Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons, by George Pendle
Strange Angel-The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons, by George Pendle, reviewed by Bruce Armstrong, Claytor Library
Harcourt, 2005, $25.00, 350 pages
Do you want to read a book about a real mad scientist? John Whiteside Parsons was part of a group of Caltech students who pioneered rocket research in the 1930's. He and his associates founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during World War II. He also dabbled in witchcraft and other occult practices. He was a friend of L.Ron Hubbard (founder of the Church of Scientology), worked briefly for Howard Hughes, and died in 1952 under mysterious circumstances at the age of 37. This is a well written biography that gives us a glimpse of the offbeat side of life in Los Angeles during World War II. This will make a good weekend read.
Harcourt, 2005, $25.00, 350 pages
Do you want to read a book about a real mad scientist? John Whiteside Parsons was part of a group of Caltech students who pioneered rocket research in the 1930's. He and his associates founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during World War II. He also dabbled in witchcraft and other occult practices. He was a friend of L.Ron Hubbard (founder of the Church of Scientology), worked briefly for Howard Hughes, and died in 1952 under mysterious circumstances at the age of 37. This is a well written biography that gives us a glimpse of the offbeat side of life in Los Angeles during World War II. This will make a good weekend read.
posted by Sherrill | 2:08 PM
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