by James P. Hogan
I have sixteen Hogan books on my shelves. I've been rereading them years after having bought them to decide which to keep. I've read a dozen of those now, and this is the first one that makes me understand why Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke once praised Hogan as worthy to be counted in their comp...
Note to self - this is actually the hardcover Book Club edition. Will find and add edition info later.