author

Jean LaPaz

Best known as the co-author of a clear, reader-friendly book about meteorites, this little-documented writer helped bring space science down to earth for general audiences. She also appears to have contributed artwork connected to her family's interest in unusual objects in the sky.

1 Audiobook

Space Nomads: Meteorites in Sky, Field, and Laboratory

Space Nomads: Meteorites in Sky, Field, and Laboratory

by Jean LaPaz, Lincoln LaPaz

About the author

Jean LaPaz is credited alongside Lincoln LaPaz on Space Nomads: Meteorites in Sky, Field, and Laboratory, first published in 1961 and later preserved by Project Gutenberg. Modern editions and listings also give her fuller name as Leota Jean LaPaz, though detailed biographical records about her life and career are hard to find.

What can be said with confidence is that her name remains attached to one of the more approachable popular books on meteoritics from its era. The book introduces readers to meteorites, how they are found and studied, and why they matter to science, suggesting a writer interested in making a specialized subject understandable to non-experts.

A few historical references also note that Mrs. Lincoln LaPaz created an illustration of a famous "green fireball" sighting discussed in Life magazine, which may point to Jean LaPaz's artistic side. Because published information about her is limited, it is safest to remember her primarily as a co-author who helped open up the world of meteorites to curious readers.