Hi MSA Community. As the Book Review Editor for American Mineralogist, I am seeking a reviewer for a unique opportunity to review "*Rings of Fire*" by Larry J. Hughes. I've provided a synopsis below for anyone potentially interested in a book that "*fold**s earth science into a broader human-interest narrative related to a secret WWII project. Much of the narrative focuses on the mining of optical-grade calcite and touches on calcite’s internal structure with respect to optical properties, polarization, and the geologic context of crystallization. It also incorporates optical mineralogy topics. Except for a technical-level appendix, these topics are treated at the college-graduate but non-scientist level."* If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact me. I'd be happy to provide additional details once I've identified a potential reviewer. Regards, Ken *Rings of Fire: How an Unlikely Team of Scientists, Ex-Cons, Women, and Native Americans Helped Win WWII* [image: A book cover with a group of people Description automatically generated] *Synopsis* Edwin Land had barely settled into his seat on the plane when the flash went off. An idea for an innovative WWII technology that might help eradicate the fascist cancer devouring the free world. It was Polaroid’s Optical Ring Sight, which magically projected a bullseye of brilliantly colored rings onto the sky—like rings of fire—to aim American anti-aircraft guns that previously “couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.” *Rings of Fire* is the compelling story of American ingenuity, determination, and grit—told through the personal stories of the amazing people who transformed insight into gunsight. From scientists to ordinary Americans to drifters and ex-cons characterized as “the underbelly of America,” they crossed cultural barriers to tackle a shared crisis: - California “desert rat” artist, John Hilton, whose mining claim supplied the calcite crystals desperately needed for the device, assisted by Gen. George S. Patton. - Miners Steve Modesto and John Owens, a Cahuilla Indian ranch hand and a white meat-cutter from Kansas, whose friendship led to an astonishing discovery. - Moonshiner Al Hansen, whose calcite prospecting in Montana started with a lucky strike but cascaded into a wild-west vigilante showdown. - “Crystal Crackin’ Mama” Irene Frederick, whose calcite-crystal processing skills silenced male skeptics and helped rescue the Polaroid project from disaster. - Edwin Stanton, whose hubris led to a fat FBI dossier and tragedy while prospecting in Mexico. - Cecil Kegans, a rough Oklahoman with a huge smile, starting his Marine career by fetching groceries for calcite miners and ending it in a bloody pool on Saipan. - And miner Harry Sikkenga, whose fist fight with a shift boss packed him off to the army artillery, just in time to invade Germany and encounter the horror of Dachau. Teamed together, they overcame enormous personal obstacles to produce ring sights for Navy ships, aircraft, and Army bazookas. And afterwards, their product went from aiming the guns of war to the cameras of peacetime—for television and on the helmets of skydiving videographers. And then, all the way to the moon, aiming NASA’s space cameras, culminating with perhaps the most influential photograph of all time, *Earthrise*. https://www.amazon.com/Rings-Fire-Unlikely-Scientists-Americans/dp/0811773892 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rings-of-fire-larry-j-hughes/1143911698 -- Kenneth Brown, PhD. DePauw University Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences 2 E. Hanna Street Greencastle, IN 46135 Ph: 765.658.6767 (he/him/his)