Birthday Book Review: Men in Space

Back in 1959, I was but a stray thought in my dads mind and wouldn't appear till four years later, but at that time, a seminal series began on American TV. Before the great race to put man on the moon physically, efforts were in place to show how it could be achieved, realistically. Just two years after Sputnik made orbit and a mere 17 days after another russian satellite orbited the moon, the show 'Men in Space' aired. Until recently, I was completely unaware of this astounding fact and it was only after I was contacted by the author of a guide to the series, John C. Fredriksen, that I was introduced to it.

John had prepared a book, 'Men in Space' examining the series, detailing each of the 38 episodes and giving a thorough background on the cast and crew. What set the series aside from other similar space shows was its technical accuracy and the realism which was an integral part of each show.

John sent me a copy of the book and asked me to review it for the blog and it would be very easy to say that its 'a great book, go out and buy it', but that's not what i'm about. Besides being an episode guide to the series (which is worth the cover price alone), Johns book is a labour of love and it shows. He has gone to great lengths to record as much background detail as its possible to achieve and the book tells of the influence and support of Chesley Bonestell in the design of the moon surface and of the spaceships, but also of the direct intervention of the US Air Force to ensure every script was technically accurate and feasible and that the storylines would follow the struggles that american astronauts actually endured in the years to come.

His book shows that MIS was the first 'hard science' tv series that portrayed the real rigours and dangers of space travel and the exploits of William Lundigan as Col. Ed McCauley as he and his intrepid crew land on the moon.

Having read the book and also found some of the episodes of Men in Space online on Youtube, I can share Johns enthusiasm for the series, as the sets and the situations are fabulously realistic for the period. This is not a show with wobbly fishbowl helmets and garish rubber suits, but a carefully designed and considered docudrama in 38 parts.What I have difficulty in grasping is how this show has managed to remain under my radar for so long, given that it even spawned merchandise toy tie ins, which until recently, I was also unaware of!

But to cut a long story short, if you have an interest in classic space series, space exploration history or just a damn good read, i'd suggest you grab a copy of Johns excellent book, as its a window into a future that could easily have happened!

http://www.bearmanormedia.com/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=fredriksen&product_id=554

Post Script

Of particular interest to members of the Moonbase Central blog, Johns book details some of the backstory to the development of the ships used in the series. One notable photograph shows Col. McCauley holding a model of an XMP launch vehicle. The main rocket body is an Atlas variant, but the streamlined Flight Capsule has a shape very reminiscent of one of our favourite ships, the Ling-Temco Vought Nuclear Ferry, six whole years before LTV proposed the design!