The Defector

Houston, 1975. A new Apollo mission launches into orbit, on course to dock with a Russian Soyuz craft: three NASA astronauts and three cosmonauts, joining to celebrate a new dawn of Soviet-American cooperation. But as NASA Flight Controller Kaz Zemeckis listens in from Earth, a deadly accident changes everything.Meanwhile, from a remote location in east Asia, the first Chinese spacecraft secretly launches. On board is China's first astronaut, Fang Kuo-chun, whose mission puts him on a collision course with the Apollo crew. As Kaz races against an enemy on the ground and for answers beyond the sky, the safety of the remaining crew hangs in the balance . . .Full of intrigue and real history - including the fascinating story of Professor Tsien Hsue-shen, the 'Father of Chinese Rocketry' and founder of China's space program - Final Orbit accelerates to a thrilling conclusion that captures the beauty and terror of survival 270 miles above Earth, as could only be written by one of the most experienced astronauts alive.Praise for the Apollo Murders series'A nail-biting Cold War thriller' James Cameron'An exciting journey to an alternate past' Andy Weir'Not to be missed' Frederick Forsyth'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz'Exciting, authentic' Linwood Barclay

This updated picture book of The Darkest Dark by astronaut Chris Hadfield, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.<BR><BR>"While I was growing up, the Moon helped light the path to my dreams. But it was on a hot July night that my dreamy thoughts became real. The brave astronauts of Apollo 11 travelled to that distant place and stepped out onto its surface, their boots blazing a new trail in the ancient grey dust. Those footprints showed me that impossible things can happen." Chris Hadfield.<BR><BR>Young Chris is a very important astronaut. When Dad says it's time for bed - Sorry, no can do: An astronaut's work is never done. But in the dark lurk all kinds of scary aliens. So Chris doesn't like to sleep, but Mum and Dad do! When he watches in awe at the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, Chris realizes he must overcome his fear of the dark. For in the darkest dark of space lies a power and a mystery that might just help Chris make his dreams come true.<BR><BR>Inspired by the childhood of real-life astronaut, Commander Chris Hadfield, author of An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. The Darkest Dark is his debut children's book, brought to life by the illustrations of Terry and Eric Fan. The evocative beauty of their pictures brings to life a bedtime story that will encourage children to dream big, think like an astronaut and embrace the unknown.

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER<BR><BR>'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz, author of Orphan X<BR><BR>1973: a final, top-secret mission to the Moon. Three astronauts in a tiny module, a quarter of a million miles from home. A quarter of a million miles from help.<BR><BR>As Russian and American crews sprint for a secret bounty hidden away on the lunar surface, old rivalries blossom and the political stakes are stretched to breaking point back on Earth. Houston flight controller Kazimieras 'Kaz' Zemeckis must do all he can to keep the NASA crew together, while staying one step ahead of his Soviet rivals. But not everyone on board Apollo 18 is quite who they appear to be.<BR><BR>Strap in and count down for the ride of a lifetime.<BR><BR>'An exciting journey' Andy Weir, author of The Martian<BR><BR>'Nail-biting' James Cameron, writer and director of Avatar and Titanic<BR><BR>'Not to be missed' Frederick Forsyth, author of The Day of the Jackal<BR><BR>'Exciting, authentic' Linwood Barclay, author of Find You First<BR><BR>'[A] stellar thrill ride' Chris Holm, author of The Killing Kind<BR><BR>'Gripping' John Verdon, author of the Dave Gurney series<BR><BR>'Relentlessly exciting' Stephen Mack Jones, author of August Snow

Back on the earth after three spaceflights, Chris Hadfield's captivating memoir An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth reveals extraordinary stories from his life as an astronaut, and shows how to make the impossible a reality. This edition contains a new afterword.<BR><BR>Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft, and become a YouTube sensation with his performance of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' in space. The secret to Chris Hadfield's success - and survival - is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst - and enjoy every moment of it.<BR><BR>In his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield takes readers deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievement - and happiness. His own extraordinary education in space has taught him some counter-intuitive lessons: don't visualize success, do care what others think, and always sweat the small stuff.<BR><BR>You might never be able to build a robot, pilot a spacecraft, make a music video or perform basic surgery in zero gravity like Colonel Hadfield. But his vivid and refreshing insights in this book will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will change, completely, the way you view life on Earth - especially your own.

'Houston, wir haben ein Problem!'Einer der erfahrensten und erfolgreichsten Astronauten der Welt schreibt einen Thriller über den Kalten Krieg - authentischer geht es nicht!1973. Apollo 18 startet - eine letzte, streng geheime Mission zum Mond. Auf der Mondoberfläche sollen Gesteinsproben gesammelt werden, die Unglaubliches versprechen.Doch nicht nur die US-amerikanische Crew, auch die Sowjetunion ist hinter den bislang verborgenen Schätzen des Mondes her. Der Flugkontrolleur Kazimieras 'Kaz' Zemeckis aus Houston muss alles tun, um die NASA-Crew zusammenzuhalten und gleichzeitig seinen sowjetischen Rivalen immer einen Schritt voraus zu sein. Aber nicht jeder an Bord von Apollo 18 ist ganz der, der er zu sein scheint. Es häufen sich die Anzeichen, dass einer von ihnen ein Mörder ist und Schreckliches im Sinn hat. Die Mission ist in höchster Gefahr, der Ausgang ungewiss.Voll faszinierender technischer Details -  Chris Hadfield nimmt uns mit auf eine unvergessliche Reise zum Mond'Commander Hadfield nimmt uns mit auf eine spannende Reise in eine alternative Vergangenheit. Und wer könnte besser über Astronauten schreiben als ein Astronaut selbst!' Andy Weir, Autor von ¿Der Marsianer¿'Ich konnte dieses Buch nicht aus der Hand legen, bis zum fulminanten Schluss.' James Cameron

Ein einziger Überläufer bestimmt das Schicksal einer ganzen NationEiner der besten Kampfpiloten der US Air Force und US Navy schreibt einen Thriller über den Kalten Krieg - authentischer wird es nicht mehr! Chris Hadfield verknüpft spannendes Insiderwissen über Technik mit politischen Intrigen, die auf wahren Begebenheiten beruhen.Israel, 1973. Während der Jom-Kippur-Krieg aufflammt, rast ein hochmoderner Kampfjet mit halsbrecherischer Geschwindigkeit über das trockene Buschland. Darin: ein sowjetischer Pilot, der in die USA überlaufen will. Seine Informationen sind von unschätzbarem Wert, denn er kennt die Geheimnisse der legendären 'Foxbat' MiG-25, des schnellsten und höchstfliegenden Kampfflugzeugs der Welt, und somit auch den Schlüssel zur Lufthoheit im Kalten Krieg. Der NASA-Flugleiter und ehemalige Testpilot der US-Marine Kaz Zemeckis erhält den Auftrag, den Überläufer auf das geheimste Testgelände der USA zu bringen. Doch die Aktion birgt ein hohes Risiko und Kaz kann nur hoffen, dass das gefährliche Spiel nach seinen Vorstellungen verläuft.Perfekt für Fans von Tom Clancy, David Baldacci und Robert Ludlum.'Spannend bis zum Abwinken ... Hadfield ist eindeutig dazu bestimmt, Tom Clancy als Meister des Technothrillers zu beerben.' Irish Independent

Houston, 1975. A new Apollo mission launches into orbit, on course to dock with a Russian Soyuz craft: three NASA astronauts and three cosmonauts, joining to celebrate a new dawn of Soviet-American cooperation. But as NASA Flight Controller Kaz Zemeckis listens in from Earth, a deadly accident changes everything.<BR><BR> Meanwhile, from a remote location in east Asia, the first Chinese spacecraft secretly launches. On board is China's first astronaut, Fang Kuo-chun, whose mission puts him on a collision course with the Apollo crew. As Kaz races against an enemy on the ground and for answers beyond the sky, the safety of the remaining crew hangs in the balance . . . <BR><BR> Full of intrigue and real history - including the fascinating story of Professor Tsien Hsue-shen, the 'Father of Chinese Rocketry' and founder of China's space program - Final Orbit accelerates to a thrilling conclusion that captures the beauty and terror of survival 270 miles above Earth, as could only be written by one of the most experienced astronauts alive.<BR><BR>Praise for the Apollo Murders series<BR> <BR> 'A nail-biting Cold War thriller' James Cameron<BR><BR> 'An exciting journey to an alternate past' Andy Weir<BR><BR> 'Not to be missed' Frederick Forsyth<BR><BR> 'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz<BR><BR> 'Exciting, authentic' Linwood Barclay

