New Releases by Homer Hickam

Homer Hickam’s memoir Rocket Boys and the movie adaptation October Sky have become one of the most popular stories in the world, inspiring millions to pursue a better life. But what happened to Homer after he was a West Virginia rocket boy? In his latest memoir, Homer recounts his life in college where he built the world''s biggest, baddest game cannon, fought through some of the worst battles in Vietnam, became a scuba instructor, discovered sunken U-boats, wrote the definitive account of a World War II naval battle, befriended Tom Clancy, made a desperate attempt to save the passengers of a sunken river boat, trained the first Japanese astronauts, taught David Letterman to scuba dive, helped to fix the Hubble Space Telescope, wrote his number one bestselling Rocket Boys, and was on set during the making of October Sky. Although told with humor and wit, Hickam does not shy away from the pain and hardship endured and the mistakes he made during the tumultuous decades since his life in the town he made famous—Coalwood, West Virginia.

From Homer Hickam, the author of the #1 bestselling Rocket Boys adapted into the beloved film October Sky, comes this astonishing memoir of high adventure, war, love, NASA, and his struggle for literary success. Homer Hickam’s memoir Rocket Boys and the movie adaptation October Sky have become one of the most popular stories in the world, inspiring millions to pursue a better life. But what happened to Homer after he was a West Virginia rocket boy? In his latest memoir, Homer recounts his life in college where he built the world''s biggest, baddest game cannon, fought through some of the worst battles in Vietnam, became a scuba instructor, discovered sunken U-boats, wrote the definitive account of a World War II naval battle, befriended Tom Clancy, made a desperate attempt to save the passengers of a sunken river boat, trained the first Japanese astronauts, taught David Letterman to scuba dive, helped to fix the Hubble Space Telescope, wrote his number one bestselling Rocket Boys, and was on set during the making of October Sky. Although told with humor and wit, Hickam does not shy away from the pain and hardship endured and the mistakes he made during the tumultuous decades since his life in the town he made famous—Coalwood, West Virginia.

Las memorias best seller que inspiraron la película Cielo de Octubre, Rocket Boys es una autobiografía poderosa y una historia luminosa de la vida en la década de 1960, del amor de una madre y del temor de un padre, de un grupo de jóvenes que soñaban con lanzar cohetes al espacio… y de hacer realidad los sueños. Así comienza la maravillosamente entretenida y extraordinaria autobiografía de la vida de «Sonny» Homer Hickam, Jr. en Coalwood, Virginia Occidental, un pueblo miserable donde lo único que importaba era la minería de carbón y el fútbol americano. El segundo hijo introspectivo del superintendente de la mina y de una madre decidida a alcanzar una vida mejor para su hijo, Sonny se unió a un grupo de inadaptados para quienes el futuro parecía incierto. Pero en 1957, luego de haber visto el satélite soviético Sputnik cruzar el cielo de los Apalaches, Sonny y sus amigos adolescentes tomaron el futuro en sus manos, cambiando sus vidas y su ciudad para siempre. Recordando una carrera distinguida en la NASA que hizo realidad los sueños de su niñez, Hickam relata la historia de su juventud, llevando a los lectores a la vida de aquel pueblo minero y las de los muchachos que encarnaron sus tensiones y sus sueños. Con la ayuda —y en ocasiones los obstáculos— de los habitantes de Coalwood, los jóvenes aprendieron no solo a convertir escombros de minería en cohetes que surcaban los cielos, sino que encontraron esperanza en una ciudad en la que el progreso pasaba desapercibido. Una autobiografía única, Cielo de octubre es a la vez una crónica inspiradora de triunfo y una historia luminosa del amor de una madre, los temores de un padre y la vida de un joven. Con la sencilla gracia de un narrador por naturaleza, Homer Hickam capta a la perfección un momento en el cual un pueblo agonizante, una familia dividida y una banda de adolescents soñadores se atrevieron a mirar más allá de sus diferencias y a fijar sus objetivos en las estrellas... y vieron un futuro que la nación estaba apenas empezando a imaginar. A story of romance and loss and a keen portrait of life at an extraordinary point in American history, Rocket Boys is a chronicle of triumph. One of the most beloved bestsellers in recent years, Rocket Boys is a uniquely American memoir. A powerful, luminous story of coming of age at the end of the 1950s, it is the story of a mother''s love and a father''s fears, of growing up and getting out. With the grace of a natural storyteller, Homer Hickam looks back after a distinguished NASA career to tell his own true story of growing up in a dying coal town and of how, against the odds, he made his dreams of launching rockets into outer space come true. A story of romance and loss and a keen portrait of life at an extraordinary point in American history, Rocket Boys is a chronicle of triumph.

