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Author Topic:   Voices from the Moon: Apollo Astronauts Describe Their Lunar Experiences
cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 11-12-2008 10:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Voices from the Moon: Apollo Astronauts Describe Their Lunar Experiences
by Andrew Chaikin
Andrew Chaikin's A Man on the Moon is considered the definitive history of the Apollo moon missions -- arguably the pinnacle of human experience. Now, using never-before-published quotes taken from his in-depth interviews with twenty-three of the twenty-four Apollo lunar astronauts, Chaikin and his collaborator, Victoria Kohl, have created an extraordinary account of the lunar missions.

In Voices from the Moon the astronauts vividly recount their experiences in intimate detail; their distinct personalities and remarkably varied perspectives emerge from their candid and deeply personal reflections. Carefully assembled into a narrative that reflects the entire arc of the lunar journey, Voices from the Moon captures the magnificence of the Apollo program like no other book.

Paired with their own words are 160 images taken from NASA's new high-resolution scans of the photos the astronauts took during the missions. Many of the photos, which are reproduced with stunning and unprecedented detail, have rarely -- if ever -- been seen by the general public.

Voices from the Moon is an utterly unique chronicle of these defining moments in human history.

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Studio (May 14, 2009)
  • ISBN-10: 0670020788
  • ISBN-13: 978-0670020782

JPSastro
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Posts: 170
From: Tucson, Arizona
Registered: Jan 2009

posted 05-14-2009 11:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JPSastro   Click Here to Email JPSastro     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just received a copy of Andrew Chaikin's new book Voices from the Moon: Apollo Astronauts describe their Lunar Experiences.

First impressions are that this is a must have if your an Apollo fanatic. The photos are excellent. There are some I have not seen in print in some time. Very well reproduced. The narrative by the crew members is really well done. This is from a fast scan of this volume. Mr. Chaikin has another winner.

There are an number of Apollo related books coming out this year. Hope they're all this good. I really highly recommend this one!

I will be doing a thorough read this weekend. I can't get enough of the Apollo program.

Spacefest
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Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009

posted 05-26-2009 11:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spacefest   Click Here to Email Spacefest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Andy Chaikin's done it again. Wow! HIGHLY recommended. Some pretty obscure pictures, and even the familiar ones have an interesting crop and have been milked for detail.

xlsteve
Member

Posts: 391
From: Holbrook MA, USA
Registered: Jul 2008

posted 05-27-2009 08:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for xlsteve   Click Here to Email xlsteve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I picked this up over the weekend, and I agree completely. The quotes photos and layout work beautifully. Andy and his wife have done a great job on this book, and I highly recommend it.

------------------
"If you can't be good, be colorful." Charles "Pete" Conrad, Jr.

garymilgrom
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Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-27-2009 12:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Gotta add my 2 cents and agree with the opinions posted - this is a great book. The writing is as good as the photos, a must have for Apollo enthusiasts.

blacklion1
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Posts: 35
From: Bronx, New York
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 05-28-2009 12:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for blacklion1   Click Here to Email blacklion1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a wonderful book. I envy Mr. Chaikin in what was obviously a labor love. How many of us have had the oppurtunity to meet with an Apollo astronaut or even still a moon walker. And then to collect their remembrances! Wow! Thanks for sharing the results of your work.

heng44
Member

Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 06-04-2009 12:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Received my copy yesterday and I think this is a great book! The photos are excellent and there were some that even I had never seen before. But the most interesting part to me are the numerous quotes from interviews that Chaikin had with the Apollo astronauts. There are some moving observations there and I can never get enough of these men sharing their adventures. This is a must for every Apollo-fan.

KSCartist
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Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 06-04-2009 01:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A wonderful book. Reading it allows you to get a better feel for the way the astronauts speak and what they think of participating in the program.

I will never ask Dave Scott how it feels?

Andy was kind enough to sign my book when he stopped by my booth at the NSS-ISDC in Orlando on May 30th. A wonderful guy! We shared our experiences of seeing the launch of Apollo 17 as two 16 year old kids.

ilbasso
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Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 06-05-2009 02:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ilbasso   Click Here to Email ilbasso     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Absolutely stunning book! I find myself inevitably comparing it to "Full Moon." "Voices" is more successful, both with better (and clearer) photographs and with the verbatim quotes from Andy's interviews with the astronauts.

Thanks again to Andy for this beautiful book and for finding another way to mine the gold from his interviews with our lunar explorers!

------------------
Jonathan Ward
Blogging at http://jonathan-spacejunk.blogspot.com

mark plas
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Posts: 385
From: the Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 06-23-2009 12:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mark plas   Click Here to Email mark plas     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What a great book. I just knew I wouldn't be disappointed; also great pictures. I love the 1994 picture of McDivitt and Cernan having a good laugh.

lm5eagle
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Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jul 2007

posted 06-24-2009 10:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for lm5eagle   Click Here to Email lm5eagle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just received my preorder copy from Amazon UK.

If you are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 with the purchase of a space book, then this is THE one to buy. Andy Chaikin has done it again and may even have surpassed himself in relation to his earlier stunning volumes.

From the plethora of publications appearing this year, this is IMHO the Number One.

