I read this book with the intention of stepping out of my comfort zone. However, now I think I'm ready to return to it.

This is the very first Michener book that I have ever read, so I truly had no idea what to anticipate. It presents a fictionalized account of individuals working in conjunction with the actual U.S. space program. The main characters consist of a German rocket engineer, a United States astrophysicist, a U.S. test pilot/astronaut, and a U.S. Senator, along with their wives and a plethora of other characters.

My significant issue with this book is that the fictional narrative might potentially undermine the real heroes of the space program. The most blatant example is a fictional Apollo flight that would have been the most memorable event of that renowned program.

The positive aspect of the book is the realistic and accurate space science that is presented in a manner easily understandable by the layperson. It is evident that Michener did extensive research.

What is most alarming is his discussion on the problems with the Space Shuttle heat shielding, almost prophetically predicting the Columbia disaster.

Everything you've heard or read about James Michener, especially regarding his books, is likely to be true. His works are extremely well researched and in-depth, truly covering a vast range of topics.

He seamlessly melds fiction and history, to the extent that when real, proven history diverges into something that never occurred or couldn't have happened given the technology of the era, you don't roll your eyes. I had a great affection for this book. However, I only gave it 4 stars because of the explicit technological jargon and mathematical descriptions.

It's not that these aspects weren't important, but I was more focused on the story. As a result, I found myself skimming over parts that ultimately didn't contribute significantly to the narrative.

Otherwise, the writing is excellent, the characters are highly realistic, and the ending is wonderful, leaving me wondering what would come next. Even now, in 2020, nearly 40 years after the book's publication and the time of the final chapter (1982), I have to reflect on our own explorations and incursions into the depths of space.

This book not only provides an engaging story but also makes one think about the past, present, and future of space exploration.

It's truly difficult to fathom just how strange this book is in concept until one delves into it. It's a fictional novel centered around the space program, yet it gives off the distinct feel of a history book. Beginning during World War 2 and concluding after the creation of the space shuttle, it follows multiple protagonists. There's a core group, their wives, and several others along the way. In this regard, it's like reading a historical account, albeit one set in a slightly parallel universe with the fictional state of Fremont and an 18th Apollo mission. The more I read, the less certain I became about what the story was truly about or what the author was attempting to convey.

It feels very much like a history for several reasons. One is the sheer number of digressions it takes to follow the paths of side characters, many of whom have no direct connection to the space program. The level of detail provided is quite staggering. While often interesting from a technical and informative standpoint, it's often irrelevant to the overall story. Additionally, it tends to cover numerous events in a rather perfunctory manner, as if simply summarizing them.

Out of the dozen or so'main' characters, only a couple are interesting and/or seem like real people. It seems that characters are explored in terms of personality when they first appear, but then that aspect is left untouched for the remainder of the book. This might be more acceptable if the book weren't so long and the time periods covered so extensive. People age decades, yet they don't seem to have changed much.

The history of the early space program is an inherently captivating topic, and this book feels well-researched enough to be interesting at least from a basic plotline perspective. However, it's far too long. At around 800 pages, it feels even longer. This could have been edited down to perhaps half its current size.

I once came across a satirical “demotivational poster” from Despair.com. It stated, “Blogging: Never before have so many people with so little to say, said so much, to so few.”

This description seems rather fitting for James Michener’s “Space”. Somehow, despite its flaws, he managed to get thousands of people to read it. It truly boggles my mind that someone could write twenty pages and provide no more character depth than an encyclopedia. And yet, Michener goes on for over a thousand pages!

In truth, there are no real characters, no creativity, and no vibrance in this book. Every person is nearly identical, and the dialogue is as stiff and unbelievable as any I’ve ever read. For example, “The agony is almost beyond my ability to bear.” (I may not have the exact quote, but it was something along those lines. Husbands and wives in 1969 America simply didn’t talk to each other like this. It may look good on the page, but no one actually speaks the way many of the characters in this book do.

Nevertheless, I’m still going to read more of Michener’s works because I’m interested in learning about Texas, Colorado, Alaska, and other places. However, in truth, I’m reading it for the history, not for the fiction. Because, quite frankly, this guy had no idea how to write fiction.

