Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima

Preston writes widely in the genre of historical nonfiction, but not always in the realm of science. In <em>Before the Fallout</em>, Preston explores the "human chain reaction" that led to the nuclear fission bomb, beginning in 1898 with Marie Curie’s discovery of radium and its connection to atomic energy, and ending with the atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima. The book features key players like Albert Einstein, Hitler, and Robert Oppenheimer, and also highlights lesser-known scientists who contributed to the incredibly fast development of atomic technology.