Red Moon Rising

Sputnik and the Hidden Rivals That Ignited the Space Age

By: Matthew Brzezinski

Narrated by: Charles Stransky

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

On October 4, 1957, a time of Cold War paranoia, the Soviet Union secretly launched the Earth's first artificial moon. No bigger than a basketball, the tiny satellite was powered by a car battery. Yet, for all its simplicity, Sputnik stunned the world.

Based on extensive research in the US and newly opened archives in the former USSR, Red Moon Rising tells the story of five extraordinary months in the history of technology and the rivalry between two superpowers. It takes us inside the Kremlin and introduces the Soviet engineer Korolev, the charismatic, politically-minded visionary who motivated Khruschev to support what others dismissed as a ridiculous program. Korolev is virtually unknown to most Americans, yet it is because of him that NASA exists, that college loan programs were started in the U.S., and that Kennedy and Johnson became presidents.

Character driven, suspenseful, and dramatic, Red Moon Rising unveils the politics, people, science, and mindset behind a critical and transformative world event.

©2007 Matthew Brzezinski (P)2007 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"The writing is fast-paced and crisp...Yet even more than his absorbing narrative, Brzezinski's final analysis has staying power." ( Publishers Weekly)

A great story about the history of space travel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the story behind the Sovjet space program. You will also learn a lot about their early missile program, and how the Sovjet leaders thought about space travel.

What about Charles Stransky’s performance did you like?

Charles is a great narrater, that made this story interesting and easy to listen to, also for a person that don't have English as their first language (like myself)

Good book.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Great book. Recommend to anyone wanting to learn about the beginning of the Space Race.

Really good

Any additional comments?

It's a thrill to hear the story of the Space Race from the Soviets' perspective. I loved every bit of this.

Fascinating history

Wish it didn't end. Political history dense as well as technical. So much went on behind what the public new at the time that came out years later that this book reveals.

Fascinating reading!

This was an amazing read as it combines the scientific discoveries with the political climate of the time. I have read a bunch of American space exploration books the best among them being the “the right stuff”. But this is my first foray into the space exploration in the USSR.

I would highly recommend this book of you liked the books on the early days of NASA.

Outstanding

Excellent writing - so much historic facts and very objective behind the scenes information. I have listened to about 25 audiobooks so far in this year and this is the one I have enjoyed the most. Charles Stransky as narrator also did a great job - his reading style and the voice makes listening joyful and I hope there will be more books coming out narrated by him.

Incredible information

As a fan of Cold War history, I thought this a wonderful exploration of the pre-glamour years of the Space Race. The book explored the deep connection between the arms race and space race to a degree that's often overlooked. Like so many accounts, this book makes me wish I had been around for this unique time in history.

As has been mentioned, the interspersion of dramatic music is annoying, and I tend to wonder if the narrator correctly pronounces Sergei Korolev's name, but the book is nevertheless absolutely worth your time.

well done

This is a remarkable tour through yester year for me. I personally remember these events, of looking up into the sky to try to see Sputnik. The newspaper stories are familiar. The book is very well written, totally non political. It is very engaging, and pleasantly narrated. I personally benefited from the educational benefits provided by funds allotted for resulting emphasis on funding scientific education

Fascinating.

A historical tour de force on the behind the scenes and in front the camera success and failure of the world after the downfall of NAZI Germany and how the captured scientists of the Third Reich brought about the space age and the cold war simultaneously.

Better than fiction

This is a great story of the early space race told in the form of a political thriller. One of the most exciting non-fiction books I've ever listened to.