Book Description
In his classic study The Masks of God, Joseph Campbell conducted us on a fascinating global tour, showing how the seeds of myth grew in a similar fashion throughout the history of civilization. Before Campbell there was Sir James George Frazier who, in The Golden Bough--his pioneering study of magic, relgion, and folk custom--demonstrated how world mythologies exhibit "the effect of similar causes acting alike on the similar constitution of the human mind in different countries and under different skies." Now, in Beyond the Blue Horizon, eminent astronomer E.C. Krupp guides us expertly through a bewildering maze of cultures and civilizations--from the stone age to the present day--making clear that while the skies of these diverse peoples may vary, they speak nearly the same language. Beyond the Blue Horizon is a treasure trove of myths, legends, and stories in which people have, through the ages, attempted to understand the cosmos and its meaning for humankind. Collecting an astonishing amount of lore between the covers of a single book, Krupp explains why our ancestors were so intrigued by the heavens, and what their celestial stories meant. Readers will learn, for example, that many cultures saw a rabbit--rather than a man--in the moon, and that this moon-rabbit, as a symbol of sacrifice and rebirth, is a cousin of our own Easter Bunny; that to our ancestors, an eclipse challenged the stability and integrity of heaven and thus threatened order and life on earth; that the magical sleighride and chimney antics of Santa Claus echo the ancient journeys of shamans and witch doctors; that our "dog days" of July and August originated in Roman times with the summer appearance of Sirius, the Dog Star; and that the contemporary stories of UFOs reveal the mystery and meaning the sky still holds for us as we approach the twenty-first century. Of course, there is much, much more that will delight and intrigue; even readers familiar with world mythology will find plenty that is new and strange in Krupp's rich panorama. An epic, authoritative, and cross-cultural exploration with over 150 illustrations, Beyond the Blue Horizon tells how all civilizations searched the sky to understand to universe--and our own place in it.
Customer Reviews:
Extensive.......2002-07-07
Krupp has written a book that is comparable to Frazer's Golden Bough and Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces. He traces the evolution of sky myths from cultures around the globe. Krupp does an excellent job of capturing the meaning and beauty of these stories, and pieces them together in a well-crafted narrative.
Really Facinating Book..........2000-03-28
Beyond the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets, is a very interesting and amazing read-- it confronts many possibilities of the place outside our blue sky, and gives the reader something to think about for long after the last page is read. Not only is this book worth reading for the pure fun of it, but it teachs you things that may come in handy at dinner table conversation. Facinating is the word that comes to mind... the myths about the stars and planets can sometimes be good bedtime stories, and over all, this book keeps you wanting more.
Book Description
He was the third man to walk on the moon. And the first to dance on it.
For Pete Conrad, it was all about the ride. Nicknamed the Comeback Kid, he survived his family's financial hardships, overcame dyslexia, landed a Navy scholarship to Princeton, and became one of the country's elite test pilots. Never the squeaky clean NASA poster boy, he famously bounced himself out of the Mercury Program but came roaring back to fly two Gemini missions, walk on the moon as Commander of Apollo 12, command the first Skylab, and work to develop the first re-usable commercial rocket-logging more time in space than all the original astronauts combined. Based on interviews conducted with Conrad by his wife before his untimely death, Rocketman is the amazing-but-true, surprisingly candid insider's view of the greatest ride in history, America's glorious race to the stars, as seen through the eyes of the real Space Cowboy: Pete Conrad, the Rocketman.
Customer Reviews:
Enormously Dissapointing.......2007-06-30
Pete Conrad had a fairly colorful style about him, part cowboy - part engineer - full time iconoclast. However, these traits do not come thru in this book. The writing does not convey the dynamics of the man, so ultimately it becomes little more than a 'just the facts' biography.
While I doubt any astronaut book came come close to capturing the human story of space Michael Collins' "Carrying The Fire", this book had a chance since it focused upon one of the truly unique characters in the space program. So am immensely dissapointed at the final product.
