@@@@@ @ @ @@@@@ @ @ @@@@@@@ @ @ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@ @@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@ @ @ @ @ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@Mt. Holz Science Fiction Society 03/07/25 -- Vol. 43, No. 36, Whole Number 2370
Table of Contents
FIELD OF DREAMS (1989): (comments by Evelyn C. Leeper):
This is not a comment on FIELD OF DREAMS itself, but on the featurette that came with it. This consisted in large part of men--including a lot of baseball players--talking about "having a catch" with their fathers, how all boys have that, how it is so important, etc. There was an acknowledgement that there were some men who did not "have a catch" with their fathers, but they almost seemed to be saying this made the relationship somehow lesser.
Well, I would take exception to this. No, I'm not a boy, but my brother was a big baseball fan (he eventually became a sports writer), and I don't recall my father ever "having a catch" with him. This did not make the relationship any less. My brother has written that my father--who had no interest in baseball, and hated driving in cities--knew that my brother really loved baseball and would drive ninety miles to Boston so that my brother could go to a Red Sox game.
I asked my brother if he understood at the time what a commitment that was. His reply:
"I did understand what a commitment that was for Dad."
"Here's an example: we always went to day games. One game lasted 14 innings. Many years after that game (in 1969), I looked up the box score on BaseballReference.com. It lasted 5 hours and 1 minute, at a time the average 9-game lasted about 2:30. We stayed the entire time because he knew I wanted to. I think I did understand it then. I certainly did understand it 'later on' and now."
"Mom made sacrifices too. In 1967 or 1968, when Dad was still in Vietnam (I think it was early in the 1968 season), we took the bus to Fenway Park. I was 12. That was when you could walk up and get a ticket just before the game. Now, that was a sacrifice."
I don't think my brother ever thought his relationship with my father suffered from not "having a catch".
Oh, and I have been putting the expression "having a catch" in quotation marks because I have never heard it expressed that way. Apparently there is violent disagreement between the proponents of "having a catch" and those of "playing catch" (or "having a game of catch"). I don't know if it's regional or what, but there it is.
March 11 is the 111th anniversary of our father's birth, which is why I am running this article this week. [-ecl]
PILLARS OF CREATION: HOW THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE UNLOCKED THE SECRETS OF THE COSMOS by Richard Panek (book review by Gregory Frederick):
Richard Panek's PILLARS OF CREATION: HOW THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE UNLOCKED THE SECRETS OF THE COSMOS delves into the revolutionary potential of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and explores its mission to unlock the deepest secrets of the universe. Through a blend of scientific history, cutting-edge astronomy, and the personal stories of the scientists behind this monumental project, Panek weaves a narrative that showcases the groundbreaking achievements of the JWST while offering a vivid, accessible explanation of the cosmos itself.
The book is structured in a way that balances technical insights with a humanistic perspective. Panek introduces the JWST as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, emphasizing how its advanced design and powerful infrared capabilities allow it to peer further back into time and space than ever before. He highlights the telescope's unprecedented ability to see through cosmic dust and capture the faintest signals from the distant past. However, the author does not simply present the technical specifications; he also delves deeply into the human stories of the scientists and engineers who brought the telescope to life, providing readers with both a scientific and emotional connection to this massive achievement.
The writing is engaging and accessible, making complex topics understandable to readers who may not have a deep background in astrophysics or astronomy. Panek has a talent for breaking down intricate concepts like gravitational lensing, and the search for exoplanets, all without sacrificing the accuracy of the science. His narrative is both educational and compelling, providing the perfect balance between awe for the universe and a respect for the technological feats that make exploration possible.
