Countdown by Frank G. Slaughter (1970)

Countdown
by Frank G. Slaughter
Publisher:  Doubleday & Company, Inc.
Copyright:  1970
Book Club Edition

The setting is a giant aerospace complex dominated by the launching pads of Cape Kennedy . . .

From a distance, Spaceport City is a land of milk and honey.  A paradise of sprawling homes and pools and flashy cars.  Close up it is bizarre; an unreal world of restless, uprooted women and driven men, where sex is another party game and alcohol the common household remedy for tension and loneliness.

Dr. Michael Barnes gets an opportunity for some first-hand observations when he returns after eight years.  He still bears the stigma of being the only astronaut whose mission was pronounced a failure; he is still haunted by the nightmare of being trapped in a space capsule with a faulty oxygen system.

He comes back, at the behest of an old friend in the Senate, to investigate the Pegasus Space Program.  Barnes is appalled by what he finds . . .

In his new novel Frank Slaughter looks into the private lives of the men who publicly probe the mysteries of outer space.  Men like Paul Taggart, dynamic head of Taggart Aircraft, with his alcoholic wife and doomed teenage daughter; Asa Childs, the homosexual technician; Hal Brennan, former astronaut who will do almost anything to become governor of Florida.

Dr. Slaughter combines his skill as a writer with his expertise in space technology in a tale that builds to one of fiction's most shattering climaxes.  In the last moments of the countdown, television cameras trained on the giant Pegasus spacecraft pick up a strange figure moving toward the launching pad . . .

Condition:  Used.  Hardcover.  Dust cover is lightly discolored and shows scuffing and a bit of edge creases and tears.  Pages are tanning from age.  Previous owner's name is blacked out on the front endpaper.  There's an envelope pasted to front endpaper as a way to keep track of her books.

**************************

Don't Delay. Buy It Now!

Why Buy From Me?

* Shipping Speed Most people are extremely amazed at how fast I get their item delivered to them. I ship the same day you pay for your item, whenever possible.

• Strong Positive Feedback 100% positive feedback. Customers are overwhelmingly pleased with the quality of the item they receive, the accuracy of the item's description, the prompt and informative email notifications, and of course the speedy delivery.
  
  * Blujay Member Since 2005 I'm here to stay.
  
  * ID Verified My feedback profile also displays the ID Verified icon. An extra level of safety and security for buyers to know.
  
  * PayPal Buyer Protection All of my listings display the PayPal Buyer Protection icon to qualify for up to $1000.00 of protection for you, the buyer.