"Ignition!" by John Drury Clark is a compelling dive into the fiery heart of the Cold War's most explosive challenge: the quest for a reliable rocket propellant to launch humanity into the cosmos. With a narrative as combustible as the chemicals it describes, Clark, a revered scientist and sci-fi writer, delivers an exhilarating blend of memoir and history. This book not only charts the technical evolution of rocket fuel but also captures the human drama behind the scenes, where rival laboratories pushed the boundaries of knowledge—and safety—to fuel mankind's extraterrestrial aspirations. Through Clark's eyewitness account, readers are transported to an era of unparalleled innovation and danger, where the stakes were nothing less than the stars themselves. "Ignition!" reveals the unsung heroes and eccentric geniuses who, through a mix of intellect, perseverance, and sheer recklessness, overcame the gravitational pull of Earth to touch the face of the moon. This classic work, cherished by space enthusiasts and technology moguls alike, is now available for a new generation eager to explore the volatile mixture of science, ambition, and rivalry that propelled humanity into the space age.