Wondering how we know that Johnny Depp is currently reading Michio Kaku’s book, PARALLEL WORLDS: A JOURNEY THROUGH CREATION, HIGHER DIMENSIONS, AND THE FUTURE OF THE COSMOS? An alert Zoner had the presence of mind to ask Johnny what he was reading when she spoke to him at the meet-and-greet after the Sheila Witkin Memorial Reunion Concert on August 29th. In her post on the Zone’s ONBC Forum, Charlene explains, “I have been meaning to ask Johnny what he was reading (in order to help our wonderful moderators Liz & DeppInTheHeartofTexas) since joining the ONBC . . . but my mind always failed me at previous meets (at the DMC premiere and during the shooting of PUBLIC ENEMIES).” Fortunately, Charlene went to Florida, and the third time proved a charm: “[S]o since I had his attention, and my mind was actually working albeit it was around 3 a.m., I said something along the lines of, ‘If you don’t mind, could I ask you what you are currently reading?’ And he answered, ‘Oh . . . Parallel Worlds. It’s a bit scientific, but it’s good.’ “

Here’s a bit of what Publishers Weekly had to say about Parallel Worlds: “Well-known physicist and author Kaku tells readers [. . .] that another universe may be floating just a millimeter away on a “brane” (membrane) parallel to our own. We can’t pop our heads in and have a look around because it exists in hyperspace, beyond our four dimensions. [. . .] In his usual reader-friendly style, Kaku discusses the spooky objects conjured up from the equations of relativity and quantum physics: wormholes, black holes and the “white holes” on the other side; universes budding off from one another; and alternate quantum realities in which the 2004 elections turned out differently.”

Parallel Worlds thus seems to have an obvious connection to Rex Mundi, the Infinitum Nihil project-in-development based on the series of graphic novels by Arvid Nelson. Rex Mundi takes place in an alternate quantum reality in which history develops differently. Although the story takes place in the 1930s, in Nelson’s tale the Catholic Church still dominates Europe because Martin Luther was assassinated before the Reformation could take place.

Always up for a challenge, ONBC will discuss Parallel Worlds next spring, after Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast (next) and Gordon Dahlquist’s The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters in January. The Zone thanks Charlene for her excellent field reporting! Well done! –Part-Time Poet