Overview

"""THRILLING. ... Up-end[s] the Apollo narrative entirely."" —The Times (London) A ""brilliantly observed"" (Newsweek) and ""endlessly fascinating"" (WSJ) rediscovery of the final Apollo moon landings, revealing why these extraordinary yet overshadowed missions—distinguished by the use of the revolutionary lunar roving vehicle—deserve to be celebrated as the pinnacle of human adventure and exploration. One of The Wall Street Journal's 10 Best Books of the Month 8:36 P.M. EST, December 12, 1972: Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt braked to a stop alongside Nansen Crater, keenly aware that they were far, far from home. They had flown nearly a quarter-million miles to the man in the moon’s left eye, landed at its edge, and then driven five miles in to this desolate, boulder-strewn landscape. As they gathered samples, they strode at the outermost edge of mankind’s travels. This place, this moment, marked the extreme of exploration for a species born to wander.  A few feet away sat the machine that made the achievement possible: an electric go-cart that folded like a business letter, weighed less than eighty pounds in the moon’s reduced gravity, and muscled its way up mountains, around craters, and over undulating plains on America’s last three ventures to the lunar surface.  In the decades since, the exploits of the astronauts on those final expeditions have dimmed in the shadow cast by the first moon landing. But Apollo 11 was but a prelude to what came later: while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin trod a sliver of flat lunar desert smaller than a football field, Apollos 15, 16, and 17 each commanded a mountainous area the size of Manhattan. All told, their crews traveled fifty-six miles, and brought deep science and a far more swashbuckling style of exploration to the moon. And they triumphed for one very American reason: they drove. In this fast-moving history of the rover and the adventures it ignited, Earl Swift puts the reader alongside the men who dreamed of driving on the moon and designed and built the vehicle, troubleshot its flaws, and drove it on the moon’s surface. Finally shining a deserved spotlight on these overlooked characters and the missions they created, Across the Airless Wilds is a celebration of human genius, perseverance, and daring."

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9780062986535

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Reviews

The literature of lunar exploration has tended to focus on the earlier Apollo missions, with scant attention paid to the extraordinary achievements of the later rover expeditions-which were, in many respects, scientifically bolder and taught us a great deal more about our moon. Earl Swift lays out this great unsung saga with verve and magisterial sweep. After reading Across the Airless Wilds, you'll begin to think of NASA's true golden age not in terms of 'one small step,' but as a series of cosmic car rides. -- <strong>Hampton Sides, author of <em>In the Kingdom of Ice</em></strong> In Across the Airless Wilds, Earl Swift skillfully tells the remarkable story of how vision, ingenuity, and some pretty fine engineering transformed lunar and planetary exploration. A rare and compelling celebration of the human spirit. -- <strong>Andrew H. Knoll</strong>, professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Harvard University; member of the science team of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission; and author of <em>A Brief History of Earth</em> This is not just a book about the lunar rover-it's also a book about humans, and the great things they can do when inspired. There are people here who jump off the page-and sometimes, off the moon's surface. Vividly written, engaging, and fascinating. I started it one day and finished it the next, and I'm not a fast reader. I just didn't want to stop. -- <strong>James Donovan, author of <em>Shoot for the Moon:</em><em> </em><em>The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11</em> </strong> For the origins and history of the Apollo lunar rover, there is no better guide than Earl Swift's beautifully written book. It details two decades of rover concepts, followed by two frantic years of building one for Apollo on a ridiculous schedule and an inadequate budget. But it paid off in three spectacular landings that used the rover for science-Apollos 15, 16, and 17. Swift also profiles the people who accomplished this feat; they are as fascinating as the machine itself. -- <strong>Michael J. Neufeld, Senior Curator, Space History Department, <em>Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and author </em>of <em>Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War</em></strong> Swift details the story of the development of the lunar rover, focusing in particular on three pioneering engineers who made the craft a reality. ... Swift ably outlines their achievements in technology and project management, clarifying complex issues in layperson's language. Even those who think they already know plenty about America's space program will find deeper insights here. -- <em>Booklist </em><strong>(starred review)</strong> An expert account... An overlooked achievement in the initial series of moon landings gets a well-deserved spotlight. -- <em>Kirkus Reviews</em>

