Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
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posted 07-30-2007 06:36 AM               

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Originally posted by FFrench:
I am delighted that you are doing so - and if our book isn't raising questions and making people want to learn more about Gemini (for which there are some great other volumes out there for further reading, listed in our references section) it wouldn't be doing the job we hoped it would do!

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Thanks Francis; I knew that I'd learn something. And many more chapters to read!

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From: San Diego
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posted 08-01-2007 12:05 AM            

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Originally posted by mdmyer:
Did the lady you dedicated the book to learn about this honor yet?

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Yes, she got her copy yesterday... and it had the effect we hoped. To put it mildly, she was pleased!

And it was more of an honor for us, to have her help with the book, I think.

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posted 08-04-2007 03:05 AM               

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Originally posted by ColinBurgess:
For those of you who have purchased (or intend to purchase) copies of our new book, here's a photograph you might want to print out and slip into the front of your copy.

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I know Walt Cunningham, but what is he doing with Paul McCartney and Boris Yeltsin?

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From: Shorewood, MN, USA
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posted 08-08-2007 07:52 PM               

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Our library system here in Minneapolis doesn't seem to have 'Shadow' listed as a title, although it does list 'In the Shadow of the Moons' - a book about being a 'Moonie'.

Hope to see YOUR 'Shadow' in the system soon.

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posted 08-14-2007 12:41 PM               

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I have finished reading In the Shadow of the Moon and this is a copy of a review that I am posting to amazon.com.

In the Shadow of the Moon by Francis French and Colin Burgess is the next book in the Outward Odyssey series that started with the April 2007 release of their book Into That Silent Sea. That book has received high ratings not only from those who have read the book but also by those who lived it. Just take a look at the reviews left on this webpage for that book. The authors of these two books gained much of their information from first hand interviews given by the men and women of the early Space Program.

In the Shadow of the Moon picks up the story of the Space Race right where Into That Silent Sea left off (although both can be read as separate, stand alone books) I like that the book has been written in chronological order. At first it might seem strange that the manned Gemini missions of Gemini 3 through Gemini 12 were detailed with out any chapters about the Russian flights but that is how it happened. The Russians flew no missions in the 20 months that the Americans were flying the Gemini Program.

In Shadow of the Moon covers all of the Gemini Missions and the early Apollo Program as well as the Russian flights of the same timeline. The Gemini Program was a great success but only after some close calls and hard work were the Americans ready to move on to Apollo. But did they move too fast?

Before I read this book I thought the best account of the Apollo 1 fire was from Jim Lovell's Lost Moon but I must say that French and Burgess have a more detailed account of the fire. The loss of the Apollo 1 is covered in the chapter titled The Risk Stuff. After detailing the events of that evening French and Burgess let others who were there tell their stories. Those people include Robert Stevenson. Robert was one of the last people to have contact with the Apollo 1 crew. Others that share their accounts of that night include Dee O'Hara, Hank Waddell, Sam Beddingfield, Gerald Griffin, Gene Kranz, Paul Haney, Jack King, Don Gregory, Richard Gordon, and Lola Morrow. Their accounts are one of the most touching parts of this book.

The Russians were not without their own setbacks. Soyuz 1 tragedy was as big of a setback for the Russians as NASA's Apollo 1 fire but new details of the Soyuz 1 flight are brought forth in In The Shadow of the Moon. Many people feel the lessons learned by the Apollo 1 fire saved the lives of other astronauts and in a way Komarov's sacrifice also saved the lives of at least three other Russian cosmonauts. The book also lays to rest some myths of that Soyuz flight.

The flight of Apollo 7 has become known as the flight where the astronauts and Mission Control did not work together as a team but there was much more to that flight. Yes there was some tension between the spaceship and Mission Control but the chapter on Apollo 7 focuses more on how the crew and flight controllers worked together. It also gives a great insight to how the crew felt after being told they had a flight, and then did not have a flight, only to learn they were to fly the first mission after the Apollo 1 fire. Pressure was on this crew to perform and save the Apollo Program. The chapter on Apollo 7 also reveals the life of Donn Eisele. Donn has often been called Mr. Whatshisname but after reading this book you will know who Donn was.

