The internet is a massively powerful resource and an apparently unending source of knowledge, but for me, you cant beat a good book. Seeing Mr Woods' earlier article about the book 'Frontiers of Space' reminded me that I have it myself, courtesy of a 13th birthday prezzy way back in 1974. Since then, ive sought out its companion volumes, Manned Spacecraft, Rockets and Missiles and Robot Explorers. Kenneth Gatland was a great influence on my early explorations of space and along with tv correspondant Peter Fairley, paved the way for a consuming interest in space books that still obsesses me today.Another good read is John W.R Taylors 'Rockets and Missiles' by Hamlyn. All these books have some very early designs for shuttles, lifting bodies and launch vehicles as well as Molabs and lunar crawlers galore. I'd advise anyone with an interest in vintage space to track them down.
Meanwhile, for a much more immediate fix of space book goodness, check out John Sissons stunning blog 'Dreams of Space'. A fabulous taster of all those childrens space books which fed our imaginations in the past.
What a great library Wote! Hamlyn did some fab books. I particularly loved Natural History, Fossil Hunting and Witchcraft in the series. Class books, which I adored and like you, still have.
ReplyDeleteBooks will never did and those semi-retarded yooff-kulture colunists who are always annoncing the end of books, because their editor has asked them to plug the latest 'e-book' on the market, only state so because they fail to understand humans.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to have six laptops open at the one page showing the rare shield on a Flak.18, or several similar project sword toys, but you can bookmark a dozen tomes on your table, open two and prop another one at a rakish angle in the corner behind the stapler while balancing a couple of photocopies on the printer tray!
With an E-book you have a poxy screen that you have to 'operate' to switch between pages, and six e-books will A) be expencive and B) wont supply all the volumes you're looking for.
Books will never die!....Nice library..!