AOF Activities & Events

Denis De Luchi, “Fish Byne Yola: The Jew Who Saved Galileo”

Now for something completely diff! In this new work of historical fiction by AOF member Denis De Luchi, a Jewish man passing as Catholic is Galileo's lifelong friend. This man, Fishbeingla, takes it upon himself to protect the scientist from rival colleagues, enemies in the clergy, and the gutter rats of urban Italy hired to discredit and even harm Galileo. He risks danger and denouncement as a Jew to save Galileo's skin, meanwhile concealing his efforts so that the great man won't be distracted. Conflicts range from tavern debates to physical confrontations as various competitors and religious zealots take their potshots at both Galileo and Fishbeingla. The outcome is history. This is the secret story of how it happened.

Denis De Luchi, longtime AOF member, is a retired Air Force Officer, Vietnam vet, former bomber pilot, and former project officer in Research and Development at a well known company, where he worked in advanced missile guidance and satellite technology. After retirement, he became a physics professor at various colleges and universities in the Sacramento region. He is the author of a dozen novels, many short stories, and two books of poetry. 

It's another event of the AOF Speaker Series. As always free, but if you enjoy this talk, please consider joining AOF, and perhaps support Reason Center with a fishskin or two in the donation jar. Better yet, become a Reason Center member too! Click here to learn how.