Ascent
Published on 1. September 2011
Book
Hardback
120 pages
978-0-224-09079-7 (ISBN)
Description
Yefgenii Yeremin is a flyer and he is a phantom.
In the Korean War, he is the legendary ace dubbed 'Ivan the Terrible', shooting down more American jets than any other pilot in history. But the Soviet Union's involvement in Korea must be kept secret, so Yefgenii is exiled to a remote Arctic base, his name unknown, his victories uncelebrated.
Years later, and long forgotten, Yefgenii Yeremin is called upon one final time. With America about to launch Apollo 11, he is sent on the most perilous mission of all. At last he has his chance to write his name into the history books...
Ascent is an exhilarating story, beautifully rendered, and a thrilling new addition to the Cape graphic novel list.
In the Korean War, he is the legendary ace dubbed 'Ivan the Terrible', shooting down more American jets than any other pilot in history. But the Soviet Union's involvement in Korea must be kept secret, so Yefgenii is exiled to a remote Arctic base, his name unknown, his victories uncelebrated.
Years later, and long forgotten, Yefgenii Yeremin is called upon one final time. With America about to launch Apollo 11, he is sent on the most perilous mission of all. At last he has his chance to write his name into the history books...
Ascent is an exhilarating story, beautifully rendered, and a thrilling new addition to the Cape graphic novel list.
Reviews / Votes
What follows is nothing short of epic... Robin's drawings of Yeremin's journey, in sombre shades of blue, black and grey, are truly haunting: the contours of his cheekbones; the waterless, windless surface of his destination. Bedtime moon-gazing will never be quite the same again. * The Observer * It's graphic novels such as Ascent that truly make the medium come alive as a form of storytelling ... Ascent is utterly gripping. * Dog Ear Discs Blog * Mercurio's writing has a grim, understated poetry, and illustrator Robins takes us from Korean dogfights to the silence of a Soviet rocket with effortless skill. * Shortlist * A hugely enjoyable adventure story...the book builds towards a climax of truly mind-bending peril. * Dazed and Confused * Nothing short of stunning: Mercutio and Robins have done a superb job of translating the novel into this format, preserving what was so good about the book and dynamically enhancing it. * Ben Johncock *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 12 to 17 years
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 191 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
645 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-224-09079-7 (9780224090797)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Jed Mercurio (Author)
Jed Mercurio trained at the University of Birmingham Medical School and practised as a junior doctor before becoming a full-time writer in 1994. As a writer, producer and director his TV credits include the highly successful shows Cardiac Arrest, Bodies, Line of Duty and Bodyguard, as well as adaptions of Frankenstein and Lady Chatterley's Lover. He has been described by the Telegraph as 'the most successful writer working in television today' and by the Independent as 'the master of British Drama'.
Mercurio is the author of three novels. His first novel, Bodies, was chosen as one of the five best debuts of 2002 by the Guardian. In 2007 Mercurio published his second novel, Ascent, the story of a fictional Soviet fighter pilot and cosmonaut set against the background of the Korean War and the Space Race. Ascent was included in the Guardian's list of '1000 Novels Everyone Must Read' and a graphic novelization, illustrated by Wesley Robins, was published in 2011. Mercurio's most recent novel, Amercian Adulterer, a fictionalization of President John F. Kennedy's infidelities, was published in 2009.
Wesley Robins (Author)
Wesley Robins is an illustrator and winner of the Macmillan Prize for Children's Book Illustration. He is from London.
Jed Mercurio trained at the University of Birmingham Medical School and practised as a junior doctor before becoming a full-time writer in 1994. As a writer, producer and director his TV credits include the highly successful shows Cardiac Arrest, Bodies, Line of Duty and Bodyguard, as well as adaptions of Frankenstein and Lady Chatterley's Lover. He has been described by the Telegraph as 'the most successful writer working in television today' and by the Independent as 'the master of British Drama'.
Mercurio is the author of three novels. His first novel, Bodies, was chosen as one of the five best debuts of 2002 by the Guardian. In 2007 Mercurio published his second novel, Ascent, the story of a fictional Soviet fighter pilot and cosmonaut set against the background of the Korean War and the Space Race. Ascent was included in the Guardian's list of '1000 Novels Everyone Must Read' and a graphic novelization, illustrated by Wesley Robins, was published in 2011. Mercurio's most recent novel, Amercian Adulterer, a fictionalization of President John F. Kennedy's infidelities, was published in 2009.
Wesley Robins (Author)
Wesley Robins is an illustrator and winner of the Macmillan Prize for Children's Book Illustration. He is from London.