THIS enjoyable, insightful and well-researched romp through the solar system underlines the successes of the early space age while lamenting the transition from the money-is-no-object space race to today’s parsimonious space dawdle. Despite this, we are now beginning to fathom the natural history of the planets. Corfield’s emphasis is on the huge benefits of comparative planetology, a scientific discipline less than two decades old that allows us to appreciate the different natures of the planets, and helps us better understand the history and possible future of our own.
Lives of the Planets
Basic Books
