Richard Hollingham

Space Non-Fiction with some Science Fiction
Review of the Audible Original audiobook (July 2019)

The Space Race is a 10-part documentary that covers the beginnings of rocketry through to the Cold War race to the moon by the Soviet Union and the USA, the moon landings, the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs. It includes voice actors to create various scenes some of which are fictional speculative enactments such as a return to the moon in the future by a descendant of Neil Armstrong and a star ship journey to other star systems. Even with the amount of well documented information already in the public domain there was still a interesting variety of earlier historical events which were completely new to me, such as the story of rocket sled tester John Stapp and of the independently funded physiological research testing of potential female astronauts such as Mary Wallace 'Wally' Funk in the Mercury 13 program.

The chapter headings were as follows:
Episode 1 Return to the Moon
Episode 2 Cold War in Space
Episode 3 Space Warriors
Episode 4 Reaching for the Moon
Episode 5 Tragedy to Triumph
Episode 6 For All Mankind
Episode 7 United in Space
Episode 8 Space Shuttle
Episode 9 Home in Space
Episode 10 Infinity and Beyond

The narration by Kate Mulgrew and the performances by the audio actors were all excellent.

The Space Race was originally released in July 2019. It was one of eleven free Audible Originals available to members in July 2020. It is available to everyone for a standard price.… (más)

A superb very readable introduction into a complex subject. By no means exhaustative, but then it makes pains to ensure that this is understood, focusing instead on five branches of surgery: Cardiac, transplant, trauma, plastic & neurosurgery. It starts well, and uses vignettes to illustrate key points & problems facing the surgical pioneers in each field. In places, I think that non medics might find it gruesome but it is very readable & fascinatingly written. the author clearly has a talent for evoking a time & a place, and that adds to the feel of what is very well written first person history. The bibliography could have been longer, and it would have been nice to know where to find more about Harken, Gillies and the rest, but that is only a minor complaint. Well recommended to all, even the non medic, but especially those with an interest in the human condition… (más)