The Wizard of Sun City: The Strange True Story of Charles Hatfield, the Rainmaker Who Drowned a City's Dreams

The cover of this book, line drawings of flood victims anxiously retreating in the advance of a wall of water, foretell the ultimate result of the efforts of professional rainmakers Paul and Charles Hatfield. What lies between the covers is a very fascinating tale, almost an inversion of the Pied Piper saga, in a time when faith in near-science and pseudo meterology was not only believed, but (at least for a bit) sanctioned by the powers that be. This story provides a cautionary tale for those self-styled business folk who unfortunately believe a man's word is his bond, and a handshake forms an unbreakable contract. Author Jenkins recreates the time and the mood of Southern California in the early 1900's and recreates an atmosphere of a blossoming community pinning its hopes on a sophisticated businessman with a simple proposition: Hatfield will fill a resevoir to its 15 BILLION gallon capacity for $10,000, or San Diego owes him nothing. Surely a sucker's bet, since annual rainfall for the area is less than a foot, Hatfield is given tacit approval to proceed with his venture. The results far exceeded the imaginations of all parties involved, and the aftermath surely challenges one's belief in pseudo science and the unpredictability of the atmosphere. The book's release date of July 2005 (a mere month or so prior to Hurricane Katrina) is almost eerie in its timing, in describing a cataclysm seemingly unimaginable for a town with a bright future and numerous prospects. I'd highly recommend this book to fans of the turn of the last century, to municipal engineers and officials, to weather spotters and emergency planners, or even to just plain folk who like an enjoyable tale that still has a few surprises and twists to keep things interesting. Happy Reading!