Higher Perspective

Robert J. Sawyer is a Toronto-based free-lance writer.

Higher Perspective is a crackpot harangue, a study in illogic and non sequitur. According to the dustjacket, the book deals with “a major scientific breakthrough in cosmology involving creation of the universe, cosmic purpose and destiny, the nature of gravitation, evolution and reincarnation.” The volume is an attempt to reconcile religion and science — meaty subject matter. There’s no doubt that Allen, for 17 years a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, knows his astronomy, the science he discusses at length. Alas, his philosophy is less sound. He substitutes self-important sentences such as the following for careful thought and reasoned extrapolation: “Clearly, this inescapable conclusion must dominate all future philosophical inquiry into the nature of the cosmos!” The author needed an editor to subdue his hyperbole. Sadly, there’s no sign that a literate hand ever touched the manuscript. Exclamation marks are nearly as common as periods, in places terminating four consecutive sentences. “E.g.” is used when “i.e.” is called for. Here and there Allen does ask a challenging question, but critical readers won’t be able to sit still through his ramblings and excesses. A shame.