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of Utukku or Galatur? Are they the Golems and the Ushabtiu of general aversion to bright daylight or other bright lights, more old, and are they completely mechanical and artificially often than not—the cryptid and "monster" scenario is brought into intelligent—or are they a melding of living genetics and non- sharper focus. This multitude of beings is not from "elsewhere"; living technology? Human beings are only now starting to create the odds for that are simply too great, given the variety of forms such technologies, but they do exist. What technology might be encountered and taking into account the already considerable amassed through a simple cumulative process by an earlier, genetic diversity that we know about which has sprung from the prehuman civilised species with hundreds of thousands or even biosphere of the Earth. The scientific principle known as millions of years of history behind it? "Occam's Razor" would indicate that, given the choice between a The entity known as Mothman, whose reign of terror lasted for _—_ staggering variety of beings from a staggering variety of worlds thirteen months during 1967 and 1968 (as chronicled so well by lost in interstellar space, or a naturally (or even artificially) John A. Keel in The Mothman Prophecies), made his visits to diverse varieties of life-form which have sprung from one ecolog- West Virginia, which it should be noted is one of the most dense- ical system (hence, for instance, the mostly bipedal, two-handed, ly cavernous areas of North America. So is Kentucky, for that two-legged, two-winged, four-flippered configurations, all varia- matter, where the Hopkinsville tions on the earthly vertebrate tem- "UFO" entities were encountered. plate), the latter would have to be the The same can be said of many most rational and logical choice for a areas of New England, which as a theory of origin. No, they are com- region has been the haunt of "the An unknown welder named ing and going at will from some Dover Demon" (a term coined by Richard S. Shaver told the world place very near at hand, and the cir- cryptozoologist Loren Coleman), . . cumstantial evidence would seem to "lizard men", hairy humanoids, "mad a story which sounded like a indicate that place to be the hidden assers" of reptilian aspect, and a A A A bowels of lanet. host of other creepy visitors. “| blend of paranoid-schizophrenic ff °"**° °ro™n Pm The New England region is also delusions, hallucinations and REINVENTION, PARANOIA the location of the "Morehedmoodus" . + at area near East Haddam, Connecticut; bad science fiction. 1. The Degenerates Below in this area, the ground shakes and In December 1943, the pulp maga- roars within, as if with "underground zine Amazing Stories opened a can of tempests" or as if titanic subterranean worms which would eventually grow machinery is at work. This noisy an into a controversial storm of accusa- disconcerting phenomenon is known as "the Moodus Noises", and _ tions, ridicule, denial and resentment. it has yet to be explained by mainstream science, government or An unknown welder named Richard S. Shaver told the world a anyone else with a room full of PhDs. story which sounded like a blend of paranoid-schizophrenic delu- And of course, neither West Virginia nor New England is sions, hallucinations and bad science fiction. Working with the excessively far removed from another region which is famed for a "assistance" of Ray Palmer, editor of Amazing Stories, Shaver distinctive "cryptid", "demon" or "creature": between both is the began to tell his allegedly "true" tales of deep-cavern civilisations, Pine Barrens region of New Jersey, home of the infamous "Jersey genetically degenerated, technologically advanced troglodytes, Devil". This creature not only shares some of the physical charac- and an ancient high technology which gave these beings amazing teristics of El Chupacabras and Mothman, but in many accounts powers over the unsuspecting inhabitants of the surface world. resembles the winged reptilian forms of the Sumerian Utukku, a Strangely, in addition to their "death ray" (laser or electromag- dragon, or a mediaeval cockatrice or basilisk. netic weapon), "thought ray" (telepathy) and illusion (holograph- With their elusive dispositions, similar characteristics (among ic) "mech" or machines, these new incarnations of the "deep their "group" as well as with ancient forms) and nasty habit of dweller" concept had silent, flying ships which Shaver described collecting organs, blood or genetic material—not to mention a as "discs", which were kept hangared beneath the Earth's surface and This —_ ’ aor erry sr disconcerting phenomenon is known as "the Moodus Noises", and _ tions, ridicule, denial and resentment. it has yet to be explained by mainstream science, government or An unknown welder named Richard S. Shaver told the world a anyone else with a room full of PhDs. story which sounded like a blend of paranoid-schizophrenic delu- And of course, neither West Virginia nor New England is sions, hallucinations and bad science fiction. Working with the excessively far removed from another region which is famed fora "assistance" of Ray Palmer, editor of Amazing Stories, Shaver distinctive "cryptid", "demon" or "creature": between both is the began to tell his allegedly "true" tales of deep-cavern civilisations, Pine Barrens region of New Jersey, home of the infamous "Jersey genetically degenerated, technologically advanced troglodytes, Devil". This creature not only shares some of the physical charac- and an ancient high technology which gave these beings amazing teristics of El Chupacabras and Mothman, but in many accounts —_ powers over the unsuspecting inhabitants of the surface world. resembles the winged reptilian forms of the Sumerian Utukku, a Strangely, in addition to their "death ray" (laser or electromag- dragon, or a mediaeval cockatrice or basilisk. netic weapon), "thought ray" (telepathy) and illusion (holograph- With their elusive dispositions, similar characteristics (among ic) "mech" or machines, these new incarnations of the "deep their "group" as well as with ancient forms) and nasty habit of dweller" concept had silent, flying ships which Shaver described collecting organs, blood or genetic material—not to mention a as "discs", which were kept hangared beneath the Earth's surface and were used regularly. This THE HIDDEN WORLD | was five years before Kenneth __ Arnold's famous "first" sighting of nine objects over Mt Rainier in Washington state—objects which he referred to as "saucer- like", hence inadvertently help- ing to coin the modern term "flying saucer". Additionally, the troglodytes could produce "solid illusions" of creatures or objects, even their disc-like craft, which were temporarily physical then dissi- pated or were "turned off". How many times have UFOs just "disappeared" from radar screens around the world? Shaver's underworld was Selected covers of magazines which featured the "true" stories and commentaries of Richard S. Shaver. 62 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2001 An unknown welder named Selected covers of magazines which featured the "true" stories and commentaries of Richard S. Shaver. www.nexusmagazine.com