One of its Reviews:
“This trade paperback was a very pleasant and informative surprise. It's a heavily illustrated book that explores the possibility that ancient humanity had harnessed the power of electricity. Preposterous you say, well Mr. Radka, a retired broadcast engineer, may just change your mind. His investigation into this possibility was an exhaustive effort. With a library of more than 5,000 books at his disposal, his research displays a multitude of examples where the ancients used batteries, telescopes, mirror weapons, as well as carbon arc lighting.
“Radka’s arguments are very intriguing. He shows evidence that several ancient structures such as the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was powered by carbon arc lights and battery jars. In addition to the ancient Egyptians, Radka also provides evidence that ancient Indians, the ancient Babylonians, Sumerians, Greeks, Parthians, Romans, Persians, Sassanians and Assyrians possessed the technology of electricity to illuminate their temples, tombs, fortresses and palaces. Radka examines a multitude of coins, assorted artifacts, tablets, monuments, folklore tales and artwork from these cultures and came to an astounding conclusion: The ancients had the capability of illuminating the night and dark places with lights.
“Illustrations and historical testimony are numerous and this erudite level of research establishes a foundation of acumen never before achieved by any previous scholar on this topic. In short layman’s terms, I do believe Mr. Radka has indeed discovered something here.
“Radka also shows, and I think most importantly, strong evidence derived from cuneiform and hieroglyphic tablets that seemingly proves the ancients had the various materials necessary--copper, lead, iron, zinc, glass, sal ammoniac, and sulfuric acid—available to create primary and secondary electric cells. For instance, Radka shows several Greek coins depicting what appear to be ancient searchlights at Sicily’s Strait of Messina.
“I would urge anyone with even a passing interest in ancient technology, electricity, electrical engineering or the ancient mechanisms that potentially could have generated covalence, to purchase a copy. You would be remiss not to do so. Simply stated, this is one of the most important publications on the topic of ancient technology and lighting you will ever find.”
Note:
This reviewer—Michael Lohr—is a professional journalist, outdoorsman, music critic, treasure hunter and adventurer. His writing has appeared in such magazines as Rolling Stone, Esquire, Mysteries, The Economist, Southern Living, Sporting News & Men's Journal, to name a few.
Excerpts from Other Reviews:
The Midwest Book Review says: “The Electric Mirror on the Pharos Lighthouse and Other Ancient Lighting" is “painstakingly compiled and edited by Larry Brian Radka,” and “is very strongly recommended reading, both for its thoughtful analysis, and its concise presentation focused upon a history of previously little known facts about the creation and use of lighthouses and lighted towers.”
Brent Raynes, the editor of Alternate Perceptions magazine, pointed out that Radka's work views the Old Testament's Ark of the Covenant as "an electrical instrument, which reportedly contained a 'light.'" He summed up his review by stating that it “will undoubtedly test and challenge your historical preconceptions regarding the development of electrical technology, if not shake them to the very core!”
Ruth Parnell, an editor for Nexus magazine and another literary torchbearer, wrote: “This is a fascinating investigation which confirms that the ancients knew about and utilized electricity, batteries, telescopes, mirror weapons and carbon arc lighting…a captivating read.”
A review in the fourth quarter 2006 Newsletter of the World Lighthouse Society relates that in this work, "The history of ancient lighting in antiquity is thoroughly documented, including footnotes, endnotes, hundreds of illustrations and an extensive bibliography to support the theory that the Pharos Lighthouse used a reflective telescope and electric beacon."
Frank Joseph, the Editor-in-Chief of the renowned Ancient American magazine and a prominent author in his own right, sheds even more light on The Electric Mirror... by describing this "brilliant new book" as "thoroughly credible" and "a terrifically original book!"
With reference to Frank Joseph's comments above, Bob Trapani, Junior, the Executive Director of The American Lighthouse Foundation, emailed Larry: "Congratulations on obtaining a wonderful statement about your book. Well deserved!"
David Hatcher Childress, author of Technology of the Gods, The Incredible Sciences of the Ancients, and many more fine books that shine light on the mysteries of the past, reported to Larry: “Your book is great and already very popular."
Robert Stanley, an author and the Editor-in-Chief of Unicus magazine, wrote: “Mr. Radka has shown with great clarity that our ancestors possessed advanced technologies. This is no longer a matter of conjecture. It is indisputable fact. Therefore, the historical information contained in The Electric Mirror should be taught in classrooms around the world. It is a powerful legacy left to us by our ancestors and should not be ignored."