In this work, Boris Malinovsky recounts a personal expression of the machines developed in the Former Soviet Union and he provides reasons for their development. For this reason alone, Malinovsky has added greater wealth to human knowledge and to his audience. The work is clearly original; one could not invent this story. Notwithstanding the scarcity of more referential material, the charm of this work is its originality in the purist sense and it provides concrete experiences for posterity. Malinovsky leaves a legacy of personal experiences that captures the imagination of the reader. Indeed, the work provides fodder for generations of scholars.

This work is suitable for a variety of audiences. First, the author wrote the work at a level understandable by the public. The casual reader should find the experience interesting and captivating. The work is also suitable as a textbook for classes specialized in Soviet computing history or even as a supplement to a course in Soviet history. Finally, the work provides a foundation for students and scholars. Students and historians of Soviet computing can fill any gaps that may appear.

Although articles have appeared in various other publications such as the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing and the Communications of the ACM, few books exist on the subject of Soviet computing. One work related to this subject is History of Computer Devices in Russia by Georg Trogemann, Wolfgang Ernst, Alexander Y. Nitussov (Editors). Others include Malinovsky's own works such as Soviet Computer Pioneers (English version available) and Essays on History of Computer Science and Technology in Ukraine (Russian only).

However, this work is different. The author is indeed a witness to the events. In some ways, it is like a professional diary on the evolution of computing in the Former Soviet Union. The manuscript reads well - though some sections are a bit choppy. The organization is clear and the reading flows well. Adding more "personality" to the work, as if it were a conversation with the reader, would add to the quality of the work. Specifically, sections of chapters sometimes read as factual content devoid of personal involvement when indeed the author was actually there. A greater abundance of personal reflections would make the work more personal and create a greater connection between the author and the reader.

The work would fascinate readers and would capture them to read more. I found myself attached to a wonderful story of facts laced with anecdotes of the "way it was" with Soviet computing. What a delight to read about the reality of the past, untarnished by propaganda and political complexities. This work is important for computing history. In his illustrative career as a scientist and engineer of computing, Malinovsky has reflected upon his experiences in the context of the knowledge of those around him. In opening some of the doors of history, Malinovsky has provided personal details and experiences; he has also reflected upon and contrasted the work of others. In essence, this work is a positive addition to computing literature and it should be open to the global community.

John Impagliazzo, Ph.D.
Hofstra University