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' New Lands Vol II ' by Charles Fort continues the iconoclastic tradition of its predecessor, challenging the dogmas of early 20th-century astronomy with a catalog of celestial enigmas. Though no distinct Vol II exists historically, this hypothetical edition expands on Forts original 1923 work, compiling additional reports of ghost stars, aerial mirages, and unexplained luminous phenomena what modern readers might term UFO sightings. At its core lies the provocative Super-Sargasso Sea theory, a metaphysical repository where objects rejected by mainstream science allegedly materialize before descending to Earth.
Forts razor-sharp skepticism dissects astronomical failures, from erroneous planetary predictions to the arbitrary dismissal of anomalies. He scrutinizes the methods of calculating stellar distances, mocks the overreliance on spectrograms, and even proposes radical ideas like a miniature Moon. The narrative oscillates between meticulous documentation of oddities rainfalls of organic matter, phantom landmasses in the sky and satirical critiques of institutionalized science.
While some theories, such as floating continents above Earths atmosphere, now seem whimsical, Forts emphasis on questioning authority remains vital. This volume appeals to readers of Fortean literature and paranormal research, bridging early skepticism with contemporary interests in scientific outliers. A cornerstone for those exploring alternative cosmologies and the history of unexplained phenomena.
About the author
Charles Fort (1874.1932) remains a titan of fringe science, renowned for his systematic cataloging of anomalies that defied 20th-century explanations. A self-taught researcher from Albany, New York, Fort spent decades amassing newspaper clippings and scientific reports on events mainstream institutions ignored from spontaneous rains of fish to unexplained aerial lights.
His works, including ' The Book of the Damned ' and ' New Lands ', established Forteanism, a movement merging radical skepticism with poetic speculation. Though often dismissed by academics, Forts ideas influenced writers like H.P. Lovecraft and Jorge Luis Borges, while his critiques of scientific dogma resonate in modern debates about epistemology.
The annual Fortean Times and organizations like the International Fortean Organization (INFO) perpetuate his legacy, exploring phenomena at the intersection of science, myth, and the unexplained.
