This book gives an accessible overview of the 70-year history of nuclear fusion research and the vain attempts to construct an energy-generating nuclear fusion reactor.  It shows that even in the most optimistic scenario nuclear fusion, despite the claims of its proponents and the billions being spent on research, will not be able to make a sizable contribution to the energy mix in this century. The important consequence is that nuclear fusion will not be a factor in combating climate change, since the race for carbon-free energy will have been won or lost long before the first nuclear fusion power station comes on line.

The author has had an active career in high-energy physics, earning a PhD from Utrecht University in 1976 and working as a post-doc at various research centres in Europe and Japan until 1988, when he switched to law and legal translation.

Preface.- What is nuclear fusion?.- Stellar processes and quantum mechanics.- Nuclear fusion of light elements.- Plasma.- Plasma in nuclear fusion devices.- Early history and declassification.- Birth of the tokamak.- The tokamak stampede and further developments.- The Big Tokamaks: TFTR, JET, JT-60.- The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.- Problems, problems, problems.- Post-ITER: Demo and fusion power plants.- Spherical tokamaks.- Stellarators and other alternative approaches.- Privately funded research.- Criticism of the fusion enterprise.- Economics and sustainability.- Environment and safety.- Summary and final conclusion.