Atomic Adventures – Secret Islands, Forgotten N-Rays, and Isotopic Murder: A Journey into the Wild World of Nuclear Science

"A rewarding book. H.G. Wells would have been fascinated by Atomic Adventures, especially by the ways its cast of scientists-who range from authentic experts to the shadiest of con artists-have tried to make use of atomic energy in war and in peace. Mahaffey, a former research scientist at Georgia Tech, is a knowledgeable narrator who plainly loves his subject. He knows how to tell a good story and, no less important, has an eye for unfamiliar and revealing details. An enlightening read." -- The Wall Street Journal "In some ways, Atomic Adventures is reminiscent of historian Richard Rhodes's book The Making of the Atomic Bomb. But Mahaffey offers more than just history. He sets out to teach his readers about the science behind the stories. In a culture fixated on accomplishment, it's important to talk about the things that didn't work. What Atomic Adventures does well is to celebrate the full arc of science: the good, the bad, and the quirky." -- Science "Did you mourn the ending of Simon Winchester's Pacific? Fret no longer, the companion is here, and it's no less filled with batty geniuses who want to power the world with a scary mixture of nuclear energy and hubris. Stellar nonfiction." -- Booklist (starred) "Irresistible." -- Publishers Weekly (starred) "A gloriously nerdy tour of atomic research." -- Nature "Delivers an expert, equally amusing chronicle of the wide world of nuclear science. Mahaffey's account is not the first but definitely the funniest." -- Kirkus Reviews "Although the atomic craze peaked in the mid-20th century, the topic continues to fascinate, and Mahaffey has tapped into the excitement." -- Library Journal