At a glance
Dr. Richard Kellogg, professor emeritus of psychology at Alfred State College, is the author of an article appearing in the most recent issue of Paperback Parade, a quarterly journal published by Gryphon Books. The article is titled “Philip Wylie: On the Smuggling of Bombs.”
The article notes that Philip Gordon Wylie (1902-71) incorporated his views on nuclear weaponry into several of his novels. Wylie served as adviser to the Senate Special Committee on Atomic Energy and as consultant to the Federal Civil Defense Administration. The holder of a top-secret clearance, he observed testing of the atomic bomb in Nevada.
In “The Smuggled Atom Bomb” (1951), Wylie points out that aircraft and rockets are not the only means for initiating a nuclear war. He suggests that an atomic weapon can be smuggled into the country, perhaps aboard a ship or submarine, and then transported to an urban center where it would be detonated. Wylie felt it crucial that Americans stay vigilant to prevent enemy nations from smuggling nuclear components into the United States. His warning is still prescient today because of nuclear proliferation and the increase in international terrorism.
Kellogg has written extensively about the life and literary legacy of Philip Wylie. He also plays the role of the famous writer during the annual Open House held at the former Wylie residence in Rushford during the Labor Day weekend. Guests at the Open House can view photographs, memorabilia, and a library of Wylie books and articles relevant to his long and successful writing career.
Kellogg writes frequently for both popular magazines and professional journals. He joined the Alfred State faculty in 1970 after completing his doctoral studies at the University of Rochester.