UFO Mail - No 238 - 2017

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: Nr. 238
Date: 4. maj 2017
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information focuses on two main areas: a witness appeal for a UFO sighting in Copenhagen and a review of a book on UFO history.

Witness Appeal: UFO Sighting in Copenhagen

The magazine features an "Efterlysning af vidner i København" (Witness Appeal in Copenhagen) concerning an event that occurred on April 11, 2017, between 06:30 and 07:15 AM. The observer, who was on the 2nd floor of a building in Østerbro, Copenhagen, reported seeing approximately 8-12 lights "dancing" in the sky. These lights were described as moving up and down between the clouds, sometimes hovering, and at other times descending suddenly. Initially, the observer thought they might be drones, but their high altitude in the clouds suggested otherwise. The direction of the observed phenomena was towards Valby, specifically in the direction of the Sct. Jacobs church tower in Østerbro. The observer has captured video and photographic evidence of the event. SUFOI's Photo Department is seeking information from anyone who can provide a serious explanation for what was observed flying apparently low in the sky over Copenhagen during the specified time.

Two video sequences of the sighting are available on Facebook in the "Skandinavisk UFO Information - Debatforum" group.

Book Review: 'Flying Saucers Are Real!' by Jack Womack

The issue includes an extensive review of the book "Flying Saucers Are Real!" by Jack Womack. The book, described as a large-format, heavily illustrated paperback of 288 pages published by Anthology Editions in 2016, is presented as a visual history of UFO publications and their authors. It covers the "golden age" of UFO mythology, particularly the first two decades, featuring reproductions of covers, text excerpts, and illustrations from a wide range of sources, including books, magazines, and privately published materials.

The reviewer, Kim Møller Hansen, initially had reservations, fearing it might be another simplistic alien-focused narrative. However, upon examining the book, the reviewer found it to be a comprehensive and engaging exploration of UFO lore. The book is characterized as a "coffee table book" suitable for anyone interested in the history of UFO mythology and the beliefs, hopes, and anxieties of the decades following Kenneth Arnold's historic sighting.

The review highlights that the foreword for "Flying Saucers Are Real!" was written by science fiction author William Gibson, who posits that the truth about UFOs has always been "in here" – within these peculiar books and testimonies – rather than "out there" as suggested by popular culture.

Jack Womack is described as a well-established author who has been collecting popular culture UFO publications since childhood. His collection, built over 50 years, is now housed at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. An exhibition at Milk Gallery in New York in August 2016 showcased materials from "The Jack Womack Flying Saucer Library." The collection itself, donated to the Booth Family Center for Special Collections at Georgetown University Library, comprises books, manuscripts, brochures, pamphlets, and magazines, primarily from the period 1948-1980. It includes 242 artifacts, many of which are significant works from the 1950s, and 19 of the books are signed by their authors, often including original press materials.

The book is also noted for featuring an interview with Jack Womack in the journal Fortean Times (October 2016), where he discusses his approach to the subject, aiming to give a voice to both skeptics and believers and providing a historical overview of how belief manifested before deeply infiltrating popular culture.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to maintain a neutral but investigative stance on UFO phenomena, presenting witness accounts and encouraging serious explanations. The review of "Flying Saucers Are Real!" indicates an interest in the historical and cultural aspects of UFO beliefs, exploring how these narratives have shaped popular imagination. The editorial focus seems to be on documenting sightings and exploring the broader cultural impact of UFO phenomena through literature and historical accounts.