Gemini - by Jeffrey Kluger (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From the bestselling author of Apollo 13 comes the thrilling untold story of the pioneering Gemini program that was instrumental in getting Americans on the moon. Without Gemini, there would be no Apollo. After we first launched Americans into space but before we touched down on the moon's surface, there was the Gemini program. It was no easy jump from manned missions in low-Earth orbit to a successful moon landing, and the ten-flight, twenty-month celestial story of the Gemini program is an extraordinary one. There was unavoidable darkness in the program-the deaths and near-deaths that defined it, and the blood feud with the Soviet Union that animated it. But there were undeniable and previously inconceivable successes. With a war raging in Vietnam and lawmakers calling for cuts on NASA's budget, the success of the Gemini program-or the space program in general-was never guaranteed. Yet against all odds, the remarkable scientists and astronauts behind the project persevered, and their efforts paid off. Later, with the knowledge gained from the Gemini flights, NASA would launch the legendary Apollo program. Told with Jeffrey Kluger's signature cinematic storytelling and in-depth research and interviews, Gemini is an edge-of-your-seat narrative chronicling the history of the least appreciated-and most groundbreaking-space program in American history. Finally, Gemini's story will be told, and finally, we'll learn the truth of how we landed on the moon"--

Book Synopsis

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF FALL 2025

From the bestselling co-author of Apollo 13 comes the thrilling untold story of the pioneering Gemini program that was instrumental in getting Americans on the moon.

Without Gemini, there would be no Apollo.

After we first launched Americans into space but before we touched down on the moon's surface, there was the Gemini program. It was no easy jump from manned missions in low-Earth orbit to a successful moon landing, and the ten-flight, twenty-month celestial story of the Gemini program is an extraordinary one. There was unavoidable darkness in the program--the deaths and near-deaths that defined it, and the blood feud with the Soviet Union that animated it.

But there were undeniable and previously inconceivable successes. With a war raging in Vietnam and lawmakers calling for cuts to NASA's budget, the success of the Gemini program--or the space program in general--was never guaranteed. Yet against all odds, the remarkable scientists and astronauts behind the project persevered, and their efforts paid off. Later, with the knowledge gained from the Gemini flights, NASA would launch the legendary Apollo program.

Told with Jeffrey Kluger's signature cinematic storytelling and in-depth research and interviews, Gemini is an edge-of-your-seat narrative chronicling the history of the least appreciated--and most groundbreaking--space program in American history. Finally, Gemini's story will be told, and finally, we'll learn the truth of how we landed on the moon.

Review Quotes

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2025 AND MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF FALL 2025

"A superbly written and thoroughly researched story of early spaceflight that isn't just for space buffs but for every reader who loves tales of true adventure. You can almost smell the hydrazine fumes as you turn the pages of Jeffrey Kruger's amazing story of America's second spacecraft that ultimately gave us the moon." --Homer Hickam, bestselling author of Rocket Boys

"Long before my twin brother Mark and I flew in space, it was Gemini, another twin, that taught NASA how to get there -- and back. In Gemini, Jeff Kluger brings to life the grit, danger, and brilliance behind a program that turned theory into skill and astronauts into moonwalkers. This is essential history, told with the kind of precision only Jeff can deliver -- and every space traveler or fan of space should read." --Scott Kelly, Retired US Navy Captain and former NASA astronaut

"Jeffrey Kluger--the best author ever at capturing both the technical and human aspects of space travel--tells the amazing and, up until now, untold story of the Gemini program, the program that developed the technology, experiences, and people needed to successfully land the first humans on the moon... A must read not only for space enthusiasts, but also for any person seeking inspiration from the greatest adventure ever accomplished by humanity." --Mike Massimino, Columbia University professor and former NASA astronaut

"A cinematic retelling of the least appreciated--and most groundbreaking--space program in American history... thrilling." --TIME magazine, Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2025

"Unbelievable... This heart-pounding account of the most crucial moment in the space race will deepen your appreciation for just how giant a leap the moon landing was for mankind." --Shannon Carlin, TIME magazine, 100 Must-Read Books of 2025

"Kluger deserves credit for bringing this program's significance to the general public's attention." --American Scientist

"Absorbing... the riveting tale of the valiant souls both high aloft and on the ground whose unyielding efforts made possible the groundbreaking data that allowed for six crewed lunar excursions... [Kluger] paints a vivid portrait of Gemini's endeavors." --Space.com

"[A] page-turner of a U.S. space history book. Jeffrey Kluger has now shone a light into the shadows cast by Mercury and Apollo, and he's done it masterfully. Read Gemini for the information or for the pleasure of Kluger's storytelling. But read it you should." --National Space Society

"Kluger's writing verges on poetic. [And] for those who know the basics of the early space program, Kluger includes details that boost those days from black and white to technicolor." --Undark magazine

"Jeffrey Kluger offers a front-row seat to the 20th century's greatest adventure...Rich in extensively researched detail made fascinating in Kluger's talented hands, Gemini is a transfixing human, scientific and political story." --Bookpage, starred review

"[Kluger's] page-turning prose is written with new journalistic bravado... heartpounding... Impressively researched and stylishly written, the history of the space race achieves liftoff." --Kirkus Reviews

"Kluger's book is part history of space-travel technology and part study in human ingenuity and perseverance." --Library Journal

"An exciting and inspiring narrative chronicling the herculean efforts of NASA and its astronauts to reach the goal set by President Kennedy in 1961. An unvarnished and engaging read about the science, money, and manpower that helped push the penultimate U.S. moon mission forward." --Booklist

About the Author

Jeffrey Kluger is Editor at Large at Time, where he has written more than 45 cover stories. Co-author of Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, which was the basis for the movie Apollo 13, he is also the author of more than a dozen other books, including his next book Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story.