4 ms·
I think it is notable that I read it when it came out fifty years ago, and haven't re-read it since, but I still remember many scenes vividly - I remember part
by jonjacky 4y ago
I think it is notable that I read it when it came out fifty years ago, and haven't re-read it since, but I still remember many scenes vividly - I remember parts of it much better than most books I read back then, or in the years since.
The book is a mosaic, or collage, of a many short pieces ranging from just a few, to several, or many, pages each. They vary from funny and silly to deliberately revolting or horrifying. This mix is very unsettling but I found it effective. Instead of a clear plot or narrative line, all these fragments have a cumulative effect -- this makes the book impossible to summarize.
Scattered amongst the fragments are some with significant mathematical and engineering content. For example there is an explanation of how the onboard V-2
guidance circuits use capacitors to accumulate charge, performing a double integration to calculate distance travelled from acceleration, to determine when to turn off the engine. I found this quite surprising and unusual at the time. I think it still would be today.