- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd; First Edition edition (8 Mar 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0224072862
- ISBN-13: 978-0224072861
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 13.6 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 683,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Ascent
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More About the Author
Product Description
Saturday Guardian
'Ascent is storytelling of a high calibre, fully imagined, finely
crafted.'
crafted.'
Angela Cooke, Daily Express
"Ascent is a page turning story of a man's ambition to be the very
best. Based on real events and using real people, it places this fictitious
character in a period when space itself was there for the taking.
Beautifully written, it's a book that deserves to be read"
best. Based on real events and using real people, it places this fictitious
character in a period when space itself was there for the taking.
Beautifully written, it's a book that deserves to be read"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I seldom buy hard-cover fiction at full price. Having said that, I made an exception as the reviews of "Ascent" that I've seen or heard were uniformly enthusiastic - not that uniformity of opinion is a guarantee of anything. I purchased "Cloud Atlas" on a similar impulse, having forgotten that I grew weary of science-fiction by the age of 16, which was some time ago. But I've always been a bit of an aviation enthusiast, even if falling some distance short of the anorak-y, so I stumped up the full cover price for "Ascent".
It's as good as the reviews suggested, written in a sparse and transparent style that's completely appropriate to its subject matter. Jed Mercurio's decision (what a name!) to use technical vocabulary and associated acronyms without recourse to footnotes, glossary or explanatory digression is a bold move which may irritate some readers, but which only adds authenticity to what is, in general terms, a very convincing story.
Which makes a couple of plot points stand out as all the more implausible. Firstly, during air combat in Korea a pilot is said to have been hit in the leg by a ".22" bullet from another aircraft: yet another occurrence in the venerable tradition of the "minor flesh wound"... I haven't checked this out but it seems more than unlikely that such ammunition, more suitable for use on rats at close range, has ever been used in aircraft weapons. In early WW2, even the eight .303 guns used on some British fighters were quickly seen to be underpowered.
The second implausibility is the "push" which the hero imparts to his colleague's fighter after it runs out of fuel. Well, maybe. It's one way of generating a bit of necessary thrust to the plot, but it sounds absurd to me.
The characterisation of Yevgenii, the central character, is skilfully handled too. An essentially cold, orphaned individual, emotionally crippled beyond repair in an early childhood, is a difficult character for whom to create empathy, but the author pulls it off wonderfully, particularly in his evocation of Yevgenii's relationship with his almost equally damaged wife. It's hard to see many women readers being attracted to this novel on the basis of its overt subject matter, so it's a relief to see that at least one woman reviewer here has enjoyed what's liable to be seen as an archetypal "boys' book".
There are many other good things about the book. As an example of "counter-factual" fiction, frequently a doomed undertaking, it could hardly be bettered. Its handling of the human relationships within the Soviet military / scientific bureaucracy is both a convincing depiction of utilitarian callousness and an acknowledgement of human resilience and loyalty.
Despite minor criticisms "Ascent" is a brilliant novel which, like another reviewer, I could hardly bear to put down. I wish it had been a little longer.
It's as good as the reviews suggested, written in a sparse and transparent style that's completely appropriate to its subject matter. Jed Mercurio's decision (what a name!) to use technical vocabulary and associated acronyms without recourse to footnotes, glossary or explanatory digression is a bold move which may irritate some readers, but which only adds authenticity to what is, in general terms, a very convincing story.
Which makes a couple of plot points stand out as all the more implausible. Firstly, during air combat in Korea a pilot is said to have been hit in the leg by a ".22" bullet from another aircraft: yet another occurrence in the venerable tradition of the "minor flesh wound"... I haven't checked this out but it seems more than unlikely that such ammunition, more suitable for use on rats at close range, has ever been used in aircraft weapons. In early WW2, even the eight .303 guns used on some British fighters were quickly seen to be underpowered.
The second implausibility is the "push" which the hero imparts to his colleague's fighter after it runs out of fuel. Well, maybe. It's one way of generating a bit of necessary thrust to the plot, but it sounds absurd to me.
The characterisation of Yevgenii, the central character, is skilfully handled too. An essentially cold, orphaned individual, emotionally crippled beyond repair in an early childhood, is a difficult character for whom to create empathy, but the author pulls it off wonderfully, particularly in his evocation of Yevgenii's relationship with his almost equally damaged wife. It's hard to see many women readers being attracted to this novel on the basis of its overt subject matter, so it's a relief to see that at least one woman reviewer here has enjoyed what's liable to be seen as an archetypal "boys' book".
There are many other good things about the book. As an example of "counter-factual" fiction, frequently a doomed undertaking, it could hardly be bettered. Its handling of the human relationships within the Soviet military / scientific bureaucracy is both a convincing depiction of utilitarian callousness and an acknowledgement of human resilience and loyalty.
Despite minor criticisms "Ascent" is a brilliant novel which, like another reviewer, I could hardly bear to put down. I wish it had been a little longer.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The writer behind the brilliant "Cardiac Arrest" and "Bodies" shows here that he is more than a Robin Cook with grit. I had the feeling that Jed Mercurio might be a one-trick pony before I read this, but "Ascent" shows that the writer has breadth beyond expectations.
