Having served opposite Warsaw Pact forces in the 1950s and on Embassy duty in the 70s in Europe, the author offers a reasoned assessment of Britain's role in the so-called "nuclear club".

Albion, Vol 30, No 4 A straightforward account of the development of Britains nuclear capability that usefully summarizes the main themes covered in the literature. As a former military officer he writes clearly and systematically and has a sense of the meaning of some of the issues from inside government. Military Review, Mar/Apr 1999 As a history of Britains nuclear program, Paterson contribution clearly ensures him a place on the shelf among serious works of strategic scholarship. Contemporary British History, Vol 11, No 4, Winter 97 Patersons book is an extremely useful addition to the literature. Its main virtue - and it is a considerable one - is that Paterson has an ability to communicate complex technological issues clearly and simply. International Affairs, Vol 74, No 1, Jan 98 The historical overview of British nuclear policy is succenct and clearly written and the author provides a useful outline of the context for a contemporary debate. Air Power History, Vol 47, No 1, Jan 2000 For those interested in the complexities of formulating strategic and procurement decisions, this is an excellent book.