« Plein de fantaisie, plus vraisemblable et profond qu''il n''y paraît, ce joli roman (rudement bien traduit) garantit un formidable moment de lecture. » L’Express « On aime la tendresse qui émane de cette histoire décalée. Évasion garantie. » Cosmopolitan C’est l’histoire d’un couple où l’un aime et l’autre pas. C’est l’histoire de Homer, honnête mineur de Virginie, d’Elsie, sa jeune épouse aux rêves déçus, et d’Albert. Mais qui est donc Albert ?Un alligator. Un cadeau de mariage qu’Elsie a reçu du grand amour de sa vie quand elle s’est résignée à épouser Homer. Une petite bête facétieuse et un peu cruelle, qui s’interpose sans cesse entre elle et son mari. Que fait Albert sur la banquette arrière ?On le ramène chez lui. Exaspéré par les tours féroces que lui joue l’alligator, Homer pose un ultimatum à Elsie : c’est Albert ou lui...Ainsi commence une expédition à trois vers la Floride, pour ramener Albert chez lui. Une aventure pleine de rebondissements, de rencontres... Dans ce road trip des années 1930, faussement naïf et réellement cocasse, Homer Hickam offre au lecteur un récit unique sur fond de Grande Dépression, où se mêlent faits réels, souvenirs d’enfance, histoires rapportées, inventions pures, clins d’œil littéraires et photos d’époque. Une fable tendre et profonde sur l’amour conjugal, ses écueils et ses belles surprises. A lire absolument ! « Le ton est décalé, les personnages sont complètement farfelus, et le décor un peu hors du temps invite clairement au voyage. Une petite pépite tordante et émouvante. » Terrafemina « Un road trip surprenant et hilarant à l''époque de la Grande Dépression américaine. Une virée en voiture qui ne vous laissera pas indifférent. » Au féminin A propos de l''auteur : Homer Hickam (également connu sous le nom de Homer H. Hickam, Jr.) est l’auteur de nombreux best-sellers primés, dont Rocket Boys, livre de souvenirs classé n°1 sur les listes du New York Times, et qui a été adapté au cinéma avec succès (Ciel d’octobre). Homer Hickam est écrivain depuis l’école primaire. Il est aussi vétéran du Vietnam, ancien mineur, instructeur de plongée sous-marine, amateur passionné de paléontologie et ingénieur à la retraite. Il partage sa vie entre l’Alabama et les Iles Vierges.

Big Fish y El diario de Noa se dan cita en esta evocadora historia acerca de un hombre, una mujer y su caimán. Un conmovedor tributo al amor, de la mano del autor de Rocket Boys, la aclamada novela autobiográfica que inspiró la película Cielo de octubre. Elsie Lavender y Homer Hickam (padre del autor) fueron juntos al instituto en la región minera de Virginia Occidental, donde se graduaron al iniciarse la Gran Depresión. Después de que Homer la pidiera sin éxito en matrimonio, Elsie decidió marcharse a Orlando, donde se enamoró de un actor y bailarín llamado Buddy Ebsen (el auténtico Buddy Ebsen). Pero tras la marcha de Buddy a Nueva York, las ilusiones de Elsie de compartir su vida con él se vinieron abajo y, sin saber muy bien cómo, se encontró de nuevo en los asentamientos mineros, casada con Homer. Insatisfecha con su vida de casada, Elsie recordaba cada día sus tiempos de felicidad en Orlando gracias al peculiar regalo de bodas que le envió Buddy: un caimán llamado Albert al que crio en la única bañera de su casa. Después de que Albert le mordiera los pantalones, Homer le dio un ultimátum: «¡O el caimán o yo!». Tras pensárselo un tiempo, Elsie resolvió que solo podía hacer una cosa: llevar a Albert a Florida, su verdadero hogar. Carrying Albert Home es el relato divertido, dulce y a veces trágico de una joven pareja y un extraordinario caimán embarcados en un alocado viaje de casi dos mil kilómetros. Narrada con el calor y el encanto que hicieron de Rocket Boys un éxito de ventas adorado por el público, esta divertidísima novela de Homer Hickam es, en definitiva, un testimonio de esa emoción extraña y maravillosa que, a falta de otra palabra, llamamos «amor». Homer Hickam (conocido también como Homer H. Hickam, hijo) es el aclamado autor de numerosos libros, entre ellos su novela autobiográfica Rocket Boys, adaptada al cine con el título de Cielo de octubre. Escritor desde sus tiempos escolares, ha sido también minero, militar destinado en Vietnam, instructor de submarinismo, paleontólogo e ingeniero de la NASA. Actualmente reparte su tiempo entre Alabama y las Islas Vírgenes. "Se tiene que leer… Una aventura divertida y a la vez trágica sobre el viaje en coche de un marido y su mujer a través de Estados Unidos con el caimán Albert detrás". Marie Claire UK "De forma intencionada esta novela es un improbable viaje bizarro a través del sur de Estados Unidos que a su vez es… una amalgama de Walter Mitty (por la imaginación que evoca), de La vida de Pi (a causa del mortal pero indispensable animal) y (por la imagen del viaje como la vida misma) de Huckleberry Finn". BookPage "Homer Hickam entrelaza tradición familiar, datos históricos, comedia y un toque de tristeza… Son esas líneas borrosas que existen entre la verdad, la poca fiabilidad de los recuerdos y la forma en la que las historias se estiran y se exageran con el tiempo que le dan a esta novela su encanto". Associated Press "Albert vuelve a casa es en una palabra fantástico, por todo su romance, su humor, su acción de capa y espada, su conmovedor afecto y su tristeza lacrimógena". Florida Book Review "Nos ha encantado de arriba abajo y nos hemos enamorado de sus protagonistas, especialmente de Homer y Albert. Mezcla de drama, humor y romanticismo, esta gran novela nos hace darnos cuenta, de hasta donde es capaz de llegar y todo lo que es capaz de hacer y de aguantar, una persona realmente enamorada. Un libro diferente que nos ha dejado con muy buen sabor de boca." Entérate de lo último

Autor best-seller do The New York Times Homer ama Elsie... Elsie ama Albert... É um clássico triângulo amoroso... O problema é que Albert é um... jacaré!Elsie Lavender e Homer Hickam — os futuros pais de Homer Hickam Jr. — eram colegas de escola na pequena cidade da Virgínia Ocidental, e estavam se formando no tempo em que a Grande Depressão começou. Quando Homer pediu Elsie em casamento, ela, em vez de aceitar, fugiu para Orlando, onde se apaixonou pelo ator e dançarino Buddy Ebsen. Mas, quando o artista mudou-se para Nova York, os sonhos de Elsie de uma vida a dois foram destruídos, e ela se viu de volta às minas de carvão, aceitando o pedido do ex-namorado.Insatisfeita como esposa de um mineiro, Elsie tinha como lembrança de seus dias tranquilos na Flórida um presente de casamento um tanto incomum, dado por seu antigo amor: um jacaré chamado Albert, que vivia no banheiro de sua casa. Porém, um dia, Homer decidiu que não aguentava mais e deu a Elsie um ultimato: "Ou o jacaré, ou eu!" Não sem um bocado de reflexão, Elsie concluiu que só havia uma coisa a fazer: levar Albert de volta para a Flórida. Albert, um jacaré na família narra a doce, engraçada e comovente história de um jovem casal que se aventura pela estrada com um animal de estimação inusitado, e um galo como companheiro. Acredite se puder, quase tudo é real... Contado de forma calorosa e leve, o romance de Homer Hickam é uma bela homenagem à estranha e maravilhosa emoção que chamamos de amor.