Factual errors.......2007-03-28
I enjoy reading about this time in American History and consider myself a student of the early space program. In that regard, in a brief perusal of the book, I have already noticed some factual errors that should have been caught by the editor or by Mr. Klausner. First, in the picture section, it shows a picture of Pete on the ladder about to board an F4 Phantom, yet the label says that he is posing in front of a T-38. Another error is related to the issue with "Max Peck". Max Peck was the Mgr of the Rice Hotel in 1962. After the 2nd group of astronauts was chosen, including, Frank Borman, Pete Conrad, Jim Lovell, Ed White and Neil Armstrong they were asked to check in under the Mgr's name to avoid their names reaching the press prior to their formal introduction. However, this book states that this happened back in 1959 when the first 32 candidates for the Mercury program checked into a a non-disclosed hotel in Washington. Not only is that fact wrong, but they didn't check into a hotel in 1959 for that first meeting but the Dolly Madison house in Washington.
Rocketman: Astronaut Pete Conrad's Incredible Ride To The Moon And Beyond.......2007-03-15
The book arrived within the scheduled delivery time in excellent condition.
Thank you,
Mark & Francine Keehnel
Great guy, deserves a better book.......2007-01-05
I've read way too many space books, so I love the subject matter, but the style of this one was too breezy, lacking in important detail. Each chapter is about 12 words long, so you get the impression this was either rushed through or intended for young adults. I learned little about the man, whom I wholly admire. Did he alienate anybody? Were there any character flaws? Also, I was looking to learn more of an insider's view of Gemini and Apollo, but it was all very superficial, heard-it-before material. I'd read a bit about Conrad, like his attempt to smuggle onto the moon a huge cowboy hat to fit over his space helmet, or his attempt at trick photography on the lunar surface, hoping to befuddle the photo analysts later. Neither of these gems were in the book. He's a great guy, a pilot's pilot, a problem-solving magician with a live-for-the-moment spirit. But the book is really junk food, even for a space nut like myself. Sorry, Pete. They done ya wrong.
Good read!.......2006-11-10
I've read a number of books written by astronauts and this one ranks near the top. While I enjoyed the humor and frankness of Mike Mulane's "Riding Rockets" better, this book by Nancy Conrad tells a great story. If you want to know the story of one of the 12 people to step foot on the moon, this is a great read. Thanks to Mrs. Conrad for sharing.
Customer Reviews:
Everything you always thought you knew.......2006-03-14
Come on, admit it, you always thought you knew exactly what caused the tides, and why the Bay of Fundy has such a large tidal range! Hah! You only thought you knew. Now, thanks to Dr. Jim McCully's easy to read treatise, you will soon be able to impress all of your friends with great knowledge. Who knows, you might win some trivia contest!
No, seriously, this is a readable and witty explanation of all of the many factors that go into the tidal process. This book patiently explains why tides come and go, why some areas have more than two tides per day, and where the water goes when it goes. Dr. McCully is a knowledgeable researcher and an entertaining writer who makes all the physics and astronomy easy to understand. If you have curiosity about all things natural, if you are a yachtsman or woman, or if you love to fish (as does the author), you will find this book incredibly interesting and helpful.
Book Description
Fifteen years ago, Prince Rupert and Princess Julia saved the Forest Kingdom from the long night of the Blue Moon. In the aftermath they were heroes.
Now Hawk & Fisher are tough cops in the crime-torn city of Haven. The last thing they need is a reminder of who they once were.
But the Blue Moon is threatening to rise again. The Forest Kingdom needs their heroes again.
They need Rupert and Julia. What they'll get is Hawk and Fisher.
Praise for Blue Moon Rising:
"Delightful fantasy."-New York Daily News
"This fantasy adventure is one readers will savor and enjoy for a long time to come."-Rave Reviews
"Really stands out from the crowd...Breathes new life into an old story."-Science Fiction Chronicle
And Hawk & Fisher:
"Intrigue and magic...an interesting and well-conceived blend." -Science Fiction Chronicle
Customer Reviews:
You'll never please everyone.......2004-03-07
But in this case, the only thing that did not please me about "Beyond the Blue Moon" was that it ended. I've heard a lot of praise for "Blue moon Rising", the prequel to the Hawk and Fisher series, but I came upon that book only shortly before "Beyond the Blue Moon". My Hawk and Fisher were in Haven and this seemed like a truly worthy send up of the two dealiest individuals in fantasy writing. My only regret is that Green isn't filling in a few more blanks in the lives of Hawk and Fisher in Haven. I honestly can't get enough of them.
