Back to the Moon

Rating:
Summary: Back to the Fifties
Review: It's a page-turner, I'll say that. But compared to _The Rocket Boys_ it's disappointing. The dialog is like Heinlein and E. E. "Doc" Smith at their awkward worst, and that's not intended as a compliment. Here's a sample:

Vanderheld stirred, pulled himself erect.

"One thing more. While I'm rotting in hell, Mr. President, I'll at least be warm. Did you think we in the January Group would leave this to chance? _Columbia's_ mission is doomed, has been from the moment it lifted off. There will be no test of the fusion reactor. And did you really think the Middle East leaders are going berserk on their own? Elements of the January Group control them. But you can save yourself and get everything back to normal. Immediately denounce fusion."

The President blanched. "I can't"

Vanderheld sneered. "Then you've sealed your own fate and that of this country.... Now I can say what I've always believed: it will be a great day for the world when this country gets a boot shoved in its face, is made to kneel before the people of the world."

Edwards shook his head. "You're a traitor, always have been."

Rating:
Summary: One great ride!
Review: I'm a member of a sci-fi book club and tho this isn't really sci-fi, more like a techno-thriller, we decided to take it on, mainly because most of us had also read Homer's "Rocket Boys." We loved that book so much. I mean it was about us, or like maybe what we would have been like if we'd grown up in Coalwood. But this book - Wow! I mean this is so different from Rocket Boys, or October Sky, but it was really, really good. You never know exactly what's going to happen. He gets Jack and Penny in one scrape after the other. We have some engineers in our group and they debated about all the technical things in the book. Some said they could all happen, others wondered about some things, but all said Homer made it seem like it could work, whether it could or not. We're all Homer fans here now. We want more Jack and Penny!

Rating:
Summary: A lot of fun, good read
Review: Retired astrophysics professor here. Note with interest some comments about bad science. Cannot find it. All plausible. Homer is on cutting edge with removal of shuttle engines in space, tethers, inflatable landing craft, cats in space, hybrid engines, anti-ballistic testing out of LEO, etc. I looked and found only one place I thought stretched science - use of tether for decelerating shuttle on reentry. Never been tested. Could work but unlikely with masses involved. Loved this book not for science but great story. Look forward to movie.

Rating:
Summary: Grand adventure
Review: I really liked Mr. Hickam's book. I also read Rocket Boys. This is a different kind of book - an adult space thriller. He kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It's a love story, too, and a darned good one. I've worked in the space industry for a lot of years and this book comes as close as you're going to get how things really work inside NASA. Sure, Hickam has things happening that have never been done before but his characters are right on authentic. And I'm with him. Let's go back to the moon!

Rating:
Summary: Did Homer really work for NASA?
Review: It's hard to believe from this dreck. I don't mind suspending my disbelief for a good fantasy, but this is ridiculous. The absurd plot gets more and more implausible as the story progresses. Add to that stock, one-dimensional characters (I will give Hickam credit for developing the character of Penny High Eagle nicely), half-hearted attempts at suspense that are far too quickly resolved to be suspenseful, and an absurd ending, and you have a very silly, very bad book. Beyond that, Hickam insults the reader's intelligence by assuming that if he throws a little technical jargon into the dialogue, the reader will not notice the bad science pervading practically every page. Don't waste your money.

Rating:
Summary: Dissapointment
Review: I was captivated by his first book, Rocket Boys, but this book turned out to be a disappointment. I couldn't get in the groove. Put it down far too often.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome adventure
Review: Just heard they're going to make a movie out of Homer's space book. Can't wait. It's one awesome adventure. Wonder who they'll get to play Penny High Eagle?

Rating:
Summary: Great Space Story
Review: This book by homer ranks up there with any other fiction author like Cussler and Clancy. He includes a plausable senerio with adventure and suspence. There were no boring parts in the intire book, and it kept you wondering until the very last page. You will finish the book in a few days easy. This is a great book which I highly reccommend.

Rating:
Summary: Really enjoyed it
Review: This is a book filled with far-out adventure. Mr. Hickam is a good writer and I really enjoyed it. I loved Rocket Boys, too!

Rating:
Summary: A Big Story of Space
Review: Homer writes in broad strokes here an amazing tale. Yet I had the sense it could all happen. He's an expert on the space shuttle according to what I read so I guess it's all possible. All I know was that it was a page-turner. I kept wanting to see what was going to happen next! I love the characters, too - Penny High Eagle, especially.