- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
- Number Of Pages: 288
- Publication Date: 2004-04-14
- ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0316525901
- ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780316525909
By
Herman Wouk
Product Description:
Guy Carpenter is a physicist with a quiet, settled life: a prestigious job at NASA, a devoted wife and new baby, and a troublemaking cat. But he is about to get mixed up in an international scandal of enormous proportions. Years ago, Guy worked on the Superconducting Super Collider, a giant scientific project dedicated to detecting a tiny, elusive particle, the Higgs Boson. Wrangling in Congress shut the project down before it could fulfill its objective, but now the Chinese claim to have found the Boson-a discovery that sends the nation into a panic. How did the Chinese surpass American science? What about the horrific military implications of a Boson Bomb? Is it time to start casting Hollywood's first Boson blockbuster? An expert is needed to assess the new threat to national security. Before he knows it, Carpenter is propelled into the center of the media blitz, his old love with a Chinese female physicist resurfaces, a new romance with a beautiful Congresswoman beckons, and the breakup of his happy marriage threatens. In the meantime, Congress holds urgent hearings, Hollywood comes courting, and an unctuous reporter dogs his every step. It's going to be anything but a typical few weeks. Once again, Herman Wouk exercises his deep insight and considerable comic powers to give us a witty and keen satire about Washington, the media, and science, and what happens when these three great forces of American culture clash.
Summary: You don't have to be a scientist to enjoy this novel
Rating: 5
Technology has been part of our daily life for a while now, and yet there is still too much work to be done. A novel like "A hole in Texas" helps average people to engage in interesting subjects even whitout knowing it. On top of that, it is a fun book to read. Highly recommended.... of course, this is just me talking, ok?
Summary: A Fun Light Read
Rating: 5
When I started this book, I wasn't sure that I would be interested enough to complete it. But it turned out to be a well-written, entertaining fast-paced page turner that maintained my interest.
The story involves a physicist who used to work with the Superconducting Supercollider (SSC) in Texas, a mammoth project until governmental funding was abruptly canceled. Now the Chinese claim to have discovered the Higgs Boson particle, which the SSC would have found if it had been continued. This starts a political and media firestorm that carries the physicist in its wake, jetting back and forth across the country dealing with politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and fellow scientists (including one who is an old flame).
The story is light-hearted and a bit tongue in cheek. It's not epic literature or profound drama, but I found it very enjoyable as entertainment, and as a fantasy of what it is like to move within the circles of the powerful and influential in America. (Plus you learn a little bit about the SSC and Higgs Boson.)
Summary: high stake sub-atomic physics
Rating: 4
I was intrigued by the idea that Herman Wouk was still writing books, and being a native Texan, was attracted to the title. The story involves an astrophysicist who was formerly involved in the now defunct Superconducting Supercollider. Now he gets involved in the national uproar over the Chinese discovery of the Higgs Boson (which the former SSC was supposed to find) and the potential superbomb it might enable. Our hero gets connected with a romantic congresswoman, his former Chinese love, a zealous reporter, many lawyers, and former academic colleagues. And to top it all off, he must save his marriage while keeping America safe. This light hearted romp is interesting.
Summary: Interesting tale
Rating: 4
Perhaps I am influenced by being a resident of Texas, but I enjoyed this tale and its characters. Had to wonder what kernels of truth might have been hidden in the workings of politicians. More than a few laughs in this book which is a quick read.
Summary: (In italian) Wouk, e la necessita' della documentazione per l'autore
Rating: 5
Wouk e' un vecchio lupo di mare della narrativa, avendo anche un Premio Pulitzer nel palmares. Che io sappia non ha nessuna conoscenza scientifica specifica, e nessuno dei suoi molti romanzi precedenti e' di tema scientifico. Eppure, e' abbastanza evidente che per scrivere questo romanzo si e' documentato, ed e' davvero difficile coglierlo in castagna.
L'intero romanzo gira attorno alla vicenda (vera) dello SSC, il Superconducting SuperCollider che avrebbe dovuto essere il piu' potente acceleratore di particelle al mondo, e la cui costruzione fu sospesa nel 1993 dopo il 20% dei lavori. Il protagonista, un fisico di mezza eta' reduce da quella esperienza, si ritrova a dover spiegare a vari personaggi, in termini semplici, cosa siano il bosone di Higgs, i principi base di funzionamento dello SSC, e svariati altri dettagli di contorno come i raggi cosmici; e in tutto questo e' egregio. Spiega anche i motivi che hanno portato alla chiusura del progetto, e su quelli non so quasi nulla, ma quel poco che so combacia con cio' che lui racconta (anche se li' probabilmente si devia necessariamente dalla solidita' dei fatti per entrare nel campo delle impressioni, trattandosi piu' di politica della scienza che di scienza).
La storia e' ambientata ai giorni nostri, e parte da una sconvolgente pubblicazione cinese sulla scoperta, in Cina, del bosone di Higgs. E ogni volta che il lettore informato ghigna tra se' e se' dicendosi "ma questo non e' possibile", volta pagina e legge uno dei personaggi che se la ghigna pensando "ma questo non e' possibile", per farsi poi rispondere qualche paragrafo o capitolo dopo con una spiegazione piu' o meno plausibile.
La descrizione della psicosi anti-cinese dei vertici della societa' americana e' piuttosto godibile e verosimile, come anche l'ossessione dei politici per sapere se il bosone di Higgs puo' avere applicazioni belliche (non tanto per sapere se poterne fare uso, ma per capire se ne puo' fare uso l'infida Cina).
Link
Download Free e-book
