Considering its forty-odd years of existence, its rich tradition of service, the many instances when amateurs have demonstrated their value to their communities in times of stress, it is remarkable that amateur radio has received so little treatment in the field of popular literature: certainly if a writer is looking for stories of adventure, the high call to duty, the thrills incident to distant expeditions in far lands, he need look no further than this unique of all hobbies. Perhaps the trouble has been that the average writer, lacking the intimate knowledge of amateur practices which only the active pursuit of ham radio can give, finds himself helpless to create genuine ham atmosphere around the bare incidents themselves.
Five years ago Clinton DeSoto, W1CBD, of the League's secretarial staff, brought out his first book, "Two Hundred Meters and Down -- the Story of Amateur Radio." As an historical account it is a valuable work, but its very nature has confined its interest to hams themselves, for the most part. With the publication of "Calling CQ" he has now filled the need for a popular work on amateur radio. A grand answer to the friends and family who ask, "What is amateur radio all about?" it is also a book that few hams will be able to put down until they've read through to the last page. The essential facts of amateur radio's history and development are sketched, but briefly -- the body of the book is a collection of stories of the adventures, friendships and heroism of hams the world over. Some of the yarns are about incidents you will remember but of which you never knew the inside story; others will be entirely new. All make swell reading.
***QST Magazine is published monthly by the ARRL.