Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb

Jim Ottaviani communicates both scientific and historical fact in a comic book way. I usually shun the reading of graphic novels, as most of them communicate nothing more than good story line with little literary skill involved in its text. However, I will read Ottaviani because, whereas he does communicate through a graphic novel, he communicates fact and he does it very well. Fallout is no exception to his writing talent. I would heavily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys graphic novels and I would recommend this book to one who do not enjoy graphic novels. This book is a superbly written with very good pictures. Without a doubt this book scores a five out of five and the author scores a five out of five as well. Along with Alan Moore, Jim Ottaviani is one of the best graphic novelists.

I really like this author, Suspended in Language was amazing as well as Feynman. But this book was just ok. I would of liked to learn more of the process and physics of making the bomb. But it is an amazing story. I reccomend Trinity. A graphic novel on the same subject.

Just received this book, haven't read it yet. I find it hard to believe that this copy of "Fallout" is a NEW book (which is what I paid for). The back and front covers have worn, curled edges and bent corners. Amazon's return/replacement link will only offer me a refund, not a replacement = not happy.

Got this for our 11 yr old son who loves physics and he really enjoyed it. He finished it quickly, so I was a little concerned that he was just skimming but he remembered details about the scientists and events and it inspired him to do a little more research on his own. Love the personal details about the scientists.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Initially I bought it intending to use for an 8th grade classroom, but upon reading found the content and writing style to be more academically mature - a greater level of basic understanding of the background issues is assumed, and the historical aspects of Oppenheimer's trial were nicely portrayed in my opinion with use of actual documents and such. So in a way I was pleasantly surprised to find that the novel was a bit over the head of my students and intended for a HS-level and above audience. The illustrations are nice and while there of course is plenty of info that was not included that I'm curious about, the authors had to pick and choose and I think they've done a fantastic job. A quick and fun read.

Although Fallout is in a comic book format it is serious history. The portraits are accurate. The events leading up to the bomb are covered in depth. The account of the government's digraceful treatment of Oppenheimer is chilling, reminding us of how the people at the top here were much like the leaders in the USSR.

Fallout tells the back story of the development of the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb. The story focuses on Leo Szilard, a German scientist trying to outrace the Nazis, and Robert Oppenheimer, who led the project. Told by several graphics artist , each with a different style, the story tries to capture the complex blend of personalities who contributed to build the bomb. Oppenheimer is cool, refined and unflappable. Szilard is a ball of fire, running to and fro behind the scenes to get political support for the bomb and to procure graphite or uranium oxide for the tests. Enrico Fermi is aloof, detached and territorial, upset about Szilard's machinations, but wholly dependent on them. The story is fascinating and ultimately turns tragic, as America, newly victorious in the war, starts to turn its suspicions on its own loyal citizens, including Oppenheimer. The book loses a star for a several reasons. The change in style from one artist to another made it hard to keep track of the characters. Then, too, many of the more interesting parts of the story were found in the Notes section. For instance, when lugging graphite blocks (used to build the reactor in Chicago) became too much for the pencil-pushing scientists, burly football players were enlisted to help. You would have to be psychic to figure this out from the drawings. There were many other instances in which the drawings did not communicate the story very well. In one three-panel section, Albert Einstein is shown thinking about whether to urge President Roosevelt to build the bomb. The Notes tell us that Einstein, a pacifist, was considering the political, moral and scientific aspects of his advice. But without the notes, who would know? And another irritation: the hearings on Oppenheimer's loyalty were flanked by long excerpts from letters written by the Commission and by Opp's lawyer. However interesting it was, I found it odd that a graphic novel relied so heavily on printed materials to tell its story. Misgivings aside, I found the story interesting and (once I had information from the Notes section) very enlightening. "Fallout" brings to light some of the varied personalities who had to work together to imagine and to construct the bomb, and the personal cost that was borne by some of the participants.

great product

Basée sur l'histoire vraie de la génèse de la bombe atomique, ceci est une excellente reflexion sur la place de la science dans notre société. Traité sous la forme du roman graphique, fourmillant de détails sur les caractères des personnages clés de cette entreprise (Fermi, Szilard, Oppenheimer, Gal Groves, President Roosevelt, etc.) ce livre en anglais se lit et se relit avec un grand plaisir. Highly recommended!!!

I didn't realise that this was a cartoon and was at first inclined to return it (there was no clear information on the web page that this was a comic that I remember). However more so than most 'serious' books it does give a more accurate story The idea for "chain reaction" came to Leo Szilard, the letter to the President was signed by Einstein, but written by Szilard. Much of the scientific thinking came from Szilard and it was he who fought to ban the bomb afterwards. In reality Szilard is the greatest scientist ever not Einstein, but, hey, who's going to change a myth? So I quite liked this comic though the art work is crude and some times puzzling.