This HAS to be Canada!

Just Finished (re)Reading: Foundation by Isaac Asimov (FP: 1951) [189pp] 

The Empire was falling, and no one could stop it. Not even the great Hari Seldon despite the fact that he was the one, much to the annoyance of the Imperial court, who had predicted it in the first place. But the mathematics was sound. The Empire WOULD fall and soon, despite its apparent strength. Seldon also predicted that the resultant chaos of the dark times would last tens of millennia before another, stronger Empire would rise from the ashes. But he had a plan, guided by his knowledge of PsychoHistory and his groundbreaking mathematical studies understood by so few. The Plan revolved around the creation of the Foundation – an organisation dedicated to the preservation of knowledge and technology that would become the seed from which the next Empire would grow and grow MUCH sooner than without it. However, there was a catch. No one on the new Foundations home world of Terminus could have any knowledge of PsychoHistory or the maths behind it. At certain crisis points they would be presented with a hard choice. Choose correctly and the path of the Foundation would be assured until the next crisis, choose badly and the Foundation itself might fall, just as the Empire had. Beyond Terminus, as the Empire starts to slowly unravel, forces eager to take the Foundation into their own political orbit are gathering. The first Seldon Crisis is coming... 

I first read this about 45 years ago so, after such a break, I couldn’t remember much about the story except for a rough outline. I’ve been prompted to re-read it because of the new Apple+ series from late last year. Despite being written around 70 years ago I thought this had stood the test of time surprisingly well. There are a few hints of its age from the odd mention of technology that would’ve been common in the 50’s plus a decided focus on atomic energy but much of the narrative is practically timeless. Largely this is a SF political novel dealing with the exercise of power – in this case over a galactic Empire – and how it can both fail and survive against the odds. Interestingly, no doubt against the general flow of the Space Opera genre, there are no great space battles here. The Foundation is meant to win any conflict by NOT fighting and does so by using the intelligence and wiliness of the members of the Foundation council with a bit of help (and the odd helpful nudge) from the holographic ‘ghost’ of Hari Seldon himself. I did enjoy this revisit very much indeed and I’m looking forward to re-reading the next three books in the series before finishing it off with the final three that I somehow missed reading the first-time round. A true SF Classic and one that all SF fans should read. Without the Foundation series much of what we know and love about Science Fiction – in both book and movie form – would simply not exist without it.           

Just Finished Reading: Operation Crossbow – The Untold Story of the Search for Hitler’s Secret Weapons by Allan Williams (FP: 2014) [394pp] 

Rumours, that’s all they had really. Whispers from spies, supposed ‘leaks’ from inside Occupied Europe and hints from German propaganda broadcasts about secret war winning weapons. British Intelligence were not impressed but some of Churchill’s scientific advisors thought there was enough substance in the reports to give them credence, but more was needed before any response could be thought of. They needed proof. Slowly, over weeks and months, the proof arrived. A crashed ‘aircraft’ in Scandinavia was nothing of the sort and both photographs and parts were shipped to Britain for analysis. High level photo-reconnaissance of unusual structures on the Baltic coast stirred interest and alarm and more flights were requested. But confusion still reigned. Some in the scientific staff thought the much talked about ‘rockets’ to be practically and even theoretically impossible. Others couldn’t understand mixed reports of huge missiles and remotely guided unmanned jet planes. Only when they started to receive details accounts of odd structures on the French coast seemingly pointing at Britain did everything start to fall into place. Confirmed by low flying photo recon flights this ski-shaped buildings seemed to be designed to aim missiles at a number of places in South-East England including London. Further examination of photographs already taken of the French coast in anticipation of D-Day revealed dozens of such sites with the potential of launching thousands of missiles at England. With Operation Overlord planning in the final stages and resources tight calls for more reconnaissance and an immediate bombing campaign to destroy the launch sites sat unactioned or delayed. Then, on 13th June 1944, the first of the V-1 flying bombs made its way to its target in London and everything changed. 

This is, primarily, the story of photo-reconnaissance undertaken by Allied pilots, mostly British at first but with an increasing number of Americans as the war progressed, looking for V-1 and later V-2 rocket sites in order that they could be eliminated either by being overrun by the Allied advance through France and the Low Countries or bombed into rubble by RAF or USAAF bombers. But a significant portion of the narrative also looked at the vital work of spies, including French Resistance operatives, and ‘whistleblowers’ in German run factories building some of the weapons or parts of them. Put together with the seemingly never ending and extremely demanding work of photographic interpreters this allowed the Allies to at least great inhibit the V programs and their ultimate launch schedules. One of the things that impressed me, and something I had read about elsewhere, was the fact that at best the British managed to shoot down around 85% of all V-1s launched and that, on average, the casualty rate from V-1 strikes was one dead and three injured per impact. Both the V-1 and V-2, though deadly in their own ways, were huge vanity projects which took away vital resources from other areas and probably contributed to the ultimate defeat of the Axis Powers. 

Jam packed with fascinating information and some very clever people this is a must read for anyone interested in this often-overlooked aspect of the war in Europe as well as the early years of the Cold War. I was amazed at the work undertaken, often by gifted amateurs (archaeologists and architects were particular in demand), to locate and plan the destruction of this new type of weapon. I wasn’t aware of the numbers involved or how these largely unsung heroes made such a difference to the war effort. Definitely recommended.      

100 Questions – to get to know someone. 

The original version of this list is rather American, so I’ve amended a few of the questions to make them more relevant. 

1. Where do you consider "home" to be? 

Almost anywhere I hang my hat. I remember, at University, that I felt like I was going ‘home’ both ways – to my family and back to Uni. Everywhere I’ve lived for more than a few months I consider ‘home’. 

2. Do you believe in ghosts? 

No. I’m a Materialist and a Sceptic.  

3. Are you religious? 

No. I’ve never had any religious beliefs. I’m one of those lucky enough never to have had a crisis of faith. 

4. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? 

Somewhere warm? [lol] I don’t have any great hankering to be anywhere else right now. 

5. If you could have dinner with any of the previous Prime Ministers, who would you choose? Why? 

I think it would’ve been AMAZING to be at a dinner with Winston Churchill. Oh, the stories he could and no doubt did tell..... The other one’s that spring to mind are Palmerston and Disraeli – both FULL of character.   

6. What is your dream job? 

None! My last job was probably my favourite though – or at least co-favourite with a job I had a while back. Both were project management positions dealing with smaller parts of MUCH larger projects. I actually enjoyed working on a massive building site even if it meant working in rather rickety portacabins for months on end as they built our office space nearby.  

7. Who is your role model? Why? 

Not something I’ve ever had really. There are people (both real and fictional) that I admire at least aspects of, but an actual role model? No. 

9. Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? 

I used to be a Coke only person. But slowly, almost without noticing I’m now a Pepsi person. Funnily my dental hygienist advised me to stop drinking it. I told her that I’d been drinking it for well over 50 years and I wasn’t going to stop now.  

10. Do you prefer Cheetos or Doritos? 

Doritos – I'm particular fond of the chili cheese version.