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Author
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Topic: Falling to Earth (Al Worden, Francis French)
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carl walker
Member Posts: 405
From: Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 11-20-2010 04:07 PM
  
Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon
by Al Worden with Francis FrenchForeword by Dick Gordon
Epilogue by Tom Stafford  As command module pilot for the Apollo 15 mission to the moon in 1971, Al Worden flew on what is widely regarded as the greatest exploration mission that humans have ever attempted. He spent six days orbiting the moon, including three days completely alone, the most isolated human in existence. During the return from the moon to earth he also conducted the first spacewalk in deep space, becoming the first human ever to see both the entire earth and moon simply by turning his head. The Apollo 15 flight capped an already-impressive career as an astronaut, including important work on the pioneering Apollo 9 and Apollo 12 missions, as well as the perilous flight of Apollo 13. Nine months after his return from the moon, Worden received a phone call telling him he was fired and ordering him out of his office by the end of the week. He refused to leave. What happened in those nine months, from being honored with parades and meetings with world leaders to being unceremoniously fired, has been a source of much speculation for four decades. Worden has never before told the full story around the dramatic events that shook NASA and ended his spaceflight career. Readers will learn them here for the first time, along with the exhilarating account of what it is like to journey to the moon and back. It's an unprecedentedly candid account of what it was like to be an Apollo astronaut, with all its glory but also its pitfalls. - Smithsonian Books, Hardcover, 304 pages
- On Sale: July 12, 2011
- ISBN: 978-1-58834-309-3 (1-58834-309-X)
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Frederic Janik
Member Posts: 322
From: Helsinki, Finland
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 11-20-2010 04:40 PM
Yeah, looking forward to this one! |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1263
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-20-2010 06:44 PM
I sat beside Francis at the ASTP lunch at the ASF weekend two weeks ago and asked him what he had coming up. He advised it was a book about the Apollo program. But he could not say any more yet. I have to assume this is the project. I cannot wait to grab a copy. |
AstroAutos
Member Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 11-20-2010 06:46 PM
Excellent news..I was wondering if Worden would ever write an autobiography along with his book of poems - and glad to see Francis is involved too!  |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1797
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 11-20-2010 06:56 PM
Agree with the comments above. Should be a wonderful book! |
randyc
Member Posts: 857
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 11-20-2010 07:57 PM
Any chance that copies signed by Al Worden and Francis French will be available either from the Smithsonian, this website or the Space Store? |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 11-20-2010 08:09 PM
We'll just have to wait and see, won't we! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49690
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-21-2010 08:48 AM
Details about book signings should be revealed in 2011 and will be listed on collectSPACE, under Sightings and on this forum, when available. |
Kite
Member Posts: 1062
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 11-21-2010 11:17 AM
Having twice been in attendance at two different talks by Al Worden I cant wait for this book to be published. With Francis French assisting it has to be a winner. |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 11-21-2010 12:11 PM
Updates will post to Al's web site as they become available. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2339
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 11-22-2010 03:36 PM
Another book by Francis. I'm looking forward to reading this too! |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1391
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 11-22-2010 05:15 PM
Francis is fast becoming the James Patterson of Space history (as far as book output, that is). I will surely read it and hope to meet him and Al Worden at a book signing.. |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1223
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 11-22-2010 08:21 PM
I, too, am looking forward to this book! I also hope they work with Easton Press to add it to their library of signed, leather bound edition astronaut books. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-23-2010 04:09 AM
Great news, if this is half as good as his talks have been then we should be on to a winner! |
albatron
Member Posts: 2804
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 11-23-2010 10:46 AM
I too am looking forward to this. A few of us had been hounding him for years to get out "the other side" (factual) of the story. I'm just going to leave it at that. Some folks will not be happy to read this. Al has deserved better. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6330
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 11-24-2010 01:55 PM
Here's the amazon.com listing. |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 11-24-2010 06:46 PM
Since the cat is now out of the bag, Al has updated his website with a little of the book info. More will be posted as it's available. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 11-24-2010 09:02 PM
Wow, what a nice surprise. I have been awaiting this long rumored book for many years now. |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 11-29-2010 04:43 PM
For people outside of the US to preorder the book or add it to their Amazon wish list, there is now an Amazon UK book link.And for France, Germany, Canada and Japan. Coming soon (we hope!) in Italy. |
BA002
Member Posts: 206
From: Utrecht,NL
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 11-30-2010 12:35 PM
Great news indeed! Just pre-ordered my copy. I'm counting on it being as interesting and fun as Al Worden is in person! |
jvertrees
Member Posts: 108
From: Crestwood, MO
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 11-30-2010 01:37 PM
I'm looking very forward to the book being published. Hopefully there will be signed copies available from Farthest Reaches. It is very nice that Al has used the same cover photo he had on his book of poetry, "Hello Earth" on this new release. |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 12-03-2010 09:22 AM
Col. Worden told us all about this book at Autographica 16: he was full of praise for Francis French and the encouragement given by Gen Stafford.Can't wait to read it! (And to add it to my inventory!) |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49690
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-05-2010 11:16 AM
A message from Al Worden and Francis French... Thank you very much to everyone on collectSPACE for the very kind and supportive words about this forthcoming book. We're also very thankful to the many space experts and astronauts who assisted and confirmed information for us. We know you are going to enjoy this adventure to the moon and back, with many other stories along the way.
