Colin Burgess Books

A people's history of the global space race in the 1960s, beginning with cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and astronaut Alan Shepard and ending with the close of the Mercury and Voskhod programs in 1965.

Drawing on interviews with astronauts, cosmonauts, their families, technicians, and scientists, as well as Soviet and American government documents, the authors craft a remarkable story of the golden age of spaceflight as both an intimate human experience and a rollicking global adventure.

Focusing on the pioneering journey of the first twenty Soviet cosmonauts, this account delves into their history, training, and unique experiences. It offers a captivating narrative enriched by previously unpublished photographs of the lesser-known candidates, shedding light on the often-overlooked aspects of the space race. The book provides readers with an engaging and informative glimpse into the lives of these remarkable individuals who shaped the early days of human space exploration.

A thrilling, beautifully illustrated account of human space exploration, from the space race of the 1950s and '60s to the present day.

A deeply researched, beautifully illustrated chronology of the Soviet Union's extraordinary success in the pioneering years of space exploration.

Reminiscences of the Queen Mother and her life during a two-year stint, 1994-1996 as by an officer of the Irish Guards who was an equerry in her household.