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UFO Mail - No 208 - 2015
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Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information Issue: nr. 208 Date: December 1, 2015 Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening
Magazine Overview
Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: nr. 208
Date: December 1, 2015
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening
This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information features a Christmas offer for its readers, providing a free copy of the English book 'Firestorm' with purchases of 300 DKK or more from the SUFOI webshop. The magazine also includes reviews of several books related to UFOs and critical thinking.
Book Reviews
The UFO Dossier: 100 Years of Government Secrets, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups by Kevin D. Randle
Reviewed by Kim Møller Hansen, this book is presented as Kevin D. Randle's best of three titles on the subject. Despite its subtitle, it does not cover everything about UFOs. Randle begins with the 1908 Tunguska event and moves through incidents like the 'Battle of Los Angeles' in 1942. The reviewer notes that Randle, a proponent of the spaceship hypothesis and particularly the Roswell case, focuses heavily on American incidents, though with some attention to England, France, and Australia. Randle's work is characterized by citing other ufologists and Project Blue Book reports, often pointing out the errors made by past investigators. The review suggests that Randle could have been more effective by focusing on what was actually discovered and how that knowledge could be applied today, rather than repeating past mistakes. The reviewer also contrasts the American approach, which tends to view witness testimony as objective descriptions akin to a video camera and often interprets unidentified phenomena as 'nuts-and-bolts' alien craft, with the European tendency towards sociological, psychological, and cultural explanations. Randle's book includes a chapter listing UFO experiences from the 21st century.
Silver Screen Saucers: Sorting Fact from Fantasy in Hollywood's UFO Movies by Robbie Graham
This book, also reviewed by Kim Møller Hansen, delves into the relationship between UFO mythology and Hollywood's portrayal of UFOs in film and television. Graham explores how popular culture has influenced the development of UFO myths and vice versa. The review notes that while Graham is knowledgeable about film and TV history, his analysis of specific cases like Thomas Mantell (1948) and Kelly-Hopkinsville (1955) is sometimes flawed, possibly to add drama. The book is praised for providing significant insight into the creation of many feature films and TV series. Graham interviews directors and producers to understand their inspirations and any external pressures. The review concludes that the film industry is not conspiring to hide 'The Great Truth,' but rather that popular culture draws inspiration from UFO mythology, and in turn, UFO experiences are increasingly complex, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The book is described as being in line with works like 'The Paranormal and the Paranoid' and 'Project Saucer.'
Books on Critical Thinking and Skepticism
The magazine highlights books that encourage critical thinking and skepticism towards UFO myths and pseudoscientific claims. Stephen Law's 'Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked into an Intellectual Black Hole' is recommended for its humorous approach to identifying psychological traps in belief systems, using examples from homeopathy, conspiracy theories, and alien abductions. Robert E. Bartholomew, a sociologist specializing in extreme human behavior, is also featured. His work, including 'A Colorful History of Popular Delusions,' is noted for defining phenomena and providing well-chosen examples of irrational human behavior, both historical and modern. Other recommended titles by Bartholomew and co-authors are listed, covering topics such as mass psychogenic illness, social delusion, extraordinary social behavior, media manipulation, mass delusion, and UFOs.
UFO-Mail Offer Details
The magazine details its 'Fakta & Myter' series, listing seven titles: 'Area 51,' 'Roswell,' 'Aliens,' 'Nærkontakt' (Close Encounter), 'UFO-styrt' (UFO Crash), 'Bermuda Trekanten' (Bermuda Triangle), and 'Project Saucer.' Most of these are available as e-books or can be borrowed from 'e-reolen,' with some print editions still available.
UFO Reports
Readers are directed to the website www.ufo.dk to read the latest UFO reports submitted to SUFOI.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the analysis and critique of UFO phenomena, the role of media and popular culture in shaping public perception, and the importance of critical thinking and skepticism. The magazine appears to present a balanced view, reviewing both ufology-focused books and those that encourage a more rational and evidence-based approach to extraordinary claims. The editorial stance seems to favor rigorous investigation and a distinction between factual evidence and speculative theories, while acknowledging the cultural impact of UFO narratives.