Passport to Magonia: From Folklore to Flying Saucers

by Jacques F. Vallée

Book Overview

It is readily acknowledged that our time has surpassed all epochs in history for the accumulation of technical knowledge, physical power over our environment, and economic might. It is less often pointed out, however, that our age has generated, and continues to generate, mythical material almost unparalleled in quantity and quality in the rich records of human imagination. More precisely, people have very frequently reported the observation of wonderful aerial objects, variously designated as flying saucers, unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and so on; among these narratives descriptions of landings made by these craft are commonplace; and that quite a few accounts purport to inform us of the physical characteristics, the psychological behaviour, and the motivation of their occupants. But investigators have neglected to recognize one important perspective of the phenomenon: the fact that beliefs identical to those held today have recurred throughout recorded history and under forms best adapted to the believer's country, race, and social regime. If we take a wide sample of this historical material, we find that it is organized around one central theme: visitation by an aerial people from one or more remote, legendary countries. The names and attributes vary, but the main idea clearly does not. Magonia, heaven, hell, Elfland - all such places have in common one characteristic: we are unable to reach them alive, except on very special occasions. Emissaries from these supernatural abodes come to earth, sometimes under human form and sometimes as monsters. They perform wonders. They serve man or fight him. They influence civilizations through mystical revelation. They seduce earth women, and the few heroes who dare seek their friendship find the girls from Elfland endowed with desires that betray a carnal, rather than purely aerial, nature. These matters are the subject of Passport to Magonia, Jacques Vallee's seminal master-work that changed our understanding of the UFO phenomenon. An instant classic when first published in 1969, the book remains a must-have resource for anybody interested in the topics of UFOs and alien contact, as well as those fascinated by fairy folklore and other paranormal encounters.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0987422480
• ISBN13: 9780987422484
• Release Date: November 2014
• Publisher: Daily Grail Publishing
• Length: 374 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

Plain, straightforward, and utterly brilliant.

Vallee's book is seminal. It was one of those few UFO books that will always be classic and "now" because it probes the unknown with an enlightened and interesting perspective. Having read a lot of books on the subject prior to 2000, there are few that add anything to the dialog, but this one is central to study of the paranormal. His history of similar events recorded through history shows concisely how repetitive and ancient these odd phenomena are. A must read for anyone. Personally, I think Vallee closed a LOT of minds in his time by presenting something unthinkable. Decades later he is opening minds to possibilities as people communicate more information about the phenomena. This book should be endlessly reprinted as a POD book; it is a true pity this book isn't accessible anymore.

Why on earth would anyone pay $60 for a used paperback?

Are they kidding? Not even collectible! ROTFL! Great book - read it once, but $60?! It's not even that old!

Very Interesting Parallels

A reprisal (and slight revisal) of an older review of mine from a while back (April 2000). Hopefully books like this will get reprinted if enough attention is brought to them...I find Jacques Vallee's comparative essays (as I call them, finding each chapter stylized as an essay) are very intriguing. The entire book as a collective goes a long way to explaining that the UFO phenomenon (which, according to popular culture "started" in 1947 with the "Roswell Incident") has been with us a lot longer than most realize.I agree with Monsieur Vallee that civilizations all over the world have had these experiences/contacts in many different forms throughtout the millennia. As a species, we would prove to be completely ignorant if we absolutely believed that we were superior to all other life forms, to the point of ignoring "specters" that are probably with us everywhere, in everything we see, everyday of our lives. And only those who haven't been totally conditioned away from their childhood insight by society have been able to see the fleeting images of fairies, elves, leprechauns, etc., or at least even feel their presence.A definite must-read for anyone wishing to find out more about the history of UFO's & mythology, and their connection, or for anyone looking for answers as to why they have had a lifetime of unwanted supernatural experiences.

Rummaging in the attic of twentieth century culture

So you think you understand about UFO's huh? Everyone seems to nowadays, and they're all saying the same things: extra terrestrials, come to warn us about the ozone layer, global warming and AIDs (about 30 years too late I think). No evidence, but that's because there has been a cover up. No evidence for a cover up, which just proves what an effective cover up it was. QED. Or maybe you think it's all just marsh gas, the planet venus and the lights from Japanese squid boats? or New Age avatars here to lead mankind into the next stage of our spiritual evolution? Seeing as everyone is so certain about UFOlogy, why do they call it a mystery? This book won't answer these questions, it won't explain everything (or anything) but it will leave you extremely confused. So confused that you may start laughing hysterically. You will learn how all the explanations exclude the most interesting data. You may figure it all out. I didn't. I have read it several times and I'm more confused than ever, and cheerfully agnostic. You may cease to believe in extraterrestrials, and believe in fairies instead (more rational, and better evidence) Caution: contains stories which even UFOlogists may find "a bit silly". One of the most intelligent and funny books on the unexplained ever, right up there with Charles Fort.