Thog's Science Masterclass #10

[realthog]

But despite his powerful allies, Cosmas [early Xtian flat-earther -- PB] was fighting a losing battle. The geographical and astronomical/astrological works of the spherical Ptolemy were taking over even as he wrote . . .

The quote's from Worlds of Their Own (2008), a book put together of the late Robert Schadewald's writings by his sister Lois. Schadewald had international renown as an expert on the modern incarnations of odd beliefs, such as flat-earthism and perpetual motion; it's no coincidence that the quotes on the back are from luminaries Eugenie C. Scott, Barbara Forrest, Martin Gardner and Robert M. Price. Most authors in the field would rip off their own arms to manage a line-up like that!

After Schadewald's death a few years back the book was apparently hawked around to all sorts of mainstream publishers, all of whom turned up their noses at it. (I can't believe, though, that Prometheus would have passed on this one had they been offered it.) Thus the recent publication has been through Xlibris -- in other words, a self-publication by (presumably) Lois Schadewald.

She is to be very much thanked, not just for her editing work but for making it possible for people like me to read this fascinating collection. Bearing in mind the mode of publication, it's hardly surprising that there are a (very) few typos and glitches like the one cited above. (Or maybe it was a deliberate joke? Nah.) This is one of those instances where the failure of a book to find conventional publication is the fault not of the book but of the publishing industry.

You can find copies to buy of Worlds of Their Own easily enough online. I got mine from aLibris.

LATER:

The Spherical Ptolemy (An Ode)

Claudius Ptolemy
Said, "It is dull o' me
To think of nothing but cycles and epicycles --
So bring on the cakes, candies, puddings, gateaux, pastries, pasties, eggnog and trifles!"

Comments

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Perhaps Claudius Ptolemaus was a gentleman of considerable girth, like me.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Said Claudius Ptolemy,
"Because of my girth,
A much larger me
Would resemble the earth."

Perhaps this was not Tennyson's brightest hour, but . . .

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Definitely not.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

But not, as you'll know if you've read lots of Tennyson, his dimmest either.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Not once, nor twice, in our long island-story.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Across the wires the electric message came,
"He is no different, he is very much the same."

(from memory, so forgive any inaccuracies)

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, those celebrated verses on the last illness of George V (which, for some reason,are also stuck in my memory).

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Mind you, I'm not the only one. I see John Cleese has been in Tennysonian mood recently:

Ode to Sean Hannity

by John Cleese

Aping urbanity
Oozing with vanity
Plump as a manatee
Faking humanity
Journalistic calamity
Intellectual inanity
Fox Noise insanity
You’re a profanity
Hannity

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Nice.

[sci-o-biscuits.livejournal.com]

I must add this one to my long list of "must read" books. Sounds fascinating.

For now, my "fun" book reading is on hold again.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Sounds fascinating."

It is. I'm very much enjoying it, quite apart from how much useful info is in it.