The saucer people have landed

I'm sometimes amazed by what Amazon is selling - or in this case, have sold at some point in the past.

Staffan Stigsjöö was a well-known Swedish ufologist active during the 1970's. He wrote a string of books, some of which got surprisingly positive reviews. His last book (this one) was disavowed even by UFO-Sverige and AFU, the two leading ufology groups in Sweden. Stigsjöö had also become paranoid, claiming that strange visitations, break-ins and noises had taken place in his flat. He feared being murdered and claimed to know the truth about the UFOs and an upcoming public "first contact" between aliens and humanity. This sounds very familiar, somehow!

Interestingly, Stigsjöö did not believe in spiritual explanations for the UFO phenomenon. Rather, he had a nuts-and-bolts theory about alien craft from other star systems (perhaps Barnard's star). He also accepted Erich von Däniken's theories, but spinned them in a nuts-and-bolts direction. (Others tended to interpret them in a more new agey fashion.) Of course, those who believe in the supernatural character of so-called flying saucers will have an explanation ready for the strange visitations in Stigsjöö's flat. Dabble in the occult, and the demons will show themselves on schedule...

When I was around 12 years old, I read another book by Stigsjöö, "Tefatsfolket ser oss". I admit that I believed every word of it. It seems Amazon doesn't sell this particular volume. Later, I developed a more sceptical bent. I was 16, I think.

When the author passed away (or moved on) in 2009, both UFO-Sverige and AFU wrote respectfully about him, despite both groups having evolved in a sceptical direction. It seems the Swedish ufologists are somewhat nostalgic about Stigsjöö, since his books were the first exposure to the UFO phenomenon for many people. Perhaps deep down they want to believe that the "saucer people have landed"...

Personally, I posted a number of sceptical reviews of other UFO books on this site a few years ago BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT THE ASHTAR COMMAND REALLY THINKS ABOUT THIS MATTER. :-0