J. Norman Reid of Wood News Online reviewed Roy Underhill’s “Calvin Cobb: Radio Woodworker! – A Novel with Measured Drawings” for the most recent issue. Here’s a short excerpt:
“Fun, fast-moving and filled with vivid though sometimes arcane period details about farm machinery, computing and radio equipment, government agencies and cat faces staring out from marble walls, Roy creates unique and engaging characters whose fate propels the reader’s interest from one chapter to the next. Yet despite the heavy overlay of humor that pervades the story line and many of its details, the novel also bears a valuable social message as Calvin confronts the racism and anti-Semitism of the day.
“The ending, which I won’t reveal here, is both dramatic and—like the rest of the book—absurdly humorous. A wild ride indeed!”
You can read the full review here. The entire November 2014 issue of Wood News Online can be read here.
— Megan Fitzpatrick
p.s. Order before Nov. 29, 2014, for free domestic shipping; the book will start shipping on or around Nov. 10.
p.p.s. Not to be outdone by Chris (in this, anyway), here’s another short excerpt from the novel to tempt you:
Megan, it’s weird how these P.S. and P.P.S. comments mysteriously appear after your post and others. Someone should mention it to Chris.
I haven’t tried to get away with a p.p.p.s … Yet
Except when it’s running down your leg!
Already ordered my copy, can’t wait. Hey you guys should do this one up like an old radio show with different voice actors and sound effects! Megan, you should definitely play Verdie! Also, I’d spring for the hi-res image of the cover to make a poster for my shop on this one, I can even get it printed at my work.
I wonder how much the artist would charge you for that? What kind a encyption could Chris use for that? I’d buy one too. Chris could you get the artist to qoute a price? I’m guessing around $300 or so for hi-res. Maybe $100 for a lower res?
We actually own all rights to the cover image. We are considering a nice shop poster that would be about $35 to $40. But we need to take a poll to see if it is worth the effort. Stay tuned.