Great book!
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I have now read both 'Into that Silent Sea' and ' In the Shadow of the Moon'. Undoubtedly the pair represent an opus magnum, especially as they are given added authority by the comments of the participants in the early attempts to conquer space. The detailed accounts of the flights and the biographies of the crews are clearly the result of deep research by the authors over, it seems, a period of decades. I must presume that those readers, who know an infinite amount about the subject more than I do, will identify and vouch for the authenticity of the data, which I am completely unable to attempt. The two volumes are therefore a historical landmark for future generations similar to our seeking sources of the current affairs in the time of the Venerable Bede.
Until now the names that have been mentioned to me in the past have meant as much to me as the characters in the books by Tolkein, no book or film of whom I have ever read or seen. I now, however, have two volumes of carefully compiled references, to which I can turn to mitigate my almost complete ignorance of the space race. I must confess, for people of my vintage and background, it is not easy simply to pick up either volume and readily comprehend the intricate demands on the creators of the spacecraft and on the crews. For those among you who have a deep knowledge of the subject, the resolving of the technical problems and the remarkable courage of the crews will be a constant fascination, of which you will undoubtedly always wish to recall.
Within my orbit of knowledge, I can honestly comment that the books are very well and clearly written and the subject matter has been compiled in a most orderly manner. At no time did I have to wonder how the next aspect followed on from the former; so even a complete novice to the material as myself could follow the trend, objectives and development of the technical programme and the building of the physical capabilities, experience and knowledge of the crews.
In short I heartily congratulate the authors on their dedicated research and your concentrated application to write two profoundly authentic volumes of the space programmes over a most critical early period of eight years.
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A must read
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What authors French and Burgess have managed to accomplish with their book "In the Shadow of the Moon" is a sense of being there.
This book transcends a third-party recounting of events. French and Burgess have created an extraordinary interface between the reader and the people sharing their stories. "In the Shadow of the Moon" does an exquisite job of bringing us into the fold, allowing a rather personal access to these astronauts' lives and innermost thoughts: helping us to better understand an experience we will never have ourselves.
The authors' skillful marriage of informing and storytelling help to ensure that it is a book that will be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their interest level in space history. The authors did an excellent job of introducing background information on a mission, and then following it up with personal interpretation by someone who was there. The authors' thorough research is apparent, but it is woven so well with the narrative that it allows the reader to simply take it in, absorbing it effortlessly.
By writing this book, French and Burgess share with humanity that which few have experienced. But more than that, they help us all understand a little better the magnitude of our venture into space: the accomplishments of the few, holding meaning for us all.
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A unique view of manned spaceflight
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French and Burgess have written yet another excellent book. In this latest, they bring to light the lives and stories of the lesser-known astronauts and cosmonauts as well as others participating in those early years. Rather than stressing the different country's programs, the authors tell the stories of Earth's early space endeavors. The indepth stories of Russia's early space program and those who flew were fascinating.
The report of the Apollo 1 crew and the fire was accurate and thorough. I was especially pleased to see how well they brought the story of Roger Chaffee, who was the newest and youngest (at that time) astronaut, to light. Few know that Roger was still two weeks short of his 32nd birthday that terrible, fatal night and yet had accomplished so much in his naval career and in his influence on the space program.
French and Burgess bring the history of space flight to life. I eagerly await another exceptional book from these authors.
Kate Cooper, Apollo 1 Memorial Foundation
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In the Shadow of the Moon
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This book is a very informative and good read - not only for those interested in space/the space race but for anyone interested in people.
What motivates such very different individuals to put themselves in such dangerous situations one can glimpse in this book. How they remained so focused, professional and humerous in extreme conditions is beyond me.
A very well written book that I recommend to those of us who remember these times - and - for others it will take you for a most enjoyable journey back in time.
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A window seat on the ride to the moon
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It has been almost 50 years since mankind first slipped the bonds of earth to explore the heavens. Since then, space exploration has given us some of the most spectacular and memorable moments in history from
the first moon-landing on Apollo 11 to the drama of Apollo 13 and the devastation of the Challenger and Columbia disasters. The material already written on these programmes would likely stretch from here to the
moon, and many would be forgiven for assuming that there's nothing new to write on the subject. However, authors Francis French and Colin Burgess have found a new angle and made a most worthy contribution to the
history of our greatest adventure.
What separates "In the Shadow of the Moon" from many other books on the space programme is that it focuses on the men and women who made it all possible. This is a people's history of space and examines that magnificent race from the perspective of those who lived it and did it: whether running the programmes or riding the rockets. Through their genuine interest in the subject matter, Burgess and French won the trust of the astronauts, cosmonauts and the lesser-known or forgotten space pioneers who toiled behind the scenes. The reward for their dedication and sincerity were stories that in many cases have never been told before and provide a fresh perspective on the early days of spaceflight. The end
result is a book that ranks amongst the very best written on the subject.
Not only does this book provide a most welcome perspective on a truly remarkable endeavour, but it is also extremely well written and thoroughly readable. This book transports you to a time when the two great superpowers were competing for control of the ultimate high ground while the rest of the world watched in awe and perhaps bewilderment. It proves that while the men and women who rode these rockets were indeed the best, bravest and brightest of that or any other time, they were also mere humans with their own foibles, insecurities, peculiarities and
curiosities.
If you want a truly human history of spaceflight, this book is amongst the very best available.
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