Alien Worlds: A Review
A couple of days ago I received in the mail a copy of the premier issue of Stuart Miller’s new ufological magazine venture: Alien Worlds. I finished reading it last night and figured a review would be in order.
First, subject matter aside, Stuart is to be congratulated for succeeding in actually getting a high-quality, glossy, full-color, 86-page magazine on the news-stands of Britain. Indeed, having a presence on the shelves of the British equivalents of Barnes & Noble is no easy task. And that the subject of Alien Worlds is one of relative “fringe” standards - UFOs - makes Stuart’s success even more notable.
It’s been a long time since we saw a magazine devoted to alien life and UFOs on the shelves of Britain’s shops. Certainly, there is Fortean Times and Beyond; however, they cover a wide range of subjects, and the ufological content of both usually runs to one, or at the most two, articles per issue.
Back at the height of X-Files mania in the 90s, countless news-stand publications on UFOs existed in the UK: UFO Magazine, Sightings, Alien Encounters, UFO Reality, The X-Factor, Uri Geller’s Encounters, Enigma, and quite probably several others I’ve forgotten about.
The only one that really lasted was UFO Magazine - and even that came to an end shortly after the tragic death of its editor, Graham Birdsall, in 2003. In that respect, it’s good to see the UFO subject given a high-profile position again.
So, what do you get for your money?
Well, for me at least, the most important thing is that Stuart, as editor, is not limiting himself purely to coverage of the so-called ETH: the Extra-Terrestrial Hypothesis. I think it’s pretty accurate to say that most, if not all, of the British news-stand publications on the subject that came (and went) before took the same approach: namely that UFOs = alien spacecraft.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with just catering to that market. Stuart realizes, however, that the UFO issue is a wide and varied one that encompasses countless theories - many of which go far beyond the realms of extra-terrestrial visitations.
That was the main problem I had with so many of the earlier British news-stand publications: the chances of seeing in their pages articles on, say, (a) parallels between alien abductions and 500-year-old fairy encounters; (b) how altered states of perception might open doors to the heart of the UFO puzzle; or (c) links between UFOs and the occult, were actually far less than the chances of having a little gray chap with big black eyes turn up on your doorstep saying “Take me to your leader” and stealing your wife’s eggs to repopulate their dying species!
So, in other words, Stuart is not just catering for one aspect of Ufology. He recognizes that the subject covers a wide range of areas, and realizes - particularly as the old guard gets ever older and the younger generations take a somewhat more open and alternative view of what may be going on - that not everyone wants to hear about the same old stuff we’ve been exposed to for decades, and that - in terms of finding actual answers - hasn’t really got us anywhere.
Okay, with that said, onto the contents.
I have to say that I think Stuart has taken a brave step by having the first article in the magazine one written by me and that reveals the latest data (including officially declassified documents) on the subject of my book Body Snatchers in the Desert - which asserts that nothing of an alien nature ever happened at Roswell; although something controversial most assuredly did.
I suspect there are very few magazine editors who would have had the guts to put an anti-alien themed Roswell article as their lead-in story - and in their first issue, no less. But again, I’m pleased to note, Alien Worlds is not your usual tired and predictable UFO publication.
Roswell aside, there’s a very intriguing interview with the best thing to come out of Starbucks since the introduction of their Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha: namely, Mac Tonnies.
Like me, Mac takes very much of an alternative approach to Ufology. And this is amply demonstrated within the interview that Stuart conducted with Mac for Alien Worlds. Basically, the interview is devoted to a study of Mac’s theories concerning what he terms “Cryptoterrestrials.”
When he’s not serving coffee to the thirsty masses, Mac is busy researching (for a book on the subject) the theory that perhaps our “alien visitors” are nothing of the sort.
Rather, Mac addresses the idea that perhaps “they” are merely, and ingeniously, masquerading as aliens; but in reality are an ancient race that co-exists with us, in stealth for the most part, right here on Earth. In some ways, Mac says, they are far in advance of us; yet in other ways they are our inferior.
Dwelling in the shadows, occasionally surfacing from their darkened realms to use us, exploit us and interact with us, the Cryptoterrestrials are an ominous breed; always two steps ahead of us - but, paradoxically, in many ways, two steps behind us.
Undoubtedly, when Mac’s book on the matter is published the grumpy old men of Ufology will unleash a tirade of criticism in his direction - much like that which was thrown in my direction following the publication of Body Snatchers.
But that’s what I like about Mac: he’s not content to say just what people want to hear. And it’s what I like about Stuart and his magazine too: there is a healthy amount of thinking outside the box.
Paul Kimball, of Red Star Films, has an insightful piece in Alien Worlds titled Why Ufology Needs a Barrack Obama, and discusses the need for a changing of the guard in Ufology; the need for a big breath of fresh air, new and younger faces, and a willingness to take on board alternatives to the ETH - but while not abandoning it, of course.
Paul’s article makes a lot of sense; but again it’s not what everyone will want to hear. Too bad. It needed to be said and Paul said it well.
For me, one of the most fascinating pieces in the magazine is an in-depth interview with Britain’s Dave Clarke - viewed by some as a rabid debunker, by others as a fair-minded skeptic, but hopefully by most as an investigator with little time for bullshit and/or ufological fairy tales.
The interview tells us much about Dave’s most recent book, The Flying Saucerers (a great, and at times hilarious, study - penned with pal Andy Roberts - on the early years of, and the people within, British Ufology); and provides enlightening information on Dave’s own beliefs and theories relating to the UFO controversy.
