February 10, 2013
Storm Kings
The Untold History of America's First Tornado Chasers
Early North American settlers on the Great Plains called funnel clouds “Storm Kings” because of their unearthly power. In his latest book, Lee Sandlin (Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild, 2010) traces America’s fascination with tornadoes and the historical efforts to understand super cells. Sandlin shows how dedicated men like Corporal John Park Finley, who placed a network of "weather spotters” across the country, helped change meteorology and the way tornadoes are forecasted. For fans of Erik Larson’s Isaac’s Storm (2000).