Radiosport.
The word itself sounds ethereal, electric, and of another time and place.
What is it, in this era of instant Internet connection, that compels grown men and women to do such a thing?
To travel to New England from places as remote as Russia and Japan hauling boxes full of heavy radio equipment?
To hunker down in tents for a marathon 24 hours, chasing the ghosts of voices and haunting 'dit-dah-dits' through the static and ether?J.K. George's "Contact Sport" is more than just a riveting firsthand account of the Olympics of amateur radio, it is a powerful glimpse
into a culture of global explorers in headphones working the radio waves by lamplight; of soldering irons and circuit boards, modems and 'magic' antennas.
For those like myself who have always been drawn to the idea of making 'contact' with unknown others half a world away, this book is the stuff of goosebumps.
But video gamers, do-it-yourselfers, hobbyists and anyone involved in the modern 'maker' movement will see themselves in these pages, too.More than simply chronicling an event, J.K. George taps into what compels us to chase our obsessions. His narrative challenges us to consider what it means to be "the best" at what we love to do.
David Brown, Anchor and managing editor, The Texas Standard, at KUT Public Media
At its heart, "Contact Sport" isn't just about the romance of radio and competition, but the passion that makes us climb mountains, and the celebration (and occasional heartbreak) of approaching our summits.
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