ALIEN NATION

Susan Dewan’s review of “Abduction” by John Mack accepts the notions that so-called “UFO abductees” bring back wisdom from kindly aliens, concerned for Earth’s welfare. She says this near-universal message is “much more important than the endless debate over whether UFOs are real. . . .”

Alas, no “abductee” has ever announced any news that was simultaneously true and unambiguous, and that Earthly science did not already know. Shouldn’t helpful aliens tell us about dangers that aren’t already subject to Angst in our own, human media? Why no offers of new, cleaner technologies? These abductees only relate vague platitudes about kindness and sensitivity.

If aliens are so darn anxious that we’re spoiling the planet, why not simply break into the airwaves and talk to us directly? They’d be TV sensations. We’d all pay close heed. In contrast, we hear vague rumors of kidnapings, wires-stuck-in-brains and weird impregnations, hardly the acts of honest, caring visitors. But “abductees” (and writers preying on these confused folk) never seem to notice this, or get angry at such purported behaviors.

Given horrific tales of criminality from above, one might imagine some support for the U.S. Air Force! Instead the government is unquestioningly portrayed as conspiratorially vile, an interesting reflection on the times, and a sad comment on the once highly-regarded John Mack.

Finally, Dewan’s brusque dismissal of the bright, inquisitive and courageous young scientists involved in SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) does both them and her an injustice. The topic is real and profoundly fascinating, worthy of attention by adults. Alas, it has been poisoned by the sort of uncritical, exploitative, sensationalizing volume Susan Dewan so gushingly praised.

DAVID BRIN, ENCINITAS

I can only assume you ran Susan Dewan’s review of “Abduction” (Aug. 7) for laughs! Without even mentioning whether the book is a psychological evaluation of alleged UFO abductees or an assessment of their credibility, the reviewer wanders off into a wilderness of New Wave ideas, astonished by the revelations from other worlds (channeled through the abductees, of course) that we Earthlings are running amok.

To top it off, the reviewer casts aspersions at the SETI program (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), while showing her complete ignorance of it. First, it is not government supported, as she contends, apparently having missed the news of its cancellation. Second, it does not seek extraterrestrial intelligence by “sending radio waves into space” as she writes, but by receiving them.

Third, she apparently does not realize that the only way to communicate through the vacuum of space (until we master gravity waves--if they exist) is by electromagnetic waves. This truth begs a key question, which is ignored: If beings from other worlds are around, why aren’t the airways full of their electromagnetic messages?

The picture accompanying the review (of a hubcap flying by some bushes) from Air Force archives provides the final guffaw. Did we forget that the USAF followed UFOs for years without finding any credible evidence of visitors from outer space?

J.C. TOOMAY, CARLSBAD