Fortean Times

Fortean Times chronicles the stranger side of life, delivering a heady mix of weird world news, up-to-date reports and features on every aspect of the unexplained: myths, monsters, ghosts and UFOs rub shoulders with ancient wonders and future science, while expert columnists bring you the latest on everything from cryptozoology to conspiracy theory. Open-minded, well informed and maintaining a healthy sense of humour, Fortean Times is the only place to go for a sensible look at our mad planet – it will change the way you see the world.

Fortean Times

EDITORIAL

The Ghastling

SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC • Two killers for the price of one as US codebreaker links Zodiac and Black Dahlia cases

INFELICITOUS INSERTIONS • They still like it up ’em…

SIDELINES

FORTEAN FOLLOW-UPS • Sonic weapons, human chimeras and bad otters

THE GARNET CODE • Do rhombic dodecahedrons hold the key to Britain’s sacred geometry?

ARCHÆOLOGY • A MONTHLY EXCAVATION OF ODDITIES AND ANTIQUITIES

CLASSICAL CORNER • 320: SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE…

Electric air • DAVID HAMBLING records rare encounters with the awesome phenomenon of St Elmo’s Fire

PRICING IN DISCLOSURE • Should the Bank of England be planning for an alientriggered financial crisis? Plus, UFO files released…

WEIRD PLANTS, FREAKY FUNGI • Botanical bizarrerie and some mycological surprises in the news

Pennies from Heaven • ALAN MURDIE examines cases of apporting coins and spooks flashing the cash

ALIEN ZOO • NEWS FROM THE CRYPTOZOOLOGICAL GARDEN

THE CONSPIRASPHERE • With the release of a further, and enormous, tranche of Epstein files, NOEL ROONEY notes that older conspiracies are being dredged up again as AI scrapes the Conspirasphere for data.

NECROLOG • This month, we say goodbye to the prolific, if somewhat less than reliable, author who brought ancient alien space gods to a wider public with his bestselling books

FAIRIES, FOLKLORE AND FORTEANA • SIMON YOUNG FILES A NEW REPORT FROM THE INTERFACE OF STRANGE PHENOMENA AND FOLK BELIEF

ET goes to the pictures • NIGEL WATSON says it’s going to be a busy year for UFO and disclosure-related movies

CHARIOTEER OF THE GODS • JASON COLAVITO EXPLORES THE LIFE AND WORK OF ERICH VON DÄNIKEN, THE SWISS HOTEL WORKER TURNED AUTHOR WHO TURNED THE ANCIENT ASTRONAUT THEORY INTO THE GOLD OF THE GODS…

ERICH VS THE EXPERTS

VON DÄNIKEN SPEAKS…

SUPERNATURAL SOUNDSCAPES • 1970s Wales, a fairy ring, an otherworldly child, repressed memories, hallucinatory landscapes and layers of menacing whispers and unsettling sounds. With these credentials, Rabbit Trap will appeal to connoisseurs of folklore, folk horror and hauntology. MARIA J PÉREZ CUERVO spoke to director BRYN CHAINEY about his debut feature film and its influences.

HANNEN SWAFFER THE SPIRITUALIST POPE OF FLEET STREET • Campaigning tabloid journalist, Socialist firebrand and champion of Spiritualism, Hannen Swaffer was once a household name. CATHI UNSWORTH explores the life and times of one of the most neglected but fascinating figures in the history of the British press.

MYSTERY OF AN ARTIST SWAFFER & AUSTIN OSMAN SPARE

THE POPE, THE WITCH AND THE GHOST HUNTER • SWAFFER AND THE HELEN DUNCAN AFFAIR

BABA’S BLACK SHEEP • As Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro is bundled into a helicopter and flown away into US custody, SD TUCKER re-examines his alleged links to Indian godmen, voodoo cults, and even Satan himself. Was Maduro Saint Nick or Old Nick?

Weight loss: a word of ‘worming’ • Trying to shed a few pounds after overdoing it at Christmas? MARK GREENER advises against the use of tapeworms for dieting purposes.

A village ghost story • LIZ...