We've been very touched by the large number of pre-orders rolling in to the Amazon sites in the US and overseas, plus Barnes & Noble. We look forward to keeping people updated with the latest news both here and at alworden.com.
In the meantime, Happy Holidays to you all, and we hope Santa delivers lots of space goodies down your chimney, wherever you are!  |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1797
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 12-06-2010 09:38 AM
This book has the potential to be one of the best astronaut biography/autobiography books yet. Why? Francis has proven himself to be a very knowledgeable and excellent writer. Plus, Al Worden is one of the most fun loving people I have ever met; very down to earth (hence the title I guess  ) and serious, but also a wonderful sense of humor. I'm itching to read it! |
DChudwin
Member Posts: 1121
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-13-2011 06:58 PM
I hope that Al and Francis will autograph copies (perhaps for ASF). |
bruce
Member Posts: 927
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-19-2011 11:50 AM
I see that Al has updated his web site with the following message: The web sites below are already taking pre-orders. All of them have Facebook buttons too, and many of them have Twitter and other social media buttons. Pressing them, and adding the book to your online wish list, really helps us raise the profile of this book and spread the word about it through grassroots efforts. Thank you! I have clicked the Facebook "share" buttons on the Random House, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders pages, and I encourage everyone here who is on Facebook and Twitter to do the same, because it is true - if we want to see space books continue to be published, we need to help spread the word about them. Even the Amazon international links have Facebook buttons. |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 02-10-2011 02:52 PM
New cover art for "Falling to Earth" has been posted to Al's website. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6330
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-11-2011 10:04 AM
Amazon was fast to react! Much better cover. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49690
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2011 10:49 AM
I have updated the cover art at the top of this thread. The original cover art can still be seen here. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-11-2011 04:05 PM
I like the look of that new cover, can't wait to read this book! |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 02-11-2011 09:08 PM
Maybe I'm getting old - but the old cover reminded me of the famous cover from National Geographic. However, I can understand putting a face to a title. |
farthestreaches
Member Posts: 1104
From: Redondo Beach, Ca
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-28-2011 01:37 AM
Farthest Reaches is very pleased to announce that we will be offering signed copies of "Falling To Earth" by Astronaut Al Worden with Francis French... but with a twist.For ordering information and further details, see this thread under Buy, Sell, Trade. |
bruce
Member Posts: 927
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 04-14-2011 03:08 PM
Local boy makes good flying!Jackson Citizen Patriot: Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden who was born in Jackson has written an autobiography Forty summers ago, Al Worden became one of Jackson's greatest heroes when he flew to the moon on Apollo 15.This summer, Worden plans to return to his hometown when he releases "Falling to Earth," an autobiography describing both his glorious moon mission and a subsequent fall from grace at NASA. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1263
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-22-2011 12:53 AM
I just wanted to give a heads up on an article in the latest Air&Space (also appears on their website).The magazine has a piece on Apollo 15 flight and highlights the upcoming book "Falling to Earth" By Al Worden and Francis French. A very nice article. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-22-2011 01:20 AM
Just read that snippet. Going to be a great book. Wish I could get the chance to meet him one day. Won't be able to go to the Apollo 15 40th or any of the other events this summer. I'll have to keep my eyes out for any chance I get to meet him. Hope he does a book signing near Philly because I would love to go up to see him for that. |
Spaceguy5
Member Posts: 427
From: Pampa, TX, US
Registered: May 2011
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posted 05-22-2011 01:32 AM
Yeah, he certainly is an amazing and entertaining guy. I'd say jump at any opportunity you can find. I saw him earlier this year when he visited my university (and helped troubleshoot his Mac and give him a short tour) then again at the AHOF induction at KSCVC. I've already pre-ordered, can't wait for the release. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2804
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-23-2011 08:28 AM
Air and Space (Smithsonian) did an excerpt from this book in this months issue. Nice preview of things to come.It's too bad in their predicate they had to focus on the negativity of the stamps issue. |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 05-23-2011 04:42 PM
And don't forget Al's Facebook page for the book. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49690
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-23-2011 08:08 PM
From collectSPACE's front page: To promote advance sales of the book, Worden has partnered with Farthest Reaches to offer copies signed by the authors and with a bonus surprise — a surprise that is, until now. In an exclusive, collectSPACE presents "Rising From Earth," a previously unpublished poem that Worden penned about the first last flight of the ship Endeavour. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49690
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-26-2011 01:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by alanh_7:
I just wanted to give a heads up on an article in the latest Air&Space.
The article includes a photo of Worden at last November's Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Astronaut Autograph and Memorabilia Show, signing a print of the moon. The full frame version of the photo (as appears in the image gallery) shows it was signed by quite a number of Apollo astronauts, including Walt Cunningham, Frank Borman and Alan Bean.Just out of idle curiosity, does the poster belong to a cS member/reader? |
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