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Scientifictionist, v. 2, issue 2, whole no. 8, March-April 1947

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BOOK REVIEW by Henry Elsner Jr.

Forgotten Mysteries by R. DeWitt Miller
Cloud Inc., Chicago, 1947, 202 pg., $2 1/2

After years of being badgered by everyone who has a solution to the question of what makes the universe go round, from Charles Fort to Richard Shaver, lovers of the off-trail and the supernormal will be glad to see a book that is at once both fascinating and matter of fact in its presentation.

Forgotten Mysteries is a collection of odd phenomena of every type, all carefully documented. The author, who has spent 15 years in this type of research, is considered one of the foremost authorities in the field, and for years edited a column in Coronet magazine under the same title as the book. Mr. Miller has apparently formed no synthesis as a result of his investigations -- at least none is stated or implied in his book. He makes no explanation himself for any of the cases he cites, but does include important objections to the alleged supernormality of the occurence, whenever such evidence has been brought forward.

The section that was the most startling -- or perhaps annoying -- to this reviewer was the three chapters on "Ghosts", "Haunted Houses" and "Poltergeists". Personally, I have always regarded "ghost stories" as the products of an overly active imagination, coupled with old-world superstition. But Mr. Miller presents some startling evidence to show that there is something which acts as "ghosts" have been reported to do.

Although about one-half of the book is devoted to material in the psychic field, there is plenty of solid stuff for the dyed-in-the-wool scientifictionist. In "Enigmas Out of Space" are presented some very interesting evidences of life on the Moon. Besides the more or less generally known incident aboard the Marconi yacht, the author reports that in 1924 radio signals which seem quite conclusively to have come from the planet Mars, were received and photographically recorded on a special device. The reports of mysterious lights in the sky are also included in this chapter.

Of the most general interest at the present time will be the chapter on Vanished Continents. In his introduction to the chapter, Mr. Miller states: "To beleivers in such lost lands, this chapter will probably be disappointing. It contains data which I hope are thought provoking, but no conclusive proof. I have never found a single case which of itself proves the former existence of these legendary continents... It remains that no authentic and irrefutable written record of such a disaster has been found..."

The six cases of evidence in this chapter are divided as follows: three cases of known sudden catastrophes or sinkings of land indicative of a possible continental submersion; a comment on the Easter Island images; report of solid basalt heads weighing twenty-five tons found in a Mexican jungle, 100 miles from the nearest source of that mineral; and a translation from an ancient Mayan manuscript.

All fifteen chapters of this book are well worth your perusal. Each chapter is headed by the author's introductory remarks on the subject, and the book is furnished with a comprehensive index. We think this is the best book on the subject to be currently produced. Highly recommended.

EDITORIAL RAMBLINGS

Pro-stuff: Merwin's duo, Startling and Thrilling Wonder really seem to be hitting a fast pace. George O. Smith is apparently slated to become one of their regular stand-bys. In addition, many of Astoundings authors are appearing in the pages of SS and TWS: Robert Heinlein's first post-war stf story to appear in a stf pulp is the short-short, "Columbus Was a Dope" in May SS; Theodore Sturgeon comes up with a short in the June TWS. Editorial in June TWS announces that mag will hereafter run fanzine reprints. Fan-stuff: VORTEX, 20¢ per copy from Cowie-Kull, 70 Mirabel Ave. San Francisco 10, Cal., contains 80 pages of printed material -- dedicated to off-trail presentations.

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BOOK REVIEW by Henry Elsner Jr. Forgotten Mysteries by R. DeWitt Miller Cloud Inc., Chicago, 1947, 202 pg., $2 1/2 After years of being badgered by everyone who has a solution to the question of what makes the universe go round, from Charles Fort to Richard Shaver, lovers of the off-trail and the supernormal will be glad to see a book that is at once both fascinating and matter of fact in its presentation. Forgotten Mysteries is a collection of odd phenomena of every type, all carefully documented. The author, who has spent 15 years in this type of research, is considered one of the foremost authorities in the field, and for years edited a column in Coronet magazine under the same title as the book. Mr. Miller has apparently formed no synthesis as a result of his investigations -- at least none is stated or implied in his book. He makes no explanation himself for any of the cases he cites, but does include important objections to the alleged supernormality of the occurence, whenever such evidence has been brought forward. The section that was the most startling -- or perhaps annoying -- to this reviewer was the three chapters on "Ghosts", "Haunted Houses" and "Poltergeists". Personally, I have always regarded "ghost stories" as the products of an overly active imagination, coupled with old-world superstition. But Mr. Miller presents some startling evidence to show that there is something which acts as "ghosts" have been reported to do. Although about one-half of the book is devoted to material in the psychic field, there is plenty of solid stuff for the dyed-in-the-wool scientifictionist. In "Enigmas Out of Space" are presented some very interesting evidences of life on the Moon. Besides the more or less generally known incident aboard the Marconi yacht, the author reports that in 1924 radio signals which seem quite conclusively to have come from the planet Mars, were received and photographically recorded on a special device. The reports of mysterious lights in the sky are also included in this chapter. Of the most general interest at the present time will be the chapter on Vanished Continents. In his introduction to the chapter, Mr. Miller states: "To beleivers in such lost lands, this chapter will probably be disappointing. It contains data which I hope are thought provoking, but no conclusive proof. I have never found a single case which of itself proves the former existence of these legendary continents... It remains that no authentic and irrefutable written record of such a disaster has been found..." The six cases of evidence in this chapter are divided as follows: three cases of known sudden catastrophes or sinkings of land indicative of a possible continental submersion; a comment on the Easter Island images; report of solid basalt heads weighing twenty-five tons found in a Mexican jungle, 100 miles from the nearest source of that mineral; and a translation from an ancient Mayan manuscript. All fifteen chapters of this book are well worth your perusal. Each chapter is headed by the author's introductory remarks on the subject, and the book is furnished with a comprehensive index. We think this is the best book on the subject to be currently produced. Highly recommended. EDITORIAL RAMBLINGS Pro-stuff: Merwin's duo, Startling and Thrilling Wonder really seem to be hitting a fast pace. George O. Smith is apparently slated to become one of their regular stand-bys. In addition, many of Astoundings authors are appearing in the pages of SS and TWS: Robert Heinlein's first post-war stf story to appear in a stf pulp is the short-short, "Columbus Was a Dope" in May SS; Theodore Sturgeon comes up with a short in the June TWS. Editorial in June TWS announces that mag will hereafter run fanzine reprints. Fan-stuff: VORTEX, 20¢ per copy from Cowie-Kull, 70 Mirabel Ave. San Francisco 10, Cal., contains 80 pages of printed material -- dedicated to off-trail presentations. page 6