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Variant, v. 1, issue 3, September 1947
Page 14
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THE FLYING SAUCERS AS SEEN BY THE PSFS by Robert G. Thompson As the "flying saucers" seens to be one of the most striking examples since Hiroshima of fact catching up with science-fiction, the topic was brought up at the July 7 meeting of the PSFS. Someone recalled the "Flying Buzz-saw", (an aeronautical vehicle of quite similar appearance). (April 1930 Air Wonder) Also mentioned was the means of transportation of the lion men of the planet Mongo (Flash Gordon). Discussion, however, established that these were in the shape of tops rather than disks. Theories, expressed during the aforementioned discussion or at other times, as to the nature of the flying disks, varied considerably. The most incredulous attitude found highly distinguished support. George O. Smith was inclined to suspect, "Optical delusion, coupled with a bit of mass hysteria. There have been an awful lot of people getting on the band-wagon." He declared, "Till I hear a report from an observer trained to make such observations, I will reserve judgement. I would like to think that this is a contact with intelligences from outer space, but I doubt it." Another author, L. Sprague Decamp, was even more sceptical. "My suspicion," he said, "Is that this is like the appearance of Castor and Pollux, everytime the Romans won a battle, or the angels of the battle of Mons. Everytime people get excited they start seeing things. You can't disprove them; you can't prove that you weren't created yesterday, with all your memories and the universe to match. But it seems likely that it is a lot of guff." Benson Dooling remarked, "These things sound like they are powered with sherry." Milton A. Rothman said, "My studied and careful opinion at the moment is that it might be anything; we cannot make conjectures without further information. From now on I am going around with a camera and field glasses by my side. Of course, I would be delighted if it were an invasion from Mars." He was, however, inclined to doubt that the disks were a product of human science, saying, "It's not the fashion among scientists to build things that shape.' Alfred Prime said, "They are either from this world or they aren't. If they are not, we cannot know anything about them. If they are from this world, we certainly won't learn anything about them, as there is probably some secret." Few of the members were ready to commit themselves seriously to the theory that the saucers represented an expedition from another planet. Robert A. Madle said, discussing this possibility, "From the size of the ships, the people would be from a very heavy planet." Bud Waldo suggested, "They are probably people from another planet who saw atomic explosions on our planet and came to save up from a disaster such as wiped out their civilization." (14)
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THE FLYING SAUCERS AS SEEN BY THE PSFS by Robert G. Thompson As the "flying saucers" seens to be one of the most striking examples since Hiroshima of fact catching up with science-fiction, the topic was brought up at the July 7 meeting of the PSFS. Someone recalled the "Flying Buzz-saw", (an aeronautical vehicle of quite similar appearance). (April 1930 Air Wonder) Also mentioned was the means of transportation of the lion men of the planet Mongo (Flash Gordon). Discussion, however, established that these were in the shape of tops rather than disks. Theories, expressed during the aforementioned discussion or at other times, as to the nature of the flying disks, varied considerably. The most incredulous attitude found highly distinguished support. George O. Smith was inclined to suspect, "Optical delusion, coupled with a bit of mass hysteria. There have been an awful lot of people getting on the band-wagon." He declared, "Till I hear a report from an observer trained to make such observations, I will reserve judgement. I would like to think that this is a contact with intelligences from outer space, but I doubt it." Another author, L. Sprague Decamp, was even more sceptical. "My suspicion," he said, "Is that this is like the appearance of Castor and Pollux, everytime the Romans won a battle, or the angels of the battle of Mons. Everytime people get excited they start seeing things. You can't disprove them; you can't prove that you weren't created yesterday, with all your memories and the universe to match. But it seems likely that it is a lot of guff." Benson Dooling remarked, "These things sound like they are powered with sherry." Milton A. Rothman said, "My studied and careful opinion at the moment is that it might be anything; we cannot make conjectures without further information. From now on I am going around with a camera and field glasses by my side. Of course, I would be delighted if it were an invasion from Mars." He was, however, inclined to doubt that the disks were a product of human science, saying, "It's not the fashion among scientists to build things that shape.' Alfred Prime said, "They are either from this world or they aren't. If they are not, we cannot know anything about them. If they are from this world, we certainly won't learn anything about them, as there is probably some secret." Few of the members were ready to commit themselves seriously to the theory that the saucers represented an expedition from another planet. Robert A. Madle said, discussing this possibility, "From the size of the ships, the people would be from a very heavy planet." Bud Waldo suggested, "They are probably people from another planet who saw atomic explosions on our planet and came to save up from a disaster such as wiped out their civilization." (14)
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