Asimov's SF, June 2011
Page 21
Having set the scene, Dolnick backtracks several decades to recapitulate the histories of the sciences at the beginning of Newton's career. A key problem facing mathematicians in the late 1600s was finding a way to deal with moving bodies; the Greek philosopher Zeno's paradoxes, apparently demonstrating that motion is impossible, had made scientists leery of the subject. The way out of the problem involved the question of infinities, which embody paradoxes of their own. Only by solving them could calculus, the mathematical treatment of changing quantities, be developed.
In an incredible historical coincidence, two men found the answer independently: Newton and his Continental rival, the German polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz. Newton, after inventing calculus during the plague years of 1666-67, kept the discovery to himself. Leibnitz then repeated the invention nearly a decade later—and bizarrely, he too sat on the knowledge for several years before publishing. Eventually, Edmund Halley (of comet fame) persuaded Newton to publish his theories of gravity and the calculus that made the theories possible. (There's no heavy mathematical lifting, if you're worried about that—a little geometry is as tricky as it gets in this account.)
While the two famous antagonists hold center stage, the men around them were every bit as interesting: Robert Hooke, Newton's great English rival, Samuel Pepys, Sir Christopher Wren, Antonie von Leeuwenhoek, and the other giants and patrons of early science. Their lives, their discoveries, their feuds are as fascinating told as straight history as they are in Neil Stephenson's fictional “Baroque Cycle,” where they play important roles.
Anyone interested in Newton and the scientific revolution—certainly one of the most colorful periods in Western history—will find plenty of entertainment and food for thought here.
Copyright © 2011 Peter Heck
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Department: SF CONVENTIONAL CALENDAR
by Erwin S. Strauss
The next two months are the run-up to Memorial Day, the biggest weekend of the year. Look for me at RavenCon, ICon, and CostumeCon this month. Norwescon and MiniCon also deserve your consideration in April. Plan now for social weekends with your favorite SF authors, editors, artists, and fellow fans. For an explanation of con(vention)s, a sample of SF folksongs, and info on fanzines and clubs, send me an SASE. (self-addressed, stamped #10 [business] envelope) at 10 Hill #22-L, Newark, NJ 07102. The hot line is (973) 242-5999. If a machine answers (with a list of the week's cons), leave a message and I'll call back on my nickel. When writing cons, send an SASE. For free listings, tell me of your con five months out. Look for me at cons behind the Filthy Pierre badge, playing a musical keyboard. —Erwin S. Strauss
APRIL 2011
8-10—RavenCon. For info, write: Box 36420, Richmond, VA 23235. Or phone: (973) 242-5999 (10 am to 10 pm, not collect). (Web) ravencon.com. (E-mail) info@ravencon.com. Con will be held in: Richmond, VA (if city omitted, same as in address) at the Holiday Inn Select Koger Center. Guests will include: writer John Ringo, artist Kurt Miller, among eighty guests, in a traditional Southern con.
8-10—JohnCon. (513) 213-6537. jhu.edu/johncon. hopsfa@jhu.edu. Levering Hall, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
8-10—PortmeiriCon. sixofone.co.uk. Portmeirion, UK. Its fans meet where cult TV show “The Prisoner” was filmed.
9—Otaku Fest. otaku-fest.webs.com. president.chsanime@gmail.com. Centennial High School, Ellicott City, MD. Anime.
15-17—ICon. iconsf.org. State University of NY, Stony Brook, NY. “East Coast's biggest convention of SF, fact, and fantasy.”
15-17—JordanCon. ageoflegends.net. Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta, GA. David B. Coe, Eugie Foster. Celebrating Robert Jordan.
22-24—NorwesCon, Box 68547, Seattle, WA 98168. 206230-7850. norwescon.org. Seattle, WA. McKillip, Craft, M. Jones, the Butchers.
22-23—Dr. Who Special, 66 School Lane, Welwyn Bucks. AL6 9PI, UK. tenthplanetevents.co.uk. Jameson, Ward, Padbury, Ross.
