cover image K-19

K-19

Peter A. Huchthausen, National Geographic Society. National Geographic Society, $16 (256pp) ISBN 978-0-7922-6472-9

Soviet Technologies A companion to the feature film of the same name, K-19: The Widowmaker tells the hair-raising story of the Soviet submarine that nearly caused a nuclear meltdown in 1961. The sub developed a leak as it was heading toward the North Atlantic, and only the ingenious efforts of the crew eight of whom died within days from radiation poisoning staved off a global disaster. Author Peter Huchthausen, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former naval attach in Moscow (as well as a technical adviser on the film), recounts the fateful events and also describes the making of the film. (July)