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A review by mary_soon_lee
Ignition!: An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants by John Drury Clark
4.0
This is a niche-interest book. Should you happen to be interested in the history of liquid rocket propellants, then this is absolutely the book for you. If you are interested in the history of the space program more generally, then it will likely also appeal. First published in 1972, it describes efforts to develop rocket propellants for military and space applications. These efforts are dryly described by the author, who was one of the key figures, and entail many unplanned explosions and a plethora of thoroughly noxious--if fascinating--chemicals. N.B. For a personal perspective on space history that is a little less niche, I'd recommend Gene Kranz's account "Failure is Not an Option."
I note that the tone of the book is rather dated, reflecting the era it describes. For instance, I spotted only one brief mention of a female chemist amid the plethora of men. The following highlight from chapter six should give you an idea of whether you would enjoy the book: "It [chlorine trifluoride] is, of course, extremely toxic, but that's the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water--with which it reacts explosively." In case there is any doubt, I liked this book and the glimpse into extreme chemistry that it provides.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I note that the tone of the book is rather dated, reflecting the era it describes. For instance, I spotted only one brief mention of a female chemist amid the plethora of men. The following highlight from chapter six should give you an idea of whether you would enjoy the book: "It [chlorine trifluoride] is, of course, extremely toxic, but that's the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water--with which it reacts explosively." In case there is any doubt, I liked this book and the glimpse into extreme chemistry that it provides.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).