When I was in my teens, I went through a phase where I delved into the works of Michener. And it was during this time that I discovered an enthralling piece titled "Space". His epic style in this work was captivating. It introduced me to the Space-Race culture that prevailed until the Eighties of its publication. The story was filled with a plethora of bold and well-developed characters who brought the dream of cosmic exploration to vivid life.

The novel presented factual data about exploring the heavens that America had access to since World War II. I'm not sure if it disclosed any crucial information to a foreign power like the Soviet Union. However, it did show a certain degree of concern and introspection regarding the achievements of others, such as the Soviet Union's Sputnik. This was a refreshing aspect.

"Space" also took readers on a journey through the great Sixties with its Solid Six of astronauts. Characters like John Pope, the "straight arrow", and the lively and sharp-witted Texan pilot Randy Claggett added depth and excitement to the story. Claggett had Korean-War piloting experience and a wife who was equally bold in spirit and known for her sharp tongue (although this was never explicitly shown).

The lives of Michener's Six were filled with both triumphs and tragedies. There were several space achievements, but also the unfortunate death of a member named Harry Jensen. There was also unscrupulous interference from the Korean-American reporter Cynthia Rhee. And then there was Claggett's untimely but heroic destruction when he flew to the dark side of the Moon, with Mission Control not fully accounting for a surge of solar radiation at that time.

As with every James Michener work, it's the characters and the interwoven facts that make "Space" a beautiful and engaging read. Even though it may lag a bit in spirit in the last chapters, especially concerning the Viking probe's timing and the issue of religious strife in the early Reagan years, it's still a work that is well worth persevering through. It represents the good old American Will To Get Things Done. P.S.: The copy I read had a cover based on the 1985 CBS mini-series it was made into, starring James Garner, Beau Bridges, and others.

I brought this book on a trip due to its long length and compact physical size. Also, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about Michener.

To be honest, this isn't outstanding writing, but that's okay. The first 300 pages or so went by quite smoothly. However, by page 500, I was already losing interest. By page 600, it felt like doing homework, and by 750, I was seriously wondering if I would ever manage to finish it.

The book lacks a proper arc or shape. There are four or five major characters who interact with a few real people. But the moon landing is only mentioned briefly in passing, and major events like JFK's assassination are just mentioned once or twice. Then Michener creates a subplot about a charlatan who sells supposed secret information about UFOs and makes it a major part of the story. But this charlatan then abandons the UFO theme and becomes an Elmer Gantry-like Bible thumper. It just doesn't work. It feels forced, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the wooden characters and the rather lackluster writing. In comparison, this guy makes Agatha Christie seem like Henry James.

Overall, it was a bit of a disappointment.

I didn't anticipate liking this book initially, as it doesn't fall within the genre or topic that usually piques my interest. However, the author has done a truly masterful job.

They have skillfully interwoven a remarkable depth and breadth of history with captivating narratives. I found myself enjoying most of the storylines. Nevertheless, I did come across a few themes that were rather off-putting.

For instance, the notion that Christians are con artist fanatics who oppose scientific truth. In my own experience, the only rocket scientist I know is a committed and devout Christian. Moreover, most of the engineers I've met have been through church, and they are just as passionate and firmly grounded in their spirituality as they are in their other pursuits.

To the author's credit, they did leave the door open, suggesting that such people could potentially exist in theory.

After reading this novel, I have developed a great interest in exploring some of Michener's other works. I'm truly amazed by how deeply he delves into the history surrounding his subject matter. It's not only educational but also thoroughly enthralling.

Michener weaves his characters and story together in a remarkable way.

He quickly immerses you right beside each of these detailed and well-developed characters as they strive to explore the boundless landscape of space or live among those who do. Each character has distinct motivations.

There is an astronaut who is obsessed with the stars and aims to land on the moon. Then there is a senator in charge of the space program, whose main goal is to outpace the Russians. And there are scientists who yearn to explore even further than the moon, into the infinite reaches of the universe.

It's a larger-than-life story that completely captivated me from start to finish.

The book concludes with a long section (over 100 pages) that, for the most part, emphasizes the struggle faced by those who wish to explore and reach new heights against a growing anti-intellectualism movement. Sadly, it is eerily reminiscent of the situation today.

This part of the story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of valuing knowledge and exploration in the face of opposition.

Overall, Michener's work is a fascinating exploration of the human spirit's desire to reach for the stars and the challenges that come with it.

This is an extremely wonderful historical fiction that vividly depicts the development of the space program and the people who are deeply involved in it.

