Customer Reviews

Smithsonian Atlas of Space Exploration

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I've been waiting for a book like this for many years. This book covers its subject much more thoroughly and beautifully than any of its predecessors in the field. Whatever is covered within is covered well. As a fan of space exploration I only regret that certain subjects were given short shrift, such as the astronauts' and cosmonauts' identities and careers.

Having finally bought a copy of the book that inspired me in my youth, "History of Rocketry and Space Travel", I wondered upon seeing this book if it might somehow fill a similar niche a half century later.

In a word, "no".

To begin with, it is not an "Atlas" in any sense of the word I am familiar with. It is closer to being an encyclopedia, although arranged thematically rather than alphabetically. It covers many topics, generally in two, occasionally in four, pages. As such, there is no narrative flow, and everything seems condensed to fit the format. Well, maybe not the pictures. It's all about pictures nowadays, isn't it? Why waste paper on actual words?

The early history is weak in this volume, although they throw in topics like ancient observatories which don't really fit the subject. There is actually more on pop culture, which seems overdone. And the focus leans heavily toward America in space; I'm a pretty red-blooded American, but a history/survey like this should try to be dispassionate.

I don't have a problem with anything that is in the book, I just think it could have been a lot better. Maybe the Smithsonian sees its role as catering to 30 second attention spans; I think it should aim higher.