Phillip Mathews, December 2000
This book reveals the story behind the bitter struggle between the Skeptics
Vs Creationists that was played out in the courts in New South Wales and
Victoria. The very public figures in that struggle, Professor Plimer and
Dr.Roberts, took centre stage and both, in the end, were ruined by it.
Less well known is the key figure who "discovered" Noah's Ark in present-day
Turkey, American wreck salvager and adventurer David Fasold. A well-in-formed man of
unimpeachable character, Fasold suffered most for the "find" that triggered
the Skeptics Vs Creationists court cases. He lost all of his money, his health, and
eventually his life.
Author June Dawes, an Australian, tried to help find Fasold justice
in the Australian court cases. She not only became Fasold's confidante,
and as such knew Plimer. She was also a distant relation by marriage to
the other protagonist, Allen Roberts. No-one had a more intimate knowledge
of the behind the scenes maneuvering of both factions that the author.
So distressed was she by what she saw as the ruthless treatment of Fasold
by both parties, and so frustrated by the inadequacy of the press coverage,
that she pledged to Fasold on his deathbed that she would write a book
exposing the detail she knew and clearing his good name.
This book tells all, with no punches pulled. She explains how Fasold
arrived at the conclusion that the artifact was in fact Noah's Ark, the
way in which his work was plagiarized, which led to the famous court case,
and how all involved behaved badly. Dawes was not the only one to recognize
that Fasold was the only credible and absolutely innocent party in the
court cases and maneuvers behind them. According to the presiding judge,
Fasold was the only witness in this landmark major case who emerged as
both honest and forthright.
Dawes argues that this would surprise no-one who knew his real story. Her book sets that right.