It has had a profound impact on me, even influencing my choice of degree.

Michener's works can indeed be quite challenging to read at times, but they are always filled with an abundance of valuable information and are developed in a truly remarkable way.

The detailed descriptions and engaging narratives take the readers on a captivating journey through the history of the space program, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the efforts, sacrifices, and achievements of those who dedicated their lives to this noble cause.

It is truly a masterpiece that not only entertains but also educates and inspires.

I first read this book back in 1979 when I was going through Basic Dive School in Washington DC.

It was an incredibly engaging read that truly kept me motivated and excited to study hard and pass the school.

This book offers an excellent fictional account of our early space program.

The detailed descriptions and storylines bring to life the challenges, aspirations, and the overall atmosphere of that era.

I firmly believe that the behind-the-scenes Machiavellian twists and plots presented in the book might not be too far from the actual reality.

It makes one wonder about the true nature of the power struggles and political maneuverings that took place during the development of the space program.

Overall, this book is a captivating and thought-provoking piece that provides a unique perspective on an important chapter in our history.

It not only entertained me but also made me reflect on the complex and often hidden aspects of the early space program.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in space exploration, history, or just a good fictional read.

I have a great fondness for James Michener, yet this particular work did not rank among my top favorites.

Evidently, he dedicated an enormous amount of research to the US space program, and that aspect was truly captivating. I was especially fascinated by the account of the German scientists who were assembled after WWII to work in the US. Of course, I had heard of Wernher Von Braun, but I believe the remainder of the program was rather shrouded in secrecy. At any rate, I didn't hear much about it at the time. I was unaware that the different branches of the armed forces, instead of collaborating, were more like competitors in space exploration. There was also controversy regarding the method to be used to reach the moon and the advantage of manned versus unmanned rockets. He briefly mentioned that all the early astronauts were white males. He does introduce a black astronaut later on, but fails to mention the black women computers who made such significant contributions to the program. Perhaps they were still "hidden figures" when he was researching the book. A great deal of the scientific and astrological information was too complex for me to understand.

The main characters in the book were all fictional, and Mr. Michener stated that they were not based on actual people. He even fabricated a fictional state, Fremont, for the fictional senator, Grant, to represent in the Senate. However, it was situated almost where Nebraska would be on the US map. It was a bit unsettling to have these fictional characters interacting with Lyndon Johnson, Wernher Von Braun, and other real individuals of the era.

Aside from Mr. Mott and Mr. Kolff, I didn't find the characters very likable or engaging. John Pope and his wife, Penny, seemed a little too perfect. Randy Claggett and his wife, Debby Dee, were depicted as good-hearted rednecks, albeit brilliant ones.

I don't comprehend why Mr. Strabismus was even included in this novel. It appears as though the author was researching a book about charlatans and fraudsters and decided to塞进 it into this book, and Senator Grant's wife and daughter were sacrificed to make it somewhat relevant.

I had extremely high hopes for this novel. Many of my friends were overjoyed that I would be delving into it, and they told me that it was one of their absolute favorites. However, there was one friend with a minority opinion who cautioned me that it might be unduly wordy. And, as it turns out, this was a correct prediction.

The story began very promisingly with a fascinating look at the rocket scientists in Germany during the late stages of WWII. That was truly my favorite part of the book. There were indeed many enjoyable scenes throughout the story. I was deeply drawn to the problems faced by both engineers and scientists alike. The portrayal of the lives of some of the astronauts was quite interesting. The bravery of the future senator in a naval battle was also captivating and well-written.

Nevertheless, the problem is that Michener seemed determined to warn his readers about the rise of the Evangelicals who, he believed, threatened to send us all back into the dark ages in the early 80's. He felt compelled to let us know that the knuckle-dragging creationists and the Bible-thumping homophobes were set to ruin our society. Perhaps, though, he took things too far. In fact, science seems more threatened by the left than by the right. And not only are we not allowed to oppose homosexual behavior, but we must actively celebrate it. The entire last one-fifth or so of the story seemed to be there solely to steer the narrative in this Evangelical-phobic direction, and it became increasingly boring and stale, making the book longer than it really needed to be.

I did appreciate the glimpse into the spirit of the space race and the contribution of foreign scientists to our US technology. However, I sincerely wish the author had not used the story as a platform for his now all-too-ubiquitous social views.