let's see more of these two........2003-09-08
I read the Hawk and Fisher books before I ever knew "Blue Moon Rising" existed, I found it in a used book store and felt like I struck gold. These books are witty, fun, well written, and thouroughly enjoyable, (and it must be said that bad guys getting thier just deserts is always a good thing even if it is just fiction.) Beyond the Blue Moon was not quite as good as Blue Moon Rising, but that's rather like saying that a T-bone isn't as good as a ribeye steak. I think Mr. Green has lots of room to work with Hawk and Fisher, I don't see those two settled down on a little backwater farmstead raising kids and chickens.
Seriously disappointed.......2003-07-23
I adored "Blue Moon Rising". It was moving, unsual, and had that real sense of myth that the best fantasy works have. "Beyond the Blue Moon", whether in comparison to its predecessor or considered on its own, is trite.
Hawk/Rupert's brother, King Harald of the Forest Kingdom, has been murdered and his Champion comes to Haven to bring back the legendary Rupert and Julia (Fisher) to solve the crime and set all to rights. This immediately establishes this book as a Hawk and Fisher story, which is a problem. While the Hawk and Fisher stories are good for what they are, for me the feel of those books just doesn't fit with the atmosphere established in "Blue Moon Rising". If you want mythic power, emotional power and character insights, you won't find them here. And the whole "We're Hawk and Fisher, we don't take nuthin' from no-one and we're so devoted to each other" shtick is wearing pretty thin by now.
Anyway, Hawk and Fisher destroy half of Haven as their going away present to the city they hate and travel to the Forest Kingdom incognito to solve Harald's murder. Cue a witless succession of cliches, smart aleck conversations, return of old characters, and an overly heavy dollop of religion before the book ends. But worse than the lame and overly lengthy storyline is that ending. EVERYTHING is resolved, tied up, explained, married off, killed off or buried. By the time Green is done with "Beyond the Blue Moon", nothing is left. There's no more room for further stories in the land he created. And I think that's sad.
So why two stars? Some people like their favourites series to end this way, and may have no fault to find whatsoever. I'm not one of them.
Blergh..........2001-12-19
The heading says it all really... I have read and reread blue moon rising more times than i can count, and would easily call it one of my favourite novels. Naturally, i was excited when i heard of the coming sequel, and rushed to read it when it came out. I was bitterly disappointed. It was like a rushed effort to get all the characters together for a badly thought out adventure that ends like a bad scooby doo movie. Properly done, this could have been a great novel and it had some great ideas. As it is, i almost felt like weeping from disappointment when it was over. Avoid at all costs.
Funny, different and interesting.......2001-07-29
I have not read blue moon raising, before I read Beyond and did not even know it excisted before I read the other reviews. It stands perfectly well on its own and I might still read the blue moon raising.
For mee the best part of this story is the humor in it. Its quite as funny as the Taltos books of steven Brust, probably one of the most funny sci-fi writers around. The story itself is also good, not to much of the stuff you think will come (the aint-I-smart-I-knew-what-would-happend stuff). The story is also quite refreshing in its ability to discuss many of the philosophical questions around gods, interference and free will. There are obviosly hidden references to much and to many historical people here. At the same time the plot itself is good again without falling into to much black and white trap as many fantasy novels tend to do. I also like his gutsy women, its a lot of girlpower in this book.
For the humour I give it a five, for the inventive story behind the story I give it a four, for the story itself a three, all in all a quite good four.
Average customer rating:
- Captures the personality of Ron Howard Beautifully
- Ron Howard-From Child Star to Innovative Director
- Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond
- Opie to Richie to the Moon
- Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond
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Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond
Beverly Gray
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
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Book Description
Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon… and Beyond, the first full-length biography of Ron Howard, takes an in-depth look at the Oklahoma boy who gained national fame as a child star, then grew up to be one of Hollywood's most admired directors. Although many show biz kids founder as they approach adulthood, Ron Howard had the advantage of brains, common sense, and two down-to-earth parents who kept him from having an inflated view of his own accomplishments. He also had a longstanding goal: to trade the glare of the spotlight for a quieter but equally creative life behind the camera. This biography tracks his career from 1960, when he debuted as six-year-old Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show through 2002, when he accepted his Academy Award
Customer Reviews:
Captures the personality of Ron Howard Beautifully.......2005-08-24
Beveryly Gray is truly a wonderful biographer. She captures the tone and warmth of Ron Howard throughout the book. Beverly also puts you "in the know" for the locales, such as Greenwich, Connecticut, where Ron Howard moved to partially shield his children from the "glamorous temptations of the film industry." This is a book for people who want to take a walk with Howard and really get to know what drives him. It's warm, friendly, and low-key, just like its subject. And a great read! Well done, Beverly! Oh, by the way, did I mention Beverly also teaches film at UCLA Extension. A wonderful, warm person in her own right.
