From the summary it seems that Parsons was more one of the people involved in early rocketry rather than a central and driving figure. It is possible that this

From the summary it seems that Parsons was more one of the people involved in early rocketry rather than a central and driving figure. It is possible that this is much ado about nothing - the author of the book (as well as the person writing about the book) is using Parson's colorful personal life as titillation and is playing up their connection with the rocketry program to sell the book (Otherwise it's just a story about another eccentric bohemian in Pasadena).