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Into That Silent Sea captures, a book that tells the intimate stories of the men and women, American and Russian, who made the space race their own and gave the era its compelling character.
These pages chronicle a varied and riveting cavalcade of human stories, including a look at Yuri Gagarin’s harrowing childhood in war-ravaged Russia and Alan Shepard’s firm purchase on the American dream. It also examines the controversial career of cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and the remarkable struggle and ultimate disappointment of her American counterparts. It tries to uncover the truth behind the allegations that shadowed Gus Grissom and Scott Carpenter and then allows the reader to share the heart-stopping suspense of Alexei Leonov’s near-fatal first space walk. Through dozens of interviews and access to Russian and American official documents and family records, the authors bring to life the experiences that shaped the lives of the first astronauts and cosmonauts and forever changed their world and ours.
“[Into That Silent Sea] dispenses with distracting technical jargon and nationalistic jingoism to deliver ten superbly composed, thoughtfully balanced chapters about the astronauts and cosmonauts who flew Mercury and Vostok/Voskhod missions. . . . Avid readers will revel in the authors’ masterful compilation of these straight-forward, detailed mini-biographies.”—Air Power History
— Dr. Rick W. Sturdevant
“Unforgettable days and some unforgettable characters were brought vividly back to me by this truly wonderful book. They were fun times; they were also incredibly difficult, hard-working, and agonizing times, watching dear friends launch into space with my heart in my mouth. This book offers a treasure trove of memories.”
—Dee O’Hara, nurse to the astronauts
“Eminently readable, well-crafted. . . . The merits of this popular history rest in the elegant narrative and the authors’ thoughtful awareness of the space explorer genre.”—Air & Space Smithsonian
— Martin Collins
“As well as vividly picturing the men, this book also accurately tells the story of the very first women to train for spaceflight in Russia—and women like me in America who hoped for the same opportunity to reach for the stars.”
—Wally Funk, rocket pilot for Interorbital Systems Corporation
“Into That Silent Sea is an excellent reminder of just what Gagarin and other trailblazers did and how they became international celebrities in their own right. We seem to have forgotten just how new the frontier of space was. . . . Many people today seem to view space programs as an extravagance or with disinterest. For those who remain interested in those programs and have read the prior histories and memoirs, it never hurts to be reminded of just how pioneering the first steps were.”—Tim Gebhart, Blogcritics.org, Boston.com
“A well-written account about the Americans and Russians who were the first to fly into space. . . . [The book] offers some excellent profiles of these individuals that are accessible to both newcomers to space history and well-read enthusiasts alike.”—Space Review
“This frank, entertaining, no-holds-barred ride through the golden age of space flight takes us behind the official stories, into the real lives of the very first astronauts and cosmonauts.”
—Wally Schirra: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronaut
“French and Burgess’s history will engage the space-program audience.”
“[Into That Silent Sea] dispenses with distracting technical jargon and nationalistic jingoism to deliver ten superbly composed, thoughtfully balanced chapters about the astronauts and cosmonauts who flew Mercury and Vostok/Voskhod missions. . . . Avid readers will revel in the authors’ masterful compilation of these straight-forward, detailed mini-biographies.”
— Dr. Rick W. Sturdevant, Air Power History
“Into That Silent Sea is an excellent reminder of just what Gagarin and other trailblazers did and how they became international celebrities in their own right. We seem to have forgotten just how new the frontier of space was. . . . Many people today seem to view space programs as an extravagance or with disinterest. For those who remain interested in those programs and have read the prior histories and memoirs, it never hurts to be reminded of just how pioneering the first steps were.”
—Tim Gebhart, Blogcritics.org, Boston.com
“Eminently readable, well-crafted. . . . The merits of this popular history rest in the elegant narrative and the authors’ thoughtful awareness of the space explorer genre.”
— Martin Collins, Air & Space Smithsonian
“A well-written account about the Americans and Russians who were the first to fly into space. . . . [The book] offers some excellent profiles of these individuals that are accessible to both newcomers to space history and well-read enthusiasts alike.”
Anonymous
Posted March 9, 2007
A fantastic job, not only in bringing to the fore many otherwise never to be enjoyed stories, but also managing to maintain a keen, intrinsic sense of 'wonderment' about the human experience in space. I haven't seen an example of writing like this since Andy Chaikin's 'A Man On The Moon' book. I especially enjoyed the present-day comments shared by those who were there when those historical events happened. The cosmonaut chapters were beautifully done as well! This book is just a joy to read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 9, 2007
I've read just about every book that exists on space exploration, and this book is a must read. Both authors have wonderful writing styles, which make this a very enjoyable read. What makes this book unique are the personal stories, many never before printed, by many of the astronauts, cosmonauts, and others directly involved with the beginning of the space age. This personal touch adds credibility to the historical joy ride chronicled by the authors. The authors also have a keen understanding of space history, and are able to explain historical events in a simple straight forward way that is easy to read and understand. The editing is superb, which is an indication of the dedication and commitment of both authors. The result is a superb history book that tells the story of the early days of one of the greatest endeavors ever undertaken by humankind! Read it you'll love it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 9, 2007
I just finished reading 'Into that Silent Sea' and found it to be enthralling. French and Burgess brought out little-known interesting facts and stories about the original 7 astronauts as well as detailed facts and stories about little-known pioneers in the American space program. The book would have been great if it stopped there, but then they added fantastic stories about the early Russian cosmonauts. I understand this is one of a series and I can't wait until the future volumes are released.
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Posted December 17, 2009
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Overview
Into That Silent Sea captures, a book that tells the intimate stories of the men and women, American and Russian, who made the space race their own ...