About this Item
First impression of the first UK edition, published in 1960 by Macgibbon & Kee. The book was originally published in the USA by Basic Books under the title "Fallout". Illustrated throughout with monochrome photographs, maps and charts. ***Near fine in black cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still bright and fresh. The boards are clean and unmarked. There are two small bumps to the boards, on the top edge of the front board and the bottom edge of the back board. Corners sharp. No creases. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also near fine - the pages are clean and uncreased. No ownership inscriptions. No foxing. No creases or tears. ***In a near fine black printed dustwrapper, which is not price-clipped, and retains the original publisher's printed price of 18s. net. The dustwrapper is complete without any loss. There is some wear and creasing to the edges, especially at the head and tail of the spine. The white back panel is marked through age and handling. However, there are no tears, no chips and no fading. (Please see scans) ***222mm x145mm. 235 pages including Appendices, Glossary and Index at the back of the book. ***Contents: Foreword, Introduction, 1. The Bombs and Their Products, 2. The Global Pattern of Fallout, 3. From Bomb to Man, 4. The Rising Level of Fallout, 5. Biological Effects of Radiation, 6. Radiation and Future Generations, 7. Radiation accidents, 8. Protection and Treatment, 9. Civil Defense, 10. Detection of Bomb Tests, 11. Nuclear War, 12. National Survival, Appendices A. Fundamentals of radiation, B. Fission and Fusion, C. List of Nuclear Explosions, D. Casualties in a Nuclear Attack, Glossary, Index. ***'This is the first book of its kind--a balanced and understandable account of nuclear weapons and the multitude of hazards they have created for mankind. Written by the scientists who have been investigating super-bombs and their effects, it presents a factual appraisal of the radiation dangers arising from bomb testing, of the negotiations among the nuclear powers to control the weapons race, and of man's chances of escaping nuclear annihilation. How serious is the fall-out hazard--to ourselves and our children? What would a nuclear war be like? What are the issues that have stalemated the international negotiations on the control of such weapons? Examining the available facts with scientific detachment, eleven leading authorities show them in their true perspective. Their book is a landmark of clear thinking on a subject which has been vastly confused in the public mind by political propaganda, passionate opinions and wildly contradictory statements, official and otherwise. The authors weigh the contamination of our food by fall-out from past bomb tests, forecast how high the levels of contamination will rise in the coming years, and estimate what this is likely to mean in terms of disease, shortening of life, and genetic effects in future generations. They go on to describe in detail the results of a hypothetical nuclear war: how heavily each city in the United States would be hit in such an attack, how many casualties, what sort of shelter one would need to live through the attack, what life would be like afterward. In their concluding chapters the authors explain the technical questions at issue on the negotiations on banning bomb tests and offer constructive proposals for a solution. Here is a remarkably illuminating book--a primer on the hopeful aspects, as well as the hazards, of our nuclear future.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A first impression of the first UK edition - an uncommon book in near fine condition. Published during the height of the Cold War. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate. Seller Inventory # 7763
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