The Voynich Ninja

Does anyone know anything about this author - Robert C. Williams - and his argument that the VMS was created by Voynich? This book was just published: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

I've read the free sample on Amazon, and there are a few glaring problems with his argument right off the bat, but I'm curious to know if anyone knows about him and his work.

Thanks for the "heads-up", Lisa. Of course I was in a panic when I saw your post, because I worried that the author's ideas might parallel my own, or worse, rely heavily on my original research as published in my blog.

He does credit me, briefly, as early as 2012 promoting my theories... although it was not until about a year later that I completely embraced modern forgery as the likeliest outcome.

The hypotheses in the book, however, as to motivation for creation only tangentially touches on my own, and rarely overlaps with it. He does have some original ideas, though, which I don't entirely agree are plausible. And he heavily ties the idea of a forgery with Voynich's connections to the world of espionage. While the author does an admirable job in describing the world of cipher, spying, and even, forgery, I don't think he makes an adequate connection to the Voynich.

He does seem to use some of my original work, as I've published it (clear in cases when it appears no where else, and he does not cite the original sources), but he may have come to some of these conclusions on his own, too. But as he is relatively new to the field, he also missed a lot of forgery red meat... many details, which, if he knew of, he certainly would have included in his book.

But I consider this publication a shot over my bow... or, for a more modern phrase I'll coin on the spot, "that bullet nicked my ear". I really have to get to work, and finish my own damned book!

For those interested, who have bought Mr. Williams's book, they can read a brief overview of my own, somewhat differing hypothesis, here:

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Rich.

I was worried that he had in fact stolen your work, Rich.

(03-10-2024, 07:02 PM)LisaFaginDavis Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I was worried that he had in fact stolen your work, Rich.

Thanks, Lisa, that is very nice of you...

I suppose that, since I do post most of my findings, and thoughts, publicly, it should be expected that some things will show up in books, articles, blogs and so on. And I don't always explain that I found the thing, so it would also be normal for others to just assume "we always knew that". And still further, I can't always know the extent that the person has dug into things, themselves, so it is always possible that they found the same things I did, or others did.

There are a few clues that I was the source, but he couldn't have known they originated with me.

And also, he does have some original material I had not seen (or had forgotten?), but mostly relating to the biographies and activities of the Booles, and the Voynich's, Tiltman, Wellcome, and others. The author goes down different paths than I envisioned, and attempts to tie together Voynich's revolutionary (subversive?) activities with the creation of the manuscript as a forgery. I'm not sure that he did this convincingly, but others might want to read his book and decide for themselves. As for me, I've seen no such connection, and still don't.

I also admit I didn't read every word. I did skip over much of his histories of other famous forgers and forgeries, as I already am familiar with those. Likewise, I am familiar with Sidney Reilly, thanks to Andrew Cooke's book, and also with the Booles and Hintons, thanks to Kennedy (hi, Gerry!)... and so on. So I skimmed those parts, then focused on the core of his forgery hypothesis, to learn what it is comprised of... his why's and how's of a modern forgery. And it turns out we differ very much (whew!) from each other in what we think those why's and how's are. "When" we agree completely... he has it between 1908 and 1912 (of course), and I do, too... but with 1910/11 specifically. But this is his book, and of course he has his own opinions on all that.

The book may be an interesting addition to anyone's "Voynich Library", although not inexpensive. It is possible that it had an especial value to me, for obvious reasons... although I admit that, I think, I have every single publication on the Voynich! I think you boast such a collection, too, no? 

Rich.

My own collection of Voynichiana is definitely not comprehensive - I do have a very nice collection of novels featuring the manuscript, though!

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@Rich
Have you read the book? I haven't. The title seems to me more like a novel than a scientific treatise.
Similar to Illuminati, a lot of the details are there, but it's still a story that doesn't exist.

If I see it pop up in some other places I'll grab it and have a look through. Pretty niche though but I will try to find with my book finding magic.

(04-10-2024, 01:28 AM)LisaFaginDavis Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. I do have a very nice collection of novels featuring the manuscript, though!

Just going by the sensationalist title and description, I'm pretty sure this work belongs in that category.

This book proves exactly that:
1. Blogs are not the place to publish your novelty in research, because if you dig for years to obtain some truth in the field and publish your findings- there is a faster one who will cash on your ideas. And that is why all researchers and innovators are usually poor (only one example Nicola Tesla).
2. This  book  should be ordered into the science fiction compartments of all libraries. 
    The VM is a real ancient book. What about the ink and the physical material was it faked too? What about the plants- were they hoax too? And the pharmacy part with all the names of the roots? It reminds me of Fabrizio's F14v. Now he is profiting from the world known VM selling neckties with the image... 
 Good job to all sales managers!

The Voynich ms may or may not be a forgery - there is legitimate evidence weighing on both sides of the question. But in either case the matter is an outstanding question - not a certainty.
The fact that Williams is writing, based on his preface and free sample, as if there is no question on the matter is a huge red flag to me. (An absurd price for an ebook with apparently no print version is another.).
Perhaps he has presented some additional evidence beyond what SantaColomo has presented in his blogs and posts but his obviously ill-informed and biased position that is apparent from his preface makes me doubt the value of the book.