"Sex and Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons" by John Carter is a fascinating and deeply disturbing biography of one of the most intriguing figures of the 20th century. Jack Parsons, a brilliant rocket scientist and occultist, lived a life that was equal parts astonishing and appalling.
Born in 1914, Parsons was a child prodigy who became fascinated with rocketry at an early age. He went on to become one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and played a crucial role in the development of the rocket technology that would eventually take humans to the moon.
But Parsons' life was not just about rockets. He was also deeply involved in the occult, and his fascination with magic and the supernatural led him down a dark and twisted path.
Carter's biography is a meticulously researched and deeply unsettling exploration of Parsons' life and work. The author has a keen eye for detail, and his prose is clear and concise, making the book easy to follow even for those who may not be familiar with the intricacies of rocket science or occultism.
One of the most striking aspects of Parsons' life was his relationship with L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. The two men met in the 1940s, and Parsons was immediately drawn to Hubbard's charismatic personality and his promises of spiritual enlightenment.
But as Carter makes clear, Hubbard was a manipulative and ruthless individual who used Parsons' wealth and influence to further his own ambitions. The two men's relationship was marked by a series of bizarre and disturbing events, including a ritualistic ceremony in which Parsons and Hubbard attempted to summon a supernatural entity.
Carter's account of this ceremony is one of the most chilling moments in the book. The author's description of the ritual, which involved Parsons and Hubbard invoking ancient deities and performing a series of bizarre and disturbing acts, is both fascinating and repellent.
As the book progresses, it becomes clear that Parsons' involvement with Hubbard and the occult had a profoundly damaging effect on his life. His relationships with his friends and family began to fray, and he became increasingly isolated and withdrawn.
Despite his brilliance and his many accomplishments, Parsons' life was marked by tragedy and heartbreak. He died in 1952, at the age of 37, in a bizarre and disturbing accident that was widely reported in the press at the time.
Carter's biography is a fitting tribute to Parsons' memory, and it provides a fascinating and deeply disturbing glimpse into the life of one of the 20th century's most intriguing figures.
Overall, "Sex and Rockets" is a brilliant and unsettling biography that is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in the occult, rocket science, or the bizarre and disturbing lives of 20th-century eccentrics.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Recommendation: "Sex and Rockets" is a must-read for anyone with an interest in the occult, rocket science, or the bizarre and disturbing lives of 20th-century eccentrics. It is also a fascinating and deeply disturbing biography that is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in the stranger side of human nature.