Reflections of a Nuclear Weaponeer by Frank Shelton

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 372

Is it even possible to find a copy of this book? I've heard it's expensive.

Forum Admin Joined: Aug 06, 2006 Posts: 1631 Location: UK

I once saw a copy available on Amazon for over $1000. I would love to have a copy but I believe it is even rarer and more expensive now. There is a service within the national library system here in the UK, where you can get access to rare books held at any other library in the country. They searched but said there were no copies in the country.

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 372

Well I'm going to keep trying to find a copy. Don't want to pay $2000 for one though.

Hilarious... I'm currently watching The Ninth Gate.

Forum Admin Joined: Aug 06, 2006 Posts: 1631 Location: UK

Signed first edition, curent price $1000

Fleabay

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Jun 14, 2009 Posts: 405

Why is this book so hard to find, and so expensive?

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 372

sonicbomb wrote:

Signed first edition, curent price $1000

Fleabay

That would have been a good one since it was signed as well.

Since I'm freelance and not fulltime I going to have to wait if I'm going to spend that kind of money.

Is Frank still alive? I thought I'd heard that he passed but I could be wrong.

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 372

Looks like this didn't sell. I see no bids. Damn I hate having no money.

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Jun 14, 2009 Posts: 405

I have done a search in a few local librarys of books about nuclear weapons. There are quite a few, I never realized existed, I wonder if there is a possiblity this book by Frank Shelton, would maybe be at a library? I took out several books about Camp X, and also a book about Canada's involvement with nuclear weapons. There were several of those, pretty interesting as you never really find that information even online. I haven't been to a library in a long time, so I was truly amazed. Too much relying on the internet.

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 372

My search turned up 5 copies in various libraries in the US. The closest one to me is in St. Louis.

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Jun 14, 2009 Posts: 405

Oh wow. I'll look harder I have only been to a few in my town. I noticed that on the Chapters/Indigo website they did have it at one point, but now unavailable.

What about his other book, Reflections of The Big Red Bomb, what is the story on that?
I desperately would love both one day.

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Jun 14, 2009 Posts: 405

I contacted the library at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and they cannot even help find these books. They told me to ask libraries. The only library I have been able to find "Reflections of a Nuclear Weaponeer", is in a library at the University of Oregon, in a special section, where you cannot take the book out, you are only able to read it on campus. I contacted Michael Light, author of 100 Suns, about where he found his copy, he suggested contacting their bookstore. They do not have one, and there is no link to one on their site, but I think he meant a historical book store, that is somewhat associated with the laboratory but not directly, and they do indeed have this book. The Otowi Station bookstore.

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 372

Does anyone know if Frank Shelton is still alive?

Cherokee (3.8 mt) Joined: Jun 14, 2009 Posts: 405

I've had 3 people from LANL e-mail me back already this morning, and none of them barely know anything about him, let alone any nuclear weaponeer and they have no idea if he is alive or deceased. I find that quite astonishing and very sad.
One guy even walked into their library and found the book a few hours, but obviously it is their copy. He may even read it now, after responding t my e-mail.

Now the books were published under Shelton Enterprises Inc in Colorado Springs, and he also wrote a third book about his family geneaology, but you cannot find any information about the organization anywhere.

Baker (23 kt) Joined: Feb 01, 2009 Posts: 32

hmm, I recall finding this book when searching for "nuclear weaponeer". That must be the brown book laying near Frank when he speaks in TAB. He has written other books as well, like "Reflections on the big red bombs".

Fizzle Joined: Jan 30, 2010 Posts: 2

This is the book sitting near him in the movie. I picked up a copy at Otowi Bookstore in Los Alamos a few years ago, and am sure glad I did. I never imagined it would be so rare. It's not the most riveting writing style, but it has a huge amount of detail about a lot of nuclear test series. It is the thickest, heaviest book I own.

In grad school many years ago, a guy had several nuke books that he sold for something like $30, so I picked up a pristine copy of Hansen's U.S. Nuclear Weapons, and the '73 edition of Effects of Nuclear Weapons by Glasstone and Dolan, which have both also become rarities. All of these books are worth seeking out. I can't believe the only copy of Shelton I've seen for sale is one copy on Amazon, autographed, for $2k.