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Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Rivalries that Ignited the Space Age
by
Matthew Brzezinski (Goodreads Author)
For the fiftieth anniversary of Sputnik, the behind-the-scenes story of the fierce battles on earth that launched the superpowers into space
The spy planes were driving Nikita Khrushchev mad. Whenever America wanted to peer inside the Soviet Union, it launched a U-2, which flew too high to be shot down. But Sergei Korolev, Russia's chief rocket designer, had a riposte
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
September 18th 2007
by Times Books
(first published June 5th 2007)
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I started reading this book because the space race interested me, but now I look at in a totally different way. I never really tried seeing the space race from the soviet side, but it is so easy thanks to this brillient authors style. He makes the book play out like a fiction novel with a diverse cast of people, with a unique style of dialogue. I can honostly say that never have I seen a non-fiction book that has held my attention so well. Now some parts were sort of above my head(granted im onl...more
I am admittedly a bit biased, being a fan of space exploration since childhood, but this is a terrific book. It thoughtfully lays out the political underpinnings on both sides of the Cold War that detoured the race for the 1st effective ICBM into a race to put the first artificial satellite in orbit. Likewise, it exposes the technical hurdles and how each group sought to overcome them. It is amazing to consider that mere years after the invention of the transistor and a little over a decade afte...more
This book focuses on the early competition between the Soviet Union and the United States to earn favorable publicity through launching satellites into space. It does not cover manned spaceflight, but is focused on the initial satellite launches in the 1950s. In general there was a close connection between the rockets used to launch satellites and those developed for launching long-range ballistic missiles. The Soviet designer Korolev and his team where the first to develop a rocket capable of l...more
Perhaps the best book I've ever read summarizing the challenges, events, triumphs, failures, and figures of the early days of the Space Race. Although I might be biased in my review since this subject is one of my personal favorites to read about (not to mention the fact that I'm starting to get into Russian history in general), Brzezinski's prose is top-notch as he does a superb job of mixing profiles of such key figures as Sergei Korolov, Werner von Braun, Khruschev, and lesser-known people (t...more
File under: Never Judge A Book By Its Cover
As is often the case with histories of the space race, Red Moon Rising functions more as a compact history of the early Cold War - the period between 1956 and 1958 in particular. Matthew Brzezinski covers the US Capitol at mid-decade as well as some other books expressly dedicated to the goal. Less attention has been given to Khrushchev beyond the secret speech, the Camp David powwow, and the shoe slapping incident. Brzezinski fleshes out the gaps admir...more
As is often the case with histories of the space race, Red Moon Rising functions more as a compact history of the early Cold War - the period between 1956 and 1958 in particular. Matthew Brzezinski covers the US Capitol at mid-decade as well as some other books expressly dedicated to the goal. Less attention has been given to Khrushchev beyond the secret speech, the Camp David powwow, and the shoe slapping incident. Brzezinski fleshes out the gaps admir...more
As one who grew up during the raging years of the "Cold War" between the US and USSR, I was fascinated to read these insights into the foundation set during the early years of that standoff. The book covers a relatively brief period, about 1956-58, when the first artificial earth satellite (Sputnik) was launched by the Russians, up until the US launch of Explorer 1.
One fascinating aspect of this story was the relationship between development of military weapons (ICBM missiles that could deliver...more
One fascinating aspect of this story was the relationship between development of military weapons (ICBM missiles that could deliver...more
An intriguing overview of the beginnings of the space age, both in USSR and the US. The US might have been the first into space (with Von Braun's help) wouldn't it be for the Eisenhower's administration mismanagement of the rivaling rocket efforts in the USAF, army and navy. The USSR's success, however, was also a fruit of a number of circumstances (among them - Korolev's inability to solve the problem of reentry of the warhead of an ICBM) rather than that of careful planning.
The book has some s...more
The book has some s...more
Given the industry I work in, it's probably not a surprise that I enjoy reading histories of space exploration. This book was one I'd never heard of until randomly going through an Audible list of books on sale, so I picked it up to augment my normal fantasy and sci-fi reading. Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Rivalries that Ignited the Space Age tells the story of the beginnings of the space race, when Russia was still a part of a Communist union and America was struggling through integration a...more
This is an amazing book. A great cast of characters: Korolev, Kruschev, Werner Von Braun, Eisenhower, Nixon, and many more. Not as much rocket science as I would have liked, but so much great Russian and American cold war history that it more than makes up for it. I also found that the author tended to rely on a small number of sources, particularly Sergei Kruschev's memoirs...but ultimately the end result was so fascinating, and so far from what I already know anything about, that I never stopp...more
The spy planes were driving Nikita Khrushchev mad. Whenever America wanted to peer inside the Soviet Union, it launched a U-2, which flew too high to be shot down. But Sergei Korolev, Russia's chief rocket designer, had a riposte: an artificial satellite that would orbit the earth and cross American skies at will. On October 4, 1957, the launch of Korolev's satellite, Sputnik, stunned the world.
In Red Moon Rising, Matthew Brzezinski takes us inside the Kremlin, the White House, secret military f...more
Sep 12, 2009
Steve
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
to-infinity-and-beyond
A well written account of the years from the end of the Second World War leading up to the Space Race of the 1960s. Mainly a political commentary rather than a military and scientific account, Brzezinski demonstrates his journalistic credentials by offering well researched stories from both America and the Soviet Union to build a narrative that explains the paranoia, misinformation, propoganda, and political fighting that existed both within and between these Cold War adversaries. The insight ga...more
A nice story about the origin and history of the US/Soviet space race. Recounts the story from both the American and Russian sides, how Germany was looted for much of the initial equiptment, and what brought on the competition.
