posted 04-04-2007 07:22 PM               

The guy I'd really like to see write a book is Jim McDivitt... not only did he command two very important missions, he spent time in management during a very critical era. Plus, he seems like he'd be a great story teller.

posted 04-05-2007 06:39 AM               

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Originally posted by nasamad:
I'd love to see a book from Engle. I'd like to hear how it was to fly the X-15...

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posted 04-05-2007 08:44 AM               

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Originally posted by MCroft04:
Dick Gordon would be a great addition.

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I told him you'd be surprised how many people would go out and buy it.

posted 04-05-2007 09:13 AM               

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Originally posted by mjanovec:
(and John Young currently working on one)

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posted 04-05-2007 05:32 PM               

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Originally posted by Dwayne Day:
I don't think we really need many more astronaut books. What would be useful is an overall review of the books already written, identifying common themes and differences.

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I have to respectfully disagree. For every 10 astronauts, there are 10 sets of opinions, viewpoints, and personal stories that are unique to each individual. Granted, not everyone needs to read every astronaut book out there.

If someone had told me a couple years ago that Mike Mullane was writing a book, I probably wouldn't have been that excited. But having read Riding Rockets, I can say that it's one of my favorite astronaut books in print. It certainly changed my view of the early shuttle program.

I agree with what others have said...a Dick Gordon book would be nice to have! Too bad Pete Conrad never got around to writing one.

posted 04-05-2007 06:46 PM               

I have read old newspaper articles about some of the guys "hanging out" with Sinatra and the troubles they got out of, about T-38 racing and running out of fuel, the "secretaries pool" and the parties- but they all want to be heroes and not tell their REAL stories.

posted 04-05-2007 08:33 PM               

But some stuff you just can't write about. Or you can, but then you're sorry.

This happens all the time with books and writing. One could dump EVERYTHING he knows. Everything. Into a book manuscript. But what of the poor reader? What of art? What of story-telling? One runs the risk of losing the reader — unless you're Tom Wolfe and you know what you're doing.

If I understand his post, I like Dwayne Day's idea of a book that analyzes the literature from a historiographical perspective. It would look at narratives, themes, sourcing (do authors resort to the "some say"? dodge, or do they cite reputable primary and secondary sources?), and tone. Gawd, and cliches.

Who is doing the writing? Why? When were the books written in relation to the events about which they write?

posted 04-06-2007 03:29 PM               

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Originally posted by E2M Lem Man:
I wish that some of the early guys would go "Unplugged".

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posted 04-06-2007 04:27 PM               

Can we have a ruling, please, on usage and meaning of these terms?

I understand the former to mean "ending life support" and the latter to mean "an acoustic-instrument musical performance" (because the amplifiers are unplugged).

posted 04-06-2007 05:12 PM               

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Originally posted by ColinBurgess:
Somewhere in the dark, trivial recesses of my mind I have an idea that this relates to the old theatre organs...

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posted 10-18-2012 01:56 PM               

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Originally posted by FutureAstronaut:
I personally would like to see one from Eileen Collins in the future.

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You never get enough of a chance to speak about things of import with them in a public setting (too many how did you go to the bathroom in space questions when you're trying to talk about RTLS aborts) and believe me, she has a ton to share from a very unique perspective.

posted 10-18-2012 02:29 PM               

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Originally posted by albatron:
(...)she has a ton to share from a very unique perspective.

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And so did John Young...

posted 10-18-2012 05:00 PM               

I personally am not interested in a “no holds barred”, “unplugged”, or “pulling out the stops” version. It would be mostly gossip, potentially hurtful to family and most likely not add to telling the history of the program. I’m sure most did what they were supposed to and aren’t too flawed in their personal lives. However, unless the transgressions or offences somehow came into the missions or work, they don't add too the history. In Al Worden’s book by Francis it touches on strained personal relationships. Some patched up today, some not so much. There really isn’t a historical need to open those chapters in full. In Al Worden’s book they are there to the extent they need to be for an accurate account. In editing a Skylab book recently there were also some early versions of the text that included some of those stories as well. I never edited those out, the author eventually did. If they didn’t help tell the story they where “unplugged” (sorry Kris, couldn’t help myself.)

There are many stories out there about Jack Swigert’s dating habits. Some funny but they don’t really add to the overall story of what was accomplished. To write Swigert’s story and focus on being an astronaut bachelor in play would totally dismiss the importance of his true contributions and not give you a portrait of the whole man. I also think of Jim & Marilyn Lovell packing to move and Capt. Lovell discovering his children’s hospital records that he knew nothing about. It told us a lot of the sacrifices made but do we need to hear about every school play, game or race that was missed? Every child hurt because they didn’t understand why Dad wasn’t home a lot? We had Opie Cunningham add a crew argument into the Service Capsule of Apollo 13 that apparently never happened. Ron Howard said it was necessary to add spice to the scene. True enough, getting lost in space not knowing if your capsule blew up and if you’re going to make it home happens every day and needs some artistic help to hold interest! For those few who strayed and brought “dates” to the astronaut beach house, I’m sure most regret it today and would want a do over if possible. Dr. Duane Graveline, one of the original science astronauts resigned almost as soon as he was selected because his wife filed for divorce at the same time. He thought he would never get a flight. Clearly by his many contributions to the program as a non-astronaut scientist he would have added a lot to a mission by being on board.

I’d like future accounts to go largely by the formats that have been established. Mike Mullane, Walt Cunningham and Gene Cernan all have more candid and very good, yet still largely respectful accounts. Scott Carpenter, John Glenn and Mike Collins took a different path but still have plenty of color and humanity into their stories. Mike Mullane and Bill Pogue also have done a great job of collecting all those "bathroom" question and answers that many want to know. If fact both their Q&A books are among the better selling of all first hand astronaut accounts. Many like Joe Allen, Jay Apt, Tom Jones and Story Musgrave have outstanding photo books that also add a rich layer to the history.

A couple of years ago I heard Scott Carpenter give a presentation in Kansas City, MO. His daughter Kris was there and mentioned she was doing research at that time on the selecting of the Mercury Seven. I think Colin Burgess has done a great job with that so maybe her project is off now. But she did use a term I’ve never heard before. She called herself a “NASA brat.” I would like to see a gifted writer like Kris meet up with several other of her “NASA brat” friends and tell their story then as much as they remember, and also from now, that they have grown and understand more fully the importance of their fathers work.