A warm profile of an unpretentious, significant scientist. . . . Levy's account notes the . . . comet/asteroid hunting conducted by Shoemaker and his wife, Carolyn, and he accents that with personal anecdotes from his own friendship and work with the couple. * Booklist *
Fellow comet hunter Levy . . . pens an affectionate portrait of his gifted if mercurial friend. . . . Readers will appreciate, in addition to its welcome memoir of Shoemaker, the book's overview of the development of planetary geology during the last half-century. * Publishers Weekly *
Levy's book should appeal to a wide range of readers, including not only scientists but also those seeking the personalities behind astronomy in the late 20th century.---Jay M. Pasachoff, Astronomy
David Levy's book has three main themes--biography, geology, and astronomy--neatly intertwined in a triple helix . . . Thanks to one of the most remarkable events in the entire history of astronomy, the names Shoemaker and Levy are now inextricably linked.---Arthur C. Clarke, Times Higher Education Supplement
Levy writes well, and his pacey style keeps his personal story bubbling along superbly. The book is everything a 'good read' should be.---David W. Hughes, Nature
David Levy . . . tells the story of Shoemaker's scientific odyssey with wit and panache.---Marcus Chown, New Scientist
This book is a wonderful read; it is very hard to put down once you start to flick through the pages, and it often brings a smile to your face. . . . The author covers so much of Shoemaker's life that the reader is taken through the most exciting periods in the history of planetary science, so not only do you get a biography of an inspirational man, but you get an inside view of the development of astrogeology from its creation to the present day. . . . Well written, fun, and a marvellous story of a man who made an impact on a subject that no other person is ever likely to be able to repeat.---Sarah Dunkin, The Observatory
This is a book for anyone interested in modern planetary sciences, in the progression and expansion of classical geology into, literally, other worlds. . . . Gene's brilliance, energy, wit, and his science show through in every chapter.---Susan W. Kieffer, Physics Today
[Levy] skillfully describes Shoemaker's work and sharply delineates his strong personality. * Scientific American *
