|
Author
|
Topic: In the Shadow of the Moon (Burgess, French)
|
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
|
posted 02-23-2008 06:48 PM
   
Nice looking bloke.  The award is well deserved and I am glad the librarys of San Diego recognize the contribution you two made. |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 02-24-2008 12:17 PM
Well, "our own" Francis French & Colin Burgess have done it again! Check out the great review for "In the Shadow of the Moon" Jim Busby wrote in the January / February issue of "Space Times" magazine. I think Busby is right on the mark when he mentions the different perspectives this book offers to the era. For example, instead of dwelling on the fact of how divergent the crew of Apollo 11 were as compared to the other Apollo crews, Francis & Colin focus on how Armstrong, Aldrin & Collins actually bonded to complete their mission. To me, this type of writing is what makes this book such a great and important read. Good job Francis and Colin! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 02-25-2008 10:28 PM
Thanks, Bruce, Jay, and - other Jay! |
johntosullivan
Member Posts: 162
From: Cork, Cork, Ireland
Registered: Oct 2005
|
posted 02-26-2008 05:12 AM
Once again, well done on the awards and accolades.I have a brief question and apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere. In the books there are quotes embedded in the text. Other large segments of quotations are in italics. Is there a difference? I have a feeling that the italicized text represents interviews with the authors. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 02-26-2008 02:56 PM
Many thanks to you (and others) for those kind words. We tried, wherever possible, to have first-hand, original interviews with the astronauts and cosmonauts and let their words speak to the reader directly about their experiences. One way of highlighting important, lengthy quotes is to separate them into a block and italicize them. Otherwise they can look a little unwieldly as part of a long paragraph, and may lose just a little of their impact. People's eyes tend to be drawn to these block quotes, and this gives them a touch of added emphasis in their story - much like dropping in a quote from a Kennedy speech would do. That said, many of the shorter quotes within the book are also original to this book, so we weren't trying to make any sort of distinction between original and sourced material. It's just a publishing technique; hope that explains it for you. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 03-16-2008 01:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mdmyer:
Usually in a bookshop I sign every copy of my book I can get my hands on so that the bookseller can't return them to the publisher
While signing some other copies of this book in some Borders and Barnes & Noble outlets I passed by yesterday, a B&N manager also told me that the stores do a lot of recommended book selling by the staff, and having signed copies helps them promote their copies as special / unique. So another good reason to do this... |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 03-31-2008 03:52 PM
I had an appointment with Nurse O'Hara this weekend, at which she prescribed the following reading (in keeping with our prior Apollo 7 gag signs). Just what the doctor ordered!!
We signed a number of copies (these are the first copies of this book that Dee has signed - as many of you are aware, the book is dedicated to her), and details on obtaining them will be posted here shortly. 
 |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 04-05-2008 01:00 PM
I see that UK bookseller Waterstones put the following recommendation online from one of their booksellers, Sarah Skinner: "Having recently read the prequel to this book I was filled with a mixture of excitment and trepidation when starting this one - could it be as accessible and fascinating as the first?I am pleased to say that if anything it is better than Into That Silent Sea. This book takes up where the first left off and chronicles the ups and downs of the Gemini space missions and then the Apollo missions up to Apollo 11 and the moon landing. In addition the story of the Russian space programme is interwoven to show just how close the race to the moon actually was at one point. I loved this book as once again it found a brilliant balance between technical, social and personal history. I freely admit that it is the personal histories that fascinate me the most, but at no point did I find myself overwhelmed by technical details and I raced through the book as I found it utterly compelling. This is probably a book for someone who already has an interest in the space programme during the 1960s but whether you know a lot or a little I know it will be an indispensible reference book." |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 04-10-2008 10:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
We signed a number of copies... and details on obtaining them will be posted here shortly.
...and here are those details. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 04-14-2008 09:15 AM
Six members of the Anders family visited my co-author Francis at his workplace today to get copies of our book (which includes an Apollo 8 chapter written with the family's kind assistance) signed. Here's a photo of Francis with Valerie Anders, and children Gayle and Greg. Amongst the signed copies they wanted was one for each of the six children. It's very nice to think that all of the family will each have a copy!  |
mdmyer
Member Posts: 900
From: Humboldt KS USA
Registered: Dec 2003
|
posted 04-17-2008 05:31 AM
And there is going to be a very special book signing coming up. Hey Francis, How do you feel about having a book signing at the National Air and Space Museum?