Ron Howard-From Child Star to Innovative Director.......2003-12-26
One of the advantages of an "unauthorized" biography is that it should offer a more creative and exciting challenges to the biographer and a much greater illumination to the reader.
There is always the danger when a biography is authorized that a conflict of interest may arise and the truth may be compromised.
Beverly Gray's unauthorized biography Ron Howard From Mayberry to the Moon..and Beyond is a "putting the record straight" kind of a book, wherein some of the myths that have been prevalent in the press for so many years are explored and set aside.
Many of us have grown up with Ron Howard the child actor Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, and then as Richie Cunningham of Happy Days.
Today, Ron Howard is a well known Hollywood film director and producer, who directed such films as: Through the Magic Pyramid, Night Shift, Cocoon, Willow, Parenthood, Backdraft, Far and Away, The Paper, Apollo 13, Ransom, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Academy award winner, A Beautiful Mind.
Gray practically begins her story from the cradle. Howard was born of parents, who themselves were actors, and at eighteen months he captured his first acting role as a crying baby, thanks to the efforts of his father.
Throughout his life, his parents, Rance and Jean Howard, played a tremendous role in shaping his life, and at the tender age of five years his father had imparted in him professionalism and basic acting techniques that have remained with him throughout his career.
As we read Howard's "unauthorized" biography, we are amazed at the extensive research that must have gone into the writing of this book, most of which was gleaned from Howard's interviews with the media over the years, as well as the author's interviews with many of his associates.
One advantage of writing Howard's biography in the prime of his life is that almost everyone is still around from his youth and his filmmaking career.
Practically no stone is left unturned, as we trudge along with the author from Howard's early childhood until his present day directing achievements.
We learn of his successes as well as his failures, and very often we are privy to some little known facts about him.
As an example, Howard was in awe by director George Lucas's talents and counter culture approach to filmmaking, as was in evidence in the film American Graffiti, where Howard had been asked to improvise scenes with other actors.
Movie buffs will surely appreciate the four appendices included at the end of the book that provide a timeline for the actor, filmography as an actor, filmography as a director and producer, and his major awards and honors.
One deficiency I found with the book, and one that is very prevalent in many biographies, is the creation of a narrative pattern that relies on the chronological tick of events; the day- by -day or year- by- year pattern should have been re-imagined. If the author had made Howard's story more innovative, it would have been more attractive to its readers.
Norm Goldman-Travel Writer and Editor Bookpleasures
Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond.......2003-11-12
I found Ms. Gray's study of Ron Howard to be a highly creative and attention-grabbing presentation of a man with a constantly developing and fascinating career and personality, ranging from his child-actor beginnings through his current reputation as a successful director in many genres. The book brought to life his early years in the Andy Griffith television series and "The Music Man." The author's treatment of his recent film, "A Beautiful Mind," is especially moving and insightful and tied together Howard's consistency and creative exploration in all of his work. His ever-present optimism, human decency, energetic habit of taking on new challenges, and loyal respect for others in his life and his work is presented in a very appreciative and in-depth way.
Opie to Richie to the Moon.......2003-07-25
Did you ever want to be Opie when you were a kid? I did. The thing about Opie was that even when he got into trouble, and he did get into trouble, everybody still liked him. Beverly Gray, in Ron Howard From Mayberry to the Moon, presents a good case that the same is true of Mr. Howard. Everybody in the motion picture business likes him, that is if you exclude a few pretentious critics (and even they probably like him, just not always his happy endings). Nice guys do NOT always finish last.