The best nonfiction book of 2018. . . . I can't remember a book in recent years that taught me quite so much. Every page is vivid and rich. . . . A model for what serious reportage should be. --Stephen L. Carter, Bloomberg, on Chesapeake Requiem [A] sweeping historical narrative. ... Intimate, meticulously reported and captivating. ... Earl Swift masterfully reveals Tangier as it is. ... The definitive account of what once was and of what will soon be no more. --Washington Post (A Notable Book of the Year) on Chesapeake Requiem Earl Swift has long shown a talent for locating the big and poignant stories that lay hidden in plain sight within the day-to-day lives of unsung Americans. With Chesapeake Requiem, his gift is on fine display. On crabby old Tangier Island, where folks speak a vestigial King James English and tenaciously hold on to the past, Swift has glimpsed our future. Here is a big story about a small place, a canary-in-the-coalmine tale that's sad and beautiful, haunting and true. --Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of In the Kingdom of Ice A provocative and respectful study of a culture that may soon be lost. --Esquire, The Best Nonfiction Books of 2018 (So Far) on Chesapeake Requiem A masterful narrative of place, people, and nature, supported by the best sort of on-the-ground journalism. ... In Chesapeake Requiem, Swift does what only the best environmental writers can do. --Christian Science Monitor (A Best Book of the Year)

The literature of lunar exploration has tended to focus on the earlier Apollo missions, with scant attention paid to the extraordinary achievements of the later rover expeditions-which were, in many respects, scientifically bolder and taught us a great deal more about our moon. Earl Swift lays out this great unsung saga with verve and magisterial sweep. After reading Across the Airless Wilds, you'll begin to think of NASA's true golden age not in terms of 'one small step,' but as a series of cosmic car rides. -- <strong>Hampton Sides, author of <em>In the Kingdom of Ice</em></strong> In Across the Airless Wilds, Earl Swift skillfully tells the remarkable story of how vision, ingenuity, and some pretty fine engineering transformed lunar and planetary exploration. A rare and compelling celebration of the human spirit. -- <strong>Andrew H. Knoll</strong>, professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Harvard University; member of the science team of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission; and author of <em>A Brief History of Earth</em> This is not just a book about the lunar rover-it's also a book about humans, and the great things they can do when inspired. There are people here who jump off the page-and sometimes, off the moon's surface. Vividly written, engaging, and fascinating. I started it one day and finished it the next, and I'm not a fast reader. I just didn't want to stop. -- <strong>James Donovan, author of <em>Shoot for the Moon:</em><em> </em><em>The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11</em> </strong> For the origins and history of the Apollo lunar rover, there is no better guide than Earl Swift's beautifully written book. It details two decades of rover concepts, followed by two frantic years of building one for Apollo on a ridiculous schedule and an inadequate budget. But it paid off in three spectacular landings that used the rover for science-Apollos 15, 16, and 17. Swift also profiles the people who accomplished this feat; they are as fascinating as the machine itself. -- <strong>Michael J. Neufeld, Senior Curator, Space History Department, <em>Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and author </em>of <em>Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War</em></strong> Swift details the story of the development of the lunar rover, focusing in particular on three pioneering engineers who made the craft a reality. ... Swift ably outlines their achievements in technology and project management, clarifying complex issues in layperson's language. Even those who think they already know plenty about America's space program will find deeper insights here. -- <em>Booklist </em><strong>(starred review)</strong> [A] detailed history. ... The depictions of lunar travels are a particular highlight. Space buffs will definitely want to check this one out. -- <em>Publishers Weekly</em>

The literature of lunar exploration has tended to focus on the earlier Apollo missions, with scant attention paid to the extraordinary achievements of the later rover expeditions-which were, in many respects, scientifically bolder and taught us a great deal more about our moon. Earl Swift lays out this great unsung saga with verve and magisterial sweep. After reading Across the Airless Wilds, you'll begin to think of NASA's true golden age not in terms of 'one small step,' but as a series of cosmic car rides. -- <strong>Hampton Sides, author of <em>In the Kingdom of Ice</em></strong> In Across the Airless Wilds, Earl Swift skillfully tells the remarkable story of how vision, ingenuity, and some pretty fine engineering transformed lunar and planetary exploration. A rare and compelling celebration of the human spirit. -- <strong>Andrew H. Knoll</strong>, professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Harvard University; member of the science team of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission; and author of <em>A Brief History of Earth</em> This is not just a book about the lunar rover-it's also a book about humans, and the great things they can do when inspired. There are people here who jump off the page-and sometimes, off the moon's surface. Vividly written, engaging, and fascinating. I started it one day and finished it the next, and I'm not a fast reader. I just didn't want to stop. -- <strong>James Donovan, author of <em>Shoot for the Moon:</em><em> </em><em>The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11</em> </strong> For the origins and history of the Apollo lunar rover, there is no better guide than Earl Swift's beautifully written book. It details two decades of rover concepts, followed by two frantic years of building one for Apollo on a ridiculous schedule and an inadequate budget. But it paid off in three spectacular landings that used the rover for science-Apollos 15, 16, and 17. Swift also profiles the people who accomplished this feat; they are as fascinating as the machine itself. -- <strong>Michael J. Neufeld, Senior Curator, Space History Department, <em>Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and author </em>of <em>Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War</em></strong>

