|
Author
|
Topic: Astronauts still without (auto)biographies
|
Ade74
Member Posts: 47
From: Peterborough, England
Registered: Nov 2009
|
posted 09-12-2011 10:31 AM
   
Over the weekend I was having a look at which astronauts I don't have an autobiography or official biography on and was hoping you knowledgeable people could advise if one exists and, if not an official biography, which ones are worth reading and/or buying. - Donn Eisele
- Bill Anders (I suspect no autobiography!)
- Jim McDivitt
- Rusty Schweickart
- Dick Gordon (per his trip to England he said he has no plans to write one regardless of the prompting!)
- Jack Swigert
- Fred Haise
- Stu Roosa
- Ken Mattingly
- Ron Evans
|
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 48033
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 09-12-2011 10:41 AM
A biography of Stu Roosa will be released soon by author Willie Moseley: Smoke Jumper, Moon Pilot. |
HistorianMom
Member Posts: 110
From: Columbia, Missouri USA
Registered: Nov 2010
|
posted 09-12-2011 04:21 PM
There's no Harrison Schmitt biography either, is there? |
Max Q
Member Posts: 399
From: Whyalla South Australia
Registered: Mar 2007
|
posted 09-12-2011 05:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by HistorianMom:
There's no Harrison Schmitt biography either, is there?
That's a great pity. It would be interesting to hear from a non-fighter pilot perspective about the moon missions. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3269
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 09-12-2011 05:06 PM
This is one of the reasons Colin Burgess and I concentrated on Eisele, Anders and Schweickart so much in our book "In the Shadow of the Moon," using personal interviews where possible to create chapter-length insights into their lives and flights. We were told by some family members that this is probably the closest some will come to writing a memoir. Nevertheless, I hope everyone still alive on your list writes a book, because each story is fascinating in its diversity.Schmitt wrote a chapter in the book "Where Next, Columbus?" that is a beautiful account of his moon mission, and may be the closest he gets to writing those experiences at length. And I think you'll find Willie Moseley's book an interesting insight when it comes out - I know I did, in draft form. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3428
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 09-12-2011 06:31 PM
One of the last (potentially) great Apollo biographies to be written could be "They Flew Alone: the Apollo Astronauts Who Stayed in Orbit." Starting with John Young (who EVER asks him to talk about his time alone on Apollo 10?) it could detail the experiences of the command module pilots on the lunar landing missions, the "forgotten men" who were, as Neil Armstrong reminds us on the front cover of Al Worden's recent book, the second-in-command on the Apollo missions.* To be more than a rehash of existing material, it would require someone to interview Young, Collins, Gordon, Worden and Mattingly. Jan Evans and Gene Cernan could provide insight into the character of Ron Evans, one of several Apollo astronauts who departed too soon. Ed Mitchell could provide insight into Stu Roosa's contribution on Apollo 14. (Jack Swigert should not be overlooked and there should also be a preliminary chapter on the CMPs on 7, 8 and 9, even though only Dave Scott flew alone out of those four). *I can't resist comparing the Neil Armstrong front-cover comment on "Falling to Earth" with page 260 of "Footprints in the Dust" (published one year earlier). |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1768
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 09-12-2011 07:47 PM
What about Alan Bean? |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3269
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 09-12-2011 09:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
What about Alan Bean?
Alan Bean has written a children's book, "My Life As An Astronaut," plus his book for adults "Apollo," with Andy Chaikin, which relates his Apollo experiences in second-person point of view, like Lovell with "Lost Moon." quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
I'm guessing that the author in question was greeted by potential publishers with something essentially along the lines of, "Who wants to read about the guys who didn't walk on the moon?"
Top selling astronaut memoirs for the last couple of months according to Amazon sales listings are Al Worden, Mike Collins, and Jim Lovell. And the Collins book is 37 years old. |
DChudwin
Member Posts: 1120
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 09-12-2011 09:29 PM
I asked Jim McDivitt at SpaceFest II if he planned to write a book. He laughed, said no way, and made a comment, if I remember correctly, that some already published books were not telling the true story. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1351
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
|
posted 09-12-2011 09:49 PM
Francis, I appreciate your point, but...Worden's book has the advantage of being the first new first-person Apollo memoir in years (haven't read it yet, but I plan to), Carrying the Fire is an acknowledged classic recently re-released in paperback...and Lovell's was a crisis story that was made into a major movie.I'm just not sure how a publisher would take any of those as a fair indicator of a broad market for a collective CMP memoir. Again, I think this is a shame, but it is what it is. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1351
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
|
posted 09-12-2011 09:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DChudwin:
I asked Jim McDivitt at SpaceFest II if he planned to write a book. He laughed, said no way, and made a comment, if I remember correctly, that some already published books were not telling the true story.
Now that's just a tease! I'd be first in line to buy a McDivitt memoir. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1348
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 09-12-2011 10:37 PM
In co-authoring Footprints in the Dust, I made a concerted effort to tell the story of Apollo 12 from the perspective of the CMP. One of the greatest challenges, I found, was to describe the mission without it becoming The Pete Conrad Story. Of course, most readers would expect to see the recollections of the lunar surface activities of 12, most notably the interactions of Conrad and Bean and the TV camera issues, so the chapter digresses from the CMP's viewpoint there. A few observations from my research and extensive interviews with some of the key players in the mission: - There aren't enough pages available in any book to convey how highly regarded Conrad was in the eyes of his crewmates and most of the astronaut corps. Most of the time spent in interviews somehow were spent in discussions related to him.
- Dick Gordon is still today more interested in the technical accuracy of his performed tasks than any eloquent descriptions of the sights, sounds, or feelings of his experiences. I found it somewhat challenging to draw things from him at times. He can be equal parts salty sailor and absolute gentleman when speaking of various people he worked with or who had influences on his astronaut career.
I don't want to mischaracterize anything he said to me, but it seems that if he ever harbored any regrets for not walking on the moon, these are long forgotten or buried behind the pride taken from having the role he had in such a historic program. - Alan Bean's story has been told many times over through his paintings and their associated descriptions written by him, his own art books (essentially memoirs in themselves), and various televised interviews and movies. It would take a serious researcher/ author along the lines of Neal Thompson (Light This Candle) or James Hansen (First Man) to bring new insights into his life story.
- It has been four decades since these events, and while some recollections are often repeated and easily recited, when pressed for additional details, the guys are sometimes stumped. Who can blame them? Even with very significant events in our lives, how many of us can recall exact details other than those we speak of frequently, especially after a considerable amount of time?
This is where the serious, detailed research comes in, and the publisher would have to allow the volume (pages) to include minute details and analysis.I have not yet received my copy of Worden's book, but have heard plenty good about it and look forward to reading it. It, along with Collins', may well end up being the representative CMP memoirs for all of the men who orbited the moon alone. |
music_space
Member Posts: 1189
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted 09-13-2011 09:03 AM
Several, including Harrison Schmitt, have written chapters in NASA publications, such as Special Publication 350 "Expeditions to the Moon". |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 1025
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 01-23-2016 11:52 AM
Asking collectSPACE members for their opinions on who they think, which astronauts, should write books about their careers with NASA? I think Fred Haise, Joe Engle, Jack Lousma, Vance Brand, Jim Wetherbee and Eileen Collins would be very good books to read about their careers as NASA astronauts? Any suggestions? Editor's note: Threads merged. |
OWL
Member Posts: 186
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2007
|
posted 01-23-2016 12:44 PM
When Eileen Collins came over to the UK last year, my wife (Mrs Owl) and I spent a lot of quality time with her and she certainly has a compelling tale to tell.From very humble beginnings and her passion for flight and academia she rose through the ranks in a very male dominated profession of test pilot. Due to her place in history she has been much sought after by politicians for endorsement and affiliation (this is something she resists). Eileen is a wonderful person and is an inspiration to all she comes into contact with. I am hopeful, one day, she will write her story that I am sure will be the defining book of the shuttle era. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1351
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
|
posted 01-23-2016 11:04 PM
Hoot Gibson. |
dom
Member Posts: 988
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
|
posted 01-24-2016 09:51 AM
I think (auto)biographies of George 'Pinky'' Nelson and Robert Crippen would be both exciting and offer valuable insights into the space shuttle program during difficult times. Have they threatened to write one? |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1327
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
|
posted 01-25-2016 09:55 AM
Adm. Dick Truly's bio/autobio would make for an interesting read, told both from an astronaut's and NASA Administrator's perspective. |
Kite
Member Posts: 1022
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
|
posted 01-25-2016 11:53 AM
Jim McDivitt is certainly an autobiography I would love to read but he made it abundantly clear at his talk at Autographica in Birmingham, UK 2010 that he never would. He said "the truth would hurt too many people, some of them not here today." A great shame but you have to respect his decision. I know of one author who was keen to help him but has obviously been unable to get him to change his mind.Eileen Collins I hope will in the future write her story as it would be a very interesting one to tell. Joe Engle is another autobiography that would be would be great to have as his has been an amazing career. Quite honestly any of the astronauts, or cosmonauts, who haven't yet written one would be very welcome as far as I'm concerned. |
PowerCat
Member Posts: 211
From: Herington, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2006
|
posted 01-25-2016 01:00 PM
I agree that I would enjoy Joe Engle biography as well as one by our other Kansas shuttle astronaut, Steve Hawley. Wouldn't a book title, "Attack Astronomer" be a great book since that was his nickname among the other astronauts. |
p51
Member Posts: 1740
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
|
posted 01-25-2016 01:28 PM
I had a surprise phone call from Al Bean a while back and he told me if I was going to write the (fictional) book I'd written him about for advice, to not put it off too long because eventually, you start forgetting stuff. He said it was getting harder and harder for him now to recall some of the details of his missions. I got the impression that if he tried to write a book now, he'd have some issues with using just his memories.
quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
Hoot Gibson.
Oh, HECK yeah. Rhea's book was great, and I hope that'll be the boot he needs to put his own experiences into print. Hoot is a great guy in person and loves to talk about the stuff, so why he hasn't written a book is downright baffling to me. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1259
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 01-25-2016 04:26 PM
Had a chance to ask Hoot several times at the ASF shows in recent years when his book was coming out but he brushed it off. It would make for some colorful reading that is for sure, in particular considering his air racing career on top of everything else he has done. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 759
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted 04-25-2016 11:45 AM
One biography that I would love to read would be that of Apollo 17 CMP Ron Evans. I know his wife Jan speaks on his behalf and I'm sure there is a fascinating story behind this soldier, aviator, and astronaut who was taken from this earth too early. Perhaps one of the authors here could team up with his wife to tell his story.Here is a short Q&A with Jan Evans from 2013. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3269
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 04-29-2016 10:15 AM
Donn Eisele can now be removed from the initial list too, with his memoirs coming out within the year. |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2660
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: Dec 2000
|
posted 05-10-2016 09:19 PM
You modestly forgot to add that you are his co-writer on this project ..... congratulations!
|
Silent Sea
Member Posts: 36
From:
Registered: Mar 2015
|
posted 05-10-2016 09:47 PM
I'm interested in a bio of Judith Resnik. Is there one? Or the possibility of one? |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1259
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 05-11-2016 11:10 AM
My wish list would be Hoot Gibson's. There was a rumor but that is all.
|
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1327
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
|
posted 05-11-2016 01:52 PM
There was a bio of Judy Resnik, 'Judith Resnik: Challenger Astronaut' by Bernstein, Gerber and Blue published in 1990 by Dutton Books, 112 pages. |
p51
Member Posts: 1740
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
|
posted 05-11-2016 10:36 PM
quote:
Originally posted by alanh_7:
My wish list would be Hoot Gibson's.
Mine, too. |
taneal1
Member Posts: 271
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Feb 2004
|
posted 05-19-2016 01:13 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Kite:
Jim McDivitt... said "the truth would hurt too many people, some of them not here today."
Now that's an enticing comment. Could he be referring to spouses? Or perhaps to astronauts who were not exactly loved by one an all?
|
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4450
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 05-20-2016 02:45 AM
Having spoken with Jim at Autographica a few years ago I know several astronauts would feature less favourably in any McDivitt autobiography. |
Kite
Member Posts: 1022
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
|
posted 05-20-2016 04:56 AM
I can vouch for that Rick. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1708
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 05-20-2016 10:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Kite:
Quite honestly any of the astronauts, or cosmonauts, who haven't yet written one would be very welcome as far as I'm concerned.
They all start looking the same after the TFNG's.You could even write a generic one (or two pilots vs non pilots) and just fill in names and dates and a list of hurdles to over come. |
p51
Member Posts: 1740
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
|
posted 05-26-2016 07:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Behling:
They all start looking the same after the TFNG's.
Yeah, but if an astronaut really manages to write some good insights and is able to explain the sensations of the things most of us will never experience, it wouldn't matter if there was anything "special" about them. Look what Mike Mullane did with "Riding Rockets," many could say he was an average astronaut in regard to his experiences, but I personally loved his book as one of my all-time favorite autobiographies. He explained things the way no other shuttle-era astronaut ever did on paper. |
Peter downunder
Member Posts: 57
From: Lancefield, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Apr 2012
|
posted 06-20-2016 03:52 AM
I hate to sound like an old curmudgeon, but if there are any great (Apollo) autobiographies out there, they would have been written already. I would submit Gordon Cooper and John Young's efforts support my view. Although Worden's book certainly proves the rule... it's a great read! Surpassed, in my view, only by Collins, Cunningham and Mulane.The idea of Donn Eisele's book coming out at the end of the year, does pique my interest; acerbic and written at the time of his finish with NASA, if it is written with some style, honesty and insight... McDivitt's book would be another I would consider. If it is written in a style that doesn't pull any punches, I'm in! Surely, Gene Cernan is one he is speaking of. Without being slanderous, if he would discuss his reasons for preferring Gordon's crew...? It's these types of stories that I covet. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1708
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 06-20-2016 08:08 AM
quote:
Originally posted by p51:
Look what Mike Mullane did with "Riding Rockets"...
Mullane was a TFNG. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3269
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 11-23-2016 12:44 PM
I have just seen the comments about the Al Worden book and the (now shipping) Donn Eisele book. Thank you very much for those kind words about our efforts. |
advertisement