Caliban: Hast thou not dropped from heaven? Stephano: Out o' th' moon, I do assure thee. I was the man i' th' moon when time was. --The Tempest, Act II, Scene 2 I'm not yet ready to review Chris Aubeck and Martin Shough's new book, Return to Magonia: Investigating UFOs in History (Anomalist … [Read more...]
Sir James George Frazer – “Golden Bough,” John Barleycorn, and a Little Green Man (Part 6 of a series)
If there's anything more gauche and un-with-it these days than quoting Sigmund Freud with approval--which I do with some regularity--it's quoting Sir James George Frazer. Which I am now about to do, in connection with the problem of the "little green men." Nearly everyone has at least heard of … [Read more...]
The Green Children – “Small, Vulnerable ETs” (Part 3 of a series)
(For Part 2, "Duncan Lunan and the 'Green Children' of Woolpit," click here.) "The power of the story [of the green children] comes in the end from our pity for these ultimate strangers in a strange land, these small, vulnerable ETs." --Diane Purkiss The quote is in medieval historian and … [Read more...]
Credulity and the Astronomer – The Strange Case of Cedric Allingham
"It certainly has taken me by surprise," said Mr. Gascoigne. ... "Probably you think me blamable." "Not blamable exactly. I respect a man for trusting another." --George Eliot, Daniel Deronda, chapter 64 Do you know the strange story of Cedric Allingham? And--do you care? If you think … [Read more...]
Blackhawk Comics, the Shaver Mystery, and the Vril-ya (Part 2)
(This is a continuation of last week's post on the 1956 "Blackhawk" comic book story, "The Master Race." It'll be my last post until after Labor Day. I'm taking the month of August as a break from blogging. I'll be back the week of September 1.) "Venn der Fuehrer says ve iss de Master … [Read more...]
