Farthest Reaches is pleased to announce:

"Selecting the Mercury Seven - The Search for America's First Astronauts by Colin Burgess
(Springer Praxis Books / 2011/Trade Paperback

BUT with a twist (please read on)

 

Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of human spaceflight endeavor, this long-overdue book reveals at last the full and compelling story behind the meticulous quest to select America's first spacemen - the Mercury astronauts.  In February 1958, after an exhaustive search through military service records, a number of America's elite test pilots received orders to attend a series of top-secret briefings in Washington, D.C.  Two months later, the chosen seven men were brought together for their first formal press conference as America's Mercury astronauts, instant heroes to an adoring public, and later becoming household names as each ventured into space on pioneering missions of increasing complexity and ambition.  In setting out this book, the author guides the reader through the amazing selection process, when thirty-two of the nation's finest test pilots from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps were subjected to a series of extensive, intrusive and even demeaning medical, physiological and psychological tests.  Over several days at the Lovelace Clinic in New Mexico, they underwent a grueling battery of psychological and medical tests - many of which were graphically portrayed in the classic astronaut movie, "The Right Stuff."  Next they traveled to the Wright Air Development Center in Ohio, where these highly-motivated, intelligent and well-trained pilots were further subjected to an exhausting screening program designed to test their physical and mental preparedness for the dangers and largely unknown stresses associated with flying into space. In conducting his research, Colin Burgess set out to locate the twenty-five former servicemen who did not make the final cut, or family members of those who had subsequently died.  He not only succeeded in all cases, but over many painstaking months recorded and assembled each man's remarkable story. For the very first time in print, this book reveals the names, lives and accomplishments of all thirty-two finalists .

NASA wanted only the best of the best in their quest for the nation's first astronauts.  Only seven men would be chosen, but those responsible for selecting them openly concede that any one of these extraordinary and superbly talented test pilots could have found adventure, fame, and lasting renown as one of America's legendary and trailblazing Mercury astronauts.

THE TWIST:

As an "added bonus", Farthest Reaches will be offering, at no extra charge, the autographs of seven of the living candidates who were not selected in NASA's final cut.  These fine men have been anonymous all of these years and have only agreed to this ONE signing [totaling 300 copies] on a special card to commemorate the publishing of this book. The book will be autographed on the title page by Colin Burgess. This offer is ONLY available through FarthestReaches.Com.

Colin will be flying into the US from Australia in early November to sign the 300 copies of this title and shipping will commence early November. However, due to the limited number of books and hand signed inserts available we encourage you to place your pre-orders as soon as possible because when they're gone.....they're gone. 

#SelectingMercury
$44.95 + s/h

E-mail us or call for more information

This item should start shipping in early November 2011 [subject to change]

 NEW