posted 11-24-2010 12:24 AM               

• Contains authorized biographical sketches of all 32 pioneering astronaut candidates, even ones that didn't fly on the Mercury mission, the first U.S. manned space program

• Authoritative, well researched, highly readable, and copiously illustrated, with many photographs of the candidates published for the first time

• Examines the goals and achievements of the Mercury team

• Commemorates the 50th anniversary (in 2011) of the first manned U.S. space flight, with a Mercury astronaut aboard, in 1961

The names of the seven Mercury astronauts were announced in April 1959 amid a flurry of publicity and patriotism. This work provides biographical details of all thirty-two finalists for the seven coveted places as America's pioneering astronauts.

All of the candidates were among the nation's elite pilots involved in testing new supersonic aircraft capabilities. Most had served as wartime fighter and bomber pilots; some were test pilots on top secret and sophisticated aviation projects, while others were fleet admirals, prisoners of war, and proposed pilots for spaceflight programs such as the Dyna-Soar (X-20).

The names of all 32 finalists have been kept secret until very recently.

"Selecting the Mercury Seven" also relates the history and difficulties behind the initial choice of candidates. The lives, motivations, military careers, and achievements of the unsuccessful twenty-five finalists are explored first in fully authorized biographies. Test pilots for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, each man has a fascinating and very different story to tell.

All thirty-two men had to endure meticulous, demeaning, and brutal week-long medical examinations at the Lovelace Clinic in New Mexico. This was followed by another torturous week at the Wright Aeromedical Laboratory in Ohio, where they were subjected to extreme fitness and physiological testing, the sole purpose of which was to sort out the Supermen from the near-supermen.

The final part of the book examines the accomplishments and spaceflights of the seven successful candidates, bringing their amazing stories right up to date.

• Springer Praxis Books, 1st Edition., September 2011
  
• 400 p. 150 illus., Softcover
  
• ISBN: 978-1-4419-8404-3

posted 04-13-2011 08:35 PM               

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Originally posted by Gilbert:
I'm really looking forward to this book.

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posted 07-24-2011 07:36 PM               

By way of backgrounding this amazing book bonus, today there are just 12 surviving members of the 32 candidates who went through the Mercury selection process back in 1959. Three were selected in the first two astronaut groups - Glenn, Carpenter and Lovell - leaving nine who were never chosen. Of those nine, seven of the former finalists agreed to sign 300 of the inserts exclusively for Farthest Reaches. Unfortunately, two were unable to participate.

This signing is taking place, one finalist after the other, right now. This means that when you purchase your copy of the book from Steve, you will also receive the bonus insert, unattached but designed to fit snugly inside the book. Those finalists signing the inserts are:

• Harold W. Christian, Jr., USAF
  
• Richard M. Corbett, USAF
  
• Dale W. Cox, Jr., USN
  
• Frank D. Frazier, USAF
  
• Thomas B. Hayward, USN
  
• Robert M. Solliday, USMC
  
• John M. Tierney, USN

In the meantime, Steve is quite happy to start a list of those interested in placing an order pending his receiving the information that will allow him to actually accept payment. The book is scheduled for release in September, which is rapidly approaching.

This will be your chance to have a magnificent bonus insert signed by seven test pilots - many of whom reached high distinctions in their later service lives - who could quite easily have become one of America's renowned Mercury astronauts. I might add that I am pledged not to reveal any of their addresses to those who may ask me, so this will likely be your only chance to obtain this historic group of signatures, and of course there's every chance that you can later add the signatures of Glenn, Carpenter and Lovell.

posted 09-10-2011 04:37 AM               

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Originally posted by ColinBurgess:
I can't wait to see the finished product.

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Neither can we, Colin!

posted 04-23-2012 11:20 AM            

I really enjoyed this book on the selection of the Mercury seven from the final thirty two candidates. Very thorough and well researched it is well written and the chapters on the gruesome medical, physiology and psychology tests are not stuffy and at times humourous. Some of the biographies were tragic and brought home how dangerous the life of a test or fighter pilot could be. Others not selected had wonderful careers, many finishing with very high ranks and the fact they did not make the final seven did not hold them back, rightly so. I found that I liked to read one at a time and then reflect rather than read through quickly, they merited that. And of course the final seven really were special. None of them should be forgotten so how fortunate we have Colin Burgess to make this unique record of such a momentous selection board at the beginning of manned space travel. I recommend this book to all space and aviation enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in history.

posted 03-01-2014 10:12 AM               

What struck me is how remarkable the men who weren't selected were, which made the men who were chosen even more extraordinary.

This book further convinced me that Chris Kraft's comments about Scott Carpenter were based on personal rather than professional reasons.

There was simply no other way to stand out in the first selection group than to be, in every respect, at the top of the candidates. The men who, for whatever reasons, refused or were not chosen went on to such outstanding careers it's absolutely impossible for the a "wrong" choice to have slipped through the process. Too many top-notch people had would have to have made so many fundamental errors for that to happen.