Howard did not cooperate with this biography because "he felt himself to be in midcareer and not ready to participate in a long range assessment of his accomplishment." OK, fair enough. Keep that in mind while you are reading, but do read it.
From Opie to Richie to director, this is a detailed portrait of a man whom everyone agrees is a real mensch and who is wildly successful. It is also fascinating, and adds to Howard's charm, to realize who loyal he is to his family and friends, yet how honestly he treats them when casting projects. Simply put, if he feels they are right for a part, they get it; if not, they don't. That takes quite a bit of respect and love - from the actor and the director.
Gray's extensive interviews bring out some interesting bits of trivia about Howard. Her prose flows nicely and her organization is excellent. Maybe in another forty years or so, she can write an update - next time with Ron Howard's input.
Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon...and Beyond.......2003-06-25
I read Beverly Gray's book on "Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon... and Beyond". I found it to be very easy to read, very entertaining and full of interesting stories about Ron. Ms. Gray was objective, diplomatic and kind, never to offend any party involved. I thoroughly enjoyed the book so much so that I finished reading it in one and a half day while sun bathing in Del Mar, California recently.
Book Description
Chef April Moon's signature healthy comfort food from the legendary Flying Biscuit Cafe is captured in this cookbook. Follow her lead and let the love flow at home.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Cookbook I Own.......2006-06-18
I am a cookbook junkie and I have tons of cookbooks. This one is the best one I own. Every single recipe comes out delicious. The recipes are mostly "comfort food with a twist" and they are excellent. The cookbook is quirky and full of personality and so are the recipes... I haven't made a single one from this book yet that hasn't been just outstanding. [something I don't think I can say about any other cookbook I own....]
Whether you go to the Flying Biscuit Cafe regularly or whether you've never been, you will LOVE these recipes! There isn't a loser in the bunch and they are all mouth watering and interesting.
Loved the cafe, love the book too.......2005-11-18
Marvellous, healthy recipes from the Southern tradition? Impossible? Not at all. Great soups and salads, wonderful biscuits - of course - and magnificent pancakes - but the turkey sausage is best of all. I ate here with great joy in Atlanta, served by its lovely staff, and I have only one quibble wiht the book, writing as an Englishwoman; scones are not sweeter than biscuits! You can make savoury scones, even cheese scones (flavoured wiht sage, or dead plain ones with no sugar (which are actuzally the norm.) But none of this matters. Buy this book and celebrate life.
Praise for the Biscuit.......2005-06-07
Fabulous book, fabulous cafe, fabulous food! Since leaving Decatur in 1999 I haven't had to miss all my favorites - I just make them at home. Oh, the Exceptional Eggs, they are to die for. My kids gobble up the Turkey meatloaf. And, now that I'm in VA, I use my locally grown apples every fall to make a gigantic batch of the Cranberry Apple Butter to give as holiday presents each year - to rave reviews. You'll have to tweak the recipe to yeild much more, but it's very much worth the effort.
Delicious.......2002-03-12
April Moon's cookbook captures the essence of what it means to be nourished by the Flying Biscuit Cafe, an anchor in its neighborhood and the primary reason Atlanta's suburbanites "outside the perimeter" even know where Lake Claire/Candler Park is located.
The recipes for simple, nutritious comfort food all have a delicious twist. Moon even knows what ingredients to combine with collard greens so that my husband, who doesn't otherwise stomach collard greends, relishes each bite.
That she shares her recipes -- yes, even for her famous biscuits, albeit with hesitation -- is a gift to all who no longer live close enough to enjoy the meals AT the cafe, but will for years savor the chance to bring the scents and flavors alive in our own kitchens.
Just like the restaurant!.......2002-01-31
To those of you from Atlanta who have visited the Flying Biscuit Cafe, you will know how fantastic the food is - it's warm, satisfying, and hearty- without being heavy or fatty. The cook book is simply an extention of the cafe - the recipies are easy to follow, discriptive, and taste just like the restaurant. They include all the signature recipies: flying biscuits and roasted potatoes with moon dust as well as ones I've never tried. I would recomend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking warm, satisfying food.
