(Reviewed by J.A.L. Robertson, drawing on material provided by F.P. Blackstein, D.H. Charlesworth, M.F. Duret, A.T. Jeffs, H.B. Newcombe, J.F. Palmer and G.P.L. Williams, all of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River, Ontario)
This is a well written and very readable book on an important subject, available at a reasonable price. The author obviously has a thorough knowledge of his subject and possesses a well trained gift for explaining technical matters clearly. Part I, The World of Nuclear Fission, illustrated where appropriate with simple diagrams, provides an excellent account of various reactor types and their fuel cycles.
The author declares his affiliation with the UK's Friends of the Earth, but does not mention that this group and he himself actively oppose nuclear power. When compared with many other anti-nuclear publications Nuclear Power seems very factual and fair. Indeed, there are very few and only minor errors of fact throughout the whole book. However, this alone is not sufficient for a book aimed at introducing a complex subject to the concerned reader. Such a reader is unable to judge innuendo, omissions, emphasis and selectivity. While no single instance is very dramatic the totality of the distortions is appalling.
One of Patterson's techniques is to deal at length with criticisms of nuclear power then, in a semblance of fairness, to throw in an ill presented and abridged counter argument. Patterson does not even go that far in discussing weapons proliferation and threats of terrorism (pp. 242-256), subjects that deserve better treatment in view of current public concerns.
The critique is divided into the following sections:
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