Ascent - Hardcover

Mercurio, Jed; Robins, Wesley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0224090798 ISBN 13: 9780224090797

Publisher: Jonathan Cape, 2011

Synopsis

Yefgenii Yeremin is a flyer and he is a phantom.

In the Korean War, he is the legendary ace dubbed 'Ivan the Terrible', shooting down more American jets than any other pilot in history. But the Soviet Union's involvement in Korea must be kept secret, so Yefgenii is exiled to a remote Arctic base, his name unknown, his victories uncelebrated.

Years later, and long forgotten, Yefgenii Yeremin is called upon one final time. With America about to launch Apollo 11, he is sent on the most perilous mission of all. At last he has his chance to write his name into the history books...

Ascent is an exhilarating story, beautifully rendered, and a thrilling new addition to the Cape graphic novel list.

About this title

Review:

"What follows is nothing short of epic... Robin's drawings of Yeremin's journey, in sombre shades of blue, black and grey, are truly haunting: the contours of his cheekbones; the waterless, windless surface of his destination. Bedtime moon-gazing will never be quite the same again." (The Observer)

"It's graphic novels such as Ascent that truly make the medium come alive as a form of storytelling ... Ascent is utterly gripping." (Dog Ear Discs Blog)

"Mercurio's writing has a grim, understated poetry, and illustrator Robins takes us from Korean dogfights to the silence of a Soviet rocket with effortless skill." (Shortlist)

"A hugely enjoyable adventure story...the book builds towards a climax of truly mind-bending peril." (Dazed and Confused)

"Nothing short of stunning: Mercutio and Robins have done a superb job of translating the novel into this format, preserving what was so good about the book and dynamically enhancing it." (Ben Johncock)

From the Publisher:

A truly stunning novel – spare, powerful and ultimately awesome – Ascent will propel Jed Mercurio into the first rank of British novelists.

About this edition

• Publisher: Jonathan Cape
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0224090798
• ISBN 13: 9780224090797
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 120