"Square Head and Krine Dog were soon to meet up near the impeller inspection area. Jake, Moe, and Kay were just about finished with the inspection. Googly was finishing up cleaning the giant pump nuts."
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Inside the Giant Electric Machine: Volume 1 by John Guiliano Trafford Publishing
book review by John E. Roper
We live in a world where innovation has become commonplace. As more and more gadgets are churned out and niche industries are spawned to keep up with the demand for new technologies, the average person risks taking for granted some of the more primal forces that keeps all of this technology as well as society running. Desiring to help people understand how one of these forces, electricity, is produced in modern power plants, the author takes his readers on a unique and informative journey behind the scenes.
In the tradition of The Magic School Bus series but written with adults in mind, Guiliano relies on his former career at the Philadelphia Electric Company to bring to light some of the mysteries associated with electrical production. In this first volume, a colorful cast of characters with odd names such as Suave Rico, High Volt, Cool Daddy, and Booger band together to work on a giant water cooling pump. Their task is a crucial one, because if the pump breaks down then the machine that makes electricity will get too hot and stop working, as well. The author uses his fictional team to completely disassemble the machine, perform needed maintenance, and then reassemble it step by step.
Guiliano takes an unusual approach with his story by choosing to write it in play format. While this keeps the event he is describing moving at a good narrative pace, the overall effectiveness of the book would have been enhanced if it had included illustrations. Still, for those who wish to get an insider's view of work in a power plant the author's series promises to be extremely helpful.