Short, fast paced, and action packed. I initially discovered this book when searching the internet for information about the lost cosmonaut conspiracy which alleges, among other things, that the Russians sent more men into space than they admit to. The initial synopsis I read on the internet lead me to believe this would be a slow, heavy science fiction novel. I got a lot more than I bargained for and was pleasantly surprised. The novel is packed with conflict from the first chapter set in an orphanage with the main character struggling to stay alive to the fight to become an ace in the aerial battles in the skies over Korea to his final journey into space. This is the first novel I've read from the author and I was immediately impressed with his clean style. Even with the myriad to dense technical details this novel deals with it remains incredibly easy to read. The novel is also surprisingly quotable, with multiple minor characters routinely making profound statements which seem appropriate for the war time setting.The first synopsis I read on the internet ruined the ending for me. I won't recreate that here because I feel that the ending, and the main character's final series of decisions, is one of the highlights of the novel. The novel is short, I read it in two short sittings. It could easily be read in an afternoon. Among my complaints is the main character's ambivalence. At times he has little to no concern for himself but others he yearns for recognition of his achievements. His relationship with his wife and children is flat and rather strange. But in such a short novel where so much time is dedicated to action these are excusable. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes science fiction which is based in more in fact than fantasy and has at least a small interest in the Cold War or the space race.
Yefgenii Yeremin is orphaned by the Second World War, one of the few children to survive Stalingrad. He grows up with a world of kicks and punches in the casual brutality of an orphanage. There is a way out, but it is slight, only one child from all the orphanages in the area will get the opportunity of going to the academy to learn to fly. He makes it and becomes an ace flying MIGs against the Americans in Korea, but his achievements can never be recognised as officially the Soviets are not there. Exiled to Antarctica he and his wife live a lonely and harsh life, then as the Space Race takes off Russia are in need of an expert expendable pilot to try and land on the moon before the Americans do. Robin's stark blocky drawings with their muted colours illustrate this bleak sad tale beautifully, echoing the blunt brutality of the life of a brilliant man whose achievements can never be recognised. Not quite as brilliant as Nick Abadzis' Laika but another timely example of recovery of hidden and lost histories, a work that makes you think about our perception of the recent past. The names of great Americans such as Aldrin burn in our consciousness but there must have been equally brilliant Soviets who, apart from Gagarian, remain unnamed and lost so our histories must be incomplete.
What do You think about Ascent (2007)?
Despite the off putting orphanage scene at the beginning this is a good story well told, I'd give it 3.5 stars if that was possible.I am assuming the somewhat flat affect of the narration is designed to reflect the emotionally reined in nature of the protagonist. Then again this is the first novel of the author's I've read, being attracted to it because of the story and the enthusiastic recommendations in Amazon where I stumbled across it.One criticism - toward the end is a firestorm of unexplained space launch vehicle terms, a diagram and a glossary would have helped a lot. If you don't dig space tech then this long section may be a tough slog.
—gargamelscat
Interesting book - the main character is driven to the point of monomania, is basically a sociopath in many ways, but you can't help but feel for him and the way he is treated. It is an unusual insight into Russia at the height of the cold war years, as well as a fascinating insight into their involvement in the Korean War and the Space Race. While a novel, it rings deeply true, and just feels like it should be right. Some beautiful imagery elevates it above just another interesting story - I really enjoyed it.
—Alex Rogers
Difficult to decide how many stars to give this one. The story was gripping, the characterization was impeccable, and much of the writing was moving to the point of tears. But it needed a better editor, dammit. There's repetition that could have been excised without the book suffering, and a few phenomenally clunky phrases and repeated words that catapulted me out of the all-engrossing world of the book with an very ugly *thunk*. Sadly, this happened most in the third part of the book - the part that I was most interested in and would have been most captured by.This book has received rave reviews. I'm delighted that someone with talent wrote this particular story, and I applaud him for it. But overall, I don't think the book is quite as good as it's made out to be and I'm not sure I'd read future books by Mercurio, at least not unless I already had an interest in the subject matter. Hence the four stars. The man can write.
—Anna
