implications and the more sensational or even satirical aspects of these phenomena. The magazine appears to engage with these topics from multiple perspectives, from serious speculation and cultural analysis (David Brin) to cinematic interpretations (the "Roswell" movie) and humorous exposés of hoaxes (Peter Callahan's "Last Word"). The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into the mysteries of the universe and human fascination with the unknown, while also maintaining a critical eye towards unsubstantiated claims and potential deception.