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Starman: Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin
 
 
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Starman: Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin (Hardcover)

by Piers Bizony (Author), Jamie Doran (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 248 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (26 Mar 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0747536880
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747536888
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 118,283 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #45 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > Russia
    #45 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > Russia
    #98 in  Books > Science & Nature > Popular Science > Popular Astronomy

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Writer Piers Bizony and TV documentary researcher Jamie Doran have written a slim, yet well-researched biography of the world's first spaceman, Yuri Gagarin, in Starman. The 250-page book traces Gagarin's jet-propelled life, from his poor- boy roots in the Russian village of Klushino to his historic flight into space on April 12, 1961. The biography's strong point is in its examination of the institutional idiocies and failures that marked the Russian space programme. A classic example would be Gagarin's death in an aircraft crash near Moscow on March 27, 1968. The Soviet authorities left his family believing he was assassinated when it was almost certain that the cause of the crash was a simple air traffic control error. In another incident, a pre-flight report that showed cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov's Soyuz spacecraft had 203 faults--including a parachute that wouldn't open--was pulped. Komarov died in the craft. The biography is a fascinating--yet chilling--look at bureaucracy gone wrong.

Product Description
On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human in history to leave the Earth's atmosphere and venture into space. This biography is based on material from sensitive KGB files and restricted documents from the Russian space authorities. It includes a number of interviews.

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4.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Top class biography and space book combined, 19 Jun 2001
By Michael Knapton (Sheffield, Yorkshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Starman: Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin (Paperback)
I found this book one of the best space biographies I have read. Gagarin's childhood during the 2nd World War is dealt with in an interesting manner but thankfully is fairly brief, thankfully because everybody who reads this book will want to know mainly about his cosmonaut career. One of the key elements of Gagarin's life was his relationship with other people and the effects on his career. His crucial associations with Korolev (The Chief Designer) and Nikita Krushchev are covered very well. As is his rivalry with Gherman Titov, with whom he vied to be the first man in space and become a living legend. Fellow cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who was close to Gagarin for many years, makes many telling contributions throughout the book. The book more or less stamps on the conspiracy theory that says that Gagarin was murdered by the Brezhnev regime, saying that his death was a tragic if mysterious air accident. The book is well written and easy to read, is full of interesting facts and I recommend it whole heartedly.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Sympathetic but entertaining and informative, 23 April 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Starman: Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin (Paperback)
Based on a recent documentary, this easily read, informative documentary reflects the accesability of the authors original intentions - to examine the life of Yuri Gagarin, one of the worlds most famous men yet one most people know nothing about.

While the standard biographical contact - Yuri's early life in Nazi occupied Russia, his early career and character - is enjoyable enough, the book comes into it's own when it starts to examine the oftem perilous early years of the Russian Space program.

It's a truly fascinating history of one of mankinds greatest acheivements. One of the books great strengths is that it unearths the secret histories of so many remarkable scientists who's achievements have, to date, been largely eclipsed by the enigmatic First Cosmonaut. However the book avoids excessive technobabble, balancing these aspects with explanations of the emotional driving forces behind the Space Race.

The story of Yuri Gagarin doesn't end with his historic 90 minues in space - rather it can be seen as the beginning of the second, sadder story. Touted as a triumph of Socialist achievement Gagarin was flaunted world wide on a series of gruelling diplomatic engagements which initially showcased his remarkable patience, charm and genorosity, but ultimately drove him to drink, depression and a series of embarrasing incidents that would prevent him from ever returning to space.

Even the unpredictable and untimely death of Yuri Gagarin at the hands of an ancient training jet is clouded with secrecy, yet the authors refrain from pandering to conspiracy theorists and treats this event with an unbiased examination of the evidence.

If one criticism can be levelled at the book it's that this unbiased view is not evident throughout, however with a character of Yuri's status and a story so gripping it is dificult not to be in awe.

A very entertaining read for those with even the most passing of interests in space or 20th Century history. Recommended.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A tremendous book, 20 Dec 2000
By A Customer
A tremendous book, which gives a real insight into the workings of the early Soviet Space Programme, and the character of Yuri Gagarin himself. I enjoyed it immensely.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Star book!
Great read, with some amazing facts about the 60's russian space race, and its wonders and dangers faced in the blind rush to beat the americans into space.
Published 18 months ago by Andy

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