One of the main themes of the book is the evolution of astronomical technology, focusing on how the JWST builds upon the work of its predecessors, most notably the Hubble Space Telescope. Panek goes into great detail about the telescope's construction, its groundbreaking design, and the collaborative international effort required to create such a sophisticated instrument. Another key theme is the pursuit of the unknown. As the JWST embarks on its mission to study the early universe, uncover the mysteries of galaxy formation, and examine the atmospheres of distant exoplanets, the book underscores how each of these goals is an opportunity to answer age-old questions about the origins of life and the possibility of life beyond Earth. Panek explores the philosophical implications of these discoveries, inviting readers to reflect on our place in the universe.
PILLARS OF CREATION also provides a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of the scientists involved in the project. From the engineering hurdles of building a telescope the size of a tennis court that had to be folded into a rocket and sent into space, to the triumph of its successful deployment, Panek captures both the drama and the excitement of this historic mission.
PILLARS OF CREATION is a captivating and accessible exploration of one of humanity's most ambitious space missions. Richard Panek succeeds in making the science behind the James Webb Space Telescope both understandable and awe-inspiring. Whether you're a seasoned astronomy enthusiast or a casual reader with an interest in space, this book provides a fascinating look at the future of space exploration and the mysteries that await us in the vastness of the universe. [-gf]
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (letter of comment by Peter Trei):
In response to Mark's comments on THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING in the 02/28/25 issue of the MT VOID, Peter Trei writes:
The film is closely based on a novella by Rudyard Kipling of the same name.
There's a strong thread of Freemasonry in the plot. Kipling was a Brother, and Masons will recognize various references, as well as deliberate obfuscations. [-pt]
This Week's Reading (book comments by Evelyn C. Leeper):
This being Women's History Month (47 notwithstanding), it's fitting I am commenting on a book about a very influential woman that hardly anyone has heard of, and the book is GALLA PLACIDIA, THE ROMAN EMPRESS by Liam Wilkinson.
On the assumption that you are *not* steeped in fifth century Roman history, I will just say that Galla Placidia was the ruler as regent of the western Roman Empire during the years 425-437, a time of much chaos with both external pressures (the Goths had sacked Rome in 410) and internal conflicts. She managed to hold everything together, and without her guidance, the western empire would probably have fallen before it did in 476.
At first, it seemed as though Wilkinson had abandoned a chronological approach to a topical one: when you went to the next chapter, you skipped back in time. But it wasn't even topical, because after reading several chapters, I realized that they tended to repeat what had come in previous chapters, including identical phrases and whole sentences. It is more like a collection of articles written over time, and then collected in a book without any attempt to edit them. As such it is disappointing, because there is not the depth of detail one would hope for in a book-length biography.
There are several other biographies of Galla Placidia. I chose this one because it was available on Hoopla through my library, and the others were all relatively expensive books (except for one in German, which is cheap, but in German).
There is also an excellent article from THE SMITHSONIAN at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/misunderstood-roman-empress-willed-way-to-top-180981294/.
Before I started to write this, though, I thought to ask Google for a list of the most influential women in history. Let me just say that any list of the most influential women in history that includes J. K. Rowling and Lucille Ball and leaves off Galla Placidia, Aelia Pulcheria, Queen Elizabeth I, and Livia, can be used to line your birdcage.
When I asked ChatGPT for the top ten, I got:
While arguably better than Google results, I would certainly claim that it is far too soon to list Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa, Margaret Thatcher, and Malala Yousafzai among the ten most influential women in history. Had the list been compiled 75 years ago, it probably would have included Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Sanger, and Susan B. Anthony, but clearly their long-term importance has faded with time.)
When I prompted ChatGPT with "What about Galla Placidia?", it answered that she wasn't in the first list because she wasn't well known. Huh? I didn't ask for well-known women, but influential ones. Asking ChatGPT to add her (and what's the point of using AI if you have to do all the work yourself?) gave me this list:
And it's really no improvement in the sense that it doesn't re-evaluate the list in terms of what makes Galla Placidia important, but just sticks her into the list because I asked for her. [-ecl]
Evelyn C. Leeper
evelynchimelisleeper@gmail.com
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