Milton A. Rothman – författare

Milton A. Rothman was best known to generations of science-fiction readers for a single classic story written at age 19: "Heavy Planet," published under the byline of "Lee Gregor" in ''Astounding Science Fiction'' in 1939 at the beginning of the Golden Age and kept in print for decades in the classic anthology ''Adventures in Time and Space''.

He was also a pioneer of early fandom, a founder of the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, a fanzine publisher, and a World Science Fiction Convention chairman. After World War II, he became one of the country''s leading nuclear physicists, but continued to write science fiction throughout his life. Here, for the first time, all his science fiction stories are collected in one volume, giving a clear picture of the author''s development from youth to old age, reflecting lifelong preoccupations with physics, mathematics, music, the futility of war, and, of course, science fiction itself.

Here is an authentic voice from the early years of the modern science fiction field. Features an introduction by science fiction master Frederik Pohl, and afterwords by son Tony Rothman as well as fan and fellow author Robert A. Madle. Edited by Darrell Schweitzer and Lee Weinstein. An earlier version of this book appeared as "Heavy Planet and Other Science Fiction Stories."

Included are:

MILT ROTHMAN, by Frederik PohlHEAVY PLANETSHAWN''S SWORDASTEROIDFLIGHT TO GALILEOPOWER PLANTLAST NIGHT OUTFORMULA FOR GALAXY 1FORMULA FOR MURDERGETTING TOGETHERFUSIONPRIME CRIMETHE ETERNAL GENESISHOLOCAUSTSKYLARK VS. THOUGHTTHE MUSICIANTHE BRIDGEEDWARD: A NEW BALLADTHE REUNIONTHE DIRECT LINETHE HIDDEN WORLD OF MILTON ROTHMAN, by Tony RothmanMILTON A. ROTHMAN—SCIENCE FICTION PIONEER, by Robert A. Madle

The laws of physics provide clear-cut principles defining what is possible - and not possible - in the physical world. This book examines and critiques many widely held pseudoscientific beliefs in light of these laws. Rather than treating supernatural claims on a case-by-case basis, Milton Rothman uses the general principles supplied by physics to show why they are, in fact, impossible.Rothman divides the laws of physics into two classes: laws of permission and laws of denial. Laws of permission, such as Newton's laws of motion, generally do not allow precise predictions except in the simplest cases. Laws of denial, such as conservation of energy, permit very accurate conclusions about what cannot possibly occur.He uses these concepts to examine and critique the possible existence of various paranormal phenomena, such as UFOs, telepathy, perpetual motion machines, poltergeists, etc. He also discusses a number of concepts traditional to science fiction: anti-gravity, faster-than-light travel, time travel, etc., which are shown to be impossible when subject to rigorous examination.Written in a technically accurate yet entertaining style, this book will appeal to the non-specialist yet still present concepts of interest to both professional scientists and philosophers of science.