Wally Funk's Race for Space

Wally Funk's Race for Space
Wally Funk's Race for Space

Wally Funk's Race for Space

The Extraordinary Story of a Female Aviation Pioneer
By Sue Nelson

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

256 Pages, 5.25 x 8.5

Formats: Cloth, PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket

Cloth, $26.99 (US $26.99) (CA $35.99)

ISBN 9781641601306

Rights: US, CA & MX

Chicago Review Press (Mar 2019)

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Overview

A thrilling biography of a pioneering woman who defied gravity and gender barriers to chase her dreams of space.

Wally Funk was among the Mercury 13, the first group of American pilots to complete NASA’s 1961 Women in Space program. Funk breezed through rigorous tests, outperforming even John Glenn. Yet, the program was abruptly canceled due to politics and prejudice, denying these qualified women their chance to reach space.

Undeterred, Funk became one of America’s first female aviation inspectors and flight instructors, never abandoning her astronaut aspirations. Sue Nelson chronicles Funk’s journey, from early aviation triumphs to her relentless pursuit of spaceflight, traveling with her across the US and Europe. This intimate portrait celebrates a true aviation trailblazer, highlighting her extraordinary achievements and unwavering spirit. Perfect for readers of aviation history, inspirational biographies, and untold stories of women in STEM.

Reviews

"Wally Funk's Story is a textbook study in indefatigable, american, can-do spirit."— Guardian


“An extraordinary, quirky book... A global Thelma and Louise–style adventure... It’s a great story, and it throws fascinating light on the story of female space travel.” — Daily Mail Book of the Week


“Inspiring... I am in great admiration of Wally Funk who showed tremendous courage and determination at a time when the world of space flight was dominated by men.” —Jan Wörner, Director General of the European Space Agency


“An absolute joy... Beautifully told by one of the world’s foremost space journalists, this fascinating portrait puts the story of women in space front and center.” —Dallas Campbell, author of Ad Astra


“A wonderful, vivid portrait of Wally Funk that explores the crucial part women have played in space exploration.” —Libby Jackson, author of A Galaxy of Her Own


“Wally Funk’s character leaps off the page... fantastic and so inspirational.” —Naga Munchetty, BBC Breakfast


"Funk is accomplished, charismatic, and energetic, and readers will be glad they got to spend time with her and Nelson via this well-written, entertaining book." --Publishers Weekly


"utterly charming...Funk is undeniably an American original, and Nelson's wry style suits her subject perfectly."
--Booklist

Author Biography

Sue Nelson is an award-winning science journalist and broadcaster. A former BBC TV science and environment correspondent, Nelson also was editor of The Biologist and currently makes short films on space missions for the European Space Agency. She received a New York Festivals International Radio Program award (2017) for her documentary about the history of women in space, called Women with the Right Stuff, that was made with Wally Funk.