'A full throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner . . . Get ready to blast off and enjoy the ride!'<BR>Jack Carr, former Navy SEAL Sniper and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the James Reece Terminal List series<BR><BR>'Continuous action, Mach-speed mayhem, sharp intrigue, and well-rounded characters - what more could you want from a thriller?'<BR>Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The 9th Man and the Cotton Malone series<BR><BR><BR>Israel, late 1973. As the Yom Kippur War flares into life, a state-of-the-art Soviet MIG fighter is racing at breakneck speed over the arid scrublands below . . . and promptly disappears.<BR><BR>NASA Flight Controller and former US Navy test pilot Kaz Zemeckis watches the scene from the ground - and is quickly pulled into a dizzying, high-stakes game of spies, lies and a possible high-level defection that plays out across three continents.<BR><BR>The prize is beyond value: the secrets of the Soviets' mythical 'Foxbat' MiG-25, the fastest, highest-flying fighter plane in the world and the key to Cold War air supremacy. But every defection is double-edged with risk, and Kaz must tread a careful line between trust and suspicion. Ultimately, he must invite the fox into the henhouse - bringing the defector into the heart of the United States' most secret test site - and hope that, with skill and cunning, the game plays out his way.<BR><BR>For Chris Hadfield's second heart-stopping thriller, we move from Space to another rich and exciting part of Chris's CV: his time as a top test pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and as an RCAF fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in North American airspace.<BR><BR>Full of insider detail, excitement and political intrigue drawn from real events, The Defector brings us the nerve-shredding rush of aerial combat, as told by one of the world's best fighter pilots.<BR><BR><BR>Praise for The Apollo Murders<BR><BR>'A nail-biting Cold War thriller' James Cameron<BR><BR>'An exciting journey to an alternate past' Andy Weir<BR><BR>'Not to be missed' Frederick Forsyth<BR><BR>'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz<BR><BR>'Exciting, authentic' Linwood Barclay

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER <BR><BR>An exceptional Cold War thriller from the dark heart of the Space Race, by astronaut and New York Times bestselling author Chris Hadfield<BR><BR>'An exciting journey to an alternate past' Andy Weir, author of The Martian<BR><BR>'Nail-biting' James Cameron, writer and director of Avatar and Titanic<BR><BR>'Not to be missed' Frederick Forsyth, author of The Day of the Jackal<BR><BR>'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz, author of Orphan X<BR><BR>'Exciting, authentic' Linwood Barclay, author of Find You First<BR><BR>'[A] stellar thrill ride' Chris Holm, author of The Killing Kind<BR><BR>'Gripping' John Verdon, author of the Dave Gurney series <BR><BR>'Relentlessly exciting' Stephen Mack Jones, author of August Snow<BR><BR><BR>1973: a final, top-secret mission to the Moon. Three astronauts in a tiny module, a quarter of a million miles from home. A quarter of a million miles from help.<BR><BR>As Russian and American crews sprint for a secret bounty hidden away on the lunar surface, old rivalries blossom and the political stakes are stretched to breaking point back on Earth. Houston flight controller Kazimieras 'Kaz' Zemeckis must do all he can to keep the NASA crew together, while staying one step ahead of his Soviet rivals. But not everyone on board Apollo 18 is quite who they appear to be.<BR><BR> Full of fascinating technical detail, twists and tension, The Apollo Murders puts you right there in the moment. Experience the dark majesty of space, the fierce G-forces of launch and the rush of holding on to the outside of a spacecraft travelling at 17,000 mph, as told by a former Commander of the International Space Station who has done all of those things in real life.<BR><BR> Strap in and count down for the ride of a lifetime.<BR><BR>Soon to be a major TV series from Altitude and SS's Balboa Productions