Blown Away

[quentin skrabec]

Dear Tad,

I was going to use direct e-mail, but your Martin Paz project introduction and historical notes blew me away. When I started to read it last night, I couldn’t put it down.  It was outstanding, as a professor, I have written and read thousands of book introductory materials – yours is the best I have ever seen. I really can’t find enough praise. Your argument on Verne’s issues was detailed and convincing! This introductory material on Martin Paz needs to be published as a paper or book! The depth and amount of historical research is amazing. You are truly a Verne scholar.

In awe, Quent

[Tad Davis]

Quentin,

You’re very kind. But I am conscious of the fact that without access to the primary materials, my conclusions have to be tentative. I can talk about our current understanding of Peruvian history and Verne’s story in that context, but what would be needed for a proper academic analysis would be for someone to trace HIS sources and how he applied them. And I’m not in a position to do that. But I am very appreciative of your vote of confidence.  I carried it as far as I could and as conscientiously as I could. 

Tad

— 

Tad Davis

tad.dav...@gmail.com

On Jan 28, 2026, at 7:30 PM, quentin skrabec <qrsk...@gmail.com> wrote:



Dear Tad,

I was going to use direct e-mail, but your Martin Paz project introduction and historical notes blew me away. When I started to read it last night, I couldn’t put it down.  It was outstanding, as a professor, I have written and read thousands of book introductory materials – yours is the best I have ever seen. I really can’t find enough praise. Your argument on Verne’s issues was detailed and convincing! This introductory material on Martin Paz needs to be published as a paper or book! The depth and amount of historical research is amazing. You are truly a Verne scholar.

In awe, Quent

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[quentin skrabec]

Don't limit yourself - "primary sources" and "academic  proper analysis" are not the issue. You took important historical context and moved into important ideas and yes, like all Verne writers, some speculation. You allow the reader to question on their own what they will read in the book.  You would be extremely lucky to find direct statements about what Verne was thinking in writing a specific book or chapter. You make people think, and that's the key. Even using primary materials like letters. Few give the next best thing to primary material - the historical context of the period.  You have demonstrated the ability to make a strong case for your beliefs. I have lived a successful academic life. Most in academia are poor writers and lack imagination; the only thing worse is want- to- be academicians and scholars. Take a look at some book introductions by academia - they put you asleep. They don't excite and or simulate the reader to take away anything from the book, and too many of them tell the reader what to think. A famous literary researcher once said- " if you want to understand Dickens study his times" Quent

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From: jules-ve...@googlegroups.com <jules-ve...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Tad Davis <tad.dav...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 8:02 PM
To: jules-ve...@googlegroups.com <jules-ve...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [JVF] Blown Away

 

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[William Butcher]

I agree that too many studies are conservative, trying to avoid risk and controversy (no names named), resemble science manqué. The researcher is there to provide a bridge between author and reader, which necessarily involves imagination and speculation. He/she has to use some creative writing techniques, to avoid mere paraphrase and turgidness.

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From: jules-ve...@googlegroups.com <jules-ve...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of quentin skrabec <qrsk...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2026 9:56 AM

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