Spoon
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Posts: 143
From: Cumbria, UK
Registered: May 2006

posted 06-25-2009 09:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spoon   Click Here to Email Spoon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
May I add my voice to the praise for 'Voices from the Moon.' It is a tremendous book!

Andrew Chaikin has done a brilliant job marrying the astronauts observations with images, some rarely heard or seen in print.

The first of two standout parts, for me, are on page 145 when Fred Haise describes his disappointment at the 'failure' of Apollo 13's primary mission. The two images of him during the flight which accompany the text are very poignant, portraying his feelings, sadly, very well.

Also, as we know, Buzz has gone on record stating how difficult he found events post A11, including the 'world tour.' If you look at the photo on page 155, as Neil and Mike stand in an open top car to greet admirers in Mexico City, take a look at Buzz's expression as he remains seated in the car...

Paul78zephyr
Member

Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 06-03-2010 09:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul78zephyr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have just finished reading this book. I have borrowed it from my local public library as my current economic situation does not allow me the luxury of owning it.

Having read the book I must state that I have very mixed feelings about it.

On the positive side:
Clearly this book is very well researched, written, and illustrated. Many of the photographs are ones that I have never seen before. The astronauts own words and sentiments seem quite genuine, thoughtful, and refreshingly candid. As one who has never met an astronaut (not for lack of wanting) I found that by linking a given astronauts words on various subjects over the different pages I could discern a somewhat better measure of each man than I had in the past (from reading their bios, books, etc). I think that is what this book is trying to do and in that regard it does it well. Clearly the passage of time between when the astronauts made their space journeys and when they were interviewed for this book has given them a deep sense of perspective and distance (figuratively) that makes it easier for the non-space traveler (me) to better grasp their experiences. That was a very positive thing that I came away from this book with.

On the negative side:
On the very first page of the book the author dedicates the book 'to the four hundred thousand individuals - the men and women of Apollo - who worked to turn a science fiction dream into reality. Without them, the words and images on these pages would not exist.' As I began reading the book it immediately came to me that the author had deliberately ignored five Apollo astronauts - Cunningham, Eisele, McDivitt, Schirra, and Schweickart, whom I would argue: without them, the words and images on those pages could not exist. Belying its title the book is clearly about more than the moon for it encompasses aspects of the entire Apollo program and those men's voices were a part of that.

On page 61 Buzz Aldrin speaks of irony. Well I found it overtly ironic, and more than a bit saddening for me, to see that the book was published in China. And it was done so for one reason - to reduce its cost so that those that made it and published it can maximize their profits. It's that simple. And the irony is the fact that so many in the space community - including many of these same astronauts - say that the next flag planted on the moon will be the Chinese flag. And it will be paid for by our ridiculously obese trade imbalance with them that is driven by greed. So sad that one of Americas greatest achievements has to be 'published in China'. That soured my whole take on the book.

And on a neutral note:
I found it somewhat ironic - and perhaps a bit bemusing - to overlay two quotes from Dave Scott:

"I cannot count the number of times somebody has said to me, 'What does it feel like to be on the moon?' I'm tired of that Andy. I don't want to try and figure that out anymore. I've done my best." (pg ix)

'When Shepard came back from 14,... I said, "Hey Al, what's it really like?"... And all he had to do was look me in the eye, and I could read it. And he said, "It's spectacular." And that's all I needed to know.' (pg 57)

I wonder how Dave Scott would have reacted if Shepard had given him the answer that he (Scott) gave the author.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 06-03-2010 09:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
On page 61 Buzz Aldrin speaks of irony. Well I found it overtly ironic, and more than a bit saddening for me, to see that the book was published in China.
Oh come on.

What does that have anything to do with qualities and/or shortcomings of the book? The fact that the book was manufactured in China just means that it was too expensive to be done in the US (and even with a Chinese-production, some, like you, couldn't afford it). And it wasn't published, just manufactured. Should I throw my PC too because it's "Made in China" written all over the place?

And what about Dennis Jenkins' authoritative book on the shuttle? It was also manufactured in China and printed in Hong Kong because it was the only way to bring costs down - and on a sidenote no US publishers was interested in his book in the first place. Should we throw it away too?

I'd rather have this book coming out of China then no book at all. But of course, from a jobs perspective, I can understand.

AstroAutos
Member

Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 06-03-2010 05:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AstroAutos   Click Here to Email AstroAutos     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
I wonder how Dave Scott would have reacted if Shepard had given him the answer that he (Scott) gave the author.
I understand what you're trying to say Paul, but in Dave's defense, he asked Shepard what it was like just after Apollo 14 - but Scott said he was sick of answering the question in I think it was a 1987 interview with Andrew Chaikin, which was 16 years after he had walked on the moon. I think there's a difference being asked what it feels like just after the event, and being asked for the zillionth time 16 years later!

By the way, I think the book is fantastic. I bought it a few months ago in a bookstore and the unique images, combined with the astronaut's descriptions make this a must-read for those interested in the Apollo-era.

I liked the book so much, I brought it to Autographica last month, and had Fred Haise and Gerry Griffin sign it for me in person.

Highly Recommended!

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