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The time has come for my annual short pre-Thanksgiving/Christmas fund drive for Behind The Black. I must do this every year in order to make sure I have earned enough money to pay my bills.

 

For this two-week campaign, I am offering a special deal to encourage donations. Donations of $200 will get a free autographed copy of the new paperback edition of Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, while donations of $250 will get a free autographed copy of the new hardback edition. If you desire a copy, make sure you provide me your address with your donation.

 

As I noted in July, the support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.

 

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August 13, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

Embedded below the fold in two parts. (Note, the second segment is now correct!)

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 

The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
 

"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News

6 comments

  • Willi

    Duplicate ‘casts…

  • Mark

    Bob, does this issue of multiple handoffs also occur in Space Industry subcontracting?

    I checked the john batchelor show, and this is not a Bob problem. My best guess this is a cbs/ audioboom / john batchelor show problem. So either Audioboom as the subcontractor made a mistake grabbing the same audio file twice , or the Batchelor Show made a mistake supplying the same audio file twice. In any case, I do appreciate that these are on your site – otherwise I would have to listen to pesky advertising at the beginning of each segment.

  • Mark: This happens sometimes. John Batchelor does the podcast all on his own. Sometimes he uploads incorrectly. I have emailed him. He will get to it, but it is the weekend. Allow him his free time to garden.

  • Mark

    Bob, I really enjoy the John Batchelor Show, and think he is among the most underrated radio broadcasters of the last two decades. I recommend his show to all on your site. It would be interesting at some time if you could write a post about how you first started your weekly segments with John. Cheers!

  • Mark: The story is simple: I wrote an article for Natural History magazine back in 2004 about the recent discovery that the Earth’s core appears to rotate at a slightly different speed as the rest of the planet. Batchelor contacted me to see if I’d come on to talk about it.

    I knew he liked to report on space stuff, so after that appearance I then proceeded to email him a story list every few days, asking if he “wanted to talk.” He repeatedly did. He soon made it a regular thing, because he knew he could always depend on me to give him good stuff and be there when needed.

  • Gary

    Robert,

    Thanks for sharing that info about the Batchelor Show. I had been wondering how he was putting it together after the departure from NYC. Hope he continues as long as he wants. That show really is a wonderful, eclectic collection of world news, history, archaeology, culture and, of course, astronomy and space exploration.

    FYI, the link was updated as of today for the Bennu part of the cast.

    Also, I have a nomination for an “Evening Pause” if you need more. Please let me know if you wish.

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