Big Fish meets The Notebook in this emotionally evocative story about a man, a woman, and an alligator that is a moving tribute to love, from the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning memoir Rocket Boys—the basis of the movie October Sky. Elsie Lavender and Homer Hickam (the father of the author) were high school classmates in the West Virginia coalfields, graduating just as the Great Depression began. When Homer asked for her hand, Elsie instead headed to Orlando where she sparked with a dancing actor named Buddy Ebsen (yes, that Buddy Ebsen). But when Buddy headed for New York, Elsie’s dreams of a life with him were crushed and eventually she found herself back in the coalfields, married to Homer. Unfulfilled as a miner’s wife, Elsie was reminded of her carefree days with Buddy every day because of his unusual wedding gift: an alligator named Albert she raised in the only bathroom in the house. When Albert scared Homer by grabbing his pants, he gave Elsie an ultimatum: “Me or that alligator!” After giving it some thought, Elsie concluded there was only one thing to do: Carry Albert home. Carrying Albert Home is the funny, sweet, and sometimes tragic tale of a young couple and a special alligator on a crazy 1,000-mile adventure. Told with the warmth and down-home charm that made Rocket Boys a beloved bestseller, Homer Hickam’s rollicking tale is ultimately a testament to that strange and marvelous emotion we inadequately call love.

‘Must-read... A funny yet tragic tale of a husband and wife’s car journey across the US with Albert the alligator in tow. Yes, really.’ Marie Claire A journey of a thousand miles. With an alligator on the back seat. And John Steinbeck as a passenger. This is a tale where everything is true,except the bits that are made up.

“Hickam has a wild imagination and a keen eye for the science behind the fiction.” —JAVIER GRILLO-MARXUACH, writer & producer on Lost and Helix, creator of The Middleman Crater Trueblood has to rescue his ex-girlfriend . . . and the entire human race. Maria Medaris is the 21-year-old matriarch of the most powerful family on the moon—gorgeous, powerful, and high-maintenance. When she is kidnapped by green-lipped, gene-splicing scientists, Maria’s only hope turns out to be the very man she once spurned: Crater Trueblood. Crater and the Lunar Rescue Company must rescue Maria before she joins forces with the lunatics who have taken her hostage and aim to make her queen. Turns out more than Maria is at stake: the planet Earth, majestically rising over the lunar horizon, is in the crosshairs of an asteroid engineered by Maria’s abductors. If Crater can’t stop it, humanity on Earth will be destroyed. The fate of two worlds hangs in the balance . . . and the clock is ticking. “Hickam again displays a knack for suspenseful scenes out in the ‘big suck’ of space . . .” —KIRKUS Reviews “An exciting romp through a surprisingly realistic future.” —JASPER T. SCOTT, author of the Dark Space series

She was born to kill, born to die. Crescent is a crowhopper—a genetically modified mercenary programmed for ruthless warfare. When she’s taken prisoner by Crater Trueblood instead of being killed in battle, she thinks it’s a disaster. Crater is weary of war. He’s a miner, not a soldier. He’d rather be mining Helium-3 than battling the infernal crowhoppers. But after he captures Crescent and brings her to Moontown, he’s surprised how much he enjoys her company. When she’s falsely accused of murder, he becomes an outlaw to help her escape. The unlikely pair escapes into the “big suck” and wind up trekking with a caravan of mining pioneers toward a lunar ghost town called Endless Dust. To survive, they must do more than navigate the beautiful, desolate moonscape and battle a persistent band of crowhoppers sent to capture or kill them. They must decide what—and who—is truly worth fighting for. “Expertly blending space opera and hard sci-fi, romance, and even mystery . . . this is fast-paced, packed with intriguing ideas . . .” —Peter Gutierrez, Booklist Review “Classic Golden Age science fiction high-adventure. It brought back memories of reading Asimov . . . that same sense of wonder. I absolutely loved it.” —Michael Scott, New York Times Best-selling Author, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series

A sixteen-year-old must battle his way across a thousand miles of deadly lunar terrain and face genetically altered super warriors in his quest to recover an astonishing object that will alter the lives of everyone on the moon . . . and beyond. It’s the 22nd Century. A tough, pioneering people mine the moon produce energy for a desperate, war-torn Earth. Sixteen-year-old Crater Trueblood loves his job as a Helium-3 miner. But when he saves a fellow miner, his life changes forever. Impressed by his heroism, the owner of the mine orders Crater to undertake a dangerous mission. Crater doesn’t think he can do it, but he has no choice. He must go. With the help of Maria, the mine owner’s frustrating but gorgeous granddaughter, and his gillie—a sometimes insubordinate clump of slime mold cells—Crater must fight both human and subhuman enemies to complete his mission. New York Times bestselling author Homer Hickman (Rocket Boys) will take you on a hold-your-breath adventure across the moon, and you’ll never look at the night sky the same way again. The first installment of the Helium-3 series Book #1: Crater Book #2: Crescent Book #3: Crater Trueblood and the Lunar Rescue Company Book length: 75,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs

"A fascinating thriller, well crafted and relentless ... A cross between Tony Hillerman and Larry McMurtry, this is one hell of a good read."--Douglas Preston, author of Tyrannosaur Canyon and Blasphemy The cowboys who work on the ranchlands of Montana expect more than their fair share of trouble. One of them is Mike Wire, a former homicide detective. Mike is about to learn murder and mayhem can happen under Motnana''s big skies, too. Beneath the earth lie enough dinosaur fossils to fill several museum collections---and make a fortune for whoever claims them first. Soon he will have to combine everything he learned as a cop with everything he knows as a cowboy to protect the people and the land he could never live without.

In her heartwarming and empowering memoir, space pioneer Anousheh Ansari tells the story of her childhood in Iran and her family''s exodus to America after the Islamic Revolution. After settling down in Texas, Anousheh built a computer technology firm from the ground up, which eventually realized a net worth of $750 million and ultimately allowed her to achieve her childhood dream of spaceflight. In her groundbreaking role as the first-ever female commercial spaceflight participant, her story became politicized and fraught with the prejudices and obstacles she had to overcome as an Iranian woman, culminating in a debate over whether she would be allowed to display both the American and Iranian flags on the sleeve of her spacesuit. After her return to Earth, Anousheh started The Ansari Foundation, a quickly growing nonprofit which supports social entrepreneurship, and is especially committed to ensuring the freedom of women around the world and supporting female entrepreneurs. Ultimately, this evocative story shows the triumph of a woman who has become a role model to people around the globe struggling to overcome economic and cultural barriers, as well as those dreamers who look upon the stars and wish to soar among them.

Can their love survive the difference in their circumstances? Song Hawkins is a beautiful, tough, but lonely New York City businesswoman who thinks she''s met the man of her dreams in Cable Jordan, the superintendent of a West Virginia coal mine. But soon after they impulsively marry, Song realizes they''re in big trouble. She can''t imagine life outside of New York, and Cable has no intention of leaving his beloved town of Highcoal. Song''s visit to the little mining community only makes things worse. It looks like the marriage is over. But in a shocking turn of events, Song realizes it''s up to her to put on the red helmet of the new coal miner and descend into the deep darkness. There she faces her greatest challenge with choices and courage that will forever impact the life of Cable and the entire town. Sweet and thoughtful contemporary read Stand-alone novel Book length: 86,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs

The #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Rocket Boys" continues his thrilling World War II adventure saga featuring Captain Josh Thurlow in the South Pacific.

It''s fall, 1959, and Homer "Sonny" Hickam and his fellow Rocket Boys are in their senior year at Big Creek High, launching handbuilt rockets that soar thousands of feet into the West Virginia sky. But in a season traditionally marked by celebrations of the spirit, Coalwood finds itself at a painful crossroads. The strains can be felt within the Hickam home, where a beleaguered HomerSr. is resorting to a daring but risky plan to keep the mine alive, and his wife Elsie is feeling increasingly isolated from both her family and the townspeople. And Sonny, despite a blossoming relationship with a local girl whose dreams are as big as his, finds his own mood repeatedly darkened by an unexplainable sadness. Eager to rally the town''s spirits and make her son''s final holiday season at home a memorable one, Elsie enlists Sonny and the Rocket Boys'' aid in making the Coalwood Christmas Pageant the best ever. But trouble at the mine and the arrival of a beautiful young outsider threaten to tear the community apart when it most needs to come together. And when disaster strikes at home, and Elsie''s beloved pet squirrel escapes under his watch, Sonny realizes that helping his town and redeeming himself in his mother''s eyes may be a bigger-and more rewarding-challenge than he has ever faced. The result is pure storytelling magic- a tale of small-town parades and big-hearted preachers, the timeless love of families and unforgettable adventures of boyhood friends-that could only come from the man who brought the world Rocket Boys

