The Twilight of the Bombs

Richard Rhodes traces the history of atomic weapons from the beginning of the Cold War in 1945 to the present, including weapons currently in the Middle East. Not only does he use his vast vocabulary to spectacular effect, but he also demonstrates his knowledge of scientific concepts and an ability to express them in understandable terms. Unfortunately, he resorts to so many unfamiliar abbreviations and acronyms--such as IAEA and HEU--that listeners may sometimes feel outwitted. Narrator Robertson Dean finds no difficulty with any of the words. He pronounces all the Russian, Korean, and Arabic names as though they were his native language. He never mumbles and chooses just the right speed to maintain listener interest without bogging down or forcing anyone to back up and listen again. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine