Bruce A. Martin
P.O.Box 456, Middle Island,
Long Island, NY 11953
(631) 924-8680
bam@hamptons.com
2000 March 16
Dear Editor:
Enclosed are two articles submitted for publication. Both pieces are based upon actual incidents and perceptions from my own childhood.
The lengthier piece is a reminiscence, written from the point of view of a precocious seven-year-old whose careful precautions backfire badly. The specific nature of "The Perfect Place" is withheld from the reader, revealed only in a final, retrospective paragraph from the grown-up's point of view. (If, in your judgement, this technique leaves too much to the reader's imagination, I am prepared to submit an alternative version that makes the "perfect place" more explicit, earlier in the story.)
The briefer piece contains some observations regarding a sudden shift in scientific orthodoxy that occurred in the late 1950s, some speculation regarding impacts upon the training of researchers, and a fortuitous arithmetic coincidence. Because the error was rather obscure at the time (and its traces covered up rather quickly), I have appended some background material to satisfy Reader's Digest's well-known penchant for research and high standards for accuracy. Please note that the background material (which took me several years to track down fully) is not being submitted for publication.
Both essays are from personal experience and are accurate to the best of my recollection. (In all candor, I must admit having to indulged in "inventing the truth" regarding the cigar smoker: he may well have been lighting a pipe instead! I just could not recall, fascinated as I was with the pyrotechnic phenomena I was witnessing. In the interest of literary clarity, I guessed.)
Although I have published dozens of technical reports and scientific papers (as well as a few non-technical essays in local media), I confess that this is my first foray into the more-conventional genres such as "consumer" periodicals. While this fact merits no special consideration, I do hope you will be charitable enough to share with me your opinions of these two pieces, and especially to reveal to me any criticisms you might have -- constructive or not.
I look forward at least to hearing your opinions regarding these two submissions, and possibly to a continuing relationship with your publication. I have several more completed essays, of varying length and subject, which I am most willing to send to you "on speculation". Having recently retired from Brookhaven National Laboratory, in order to do more teaching and writing, I would also be happy to consider more-specific writing assignments.
Thank you for your kind attention.
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Sincerely,
Bruce A. Martin |