For lovers of Sci-Fi in the 1970’s, few can forget those epic words, spoken by Richard Dreyfuss as Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Its message still resonates to this day.

Some of us love Science Fiction because at its best, the genre challenges us to question everything we think we know–about the world, ourselves, and our “place” in the universe.

We identify with characters on a quest to find answers–even when it means leaving behind everything we’ve ever been taught. Why? Because we cannot ignore the feeling each time we gaze into the night sky, that

WE ARE NOT ALONE.

Increasingly as I get older, the “truth” presented in Sci-Fi means more than anything else.

My “need to know” keeps me turning, again and again, to thought-provoking stories told by visionary film makers like Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, and Christopher Nolan. New films that fit into this category are few and far between. Watching and waiting for them fills me with anticipation. Recent gems that come to mind: Interstellar with Matthew McConaughey and Arrival with Amy Adams.

These films transcend our expectations, often posing questions that we have not even thought to ask. Critics blast them as “too cerebral”, hoping to dissuade the public from seeing them at all.

Great works of art and fiction are often misunderstood.

Now a new film comes along with great potential: Ad Astra with Brad Pitt. Its tagline:

THE ANSWERS WE SEEK

ARE

JUST OUTSIDE OUR REACH

Few details have been released regarding its storyline. Its Official Site at foxmovies.com describes it as:

A paranoid thriller in space that follows Roy McBride

(Brad Pitt) on a mission across an unforgiving solar

system to uncover the truth about his missing father

and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later,

threatens the universe.

With its theatrical release only a few days away, we can only hope that Ad Astra will be another Sci-Fi gem…that shines with a glimmer of truth–to challenge all of us.

 

It’s Official! On December 10, 2018, NASA announced that Voyager 2 entered interstellar space, beyond the bounds of our Solar System. The space probe was launched on August 20, 1977, to study the outer planets.

Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited all four gas giants — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — and discovered 16 moons, as well as phenomena like Neptune’s mysteriously transient Great Dark Spot, the cracks in Europa’s ice shell, and ring features at every planet.

How does this important milestone relate to Science Fiction?

According to MEMORY ALPHA for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the fictional Voyager 6 probe around which V’ger was built — was actually a full-scale mock-up of the real world Voyager 1 and 2 probes from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories.

How cool is that?

And now…Voyager 2 has gone “where no man has gone before”.

 

Theorizing as to why the probe had returned to Earth, Spock said, “V’ger must evolve. Its knowledge has reached the limits of this universe…and what it requires…is the answer to its question, ‘Is there nothing more?'”

“What more is there than the universe?” McCoy asked.

“Other dimensions,” Decker replied, “Higher levels of being.”

“The existence of which cannot be proven logically,” said Spock.

“What it needs in order to evolve…” said Kirk, “is a human quality. Our capacity to leap beyond logic.”

 

Science cannot answer every question. When seeking answers about “otherworldly” visitors coming to Earth, we must take into account the wealth of human experience. Good, reliable people from every walk of life have been telling us for decades about remarkable encounters across the globe. Competent researchers like Budd Hopkins, John Mack and David Jacobs have documented the phenomenon of Alien abduction, attempting to unravel its meaning and purpose.

The “truth” can be a hard thing to accept. Especially when “official” sources like the government and newsmedia try to manipulate public opinion, convincing many to reject it.

It is much easier to accept the Lies, because they tell us what we want to hear. The concept of “world acquisition” as presented by Jacobs is indeed frightening…carefully disguised so as not to trigger alarm. It becomes a lot more difficult to fend off “invaders” who merge themselves with the human race slowly over time. The history of mankind is replete with examples of “foreigners” from one culture invading another–rejected violently at first, but eventually accepted as part of the norm.

In almost every case, the greatest obstacle we face is FEAR; Fear of Strangers with “strange ways”, Fear of any “worldview” that does not jive with our own, Fear of discovery that our assumptions about “them” are wrong–all aspects of the same fear–Fear of the Unknown.

The human race is still evolving. Every time cultures long separated begin to merge, it represents another step in our evolution. This process may be bigger than we think, extending beyond the Earth, to other planets across the universe. What if Extraterrestrial visitation and migration is all part of it?

 

To accept that kind of change requires courage, and a willingness to go beyond Fear–to embrace a new kind of reality. The ET’s are not just coming. They’re already here. They’ve been here for a very long time.

As writers of speculative fiction, we cannot help but wonder at times about what the future holds for all of us living on planet Earth. Not tomorrow, or next week, or next year, necessarily, but further down the road.

Man is not alone in the universe. Overwhelming documentation from every culture indicates–beyond a doubt–that we have been visited many times by advanced life forms since the beginning of time.

And, although the number of entities involved, as well as their point of origin may be open to conjecture, for those of us who care to know the truth about such things, the fact of their existence is not.

Several books regarding the nature of extraterrestrial life and its intentions for humanity leave little room for doubt, when considered in the light of human history.