Nick Pope, formerly of the British Ministry of Defense, gives his take on the MoD’s UFO study, Project Condign; there’s a good round-up of news that covers everything from the latest on the MJ12 documents to sex in space; an in-depth piece that poses the question: “What would happen if and when we made contact with an intelligent non terrestrial species?”; UFOs in the media; some good astronomy-based items; ancient mysteries pertaining to the human species and its development; a solid selection of book-reviews; a lengthy, must-read article on the highly controversial “Serpo” saga; and much, much more - including a lot of welcome humor! For some reason I’ve always been unable to fathom, Ufology and humor are usually poles apart.
And we even get to see a “Page 3″ picture of Stuart himself cuddled up to his deputy-editor (only Brits reading this will get the “Page 3″ reference - and for those same Brits: yes, the photo really is on page 3!)
But, all that said, I do have a few concerns about Alien Worlds. None, I’m pleased to say, are directed at the content or editorial approach of the magazine. Stuart asked me to offer all my views - good, bad, or otherwise - and so that’s precisely what I’m doing.
My first concern is whether or not Alien Worlds can generate a big enough audience to keep it in publication when the content is not just the same old, tired and predictable “nuts and bolts ufology.”
Now, don’t get me wrong, there is definitely enough in the magazine to satisfy even the most rabid ETH devotee; and I’m sure Stuart has done his homework here. But I would hate to see the magazine fail purely because it focused on many alternative aspects of the subject; rather than just preaching to the “ET converted.”
For me, and I’m sure many others, that Stuart is willing to embrace countless ideas and themes in a news-stand magazine is one of the best things to happen to Ufology in a long, long time. I just hope enough people realize it to sustain the magazine. So, give Stuart your support.
My only other real concern is this: while I think the name of the magazine, Alien Worlds, is perfectly apt, I’m not sure the font and typeface of the wording of its title jumps out at me from the front-cover of the magazine.
Bold, white writing on a black banner might not be the most original way to go; but if Stuart wants to capture not just the Ufological faithful, but the passing, curious reader too, he needs to have a title banner that jumps out at the average magazine buyer as they browse the shelves. I’m not sure the slightly spider-legged, wavy font design does that.
But that’s a minor thing. The most important thing is that we, the UFO community, finally have a new, professionally produced magazine of excellent quality and content that is breathing a welcome breath of fresh air into a subject that has become increasingly tired, predictable and stagnant in recent years.
Do you remember when all those utterly ridiculous 1980s heavy-metal “hairspray” bands quickly went the way of the dinosaur when Nirvana burst onto the scene at the turn of the 1990s with their blisteringly-brilliant Nevermind album?
Without going over the top, I feel we are now at that point in Ufology. New ideas, new people and new blood are replacing the old, tired and fixed-in-concrete beliefs of the old guard. And even the first issue of Alien Worlds has shown to me that it has a firm, and highly relevant, place in that new Ufological world.
Diplomatically speaking, Stuart may be slightly more than a few years older that Kurt Cobain was when he made his mark, but Stuart is, I’m pleased to say, “one of us” rather than “one of them”.
The first issue of Alien Worlds is a great piece of work that Stuart should be proud of and that you should be proud of too. Buy, subscribe and tell your friends about it. Let’s make this one a winner.
And don’t forget: you don’t have to live in the UK to purchase Alien Worlds. Check out the subscription page on the magazine’s website, where you can find all the information you’ll need to subscribe to it - wherever you live.
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Feb 22 2008 
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Sneaked a preview today at work, will be picking up my first copy tomorrow with a regular order to follow.
A much needed Publication since the loss of UFO Magazine.
Prehaps some of the previous contributors like yourself Nick will feature in Alien Worlds?
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Good review - I was going too pick it up already but it has actually motivated me to go and do it now.
One question you skirted around though: Is the Page 3 photo topless?
I promise that I have made my decision to purchase already, and your addressing “The Manboob Question” will not, in any way, alter this decision. Probably.
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 am
Thank you Nick for a fabulous and impassioned review.
One comment about the typeface; the white lettering you refer to was on the dummy issue and the same image may well be the one on the web site as well. It was however changed to a dark colour for publication. That said, I am thinking of changing it to make it more “in yer face” if I can come up with a suitable design.
The other point I want to make is that I perceive the magazine to be about extraterrestrial life. Very obviously, UFOs are a significant feature within that topic, and that is reflected in the magazine’s content. But they aren’t the whole picture, and the work that SETI does as well as astrobiology all have a part to play as well.
And I cannot forget “Us”, Mankind either. How did we get here? Were there others before us? Five billion years this planet has been here and yet Man has only walked its surface for maybe five million years. Can that be right?
Nick is right; it was time for a change in the way this subject was written about. I hope I’ve got it right and that it strikes a chord with the public.
Thanks again Nick.
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 am
Hey Emperor:
Re page 3: good god no! LOL.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I really liked this magazine. I hope it sticks around. I am definitely tired of the new-agey UFO magazine & the MUFON journal that gets lossed in bs contactee stories & fake archaelogical evidence.
Recommendation:Do something on Jacques Vallee & try to do as much current case history-investigation type stuff.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:44 am
I finally got my copy yesterday, and let me say congrats, Stuart, on a job very well done indeed!
I don’t see Alien Worlds as competing with UFO Magazine - to me, that would be like an NFL team playing with kids in the sand lot. The two publications are just in a different league. No, the real “competition” is a mag like The Fortean Times, which is what AWM reminds me, at least in terms of presentation.
All the best, Stuart - I look forward to many more columns for many years to come!
Paul