A Coast Guard commander faces Nazi aggression in American waters in this “beautifully written and nerve-wrackingly suspenseful” novel of WWII (Nelson DeMille). North Carolina, 1941. Among the wind-swept Outer Banks, Killakeet Island is home to a peaceful community of fishermen, clam stompers, oyster rakers, and a few lonely Coast Guard sailors. Dominating the tiny island landscape is the majestic Killakeet Lighthouse, which has been overseen by the Thurlow family for generations. But now Josh Thurlow, the Keeper’s son, has chosen another path . . . Seventeen years ago, Josh lost his younger brother at sea. Still wracked with guilt, he searches relentlessly for him as commander of a Coast Guard patrol boat. But Josh’s obsession with the past is complicated by the arrival of a beautiful stranger—and a foreign enemy. In Killakeet to escape the outside world, Dosie Crossan has stirred Josh’s heart. Meanwhile, a wolfpack of German U-boats has arrived to soak the island’s beaches with blood and oil. One of the U-boats is captained by the infamous Nazi warrior Otto Krebs. But Krebs has brought more than torpedoes to Killakeet. He may also have the answer to the mystery that haunts Josh Thurlow.

It is 1943, and the struggle against Japan rages across the steaming, jungle-choked Solomon Islands. As the fate of the South Pacific hangs precariously in the balance, Lieutenant David Armistead--a Marine Corps hero and cousin of President Franklin Roosevelt--is rumored to have deserted, perhaps to the enemy. For Coast Guard Commander Josh Thurlow, the news is particularly bad. He befriended Armistead while fighting by his side. Now he has orders straight from the top to bring him back or kill him in the attempt. Pressed into the mission is an officer who couldn''t be less like Josh: a shiftless PT boat skipper named John F. Kennedy. To find their elusive quarry, they and Josh''s crew of misfits must face dangers as exotic as the lush battleground that surrounds them, including implacable Japanese, an Australian coastwatcher-turned-warlord, and a beautiful seductress who will either steal Josh''s heart--or have his head...

Homer Hickam won the praise of critics and the devotion of readers with his first two memoirs set in the hardscrabble mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. The New York Times crowned his first book, the #1 national bestseller October Sky, “an eloquent evocation ... a thoroughly charming memoir.” And People called The Coalwood Way, Hickam’s follow-up to October Sky, “a heartwarmer ... truly beautiful and haunting.” Now Homer Hickam continues his extraordinary story with Sky of Stone, dazzling us with exquisite storytelling as he takes us back to that remarkable small town we first came to know and love in October Sky. In the summer of ‘61, Homer “Sonny” Hickam, a year of college behind him, was dreaming of sandy beaches and rocket ships. But before Sonny could reach the seaside fixer-upper where his mother was spending the summer, a telephone call sends him back to the place he thought he had escaped, the gritty coal-mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. There, Sonny’s father, the mine’s superintendent, has been accused of negligence in a man’s death — and the townspeople are in conflict over the future of the town. Sonny’s mother, Elsie, has commanded her son to spend the summer in Coalwood to support his father. But within hours, Sonny realizes two things: His father, always cool and distant with his second son, doesn’t want him there ... and his parents’ marriage has begun to unravel. For Sonny, so begins a summer of discovery — of love, betrayal, and most of all, of a brooding mystery that threatens to destroy his father and his town. Cut off from his college funds by his father, Sonny finds himself doing the unimaginable: taking a job as a “track-laying man,” the toughest in the mine. Moving out to live among the miners, Sonny is soon dazzled by a beautiful older woman who wants to be the mine’s first female engineer. And as the days of summer grow shorter, Sonny finds himself changing in surprising ways, taking the first real steps toward adulthood. But it’s a journey he can make only by peering into the mysterious heart of Coalwood itself, and most of all, by unraveling the story of a man’s death and a father’s secret. In Sky of Stone, Homer Hickam looks down the corridors of his past with love, humor, and forgiveness, brilliantly evoking a close-knit community where everyone knows everything about each other’s lives — except the things that matter most. Sky of Stone is a memoir that reads like a novel, mesmerizing us with rich language, narrative drive, and sheer storytelling genius.

