BOOK REVIEW

"EMPIRE OF THE AIR"

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"Buy the book and rent the video..."

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I picked up a used copy of this book off Amazon's website (just in case you didn't know it, they're linked to hundreds of "used" booksellers around the country), and it's a book which is a companion piece to a Robert Burns PBS special, about the who-how-what were invented, the first dynasties created, etc. I can't say I watched the 1991 event as I was between marriages and interested in...others things. But I digress...

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The book itself is hard covered, and runs about 400 pages. The author, really did his homework as well being involved with the documentary. Before reading the book, I was "Hollywoodized" as far as inventor stories go (if you're smart and honest you'll win at the end), so unlike the movies ("The story of...." ; "The Marconi Story", etc) all of the dirt, greed, backstabbing, and sad endings were left intact - unchanged...to some extent, it was like being a fly on the wall and watching the lives of some of Americas history makers, and of interest to me, because where would Ham radio have been without the tube?

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The rest of my short review is in this video, which aired on PBS. Ken Burns is well known for extensive, lengthy-yet-interesting documentaries. Unfortunately this is not one of them. The story centers around 3 men who shaped the world of radio and communications for better or worse "De Forest, Sarnoff, and Armstrong". Marconi is mentioned a little in the video (quite a bit more in the book) as well.

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At 2 hours, the video plays well, and seems to cover the bases, however when mentioning litigation's, deception, etc. the viewer isn't quite sure of the extent or the circumstances which created it. Where they came from, and how they got to where they were is also critically short. That said, if you aren't a reader, then this is your look into the beginnings of Radio! If you are a reader, I would recommend that you read the book first, THEN watch the video.

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Woody