This is not just a book about the lunar rover-it's also a book about humans, and the great things they can do when inspired. There are people here who jump off the page-and sometimes, off the moon's surface. Vividly written, engaging, and fascinating. I started it one day and finished it the next, and I'm not a fast reader. I just didn't want to stop. -- <strong>James Donovan, author of <em>Shoot for the Moon:</em><em> </em><em>The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11</em> </strong> In Across the Airless Wilds, Earl Swift skillfully tells the remarkable story of how vision, ingenuity, and some pretty fine engineering transformed lunar and planetary exploration. A rare and compelling celebration of the human spirit. -- <strong>Andrew H. Knoll</strong>, professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Harvard University; member of the science team of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission; and author of <em>A Brief History of Earth</em> [A] sweeping historical narrative. ... Intimate, meticulously reported and captivating. ... Earl Swift masterfully reveals Tangier as it is. ... The definitive account of what once was and of what will soon be no more. -- <strong><em>Washington Post</em> (A Notable Book of the Year) on <em>Chesapeake Requiem</em></strong> A masterful narrative of place, people, and nature, supported by the best sort of on-the-ground journalism. ... In Chesapeake Requiem, Swift does what only the best environmental writers can do. -- <strong>Christian Science Monitor (A Best Book of the Year) </strong> A provocative and respectful study of a culture that may soon be lost. -- <strong>Esquire, The Best Nonfiction Books of 2018 (So Far) on<em> Chesapeake Requiem</em></strong> The best nonfiction book of 2018. . . . I can't remember a book in recent years that taught me quite so much. Every page is vivid and rich. . . . A model for what serious reportage should be. -- <strong>Stephen L. Carter, <em>Bloomberg, </em>on<em> Chesapeake Requiem</em></strong> Earl Swift has long shown a talent for locating the big and poignant stories that lay hidden in plain sight within the day-to-day lives of unsung Americans. With Chesapeake Requiem, his gift is on fine display. On crabby old Tangier Island, where folks speak a vestigial King James English and tenaciously hold on to the past, Swift has glimpsed our future. Here is a big story about a small place, a canary-in-the-coalmine tale that's sad and beautiful, haunting and true. -- <strong>Hampton Sides, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <em>In the Kingdom of Ice</em></strong><br/>

The literature of lunar exploration has tended to focus on the earlier Apollo missions, with scant attention paid to the extraordinary achievements of the later rover expeditions-which were, in many respects, scientifically bolder and taught us a great deal more about our moon. Earl Swift lays out this great unsung saga with verve and magisterial sweep. After reading Across the Airless Wilds, you'll begin to think of NASA's true golden age not in terms of 'one small step,' but as a series of cosmic car rides. -- <strong>Hampton Sides, author of <em>In the Kingdom of Ice</em></strong> In Across the Airless Wilds, Earl Swift skillfully tells the remarkable story of how vision, ingenuity, and some pretty fine engineering transformed lunar and planetary exploration. A rare and compelling celebration of the human spirit. -- <strong>Andrew H. Knoll</strong>, professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Harvard University; member of the science team of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission; and author of <em>A Brief History of Earth</em> This is not just a book about the lunar rover-it's also a book about humans, and the great things they can do when inspired. There are people here who jump off the page-and sometimes, off the moon's surface. Vividly written, engaging, and fascinating. I started it one day and finished it the next, and I'm not a fast reader. I just didn't want to stop. -- <strong>James Donovan, author of <em>Shoot for the Moon:</em><em> </em><em>The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11</em> </strong> For the origins and history of the Apollo lunar rover, there is no better guide than Earl Swift's beautifully written book. It details two decades of rover concepts, followed by two frantic years of building one for Apollo on a ridiculous schedule and an inadequate budget. But it paid off in three spectacular landings that used the rover for science-Apollos 15, 16, and 17. Swift also profiles the people who accomplished this feat; they are as fascinating as the machine itself. -- <strong>Michael J. Neufeld, Senior Curator, Space History Department, <em>Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and author </em>of <em>Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War</em></strong> Swift details the story of the development of the lunar rover, focusing in particular on three pioneering engineers who made the craft a reality. ... Swift ably outlines their achievements in technology and project management, clarifying complex issues in layperson's language. Even those who think they already know plenty about America's space program will find deeper insights here. -- <em>Booklist </em><strong>(starred review)</strong> [A] detailed history. ... The depictions of lunar travels are a particular highlight. Space buffs will definitely want to check this one out. -- <em>Publishers Weekly</em> An expert account... An overlooked achievement in the initial series of moon landings gets a well-deserved spotlight. -- <em>Kirkus Reviews</em>

Author Information

Earl Swift is the author of the New York Times bestseller Chesapeake Requiem, which was named to ten best of the year lists. His other books include Auto Biography and The Big Roads. A longtime reporter for the Virginian-Pilot, he has been a residential fellow at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities at the University of Virginia since 2012.

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