Red Moon Rising

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Though my name is on the cover, this book is really the product of two brilliant minds. It was conceived by Scott Waxman and Paul Golob, who cajoled, conspired, and finally convinced me that I was the right person to write it. And for this I am eternally grateful—both for their collective wisdom and for their confidence.

Scott is the personification of the proactive agent, and I’m truly lucky that he represents me. Paul is the best editor I’ve ever worked with: cerebral, classy, and a man of his word. His guiding hand can be felt throughout the manuscript, and his uncanny ability to see the big picture has endowed this project with whatever weight it has. As with Scott, I count myself fortunate to have worked with him.

At Times Books and Henry Holt, a number of other people have made this book possible: first and foremost, John Sterling, whose patronage has been instrumental. David Wallace-Wells, Chris O’Connell, Jessica Firger, Claire McKinney, Maggie Richards, and Nick Caruso also richly deserve praise. They are responsible for the finished product and its placement in bookstores. Farley Chase of the Waxman Agency has also been responsible for shaping this book, and he has worked tirelessly developing its audio and foreign editions. I owe him thanks, in several languages.

In the course of my research, I have greatly benefited from the accumulated knowledge of Peter Gorin, who is probably the leading civilian expert in the United States on Soviet space and missile programs. Peter’s encyclopedic memory and vast archive of Russian scientific materials are the driving force behind the technical sections of the book. I would also be remiss if I did not thank Sergei Khrushchev, whose memory and recollections form the foundation for some the book’s best action scenes. Professor Khrushchev—himself a rocket scientist, and one of the only surviving eyewitnesses to many of the events depicted in the text—was exceedingly generous with his time, and I owe him a great debt for sharing his political insights as well.

On the political front, Eric Rubin—a friend, senior foreign service officer, old Russia hand, and student of history—nudged me whenever I strayed in trying to make sense of American domestic and cold war politics in the 1950s, and I am grateful for his counsel. In re-creating the political dynamics of the era, I’ve also relied on the accrued wisdom of many American scholars and space historians. They are too numerous to cite here, but I’ve made a point of acknowledging their contributions whenever possible within the body of the text.

And last, but certainly not least, I want to thank Roberta, my muse, critic, fan, editor, and better half. She makes everything possible.