THE VOICE OF THE DOLPHINS

by Leo Szilard ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 28, 1961

Dr. Szilard is one of the atomic physicists who played a major part in the creation of the Bomb at Los Alamos. This book is a collection of satiric short stories. The title story is a fictionalized version, projected into the future, (1985) of an atomic arms agreement between Russia and the U.S. which the author has discussed more seriously in scientific journals. The plan is basically attributable to the dolphins (as are other scientific advances) who have a great intellectual capacity -- exceeding man's, and whose language has been mastered by a select group of Russian and American scientists. Eventually the integrity of the entire project is questioned but the contributions of the dolphins stand unchallenged. The other stories concern the author's experiences as a war criminal after the U.S. has unconditionally surrendered to Russia -- though finally the U.S.S.R.'s germ warfare backfires; his advancement into the 21st century by means of a sleep serum; a description of life on Earth from another planet; and a reconstruction of what human habits were from an examination of the ruins of Grand Central Terminal. The stories are imaginative and interesting though for the most part they lack dramatic qualities; the longest (and most realizable) story -- The Voice of the Dolphins is, in fact, particularly dull in its fictional form.

Pub Date: April 28, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1961

Categories: FICTION