In The Shadow of the Moon also tells the life stories of some of astronauts that passed away before they had the chance to tell their own stories. Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee lost their lives that day. While Betty Grissom and Donald Chaffee wrote books about these men I don't remember reading a book written by a family member of Ed White. This book will help you understand just who Ed White was. And it tells the history of those who would rather not write a book themselves. Those include Jim McDivitt, Bill Anders, and Rusty Schweickart. I especially liked the chapter on Apollo 8. It is mostly written from Bill Anders' perspective. Jim Lovell and Frank Borman have written their own books so it was great to read about the mission from Bill's point of view. Bill also reveals his thoughts on his crew's abilities to fly that mission and some might be surprised by what he had to say about Frank Borman's thoughts on the amount of training Jim Lovell received before being assigned to Apollo 8 as a replacement for Mike Collins. The Apollo 9 chapter is also written from Rusty Schweickart's perspective. There was much more to the Apollo 9 mission than Rusty's bout with space sickness. That chapter also reveals just how much Rusty sacrificed so that NASA could learn more about space sickness.

In the Shadow of the Moon has a great dedication to Dee O'Hara and Walt Cunningham has written a perfect foreword for the book. If you are looking for a book filled with dates and facts and rehashed figures then this book is not for you. This book focuses more on the people who were the space race. This is why I think Walt wrote the perfect foreword. He started out by saying that thirty years ago he was identified as an astronaut and was often asked, "Which one are you". He ends the foreword by making the statement "I hope you enjoy getting to know us as individuals in the pages of this book". That sums up what this book is all about.

I also look forward to reading the next installments in the Outward Odyssey series. The next book will cover the manned lunar missions. You might also look for another book in this series that will be co-written with two Skylab astronauts.

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posted 08-15-2007 05:44 PM               

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I'm on the last few pages of the book and I must say I hate to see it end!

I thought the Gemini section was brilliant! Along with quite a few missing links from otherwise well-documented tales, what I really enjoyed were the unique and exclusive comments from some of the astronauts who flew the missions, especially those of Stafford and Cernan. This not only lends credibility to the book, but it also brings the reader to the "inside" of the stories.

I've always felt that Donn Eisele was sort of The Invisible Man on Apollo 7 because so little has been written about him. But now, I have a much more complete picture of his personality, his domestic challenges, his professional aptitude, etc. Donn's a complete member of the crew in my mind now! I thought Walt Cunningham's comments were extremely helpful by providing the reader with an insider's view of key events surrounding the Apollo 7 mission.

This book really goes a long way in quenching the thirst for those of us who are "space literate", but I can see where it would be fun to read and informative for those who wouldn't know Neil Armstrong from Lance Armstrong.

Lastly, Colin and Francis never let us forget that there were real human beings flying in those spacecraft; not robots programmed to perform their tasks until their batteries died. To me, that is probably one of the key things that makes this book special.

My sincere thanks to Francis & Colin on a job very well done!

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From: Smithfield, Me, USA
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posted 08-16-2007 05:11 PM               

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Just completed "In the Shadow of the Moon". Below is a review that I posted on Amazon. My only criticism is that the book is too short!! Oh, there are additional books planned to come in the Outward Odyssey series you say. Great!