Average customer rating:
- terrific addition to the great Alice tales
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Alice's Journey Beyond The Moon
R J Carter
Manufacturer: Telos Publishing
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Binding: Hardcover
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Alice Redux: New Stories of Alice, Lewis and Wonderland
ASIN: 1903889774
Release Date: 2004-11-01 |
Book Description
"They say that the moon is made of green cheese," said Alice, stroking the lazy cat's belly. "Do you believe that, Snowball? Father says it's nothing more than a great white stone, and I suppose I ought to believe him; but really, how can one be sure without ever having been there?" So begins a truly extraordinary tale as Alice finds herself meeting all manner of strange creatures as she sets off on new adventures. This is a completely new story by R J Carter, but has been presented as if it were a lost Lewis Carroll manuscript, complete with annotations and original illustrations. This book is guaranteed to delight both children and adults.
Customer Reviews:
terrific addition to the great Alice tales .......2004-10-31
While renovating the library of the Christ Church, Oxford, a series of letters, doodles and a manuscript by Reverend Charles Dodgson is found. Everyone on the project is excited because a new Alice tale, ALICE'S JOURNEY BEYOND THE MOON, has been uncovered amongst the treasure. Since there is no reference to this tale amongst the Dodgson's notes, scholars debate the find, but believe it is an authentic Lewis Carroll Alice story.
ALICE'S JOURNEY BEYOND THE MOON as related by Lewis Carroll follows Alice and her cat Snowball debating what makes up the moon with an eclipse on the horizon. Alice wonders could it be made of green cheese and how tasty that would be. Or could it be stone like her father insists? Of course, Snowball mostly purrs in response. Still not sure, Alice feels a visit is in order. She ponders how far the moon can be from her home as she knows the moon is closer than say Russia as she sees the moon, but not Russia. So Alice begins her latest adventure less than a year from her return from the Looking Glass.
Lewis Carroll would be proud to include this terrific homage to the great Alice tales as ALICE'S JOURNEY BEYOND THE MOON will entertain children while also providing satire and wit to feed the head of adults as her earlier adventures do. The story line is fun to follow while the footnotes enhance the "discovery" and the fabulous illustrations highlight and enrich the delightful text. R. J. Carter provides a winning Alice adventure that all ages will appreciate while floating along with the heroine.
Harriet Klausner
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Beyond the moon gate, being a diary of ten years in the interior of the Middle Kingdom,
Welthy (Honsinger) Fisher
Manufacturer: The Abingdon press
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Binding: Unknown Binding
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- Were the 1970s a Golden Age for Space Science?
- An entertaining, informative read
- An entertaining, informative read
- The Triumphs of the Planetary Space Missions of the 1970's
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BEYOND THE MOON (Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series)
KRAEMER ROBERT S
Manufacturer: Smithsonian
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ASIN: 1560989548 |
Book Description
During the 1970s, Americans launched twelve robot spacecraft on paths to the far corners of the solar system. Each mission was a resounding success, yielding detailed knowledge of Earth's neighboring planets and advancing human understanding of the solar system's origin and evolution. Providing an insider's view of what has been called a golden era in space pioneering, Robert S. Kraemer documents the efforts of those who contributed to a burst of planetary exploration that laid the foundation for even more extraordinary voyages of discovery.
Customer Reviews:
Were the 1970s a Golden Age for Space Science?.......2004-04-30
According to author Robery S. Kraemer they certainly were. He points to several key missions as demonstrations of this fact: Pioneers 10 and 11, Vikings 1 and 2, and Voyagers 1 and 2, as well as a host of other projects begun during the decade. This important recollection explores many of the central themes affecting space science during the latter half of the twentieth century. It describes and analyzes the conduct of NASA's planetary science program throughout the 1970s, enhancing our understanding of the NASA missions to all of the planets of the Solar System save Pluto. Not so much a part of the "new aerospace history" as it is a ringing insider account of the subject, Kraemer's discussion provides the details that only a participant would know about the progress of these important missions.
It is a heroic story in Kraemer's telling, one filled with men and women of good character striving to achieve important objectives. They did not always agree with each other, and competed ferociously for their respective positions, but they all respected each other. The result was astonishing and that alone may have given rise to the belief that the planetary missions executed during the 1970s were the "golden age" of the program.