That is an Honor. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 04-17-2008 11:43 AM
It does feel incredibly special to have been invited! The National Air & Space Museum on the mall is pretty much the holy grail of space history, and I vividly remember the first time I stepped through its doors as a young English tourist. This does indeed feel very special - thanks Mike! Hope to meet some cS'ers there if you feel like dropping by that day to say hello. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 04-22-2008 04:58 PM
For NASA's Earth Day coverage this morning, Bill Anders and NASA earth scientist Dr. Bruce Wielicki were here at the San Diego Air & Space Museum for live TV interviews. I received a very nice surprise in my inbox this morning — a photo of Bill Anders with the book, that they had taken for me. Very nice of him to do so, and a good start to Earth Day!!  |
Jake
Member Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002
|
posted 04-23-2008 02:11 PM
Great stuff Francis...! |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 05-04-2008 01:04 AM
As authors, Francis French and I are notified by our publishers of most print and online reviews of our books, and I felt that this was an excellent one to share, as it draws a scholarly comparison between "In the Shadow of the Moon" and Gerard DeGroot's "Dark Side of the Moon," while also mentioning other books about early space and lunar exploration. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 05-27-2008 10:50 PM
I am delighted to see that Curt Newport, author of the excellent and highly-recommended Lost Spacecraft: The Search for Liberty Bell 7, has written a very nice review of this book on the book's Amazon.com page, which was extraordinarily good of him. |
mdmyer
Member Posts: 900
From: Humboldt KS USA
Registered: Dec 2003
|
posted 07-08-2008 06:13 PM
And yet another great review of this book. Francis, just a few days ago you posted a book on famous nurses that had some drawings of Dee. Who drew the signs Dee is holding in the photos above? At first I thought it might have been Dee but them I remembered Wally holding a sign too. Just wondering who the artist was. |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 07-08-2008 09:00 PM
"Great minds" Mike! I just read this review myself and was going to post it here. Another well-deserved review for Francis and Colin! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 07-09-2008 12:04 AM
Thanks so much, Mike and Bruce!! Very appreciative of your kind words and support, and I am sure Colin is too. quote:
Originally posted by mdmyer:
Who drew the signs Dee is holding in the photos above? At first I thought it might have been Dee but them I remembered Wally holding a sign too. Just wondering who the artist was.
The signs are based on the gag signs held up for the TV cameras during the Apollo 7 mission. Wally and I did a number of them - the first ones that I recall were in 2005, that I wrote out: 
Although Wally added his own handwritten reply to at least one of them... (and this photo can also be found on Wally's personal website) 
By the time Into That Silent Sea was released, we were emulating the style of the original signs used on Apollo 7. 
- which is what happened with the Dee-sign-designs too... |
mdmyer
Member Posts: 900
From: Humboldt KS USA
Registered: Dec 2003
|
posted 09-07-2008 06:27 AM
And yet another stellar review.This one by Marcia Smith and it can be found in the Summer 2008 Journal of Cold War Studies. Well worth the trip to the library to find a copy. |
Shalene
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, California
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 10-19-2008 01:45 PM
Now being reviewed in a galaxy far, far away...  |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 11-20-2008 04:07 PM
As a nice addition to John Charles' photo of Harriet Eisele with the book (Oct 26, 2007 on this thread), here is a photo of Susie Eisele Black and me with the book, taken last week during my trip to Florida. Both Harriet and Susie were extremely generous with their time and memories in helping to tell Donn Eisele's story.  |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 01-25-2009 07:52 PM
I've just discovered that the NASA Academy Sharing Knowledge (ASK) page has a rather fine mention of "In The Shadow Of The Moon". |
andrewcli
Member Posts: 328
From: La Jolla, CA, USA
Registered: Jul 2007
|
posted 03-01-2009 06:29 PM
For those who haven't read Francis' and Colin's book, all I can say is your are missing something!I recently picked up a copy at SpaceFest last week and since then I could not put the book down. It's really a great book to read for those who are interested in the human side of the space program during its infancy. A great book! Pick up a copy when you visit the San Diego Air and Space Museum, another great place to see, and get Francis to sign the book for you there. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 03-01-2009 11:41 PM
It was really good to meet you as well at Spacefest, and I know Francis and I appreciate very much your kind words about the book. Yes, as you mentioned, those interested can always get Francis to sign and personalise your book at the SDA&SM, but a quick 10-minute stroll from there through Balboa Park will bring you to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, where they have copies of both our Outward Odyssey books, now signed by both of us. |
andrewcli
Member Posts: 328
From: La Jolla, CA, USA
Registered: Jul 2007
|
posted 03-02-2009 12:42 AM
Hi Colin, a great book!I should have gotten Into the Silent Sea when I had a chance last week. Its next on my list as well as Fallen Astronauts. |
blue_eyes
Member Posts: 165
From: North Carolina, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted 03-02-2009 11:47 AM
Andrew, you're gonna love Fallen Astronauts... it's AWESOME! |
jvertrees
Member Posts: 108
From: Crestwood, MO
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 03-06-2009 08:04 PM
I still need the elusive (at least to us Americans) Colin Burgess to sign my copy of "In the Shadow of the Moon". Excellent book! |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 03-06-2009 08:05 PM
I was able to countersign several copies of the books Francis and I co-wrote whilst I was in San Diego, but as visits to the U.S. are self-funded I'm afraid I can't get over there as often as I would like. Nevertheless, as mentioned elsewhere, Francis and I co-signed a number of copies of our books during my recent visit, and these are now available for purchase through Novaspace or through the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center bookstore. Dual-signed "special" copies (including some also signed by personalities within the books) are still available from Steve Hankow at Farthest Reaches. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 03-06-2009 08:06 PM
Just a funny story about Colin signing books. I purchased a copy of "Fallen Astronauts" from Rocket Town quite a few years ago. The book was signed but for the life of me I couldn't figure out who's signature it was. Fast forward to San Antonio UACC event where I met Colin and asked that he sign my copy of Fallen Astronauts. He had a quizical look on his face as he signed, and when I looked at his addition several hours later, I realized that I then had two signatures by Colin. Typical of the classy Colin, he didn't make me feel like a dummy for my inability to read Australian! |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 06-09-2009 08:15 PM
I happened across this fine review in The Oxford Journals and thought the author's names looked familiar - "our own" Francis French and Colin Burgess! |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 07-19-2009 10:30 PM
For those of you who don't yet feel they are drowning in information (and misinformation) on the first moonlanding anniversary, Francis French and I today participated in a 25-minute interview on Australia's ABC Radio Book Show, responding to questions about our two co-authored books, and on the space program in general. Here is the podcast site for those who would like to listen in to what we had to say.For the sake of the record, I was seated in the ABC studios in Sydney; the interviewer was in Melbourne; and of course Francis was on the line from San Diego. Great fun - we both enjoyed it a lot. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
|
posted 07-20-2009 01:15 AM
I just had a listen and it was very well done. Nice work guys!Astronauts and horses eh? Mmmmm, interesting. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 07-20-2009 02:44 PM
Thanks Jay (and Bruce!). As you can tell, just like a proverbial horse, that question threw us a little... a connection I had never made before(!) It was a fun interview to do.Now back to my fifth TV interview of the day here at the museum - today is crazy, but it's been a good excuse to get some flown items and all three moon rocks out for the cameras. And it started with a beautiful crescent moonrise in the early morning... |
SVaughan
Member Posts: 42
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Aug 2006
|
posted 07-20-2009 05:35 PM
Thank heavens neither of you mentioned the horsepower of a Saturn V or the mares on the moon - that really would have set her off!Great interview, gentlemen! |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 07-20-2009 06:41 PM
I was actually thinking about the Apollo 13 mission patch and was going to mention it after Francis had responded to that rather strange question about horses, but the interviewer cut straight to another question. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
|
posted 07-21-2009 12:31 AM
Of course the horse connection does relate back to Apollo as well, since he rode a chariot across the sky to bring the sun to the ancient Greeks (hence the Apollo 13 mission patch if I remember my history correctly). Indeed it is a very interesting connection. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 07-21-2009 09:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SVaughan:
Thank heavens neither of you mentioned ... the mares on the moon
Ouch! Now why couldn't I think of that pun fast enough on air? Perfect! |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 07-23-2009 03:14 PM
Great interview Francis & Colin! Be sure to keep SVaughan's suggestion in mind for next time (good one!). |
E2M Lem Man
Member Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005
|
posted 08-04-2009 03:17 PM
This just in: the hardback edition on Amazon.com has fallen to $19.77.I can't believe it - they have discounted the works of Francis and Colin! LOL - Gotcha! |
advertisement