The "discovery" of superconductivity happened in 1911, but it wasn't until the mid-1980s that serious work began into applications. Matricon and Waysand (both formerly affiliated with the U. Denis Diderot, France) explain the theoretical and empirical developments of the field. They balance discussions of the science and scientists with examinations of the social and political context within which the field was developing. Originally published as La gueere du froid: Une histoire de la supraconductivité (1994, Editions du Seuil). Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)