Written in the late sixties, this book envisions a space program slow to recover from the Apollo 1 fire. While Russia kept launching Sputniks, we put our effort into a science platform and later the Epsilon space station, the site of most of this novel.

After dropping you in media res (4 of the 8 crew dead), the novel flashes back to weeks earlier, when everything started. Along the way, the author introduces the multinational crew and their relationships through further flashbacks. At times this felt a little forced, a little clumsy. When the action starts, it rolls through the rest of the novel. It is favorably compared to The Andromeda Strain for a reason.

The ending happens suddenly. If you forgive the science holes, the novel makes for a nice thriller. I picked this and [b:Marooned|1368545|Marooned|Martin Caidin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1218214341l/1368545.SY75.jpg|1358375] up while looking for [b:Cyborg|1368516|Cyborg (Six Million Dollar Man #1)|Martin Caidin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1263156533l/1368516.SY75.jpg|1358346]. Based on this, I look forward to checking out Marooned soon.