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From: mike@hpfclp.UUCP (mike)
Newsgroups: net.books
Subject: Re: Superforce by Davies(?)?  (better-wr
Message-ID: <4500002@hpfclp.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 13-Apr-85 16:31:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfclp.4500002
Posted: Sat Apr 13 16:31:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Apr-85 01:48:28 EST
References: <129@tardis.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:tardis:-12900:hpfclp:4500002:000:1522
Nf-From: hpfclp!mike    Apr  3 13:31:00 1985

I have  read  it.  I think  the guy  makes a lot of  flowery  statements
throughout the book.  He makes numerous comparisons of modern physics to
mysticism,  existentialism,  and  non-objective  reality.  He also makes
many  arguments in the book for the  existence of some "Cosmic  Creator"
because the universe  obviously  displays so much order that it couldn't
possibly  be the result of a random  event  (e.g., the old  watchmaker's
analogy).  The author never considers that by supposing the existence of
a creator to explain the  universe, he then leaves  himself  open to the
question of who created the creator; a creator which obviously  can't be
the result of a random event, if you stay with his analogy.

In many  places  in the book I could  not  understand  his  usage of the
terms:  nothingness,  cause,  effect,  vacuum,  reality, etc.  It seemed
like his  definitions  were  fluid  meaning  one  thing in one place and
something  else in another.  He  frequently  makes what I consider to be
absurd  comments like  "Nothingness  is something  that is thriving with
energy." And various other ludicrous statements about effects preceeding
causes as though the meaning of the two words  "cause" and "effect"  can
be simply  inverted or totally  disregarded  while you absorb  these new
discoveries in physics.  I think the book is on par with UFO's,  Pyramid
Power, and  Ancient  Astronauts;  that is, pulp  science.  Therefore,  I
can't recommend this book to anyone.

Michael Bishop
hplabs!hpfcla!mike-b