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Book reviews for "Asals,_Frederick_John" sorted by average review score:
The Moon Hoax: Or, a Discovery That the Moon Has a Vast Population of Human Beings (The Gregg Press Science Fiction Series)
Published in Textbook Binding by G K Hall & Co (January, 1979)
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An unusual American classic
John Adams speaking : Pound's sources for the Adams cantos
Published in Unknown Binding by University of Maine Press ()
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President John Smith (Utopian Literature)
Published in Hardcover by Ayer Co Pub (July, 1971)
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Locke's Moon Hoax is one of the most remarkable works of 19th century U.S. literature. Ormond Seavey's intro to the 1975 edition does a good job of placing the hoax in literary and cultural perspective. Seavey notes, for example, that the hoax appeared at "a time when the tall tale was first recognized as a characteristically American narrative" (p. xxiv). Seavey also makes note of the reaction of showman P.T. Barnum to the hoax, and draws a parallel between the Moon Hoax and Edgar Allan Poe's 1844 "Balloon Hoax."
The text of the hoax itself is a charming piece of literature; it could be seen as a pioneering work of science fiction. The text's flavor of authenticity is enhanced by the many technical details about the new telescope; Locke even names the glassmaking firm that allegedly created the lens for the device! Locke's descriptions of Herschel's bogus discoveries are delightful. We learn about the lunar oceans; trees; gigantic, obelisk-like amethysts; unicorn-like creatures; tailless beaver-like humanoids; and most wonderfully, "Vespertilio-homo," the winged human-like species alluded to in the book's title. "The Moon Hoax" is a marvelous book that deserves to be rediscovered by new generations of readers.