"The writing is fast-paced and crisp, the stakes high and the tension palpable from the first pages of this high-flying account of the early days of the space race. . . ."
—Publishers Weekly[Hardcover edition starred review]

"One comes away not only entertained but informed."

—The Washington Post

"If there were any justice in the world of publishing, this spectacular and accessible history of the space race would be rocketing to the top of best-seller lists on audio. . . ."
—USA Today

This book tells the behind-the-scenes story of Sputnik, the first satellite launched into Earth orbit, and the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The story starts with the race for German technology, especially that of the German rocket scientists of WWII and moves through the beginning of the Cold War. The book offers a unique view of the geopolitics of the 1950s, and both history and space buffs will find it fascinating. However, the author tells the story in, at times, almost excruciating detail. This slows down the narration. Reader Charles Stransky is solid. He varies his tone and pace to good effect. And his pronunciation of Russian terms and names is crisp and clear. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine