posted 04-14-2004 07:43 AM               

Does anyone know if the co-author of "Starfall", Henry Still, is related to the Russell Still that wrote "Relics of the Space Race"?

posted 04-24-2004 09:52 PM               

1. "Seven Minus One." This one contains some good information about his childhood. I have to warn you that Carl Chappell isn't the greatest writer in the world, and that some of the attempts at prose might make you snicker. Chappell lived in Mitchell, Indiana, Gus' hometown, so I guess it could be considered a Mitchell citizen's viewpoint of Gus.

2. "Starfall." I am dying to read this, and I envy everyone who has a copy. I've heard that the prose is weak, but I'm sure that it contains a lot of information about Grissom, especially his family. It's pretty expensive; most of the used-book sites sell it for $200 and up. (This is a little astronomical for students like myself.)
   
   
3. Mary Zornio wrote a great biography of Grissom for the NASA History Office's website. While it isn't book-sized (it's about thirteen pages when printed out), it's still a detailed portrait of the man.

4. Gus Grissom's book "Gemini!" isn't a autobiography per se, but it captures his personality. I liked this book; although it was ghostwritten, it's told with humor and spirit, and it feels like Grissom is telling you a story. There isn't a ton of biographical information, but it's a good read.

5. Curt Newport devoted a significant amount of space in his recent book to telling Gus' story. He did a great job with it, although I think he got a lot of the information from "Seven Minus One." But Newport's take is original: for example, I loved his comparison of Gus Grissom and the Grissom character on "CSI." (It worked, too!)

6. "The Kids' Books": There have been about three of these written about Gus; but, obviously, these aren't going to be that encompassing. There's one by Carmen Bredeson, which I read about four years ago, and I think a new one by a different author just came out. One thing, though: Do NOT expose a child to the book "Virgil I Grissom, Boy Astronaut", by Carl Chappell. This book was HILARIOUS for a thirteen-year-old to read because the dialogue was horrible, and because Chappell wrote about the weirdest situations. (One mental image, forever seared in my mind, is of a young Gus Grissom running through his backyard screaming "THEEE! THEEE!" at a blue jay.) Chappell used this book as a vanity vehicle for Mitchell, Indiana; so Gus Grisson's nostalgic childhood adventures include (I swear) visiting a school bus factory and visiting a limestone quarry. One recurring theme is that Gus became a hero, despite the fact that he was short; so in all the drawings, Gus is at least a foot smaller than all the other kids. (He's lucky if he comes up to an elbow.) This book is great entertainment, but it doesn't give you that much information.

posted 04-25-2004 07:38 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Laura:
"Starfall." I am dying to read this, and I envy everyone who has a copy. I've heard that the prose is weak, but I'm sure that it contains a lot of information about Grissom, especially his family.

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The book dealer only wanted 50$ for it and I felt that I could not let it go so I purchased it. I received the book last week and I have started to read it but I am only 10 pages into the book.

It should be a good one.