During the race to the moon in the 1960's early space program we were lead to believe that the astronauts were machined clones built of the "right stuff". "In the Shadow of the Moon", the second edition in the Outward Odyssey series, picks up where the first book ended and provides riveting documentation that these men were not clones, but real human beings who pocessed human feelings and frailties just like the rest of us. French and Burgess, through personal interviews with many of the astronauts, cosmonauts, and others associated with the space program bring their stories to life and let us experience the race to the moon through the eyes of those who made the journey. Especially satisfying are the comments the astronauts make of their peers, sometimes not especially complimentary, which prove that they were not machines and that there was more than one way to accomplish a mission. But they did have the "right stuff" and all succeeded in their quests. Unlike many of the excellent biographies and autobiographies available on the race to the moon, French and Burgess are able to provide multiple perspectives about single events; you feel like you're in mission control or in the spacecraft witnessing these events first hand. If you're a space buff, then you have to read these books. If you don't know anything about space history and want to learn how we made it to the moon, then read these books. Either way you're in for a real treat!

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From: Sydney, Australia
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posted 08-16-2007 11:49 PM               

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I may be in San Diego at this time, but the comments above from Bruce, Mel and Mike (and those earlier) certainly make me feel a little closer to nirvana. These and other kind reviews of our work have thankfully quelled any anxiety we might have harboured about failing dismally in a world already bestrewn and inured with books about the Space Race. It is both pleasing and humbling to read such messages of support and appreciation; it goes a long way to making up for the long, lonely hours, aching fingertips, lost family moments, headaches, endless trips to the stationary store, and caffeine-fuelled bouts of insomnia.

May I just say from my perspective as half of this close collaboration that I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the kind words and encouragement from fellow space enthusiasts. To have worked with Francis I consider an unashamed honour; to have told the stories of so many long-admired heroes of my youth I also consider an unequalled privilege.

Thank you to all; thank you.

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posted 08-18-2007 09:12 AM               

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This is absolutely the most frightening image I've ever seen on these series of tubes, otherwise known as "The Internets".

Very funny you guys!

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posted 08-23-2007 04:33 PM               

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That pic is hilarious. I didn't really see the Paul & Boris resemblance in the pic with Walt, but with Francis properly accessorized and sans facial hair, I can definitely see a bit of the young McCartney. As for Colin, well...the only nit I can pick is that the bottle should have been Stoli!

(Picking up both books this weekend, By the way, can't wait to dive in.)

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posted 08-23-2007 05:27 PM            

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да камрад!

We are now signing books as "Boris and Paul"...

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posted 08-24-2007 12:22 PM            

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Originally posted by GoesTo11:
I can definitely see a bit of the young McCartney.

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Considering when McCartney was the same age as I am now, he'd not only made his last original Beatles albums but also his last Wings albums, I'll take the "young" as a great compliment!! Thanks!!

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posted 08-29-2007 06:00 PM               

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Originally posted by GoesTo11:
I can definitely see a bit of the young McCartney.

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Straighten the hair out Francis and you are looking like Gore Verbinski's brother there...

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From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
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posted 08-30-2007 11:12 AM               

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I just started reading "Shadow of the Moon" the other day and am already almost 100 pages into it. There are so many neat little details that I have never read before in this book (or "Silent Sea" which I just finished reading).

I read it on the bus to/from work and when I get stuck in traffic, it's just a bonus!

Great stuff Francis, thanks!

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From: San Diego
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posted 08-31-2007 12:06 AM            

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Thanks, Tom, for that great feedback, on behalf of myself and Colin. The Gemini program was one which gets (unfairly) overlooked in so many space histories, and we did a lot of pre-writing planning to try and work out how best to tell the great stories within it in original ways. It sounds like, for you, we succeeded. After all the years of writing, it's so wonderful to hear comments like this. Thank you!

Great to hear you enjoyed "Into That Silent Sea" too...

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posted 09-03-2007 09:43 AM            

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Thanks, Ed and Chris, for the ordering feedback. Ed, there did seem to be just over a week where it went from available back to pre-order on the Amazon page (hopefully, as you say, because they ran out of their initial copies), but as of Saturday it's been back as available.

As also noted elsewhere on this site, there are some other places where you can immediately obtain copies signed by both authors at the list price.

Very glad that you are both so eager to get the book - thanks.