Although the case may be well made for this assessment at present, and Kraemer makes it well, will that be the conclusion of those one hundred years hence? Will probes sent to the planets serve, something like Columbus did with the Americas, as vanguards of sustained exploration and settlement? Or will they prove to be more like Leif Erickson's voyages, stillborn in the public conception of new lands? No one knows at present but books such as this make a subtle case for many additional voyages of discovery.
In the 1960s Kraemer worked for Ford Motor Co., serving as chief engineer for its Space Systems Division and as a manager of its Lunar and Planetary Programs. In this capacity he learned firsthand of the challenges inherent in planetary science programs. Charting the delicate course between the requirements of the scientists for their instruments and the rigid confines of technological systems managed by engineers, he worked on some of NASA most significant missions of the decade. Kraemer moved to NASA Headquarters in 1967 to work on Mars exploration planning efforts, and throughout the first third of the decade of the 1970s he was Director of Planetary Programs. During this period he shepherded to launch many of the illustrious planetary missions that have given rise to the belief that the 1970s was the "golden age" of planetary science.
Because of this deep background, Kraemer's insider account of planetary science in the 1970s is a welcome addition to the history of space exploration. It compares well to other books relating experiences in space science. That is the reason that I agreed to write an introduction for this book. I recommend it as an engrossing account of an important episode in space exploration history written by the consummate insider.
An entertaining, informative read.......2001-08-07
This book provides an insider look at the trials, tribulations, successes and failures involved in unmanned space exploration during the 1970s. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in space, project management, policy, technology and history.
Kraemer, the former director of NASA's plantary exploration program, has an easy-reading style, but he doesn't skimp on details. The book is well-organized, discussing each probe and its history in turn. He also provides diagrams and charts, including one very striking and effective 'balanced approach' chart that all program managers should study and modify for their own use. The center section of the hardcover version also includes some beautiful color plates of some of the planets and their moons.
This book will give you an appreciation of the extreme technical, social and political difficulties that need to be overcome to study our solar system in depth. If you liked Donna Shirley's "Managing Martians," you'll like this book as well.
An entertaining, informative read.......2001-08-07
This book provides an insider look at the trials, tribulations, successes and failures involved in unmanned space exploration during the 1970s. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in space, project management, policy, technology and history.
Kraemer, the former director of NASA's plantary exploration program, has an easy-reading style, but he doesn't skimp on details. The book is well-organized, discussing each probe and its history in turn. He also provides diagrams and charts, including one very striking and effective 'balanced approach' chart that all program managers should study and modify for their own use. The center section of the hardcover version also includes some beautiful color plates of some of the planets and their moons.
This book will give you an appreciation of the extreme technical, social and political difficulties that need to be overcome to study our solar system in depth. If you liked Donna Shirley's "Managing Martians," you'll like this book as well.
The Triumphs of the Planetary Space Missions of the 1970's.......2001-03-07
During the period from 1971 through 1978, NASA launched twelve space probes to explore the planets and the sun and achieved many firsts, such as, the first planetary orbiter, the first planetary lander, the first spacecraft to visit the outer planets and the first spacecraft to use the gravity assist. While a good portion of these stories is presented in the first person, such as the budget battles the author had to fight, this is not his autobiography.
The book is divided into chapters covering each planetary or solar probe and also includes an introductory and closing chapter. Each chapter presents the organization of the spacecraft management team, the determination the science objects, hardware development problems, the budget (and sometimes budget problems), the problems encountered from launch to the arrival, and finally a summary of the important discoveries of each planetary encounter. Each chapter also presents a detailed drawing or two of the spacecraft and a few photographs. Detailed findings from each mission are presented, since these would be books in themselves.
One of the most interesting chapters covers the joint German-US solar probe Helios. This was the first major joint space project. This spacecraft orbited the sun at a distance of less than 30 million miles, which closer to the sun than the planet Mercury and returned valuable data on the nature of the sun.
While I found all the chapters in this book very interesting, I think the final chapter of the book was by far and away the best. The author summarizes what he learned over his many years in the upper management of NASA and his dealings with Congress. In this position, he learned two things. 1) Do not let politics dictate technical decisions and, 2) Do not lie to Congress. These are two concepts that our current NASA administrator should embrace. If he did, I believe more of our country's space projects would funded and succeed.
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Beyond the Moon (The Star Kings)
Edmond Hamilton
Manufacturer: New American Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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