# The Defector - Hardcover

by **Chris Hadfield** (Author)

**From a _New York Times_ bestselling author, astronaut, and fighter pilot comes a "full-throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner" (Jack Carr, _New York Times_ bestselling author) and Cold War thriller perfect for fans of _Top Gun_ and _The Hunt for Red October_.**

_Israel, October 1973._ As the Yom Kippur War flares into life, a state-of-the-art Soviet MiG fighter plane plummets to an unexpected landing. NASA Flight Controller and former US test pilot Kaz Zemeckis watches from the ground--unaware that its arrival will pull him into a high-stakes game of spies, lies, and secrets that hold the key to Cold War air and space supremacy.

For within that plane is a Soviet pilot pleading to defect, offering a prize beyond value: the workings of the Soviets' mythical "Foxbat" MiG-25, the fastest, highest-flying fighter plane in the world. But trusting him is risky, and Kaz must tread a careful line. As Kaz accompanies the defector into the United States, to the military's most secret test site, he must hope that, with skill and cunning, the game plays out his way.

Rich with insider detail and political intrigue drawn from real events, _The Defector_ is a propulsive thriller from a growing master of the genre, filled with the nerve-shredding rush of aerial combat as it could only be told by one of the world's best fighter pilots.

**"Wondering what to do until _Top Gun 3_ arrives? Don't worry, Hadfield's got it covered." --Rowland White**

**"Brimming with detail and realism and full of pulse-pounding action." --Mark Greaney**

"Hadfield's writing is superb. Fans of _The Apollo Murders_ will seek out this one, but newcomers will also thoroughly enjoy it." --_Booklist_

**Praise for _The Apollo Murders_**

**"A Cold War thriller packed with cosmic action." --_New York Times_**

**"An exciting journey into an alternate past." --Andy Weir, author of _The Martian_**

**"Propulsive . . . a space race thrill ride." --_Newsweek_**

**"An intelligent and surprising nail-biter that Tom Clancy fans will relish." --_Publishers Weekly_ (starred review)**

### Author Biography

**Colonel Chris Hadfield** is one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. A multiple _New York Times_ bestselling author, his books _An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth_, _You Are Here, The Darkest Dark_ and _The Apollo Murders_ have sold over a million copies worldwide.

As well as his time as a Cold War pilot, Chris is a veteran of three spaceflights. He crewed the US Space Shuttle twice, piloted the Russian Soyuz, helped build space station Mir, conducted two space walks, and served as Commander of the International Space Station. He was also NASA's Director of Operations in Russia.

Chris is the co-creator and host of the BBC series _Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?_ and helped create and host, along with actor Will Smith, the National Geographic series _One Strange Rock_. His zero-gravity version of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' has received more than 50 million views, and his TED talk on fear over 10 million.

He advises SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and other space companies, chairs the board of the Open Lunar Foundation, leads the CDL-Space international tech incubator, and teacher a MasterClass on space operations.

**Number of Pages:** 368

**Dimensions:** 1.3 x 9.4 x 6.2 IN

**Publication Date:** October 10, 2023

## Details

- **Price:** 29.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 29.00 USD | In stock |

## Images

- The Defector - Hardcover

---

> Source: [Smart supply deals](https://smartsupplydeals.com/products/the-defector-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-07-23