22-24—MiniCon, Box 8297, Minneapolis, MN 55408. mnstf.org. Sheraton South, Bloomington, MN. Charles Stross, Chas Somdahl.
22-24—Anime Punch. animepunch.org. Columbus, OH. R. Torrance, L. Eng, S. Schlager, K. Ito, L. Makela, B. Swale, P. Seitz, Saito.
22-25—UK National Con. eastercon.org. Birmingham, UK. David Weber, Peter F. Hamilton, David A. Hardy, Vince Docherty.
28-May 1—World Horror Con, c/o Box 27277, Austin, TX 78755. whc2011.org. S. Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, S. Niles, Joe Hill.
28-May 1—Malice Domestic, Box 8007, Gaithersburg, MD 20898. malicedomestic.org. Hyatt, Bethesda, MD (near DC). C. Douglas.
29-May 1—EerieCon, Box 412, Buffalo, NY 14226. eeriecon.org. Days Inn, Niagara Falls, NY. Niven, Mak, Sherman, Schweitzer.
MAY 2011
29-May 2—CostumeCon, 1973 Pine Ridge, Bushkill, PA 18324. cc29nj.com. Hilton, Hasbrouck Heights NJ (near NYC). Masqueraders.
6-8—LepreCon, Box 26665, Tempe, AZ 85284. leprecon.org. Mission Palms. John Picacio, E. Bear, Sarah Monette. Emphasis on art.
6-8—Gaslight Gathering, Box 15771, San Diego, CA 92175. gaslightgathering.org. Town & Country. Newman, Bauman. Steampunk.
13-15—GayLaxiCon, 2665 Meadow Ct., Chamblee, GA 30341. outlantacon.org. Holiday Inn Select Perimeter. GLBT SF and gaming.
19-22—Nebula Awards Weekend. nebulaawards.com. Hilton, Washington DC. SF/fantasy Writers of America annual awards meeting.
23-26—Book Expo America. bookexpoamerica.com. Javits Center, New York, NY. The year's big publishing industry trade show.
26-29—Anime Oasis. animeoasis.org. Boise, ID. Sonny Strait, Michael Coleman. No connection with Oasis in Florida.
26-30—WisCon, Box 1624, Madison, WI 53701. (608) 233-8850. wiscon.info. Concourse Hotel. Nisi Shawl. Feminism and SF.
27-29—MarCon, Box 141414, Columbus, OH 43214. marcon.org. Hyatt. F. Paul Wilson, J. Palencar, H. Turtledove, E. Flint, L. Fish.
27-29—Oasis, c/o Box 323, Goldenrod, FL 32733. oasfis.org. Sheraton Downtown, Orlando, FL. D. Drake, T. Castillo, C. Ulbrich.
27-29—Timegate, Box 500565, Atlanta, GA 31150. timegate.org. Holiday Inn Select Perimeter. Dr. Who, Stargate, general SF media.
27-30—BaltiCon, Box 686, Baltimore MD 21203. (410) 563-2737. Marriott, Hunt Valley MD. Bova, DiFate, Bacigalupi, Geppi, the Suttons.
27-30—MisCon, Box 7721, Missoula, MT 59807. (406) 544-7083. miscon.org. Ruby's Inn. Carol Berg, Kass McCann, Tiffany Toland.
27-30—MediaWest*Con, 200 E. Thomas, Lansing, MI 48906. mediawestcon@aol.com. Causeway Bay Hotel. Old-school SF media con.
JUNE 2011
3-5—ConCarolinas, Box 26336, Charlotte, NC 28221. concarolinas.org. Hilton University Place. D. Lawrence, Turtledove, B. Stevens.
AUGUST 2011
17-21—RenoVation, Box 13278, Portland, OR 97213. renovationsforg. Reno, NV. Asher, C. Brown (I. M.), Powers. WorldCon. $180+.
AUGUST 2012
30-Sep. 3—Chicon 7, Box 13, Skokie, IL 60076. chicon.org. Chicago, IL. Resnick, Morrill, Musgrave, Scalzi. WorldCon. $155.
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