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'Matthew Brzezinski's RED MOON RISING fills a significant hole in our understanding of the Cold War. A truly gripping, important book.' Douglas Brinkley, author of THE GREAT DELUGE and THE BOYS OF POINTE DU HOC 'In our fear of terrorist attacks, we forget there was an even more panicky time - when Russia's Sputnik first sped across the night sky in October 1957. Matthew Brzezinski has given us a vivid, insightful account of that paranoid age.' Evan Thomas, author of SEA OF THUNDER and THE WISE MEN
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Wonderfully colourful ... combines a scientific plotline with the history and characters of a Cold War thriller' The Times 'Gripping' New York Times 'Brzezinski is admirably balanced in this history of the world's first space race and he draws out well both the true strategic importance of that first flight and the sheer complacency of the Americans' Sunday Times 'Red Moon Rising is a compelling account of the scientific and political events leading to the creation of the first satellite' P D Smith, Guardian
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I found this book thoroughly absorbing.
It gives an informative look at both communism and capitalism at their most (and least) effective.
Brzezinski has captured the tension applied by and to the American and Soviet governments, militaries and scientists quite brilliantly and tells the story of the political manoeuvrings, technical triumphs and disasters, and social perceptions of the period without getting bogged down in these back stories.
In many ways it reads more like a thriller than an historical account, flipping by chapter from the Soviet side to the American side.
I disagree with the reviews that suggest Brzezinski is biased against the Russians, I found the book to be well balanced. If anything it paints the Soviet scientists as more ingenious (and ultimately more effective) than their unfocussed and technologically arrogant American rivals.
The American reaction to Sputnik's launch is told brilliantly, from the citizens listening to its radio signals, right up to Eisenhower playing golf as the balance of world power shifts under his feet.
The story is studded throughout with finely researched details of the main events from a wide variety of sources, most notably Khrushchev's son, but never loses focus of where the story is going, for example there is a lengthy description about the U2 spy missions but not until the epilogue does it discuss the soviet capture which has become more famous than the plane itself, as it's not directly relevant to the story at hand.
A great account of an epic struggle for technological dominance (or at least the perception of it!)
It gives an informative look at both communism and capitalism at their most (and least) effective.
Brzezinski has captured the tension applied by and to the American and Soviet governments, militaries and scientists quite brilliantly and tells the story of the political manoeuvrings, technical triumphs and disasters, and social perceptions of the period without getting bogged down in these back stories.
In many ways it reads more like a thriller than an historical account, flipping by chapter from the Soviet side to the American side.
I disagree with the reviews that suggest Brzezinski is biased against the Russians, I found the book to be well balanced. If anything it paints the Soviet scientists as more ingenious (and ultimately more effective) than their unfocussed and technologically arrogant American rivals.
The American reaction to Sputnik's launch is told brilliantly, from the citizens listening to its radio signals, right up to Eisenhower playing golf as the balance of world power shifts under his feet.
The story is studded throughout with finely researched details of the main events from a wide variety of sources, most notably Khrushchev's son, but never loses focus of where the story is going, for example there is a lengthy description about the U2 spy missions but not until the epilogue does it discuss the soviet capture which has become more famous than the plane itself, as it's not directly relevant to the story at hand.
A great account of an epic struggle for technological dominance (or at least the perception of it!)
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
50 years after the start of the Space Race, it is hard to imagine there is much new to be said. But in this excellent book, Brzezinski gives an energetic, attention-grabbing and newly-considered interpretation of events that show the story in a fresh light. Rather than the usual deeply-plowed furrow of following the thoughts of JFK and Wernher von Braun, Brzezinski has instead taken a step back, reconsidered the evidence in an intelligent way, and presents a clearer version focusing more on lesser-known but far more important events and personalities. Bruce Medaris, chomping at the bit to place an American satellite in orbit and constantly thwarted: a pre-vice-presidential LBJ, seeing the Space Race as his best chance to ascend to the highest political throne: Eisenhower, trying to maintain a calm, even attitude while events and attitudes swirled around him and made him irrelevant to the public mood. This fresh angle illuminates and rekindles a fascinating story.
Writing about complex politics and engineering stories can sometimes result in a dull book. But Brzezinski has a great writing style that makes this book an engaging and tense pageturner, without overblowing the mood and making it too novelistic. A highly recommended book, with some fascinating parallels to current political mood swings and events.
Writing about complex politics and engineering stories can sometimes result in a dull book. But Brzezinski has a great writing style that makes this book an engaging and tense pageturner, without overblowing the mood and making it too novelistic. A highly recommended book, with some fascinating parallels to current political mood swings and events.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Red Moon Rising offers an exciting, cross-genre account of the events that gave birth to the space age.
The unable-to-put-down factor for me is the style the book is written in; it has all the elements of a cold war thriller, its is Le Carre-esque. And as someone with a fervent interest in science and history, this book neatly combines the two in an accessible manner. Its unlikely that the dialogue within each of the protagonists' respective camps in the book was captured by many, if any historians. However the book appears to be well researched, leading to the assumption that this was in fact the way that business was conducted by the two superpowers at this time.
Because of the clever way that fact and fiction is interlaced in this book, it simultaneously fascinates and educates - though be careful not get the two mixed up.
If you have an interest in military history, rocket science, the space race or simply enjoy a good thriller then this book is for you.
The unable-to-put-down factor for me is the style the book is written in; it has all the elements of a cold war thriller, its is Le Carre-esque. And as someone with a fervent interest in science and history, this book neatly combines the two in an accessible manner. Its unlikely that the dialogue within each of the protagonists' respective camps in the book was captured by many, if any historians. However the book appears to be well researched, leading to the assumption that this was in fact the way that business was conducted by the two superpowers at this time.
Because of the clever way that fact and fiction is interlaced in this book, it simultaneously fascinates and educates - though be careful not get the two mixed up.
If you have an interest in military history, rocket science, the space race or simply enjoy a good thriller then this book is for you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent dramatization
Very good dramatization of the political and military reasons that led to Sputnik (and Laika) and of the first American satellite.
Published 15 months ago by Sirbu Mihai
A straightforward intro for the early space race
Tells the story of "Sputnik and the rivalries that ignited the Space Age". Indeed it starts well with a very atmospheric description of a V2 launch against London, and then goes on... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Les Fearns
Fascinating insight into the early space race
This book gives a fascinating insight into the political situation, in both the Soviet Union and the USA, which led to the Soviets' early domination in the space race. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2008 by Andy
Very Poor Biased Account of Space Race
Extremely poorly written and Biased account of the space race. Russians portrayed as sausage fingered drunks whilst Nazi's like Von Braun are portrayed as dashing heroes. Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2008 by Mr. Vincent Barreto
Through a glass, brightly
Hoboy. One of the main faults in the otherwise delightful and generous American national character is a myopic and obsessive self-centredness, which comes out starkly in the... Read more
Published on 1 May 2008 by Ms. S. Bowes
Wonderful!
Very good book, original in the angles of its research, told in a readable, entertaining way. A great read.
Published on 10 Dec 2007 by D.Salter
Bluff and double bluff
They are reading this book on Radio 4 this week. Fascinating. The story of the R7 rocket is instructive. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2007 by Julie Craddock
Listmania!
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