Background on "A Shack in Dreamland"

Dear Mr. Campbell:

When I first saw you on Larry King's UFO Special, I admired your
daring and initiative in moving to Nevada to pursue your dream.
Since then, I've gone online and have enjoyed surfing your Area 51
Research Center Web site.... I went online mostly to follow my own
small dream: to write science fiction short stories for Web ezines.

For the Dec-Jan Winter issue of the Web ezine, _The Clique of the
Tomb Beetle_, I wrote a story which was inspired by your Area 51
Research Center. It is one of a series of three stories I call
"Jake Weissmeyer, Tabloid Reporter, Adventures."

This story, "The Shack in Dreamland," is intended to be a tribute
to you---or, as we fictioneers say, an "homage." It's a humorous,
slightly-satirical tale in which my tabloid reporter character meets
a "crazy" man he believes to be an alien whose spaceship was stolen
by the government. He seeks to sneak the alien into Area 51, where
his ship must be. In the process, Jake and the "alien" visit a place
in Rachel NV which is remarkably similar to yours.  :-)

Although the characters and settings in my story are inspired by
your enterprise, I changed some real names slightly, as is customary
in fictional portrayals. You are referred to as "Ben" by the staffer
manning the "Area 51 Information Clearinghouse." Otherwise, my
fictional UFOlogical enterprise is modeled after the basic features
of your real one.

Instead of filling out your Web site's daunting "add" form, I just
decided to tell you about my story and to invite you to read and
enjoy it---and to mention it on your "Area 51 in Popular Culture"
page. I'm certain you'll like the story. It respects you and your
efforts in Nevada, while mildly satirizing the Center and everything
else mentioned.

You can read "The Shack in Dreamland" at _The Clique of the Tomb
Beetle_, located at this (new) URL: www.sound.net/~rmcheal

Thank you for your consideration of my story, and best wishes for
continued success in your enterprise. (My homage is in lieu of a
monetary contribution, you understand.  :-)  )

BTW, I'm a 62-year-old retired federal civil servant (DoD), but
I don't know anything official about UFOs, or anything like that.
That's good: it means I can write fiction about such matters.

Sincerely,

Frederick Rustam
Washington, D. C.
frustam@capaccess.org

[Reprinted with permission]