This is the second of two volumes by Siddiqui (history, Carnegie Mellon U.) chronicling the history of the first thirty years of the Soviet space programs based on declassified Russian documents and interviews with space-program veterans. This volume picks up the story beginning with chapter 12 the appointment of Mishin as chief designer of the Soviet space program in 1966 and ends with the collapse of their moon program in the mid-70s. Dense sans-serif text makes for slow reading but the depth of information is impressive, including historical photographs, tables of Soviet orbital and nonorbital launch dates, vehicle designations and technical specifications, and personnel. The index covers this and the companion volume Sputnik and the Soviet Space Challenge. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)