Fred Hoyle
Personal Information
Description
Sir Fred Hoyle was an English astronomer who formulated the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis and was one of the authors of the influential B2FH paper. He also held controversial stances on other scientific matters—in particular his rejection of the "Big Bang" theory (a term coined by him on BBC Radio) in favor of the "steady-state model", and his promotion of panspermia as the origin of life on Earth. He spent most of his working life at St John's College, Cambridge and served as the founding director of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy at Cambridge. Hoyle also wrote science fiction novels, short stories and radio plays, co-created television serials, and co-authored twelve books with his son, Geoffrey Hoyle.
Books
The theory of cosmic grains
The problem of the composition of cosmic dust grains has stubbornly defied solution for over half a century. A succession of models have been proposed and their properties worked out for comparison with an ever-expanding body of relevant observational data. The authors began their pioneering work in this field in the 1960s by challenging the then popular ice grain theory. Most controversially they later hypothesised that condensed organic matter in the galaxy is of biological origin, thus linking an old astronomical problem with the question of the origin of terrestrial life. In this book the authors develop the theory of Cosmic Grains on a broad front starting logically from basic mathematical and astronomical premises. The reader is guided through a historical progression of ideas on the nature of grains, leading ultimately to the authors' own point of view, which shows through a clear predictive sequence the important role of complex organic material in the interstellar grains.
Great Science Fiction
White Creatures - short story by Gregory Benford The Singing Diamond - short story by Robert L. Forward Publish and Perish - short story by Paul J. Nahin Skystalk - novelette by Charles Sheffield The Universal Library - short story by Kurd Lasswitz (trans. of Die Universalbibliothek 1904) Long Shot - short story by Vernor Vinge Blackmail - short story by Fred Hoyle Jeannette's Hands - short story by R. S. Richardson [as by Philip Latham] The Warm Space - novelette by David Brin The Wind from the Sun - novelette by Arthur C. Clarke Industrial Accident - novelette by G. Harry Stine [as by Lee Correy] Choice - short story by John R. Pierce The Winnowing - short story by Isaac Asimov Dr. Snow Maiden - short story by Larry Eisenberg On the Fourth Planet - short story by J. F. Bone Learning Theory - short story by James McConnell [as by James V. McConnell] Love Is the Plan the Plan Is Death - short story by James Tiptree, Jr. Transfusion - novelette by Chad Oliver In the Beginning - short story by Morton Klass Modulation in All Things - short story by Suzette Haden Elgin The Bones of Charlemagne - novelette by Mario Pei [as by Mario A. Pei]
Ice, the ultimate human catastrophe
Author's theory of the cause of ice ages. Describes how the next ice age will come and how we can prevent it.