The Star Builders

“Thoughtful and illuminating….In the end, The Star Builders is realistic and positive—an interesting snapshot of the current situation and key players.” 
—Nature

“An expert account of the immense international research effort to develop practical nuclear fusion...Important, high-quality popular science.”  
—Kirkus Reviews 

“In an impressively reported debut, plasma physicist Turrell surveys the global development of nuclear fusion as an energy source… Readers will find plenty of answers—and optimism—about the future of fusion here.” 
—Publishers Weekly 

"A gobsmackingly good read...Turrell's portraits of the undaunted star-building sientists who are trying to make fusion a reality are not just compelling but, dare I say it, fun. I learned a lot by reading this book. You will, too."
—Robert Bryce, author of A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations

“Visionary thinkers have sketched a future of sustainable abundance based on skillful use of nuclear fusion, the process that powers the stars.  Can we get there?  How?  When?  The Star Builders surveys this vibrant frontier of science and technology clearly and realistically.  It brings a timely, hopeful message.”
—Frank Wilczek, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and author of Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Reality

“Whether you believe fusion will save the planet or not, everyone should know about it. If you don’t, The Star Builders is a great place to start….[Turrell] describes conversations with the scientists and engineers who devote their entire careers to this seemingly crazy endeavor and the new breed of entrepreneurs trying to achieve fusion faster and more cheaply. He makes a compelling case for why, in the quest for fusion, we cannot afford not to try.”
—Daniel Clery, author of A Piece of the Sun: The Quest for Fusion Energy

“What I love about this book is how easily Turrell forgives us for having forgotten the promise of fusion.  He makes a convincing case that fusion could be the missing puzzle piece as we struggle to find the perfect complement for renewables. His enthusiasm brings decades of careful scientific research to life, even as the scientists whose work he traces bring fusion to the cusp of fruition."
—Gretchen Bakke, author of The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future 

“Incredibly readable and entertaining. The book’s first-hand accounts of what is occurring inside fusion startups are especially enthralling. Turrell skillfully tells the fascinating story of the personalities, science, and technology that have brought this fledging industry to the point of takeoff."
—Jason Parisi, coauthor of The Future of Fusion Energy

“Painstakingly researched.  Turrell gives us a front-row seat to the hard-fought race for fusion, and he offers convincing reasons for optimism. In fact, he shows us a galaxy of effort being directed toward ‘building a star.’”
—James Mahaffey, PhD, author of Atomic Adventures

"Arthur Turrell captures the excitement of the race to produce the first commercial fusion energy—perhaps the most important technological race of all."
—Sir Steven Cowley, director of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory