TESLA - A Biographical Novel of the World's Greatest Inventor

by Tad Wise

The true father of radio, and the inventor of fluorescent lighting, remote control, and robotics, Nikola Tesla (1856-1942) opened the door to the modern world. Now, in the tradition of Ragtime, a vibrant and compelling historical novel about the bizarre and tragic life of one of the great scientific minds of all time.

Genres: Biography, Historical

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1995

Reviews

[Bill reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Cheney’s biography, “Man out of Time” piqued my interest in Nikola Tesla. Tad Wise begins this historical novel with a card game as the college freshman wipes out his classmates due to a photographic memory inherited from his mother. Nikola’s father was a minister. The young man had a passion for science from childhood. An older brother died in an accident and Nikola blamed himself for the death. In 1884, Tesla met Thomas Edison, the inventor of the DC electrical system. The young Serb explained the superiority of his AC system and was mocked by the older man. Within days, Edison discovered that the man he called “Gypsy man” could fix anything, and within one tenth the time it would take several other men. Tesla worked 16 hour days, 7 days a week for four months, perfecting Edison’s dynamo. Although promised $50,000 for the feat, he was only given his usual $12 a week salary. Nikola left Edison’s company and changed history. The Tesla lighting company created newer, better arc lights, but the depression of the 1880’s forced the inventor to take a job digging ditches. The pay was one dollar for a ten hour workday. He met Kolman Czito, a Croatian laborer with an engineering background. Nikola hired him at the newly formed Tesla Electric company. With $50,000 from Western Union a laboratory on South 5th street in NYC was rented. Within two years Tesla had forty patents, all done initially without blueprints. When asked by his principal backer, George Westinghouse, how was this possible; Nikola pointed to his head. He was able to function on only one hour of sleep per night. A three day period without rest caused a nervous breakdown. A month’s rest with Czito’s help brought him back to earth. In the meantime, Thomas Edison had joined forces with JP Morgan to sabotage Tesla’s AC. Marconi’s supposed invention of wireless radio in 1895 was demonstrated two years earlier by Tesla on a stage auditorium with wireless light bulbs. Tesla became a star at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Fabulous waterfalls and brilliant displays of AC powered light proved the Serbian right and Edison wrong. His first lab burned down and he found a new one on Houston Street. During this time he found a new friend in Mark Twain, his favorite author. He created a small earthquake on a block in his adopted city with a portable oscillator. Tesla also invented the first flash enabled camera, and along with it, an X ray machine. He demonstrated a wireless remote control boat in a 200 foot tank at Madison Square Garden. In 1899 Tesla moved to Colorado and created man made lightning with two giant copper globes. In doing so, the town’s power was knocked out. His AC power is still being used at Niagara Falls. Tesla designed it over 100 years ago. Rumors of a death ray persist, but we will never know for sure. His idea of using waves of energy was laughed at by the war department. Thirty years later, it was called radar. He built the first solar panel in the 1890’s. Radar, neon lights, and solar power were not even among his 300 patents. A lifelong bachelor who believed that celibacy was essential to maximize creativity, Tesla died alone surrounded by his beloved pigeons at the Hotel New Yorker in January of 1943. To this day, conspiracy theories debate the FBI’s role in regard to scientific papers in relation to Tesla’s death ray. Wise’s book is most definitely a good read.

[Cornelis Haupt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has single-handedly made Nikola Tesla, the lost magician and mad scientist of the last century, my icon. I could not put it down.

Einstein, I'm afraid you are overrated, not only in your accomplishments, but also in the inspiration you garner that is so influential in the 20th Century. Tesla provokes awe.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Biographical novel' of the life of history's greatest inventor, the bizarre and brilliant Nikolai Tesla. This very-readable narrative capably captures his unique madness, a futuristic ability to understand electricity far beyond any of his contemporaries; and his struggles with the real world - the thieving Thomas Edison, his complete lack of interest in patenting his genius ideas (creating and discovering (but not claiming credit) for such later inventions as telephone, radar, and x-rays) due to his relentless pursuit of the next great idea. Financially choatic, undeniably brilliant, completely idiosyncratic - this book was fascinating.

[Jimmy Neville · Rating 4 out of 5]

The historical novel style is very interesting, and felt appropriate for a man like Tesla. Very engaging read.

[Atrin Matuštík · Rating 1 out of 5]

Řeším dilema mezi touhou dovědět se zbytek příběhu pana Tesly a ještě větší touhou přetáhnout autora něčím po hlavě a vzdát to v půlce knihy. Stylově strašlivé. Neobratné. Nevadí mi, když je kniha napsaná jednoduše atd., nečtu jenom samá hodnotná díla, ale tohle je katastrofa.

[Keli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. It's an interesting subject. But the prose was a bit too flowery for my taste and the device of confessing to a friend to tell the story of his childhood was a bit tiresome. I decided I'd rather just read a real biography instead.

[Hannah Rappaport]

Dense subject well written. I have a stronger sense of who Tesla was and the world he was up against.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, although it got a little slow at the end. Fascinating man, that Nikola Tesla.