OPERATION COLUMBUS
by Hugh Walters
Faber and Faber 13s 6d
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HERE is the third book by Hugh
Walters, a pen name which hides the identity of Bro. Walter Hughes, a member of the Executive Council.
Like the two previous books, the
subject matter is bang up to date dealing as it does with rockets and space travel, and the author is remarkably well informed technically. If there are any technical defects it is difficult to detect them, and one can almost imagine that Hugh Walters has already made the space trips described.
The story deals with a journey to
the Moon by Chris Godfrey, and after a rather slow start the tale moves along with increasing tempo to a crescendo of excitement. Of course the Russians have their own ideas about moon travel and it is unfor- tunate for the hero that almost to the |
hour the Soviet send off a rival rocket
containing Serge Smyslov. Chris and Serge both arrive on the moon quite safely but it would spoil the effect for readers if we related what happened. Suffice to say that after some thrilling adventures the two space travellers forget their antagonism and by their combined efforts manage to return to earth. The story ends with the two cosily wrapped up in a Russian hospital.
As we have said the book is
remarkable for its seeming accuracy, and we understand that a fourth book has just been completed, with a fifth on the way by the same author.
As the author is also a member of
the Study Group is augers well for the future policy of the Order; it could very well do with some of the advanced thinking so graphically displayed in Operation Columbus |