Today, fear affects even the strongest of us. Sometimes it''s immediate, caused by a sense of imminent danger—the kind we felt after terrorists destroyed the magnificent World Trade Center, tore a giant wound in the Pentagon and killed thousands of people. But sometimes fear becomes a normal way of life. In his best-selling memoir October Sky (aka Rocket Boys), Hickam introduced us to the rugged town of his youth, Coalwood, West Virginia, and the people who took on the hazardous and often brutal enterprise of coal mining. To survive and prosper, these people relied on an approach to living that would get them through hard times with an almost unnatural resilience. Over a lifetime, they learned to take on these attitudes: We are proud of who we are. We stand up for what we believe. We keep our families together. We trust in God but rely on ourselves. These attitudes are summed up in the Coalwood Assumption: WE ARE NOT AFRAID. Through poignant memories of his youth, best selling author Homer Hickam helps lead you beyond fear to find the courage and strength to live more happily and look toward to future with optimism.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “nostalgic and entertaining memoir” (People) about a group of young men who dreamed of launching rockets into outer space—the inspiration for the film October Sky “A message of hope in an age of cynicism. . . . Perhaps we all have something to learn from a half-dozen boys who dared to reject all limitations . . . and resolved to send dreams roaring to the sky.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune It was 1957, the year Sputnik raced across the Appalachian sky, and the small town of Coalwood, West Virginia, was slowly dying. Faced with an uncertain future, Homer Hickam nurtured a dream: to send rockets into outer space. The introspective son of the mine’s superintendent and a mother determined to get him out of Coalwood forever, Homer fell in with a group of misfits who learned not only how to turn scraps of metal into sophisticated rockets but how to sustain their hope in a town that swallowed its men alive. As the boys began to light up the tarry skies with their flaming projectiles and dreams of glory, Coalwood, and the Hickams, would never be the same. With the grace of a natural storyteller, NASA engineer Homer Hickam paints a warm, vivid portrait of the harsh West Virginia mining town of his youth, evoking a time of innocence and promise, when anything was possible. Lush and lyrical, Rocket Boys is a uniquely American memoir: A powerful, luminous story of coming of age at the end of the 1950s, of a mother’s love and a father’s fears, and of growing up and getting out.

The shuttle is hijacked. Now the countdown to adventure begins.... In his #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, October Sky, real-life NASA engineer Homer Hickam captured the excitement of America''s first space ventures. Now, in this no-holds-barred joyride of a thriller, he straps us into the cockpit of the space shuttle Columbia as a renegade rocket man hijacks the shuttle--and blasts off on a Mach-speed chase into space.... Jack Medaris is a man haunted by his past and driven by a dream: He''s risking everything to "borrow" the Columbia--and pilot it to the moon. He didn''t plan on an unexpected passenger, beautiful celebrity daredevil and scientist Penny High Eagle. To Penny, this hijacking will test every bit of her mettle as an adventurer--and as a woman. To Jack, the mission is a personal quest--to return to the moon and bring back what America left behind, something so explosive, it could change the future of the world. Now, as the U.S. government scrambles to the chase, and as deadly forces are deployed from earth to stop them, a man and a woman find their fates inextricably entwined. And in the savage emptiness of deep space, their only hope is to join forces to reach the lunar surface. Then comes the hard part. Getting home alive.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “nostalgic and entertaining memoir” (People), originally published as Rocket Boys, that inspired the Universal Pictures film. “A message of hope in an age of cynicism. . . . Perhaps we all have something to learn from a half-dozen boys who dared to reject all limitations . . . and resolved to send dreams roaring to the sky.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune It was 1957, the year Sputnik raced across the Appalachian sky, and the small town of Coalwood, West Virginia, was slowly dying. Faced with an uncertain future, Homer Hickam nurtured a dream: to send rockets into outer space. The introspective son of the mine’s superintendent and a mother determined to get him out of Coalwood forever, Homer fell in with a group of misfits who learned not only how to turn scraps of metal into sophisticated rockets but how to sustain their hope in a town that swallowed its men alive. As the boys began to light up the tarry skies with their flaming projectiles and dreams of glory, Coalwood, and the Hickams, would never be the same. With the grace of a natural storyteller, NASA engineer Homer Hickam paints a warm, vivid portrait of the harsh West Virginia mining town of his youth, evoking a time of innocence and promise, when anything was possible. Lush and lyrical, October Sky is a uniquely American memoir: A powerful, luminous story of coming of age at the end of the 1950s, of a mother’s love and a father’s fears, and of growing up and getting out.