I learned a ton of fascinating things from reading this book. It tells how neither power really saw space as important until Sputnik made world headlines and brought the USSR into the light as a true technological superpower. From that point on the power of space explorati...more
I learned a ton of fascinating things from reading this book. It tells how neither power really saw space as important until Sputnik made world headlines and brought the USSR into the light as a true technological superpower. From that point on the power of space explorati...more
Nov 25, 2008
Michael
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
spaceflight
If you are looking for a concise and approachable examination of humankind's entry into the Space Age, "Red Moon Rising" is a must-read. Mr. Brzezinski's book is both engaging and informative. The book reads not like a dull historical analysis, but rather an action-packed thriller. Mr. Brzezinski appears to be that rare author who can take seemingly dry historical facts and weave them into an entertaining narrative. I found Mr. Brzezinski's analysis of 1950's media coverage to be particularly in...more
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. Perhaps it owes in part to the fact that I knew literally nothing about this time period in history or what exactly the space race meant in terms of politics and becoming a nuclear superpower. This was a fun way to open my eyes to the motivations behind some really amazing technology and a great jog into history with an informative and enjoyable author.
Interesting look at the early space race and competition to get into outer space between the USSR and USA. Lots of talk about rocket propulsion and the behind the scenes goings on from both countries as they tried to outwit one another and then be the first into space. This largely covers the post ww2 era and into the '50s and early '60s.
This is a well-researched* history of the Soviet race to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, and how that inadvertently led to the launching, well in advance of the Americans, of a satellite. It covers the politics of the day in both countries in great detail, revealing as much about political infighting in the US armed forces and government as in the Soviet Politburo under Krushchev. If you liked 'The Right Stuff,' you'll like this. A lot.
*I say 'well researched' in that it intersec...more
*I say 'well researched' in that it intersec...more
A very engaging Cold War history replete with colorful characters that explains the development of nuclear missiles in the context of the space race. The launching of Sputnik into orbit indicated the Russians had achieved an ICBM, and shocked the Americans who viewed Soviet science as backwards as the Soviet economy. A terrific read!
drawing on original interviews and new documentary sources from both sides of the Cold War divide, shows how Khrushchev and Eisenhower battled many issues, including antics of LBJ, pursuit of space by ussr and usa at expense of many many other worthy programs, Stalin death orders, the political battles were shallow and disturbing.
I haven't watched TV in a week because I was reading this book every time I had a free moment. It tells the story of the very beginning of the space "race". It covers the personalities, corruption and politics on each side and is a fast-paced read. There isn't much on the science of rockets.
This is actually the book I read. Easy read - enough detail and description of personalities to be interesting while being instructive about the history of our "space race". Particularly interesting since these were my coming of age years.
A good book. It tells the less often told parts of the story and gives an excellent view into the Russian internal politics and point of view. I learned a lot reading this book even though I already had a good idea of the history.
Listened to the Audio Book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It describes how the Soviet Union's missile scientists got the chance to launch a satellite which sparked the race to the moon. Khrushchev didn't anticipate the propaganda victory it would gain over the US. At the time, the US missile program was fragmented due to inter-service rivalry but the events described in the book lead to the founding of NASA and the fulfillment of Werner Von Braun's dream of sending a man to the moon. A great backgro...more
Very good insight into the political landscape of both the USA and the Soviet Union during the early days of the cold war. If politics bores you, it still has some good technical Buck Rogers stuff.
A nice account of the arms race that led to Sputnik. I had not realized the extent of the self-flagellation that the satellite's launch caused in the United States.
Really really excellent book. Thoroughly engaging and interesting especially from the Soviet perspective.
This book is a gem for anyone who grew up during the space race.
It provides a behind the scenes view of both the Soviet and U.S. missile programs, personalities and political bureaucracies.
For Americans who grew up in that era, in particular, this book can provide valuable insight into the realities, personalities and perspectives of the U.S.S.R. as a whole and of their leadership and scientists in particular.
If you are interested in space, cold-war geopolitics or simply the history of the la...more
It provides a behind the scenes view of both the Soviet and U.S. missile programs, personalities and political bureaucracies.
For Americans who grew up in that era, in particular, this book can provide valuable insight into the realities, personalities and perspectives of the U.S.S.R. as a whole and of their leadership and scientists in particular.
If you are interested in space, cold-war geopolitics or simply the history of the la...more
Good story. Interesting to know how the space race started.
Informative and interesting, but jeez, this is a slog.
Excellent geek read!
Sep 19, 2010
John
marked it as to-read
Andy Ihnatko recommended
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Matthew Brzezinski is a Polish-American writer. Matthew first worked as a journalist in Warsaw, writing for The New York Times and The Economist. He was a Wall Street Journal staff reporter in Moscow and Kiev in the late 1990s. Relocating to the US, he became a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, covering counter-terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11. His work has appeared in many ot...more
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“Few Westerners understand the post-Soviet soul like Lawrence Sheets. Whether it is his hair-raising stories of the region’s myriad armed conflicts or the black humor with which he captures the moral and physical impoverishment of a collapsing empire, Sheets brilliantly condenses twenty tumultuous years into an eminently readable tale.”
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