Red Jacket Press has published a facsimile edition of Children of the Atom, a science fiction novel by Wilmar Shiras, first published in 1953. The story of a widely dispersed group of children, whose parents were exposed to lethal doses of radiation, and whose enhanced abilities make them outcasts, is widely credited as being one of the formative influences on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's X-Men. Shiras's affecting portrayal of frightened teenagers hiding their abilities from a world they know will not understand them has never failed to find identification among its readers.
Like other volumes in Red Jacket's series of facsimile reprints, Children of the Atom is a complete reproduction of the original hardcover first edition complete with dust jacket. It also includes a slipcase featuring the dust jacket art and a card with detailed biographical information about the author. Back in print for the first time in 50 years, Children of the Atom is priced at $39.95, and is available to retailers direct from the publisher as well as through distributor catalogs such as the September FM International Request Line.