UNACKNOWLEDGED, by Steven M. Greer, M.D., offers testimonials from former astronauts and retired officers from every branch of the U.S. Military, who have served our nation with honor over the past eighty years. These are credible eyewitness accounts from people who feel compelled by their own conscience to tell the truth. Reading this book, it becomes clear that officials in high places have long accepted the reality of extraterrestrial life and are engaged in efforts not only to recover advanced technology, but also to conceal it from the public.

WALKING AMONG US, by David M. Jacobs, PHD, describes a long term plan to integrate human and extraterrestrial life, drawn from the recollections of abductees, for the essential purpose of Earth occupation. One gets the impression that this process has been ongoing for many human lifetimes and that the outcome–when viewed as part of an evolutionary force, affecting all life in the universe–is inevitable.

PASSPORT TO THE COSMOS, by John E. Mack, M.D., presents findings drawn from what he calls “experiencers”, individuals who believe that their alien encounters contribute to a process of human transformation. Many embrace a new sense of purpose regarding protection of the Earth and the sanctity of all life and look toward a future where humans and extraterrestrials come together as one.

In truth, our survival may one day depend on a new way of seeing the universe, and our role in it. That may require acknowledgement of our past, acceptance of those who walk among us, and embracing transformation.

One must have an open mind to read these books and appreciate them. They may provide a new understanding of what the future holds…for you.

Speculative Fiction takes place in a world where anything can happen. It goes beyond everyday life and takes the reader into an imaginary world of fantasy, science, and horror.

That’s the short answer. But, of course, it’s much more than that.

It takes our existing world and changes it by asking What if? What if monkeys could fly? What if aliens came to Earth?

This opens up the definition to include other genres…like alternate history, sci-fi, dystopian, weird tales, and surrealism.

It views the world through new eyes, pushing the boundaries of imagination. It can take you out of your daily routine and reawaken a sense of mystery and purpose and wonder.

It places ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances–providing new insight, teaching us about vital qualities within ourselves, like bravery and kindness, as we confront the forces of Good and Evil.

It tries to anticipate where we all will be one day, so we can be better prepared. This changes us on a basic level that defies definition. It moves the soul to a better place.

It also satisfies a basic human need. The need to dream.

The fact that you are reading this blog proves it. You wonder about the possibilities for a better tomorrow.

It is the reason we choose Speculative Fiction.

Why? Because we are all dreamers at heart.

 

Ufology is the study of reports, visual records, physical evidence, and other phenomena related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Various investigations have been conducted over the years by governments, independent groups, and scientists.

After reading many UFO reports over the years, it seems clear that the 1960’s and early 70’s had many genuine sightings. Newspaper reports appeared all over the country–and the world. In his remarkable book: The Missing Times, author Terry Hanson investigates the later role of national media in suppressing news coverage of the UFO phenomenon.

This era stands out in my mind for the number of serious investigations launched by intelligent, well-meaning individuals in search of the truth. While many examples can be found, for this blog entry I’ve decided to focus on three points that contribute to its relevance regarding UFOs: People, Cases, and Documentaries.

People

Astronomer J. Allen Hynek is best remembered for his work as a scientific advisor to UFO studies undertaken by the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to 1969. He later developed the “Close Encounter” classification system, with CE3 referring to cases where “occupants or entities are seen.” Considering the dismissive attitude of many academics toward Ufology, he once commented, “Ridicule is not part of the scientific method….”

Director Steven Spielberg brought his unique vision to the movie screen with “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in 1977. Spielberg said his faith in the possibility of UFOs was boosted when he received a 20-page letter from NASA stating their opposition to the film. Ray Bradbury declared it the greatest science fiction film ever made.

Cases

1973 is remembered for a world-wide wave of UFO sightings. Several abductions were reported during this period, including the case of Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Sightings occurred in at least 20 states and 10 different countries, peaking in mid to late October.

In November, 1975, Travis Walton was reportedly abducted by a UFO while working with a logging crew in Arizona, then reappeared after a five-day search. The case received mainstream publicity and was later adapted into a major film: Fire in the Sky. It is also one of very few cases with corroborative eyewitnesses, where the time allegedly spent in the custody of aliens plays a rather minor role in the overall account.

Documentaries

Chariots of the Gods entered American theaters as a West German documentary film in 1970. Based on Erich von Däniken’s sensational book, it theorizes extraterrestrials impacted early human life. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

In 1976, the documentary UFOs: It Has Begun appeared on American television, narrated by Rod Serling. Though promised footage of an actual ‘flying saucer’ landing at Holloman Air Force Base was not provided, producers shot dramatized parts of the segment beforehand, using paintings of the alien craft to depict an historic meeting which allegedly took place. To this day, its dramatic impact can still be felt.

 

American naturalist and cryptozoologist Ivan T. Sanderson (1911-1973) coined the term Out-Of-Place-Artifacts to describe various anomalous objects of historical, archeological, or paleontological interest which have been found throughout the Earth’s strata or in geological formations where they should not be located, according to conventional scientific theory.

Such discoveries challenge historical chronology by being “too advanced” for the level of civilization at the time, or show “human presence” well before man was thought to exist.

Perhaps the most famous example is the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient analog computer designed to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes. Recovered in 1901 from a shipwreck off a Greek island, its clockwork-like appearance dates to 1,000 years before clocks were invented.