WMc: The paperback has been out of print for years. The hardback as well.

I have been thinking about issuing new editions, but have been unsure of the demand. The response here might help me decide.

Anybody know how I can get a paperback copy of Mr. Zimmerman’s book
about Apollo 8? Thanks.

Excellent tribute to an exemplar of an America that now seems to me all but lost.

Bob’s book deals with this well.

I can only add that on everything he said publicly, Borman really did think that the Space Race was won with Apollo 8. No, he hadn’t landed or kicked up regolith. But he’d got to lunar orbit first. For him, the mission to beat the Soviets was accomplished. And he had given up enough of his life away from his family.

And as we now know from what we have been able to uncover of the Soviet space program at that point, Borman’s sense was right. The state of the Soviet moon program was was such that they had at least a fighting (if super risky) chance of getting a circumlunar flight by decade’s end, but they were years away from even being able to attempt a landing. That is not to take away anything from what Neil and Buzz did – they had to land, and come back, to fulfill Kennedy’s promise. But Apollo 8 is what really put paid to the Soviets. That is Frank Borman’s achievement – and that of thousands of other brilliant and tireless NASA personnel.

Ray Van Dune: He retired from space travel after Apollo 8. I detail all the reasons in Genesis.

A lot of people say that Apollo 13 was NASA’s finest moment. Perhaps I am not in a position to say they are wrong. But Apollo 8 is surely at least NASA’s boldest moment. The risks they took on that mission, and the skill and sheer energy NASA’s people put into overcoming those risks . . . I simply cannot imagine the NASA of today even attempting it. Frank, Jim, and Bill understood all this, and they didn’t hesitate. They are heroes, and their names deserve to live.

Bosco Bob: It was supposed to be “prevaricated.” I have fixed. Thank you.