We chose Hakim Bey's wonderful phrase "The Universe Wants to Play" as the unifying theme for the articles in this volume, the 12th of The Anomalist journal. Since we began publishing in 1994, this highly praised nonfiction anthology has had as its focus maverick science, unexplained mysteries, unorthodox theories, and strange talents. In this issue. Philosopher Joseph M. Felser argues that it is utterly pointless to attempt to prove the reality of the paranormal scientifically. It seems that proof is part of the problem, not the solution. Journalist Jay Walljasper visits and interviews maverick scientist Rupert Sheldrake. Why does he rub so many biologists and physicists the wrong way? The potential victims you never hear about: Author Michael Schmicker wonders if ESP may not have helped save some people from serial killers. When terrorized, we tend to turn deranged individuals into larger-than-life creations. Authors Hilary Evans and Robert Bartholomew look at London's long history of Monster Scares, both real and imagined. We know that spiritualism was rife with fraud but was there a core kernel of phenomena behind the movement? Journalist Gregory Gutierez examines early attempts to scientifically monitor the famous Austrian medium Rudi Schneider. The indefatigable Nick Redfern spins a cold war tale of psychics, spies, and UFOs. In an effort to gain the upper hand, American and Soviet sleuths went down some strange alleyways. Cryptobotany anyone? David Hricenak takes cryptozoology to task for too often focusing on the large and "monstrous." What gets overlooked in the process, both above and below. Almost every culture has it tales of little people. Maybe they weren't so farfetched after all. Biologist Dwight Smith and researcher Gary Mangiacopra document the discovery of, and claims for, a new species of hominid - Homo floresiensis. Why some scientists may have good reason to be timid. Geophysicist Roger Hart details the legacy of the blacklist in the science of extraterrestrial life. Policeman Albert Rosales looks at some of the strangest encounters with UFO "aliens" ever reported. Some may even embarrass the true believers. Finally, archeologist William Beauchamp presents, in a classic reprint, all the details of a remarkable set of earthworks in upstate New York. Little-known, beautiful, and mysterious.
Joseph M. Felser, Ph.D. graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Boston University, and received his doctorate from the University of Chicago. He is currently Associate Professor of Philosophy at Kingsborough Community College/CUNY in Brooklyn, New York. The author of numerous articles on parapsychology, religion, myth, and the paranormal, his writings have appeared in diverse journals, both scholarly and popular, including The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, The International Journal of Parapsychology, The Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Collingwood Studies, Mythosphere, and the Anomalist. His previous book, The Way Back to Paradise: Restoring the Balance between Magic and Reason, was published in 2005. He and his wife, along with their golden retriever, make their home in suburban New Jersey, but get away to Maine whenever they can. Visit his website at http://www.everythingtriestoberound.com/
