Rocket Into Space
BLAST-OFF AT 0300. By Hugh Wal-
ters. 187 pp. New York: Criterion
Books. $3.50.
For Ages 12 to 16.
IN every boy's file of secret
daydreams there is one la-
beled "Son, Only You Can Help
Us." This theme has inspired
countless adventure stories, and
in "Blast-Off at 0300" author
Hugh Walters demonstrates its
continuing reliability - this time
in an English and Australian
setting.
Christopher Godfrey is 17
years old and is perhaps atypi-
cal in being less than five-
feet tall. Chris' height, cour-
age and his honor grades in
science qualify him for a very
special mission: he is to be
the first human to ride a rocket
into space. Sinister objects
have been spotted on the moon.
If Chris can keep the rocket's
instruments focused, the undis-
torted data thus gathered may
save the world from foreign
domination. Despite a somewhat
melodramatic climax, this is an
engrossing, fact-packed yarn
which, coming hot on the orbit-
ing heels of the earth satellites,
might well be echoed on tomor-
row's front pages. Pint-size
volunteers, one step forward.
ROBERT BERKVIST.