Book Review ~~ Professor Panini ~~

Today, I read the short story “Professor Panini”, by Matthew Grigg. Professor Panini, who invented a device that could swap the minds of two things,  accidentally swapped his own mind with that of a toaster while testing out his machine. Even though his body had been replaced by a toaster’s, he was still able to come up with several ingenious ways to try and alert someone of the problem, but unfortunately, none of them worked—for example, though he was able to get someone to enter the room he was in, the person pressed the wrong key, and the hotel worker was transformed into a duck. However, despite the story’s relatively humorous tone, it also illustrated the fact that technology, while useful, can  be unexpectedly harmful, and I felt sorry for Professor Panini, who was stuck in the body of a toaster. I really enjoyed reading this story, though there were some plot holes—after Professor Panini (in the toaster’s “body”) ran out of bread, he was, somehow, still able to burn his entire stock of bread in an attempt to commit suicide (which failed, as automatic sprinklers started), when he should not have had any more bread to burn. I thought that having a person and a toaster change minds was a very ingenious idea, and it managed to be humorous instead of tragic about Professor Panini’s condemnation to life as a toaster. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction or wants to read a funny science fiction story and rate it 9.4/10.

Book Review ~~ Inherit the Wind ~~

Yesterday I read the play Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence. It’s set in a normally peaceful town, Hillsboro, but when a schoolteacher violates the law and teaches science that contradicts religion, famous lawyers come to town, trials happen, and even the state Capitol’s attention falls upon the town. Coincidentally, this is yet another story of science vs. religion, like The Dance Of the Frogs. However, it’s actually based off of real events and is much more believable than the other story. Remarkably, the story of a courtroom-based trial showcases one schoolteacher’s courage to do something that is right, but not popular, much better than any other story would. Bertram Cates teaches evolution; evolution that goes against what has been scientifically proven by religion. He is taken to trial; but, luckily for him, his attorney from the Herald is a very good lawyer, good enough to have a chance at winning against one of America’s most important politicians. Henry Drummond, an agnostic who takes on the most difficult cases, is defending him, he finds out. Even Matthew Brady, the State’s representative, is worried. I thought it was a really amazing play with a very meaningful story and would rate it a 9.5/10. Anyone interested in matters of religion vs. science or a good, occasionally humorous read should try reading this book.