Second Breakfast

Its been quite a while since I picked up this book. My friend Steve, a famous astronomer, was reading this last fall in preparation for teaching a course on astrobiology at Hofstra University where he is a professor. I had the sense he enjoyed it, and bought a copy earlier this summer.
Much of the book goes towards defending the entire notion of astrobiology (or exobiology, or whatever you want to call it) — can one construct a real science around something we’ve never provably encountered? Grinspoon’s answer is yes, and he’s a passionate advocate for his subject as he covers a wide range of subjects in helping to explore questions such as: what is the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe? what form might that life take? could it be intelligent? if they’re out there, why haven’t we heard from them?”

None of this material is particularly new, but Grinspoon an entertaining science writer, and I particularly enjoyed his passing references to luminaries such as Carl Sagan (of popular science writing and SETI fame), who was a close family friend.

For a geek like me, this was a great beach read.

I picked up a number of Morrow’s books a few years ago.  Its been a somewhat slow summer for reading, and I decided to revisit one of these.

This is a collection of short stories, many dealing with themes both Biblical and moral: A robot reconstructs the shards of the Ten Commandments, and faces an enormous decision; Job finds himself back on the garbage heap (along with Mother Courage, apparently), ready for another round with God;  Ebenezer Scrooge learns the evil consequences of his own newfound charity.  Perhaps the best story in the collection is “Story #20: The Tower”, where God reflects on the success of His intervention at Babel, and comes up with a new twist to chastize humankind.

Morrow is definitely working through some of his own issues here, but his short fiction is pithy and entertaining.

I’m taking a little break from the activities that would normally cause me to share something here.  Hopefully you’re enjoying your August as well and will return in a little while.