The book follows the career of Yefgenii Yeremin from bullied, abused Stalingrad orphan to pioneering cosmonaut via flying MIG15s in the Korean War. Yeremin spends his whole life achieving heroic feats but is always unrecognised due to the shadowy politics of Soviet Russia. He is everyman and nobody. A hero of his times yet utterly anonymous. His yearning for success in everything that he does is attempted merely as a challenge to himself. His actions right up to the lonely finale show that it is the deed that is important and not the recognition that goes with it. In a way this is a beautiful refutation of today's shallow instant celebrity culture. Whether Jed Mercurio meant this I don't know - but that's how it comes across to me.
The narrative is simply presented without complicating side plots making "Ascent" an easy and enjoyable read. It's style reminds me of anothe great book from late last year, Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It is a bleak portrait of human life, warts and all - I guess in that way it IS similar to "Bodies".
I'd highly recommend this book, it's a moving portrayal of one man's battle with his own demons to prove that he is the best. Great buy!
The book follows the career of Yefgenii Yeremin from bullied, abused Stalingrad orphan to pioneering cosmonaut via flying MIG15s in the Korean War. Yeremin spends his whole life achieving heroic feats but is always unrecognised due to the shadowy politics of Soviet Russia. He is everyman and nobody. A hero of his times yet utterly anonymous. His yearning for success in everything that he does is attempted merely as a challenge to himself. His actions right up to the lonely finale show that it is the deed that is important and not the recognition that goes with it. In a way this is a beautiful refutation of today's shallow instant celebrity culture. Whether Jed Mercurio meant this I don't know - but that's how it comes across to me.
The narrative is simply presented without complicating side plots making "Ascent" an easy and enjoyable read. It's style reminds me of anothe great book from late last year, Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It is a bleak portrait of human life, warts and all - I guess in that way it IS similar to "Bodies".
I'd highly recommend this book, it's a moving portrayal of one man's battle with his own demons to prove that he is the best. Great buy!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was drawn to Ascent having read Jed Mercurio's rather brilliant first novel BODIES. I don't think I would have picked this book otherwise. I also saw NEWSNIGHT REVIEW where they did a huge rave and a great review in The Guardian.
Ascent surprised me in many ways. It is an incredible story - better even than Bodies and I read it in one sitting which I have never done before! It is a devasting story on so many levels but strangely up-lifting too. It should be on every book clubs' reading list and I am sure it will be one of those word-of-mouth award winners too.
Ascent surprised me in many ways. It is an incredible story - better even than Bodies and I read it in one sitting which I have never done before! It is a devasting story on so many levels but strangely up-lifting too. It should be on every book clubs' reading list and I am sure it will be one of those word-of-mouth award winners too.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
first man on the moon
Based on a novel this graphic novel is well worth grabbing. Artwork is more sketch than linear, good plot enough names to make you look at a time from Ivan POV.
Published 24 days ago by john harris
Bleak but rather moving
When reading this I had no prior knowledge of Jed Mercurio's work. I used to read a lot of graphic novels however and this looked interesting enough to give a try. Read more
Published 3 months ago by K. Galvin
Ultimately dreary
The general premise is that of a forgotten hero, whose exploits are secret and whose desire to be a hero ultimately pushes him towards greater sacrifice. Read more
Published 5 months ago by David Burton
An OK adaptation of a fantastic novel
This is a graphic novel adaptation of Jed Mercurio's magnificent `Ascent', the bleak story of an orphaned, bullied Soviet child Yefgenii Yeremin who ascends above all others in his... Read more
Published 6 months ago by V. Warrington
A beautiful story retold in Graphic Novel form
The story of Yefgenii Yeremin is a sad one, but one that also has a sense of achievement and spirit that will stay with you. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Paul B
Beautifully illustrated - but not what I expected at all.
I loved the Graphic Novel Artwork in this but the story was not what I expected at all.
A very sad story of a Russian orphan called Yefgenii Yeremin who suffer abuse as... Read more
A very sad story of a Russian orphan called Yefgenii Yeremin who suffer abuse as... Read more
Published 7 months ago by I. Mcintosh
Fails to reach the stars
I hadn't realised until I read this review that 'Ascent' is a graphic reworking of Mercurio's 2007 novel of the same name. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Quicksilver
Dogfights and Dogma
Superficially about dogfights and dogma, this is really a story about the power of fame and the desire for recognition. Read more
Published 8 months ago by The Kinniburgh Kid
Sparse but hard-hitting
I wasn't sure if I liked this book until I'd finished it. The art style is very muted and bare, and the text is sparse at best. Read more
Published 8 months ago by LOTHAR
Ascent?
This is a well produced and printed graphic novel. However this isn't your run-of-the-mill superhero graphic novel, it's about a soviet pilot and his life story. Read more
Published 8 months ago by TheRedBlueBlur
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