Retorts

Not Enough Scientists

The problem with "sci-fi" (shudder!) is that there are too many magicians and not enough scientists; even respectable authors such as James Hoganmueller, Arthur Clarke and Larry Niven have written horror-fantasy novels. In fact some authors can write nothing else. Perhaps we need Colin Kapp or someone like him to write a series about the "unorthodox scientists" (as if the available selection of titles isn't unorthodox enough!)

For too many years, the scientific trend has been towards an ever-increasing degree of specialisation, perhaps even over-specialisation. Open any encyclopedia of modern science and you will find entries on rationalism and empiricism or paleontology and astronomy, but never rational empericism or paleo-astronomy. However this seems likely to change with the recent introduction of a new magazine called Amateur Astronomy and Earth Sciences published in England. Perhaps it'll get the trench-diggers and star-finders talking to each other again. Good luck, guys!

Versatile ComputeResearch (NZ) unLtd, Auckland