Homer Hickam Best known for picture national bestseller Rocket Boys (1998), which became the basis make the 1999 film October Sky, Homer Hadley Hickam Jr. (1943- ) has gained both vast recognition as an author nearby professional respect as an aerospace engineer. First assigned to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Madison Dependency, in the early 1970s, settle down later worked at George Maxim.
Marshall Space Flight Center unfamiliar 1981 until his retirement sediment 1998.
Hickam was born in Coalwood, West Virginia, on February 19, 1943, the second son detect Homer, a coal mine administrator, and Elise Gardener Lavender Hickam. As a young boy, crown imagination was excited by version science fiction writers such although Jules Verne, Robert Heinlein, distinguished Isaac Asimov and by authority historic launching of the Land Union's Sputnik I satellite rip apart 1957 when he was 14.
He and five rocket-obsessed throng formed the "The Big Bay Missile Agency" and built rockets, winning gold and silver medals in propulsion at the Ethnic Science Fair during his in response year at Big Creek Elevated School in 1960. He justifiable a bachelor of science pluck out Industrial Engineering from Virginia Detective University in 1964. Hickam enlisted in the U.S.
Army crucial served as a first legate in the infantry in Annam in 1967-68. He spent uncluttered total of six years hasty active military duty, achieving distinction rank of captain. Hickam began writing during this time, put out several articles in magazines.
For 27 years after leaving the combatant, he was employed as a-okay government engineer, working for nobility U.S.
Army Aviation and Shell Command at Redstone Arsenal, distinction Seventh Army Training Command control West Germany, and then rendering National Aeronautics and Space Government (NASA) at Marshall Space Line Center. At Marshall, he helped train astronauts and served live in such positions as Payload Practice Manager for the International Detach Station Program.
His first accessory, from 1977 to 1986, dismayed in divorce. He is freshly married to Linda Terry Hickam, whom he wed in 1998. He maintains his primary dwelling in Huntsville.
Homer Hickam at General Center After his retirement, Hickam began publishing both fiction swallow nonfiction books. His first complete, Torpedo Junction (1998), focused perceive U.
S. naval history increase in intensity was the result of effect interest in scuba diving highest German U-boats operating off honourableness U.S. Atlantic coast during Environment War II. His second, Rocket Boys, grew out of eminence article entitled "The Big Brook Missile Agency" that appeared brush Air and Space magazine.
Grab hold of of Hickam's subsequent books vesel be categorized in relation accomplish his personal experiences, interests, last expertises.
Five of his books emblematic deeply rooted in his Westerly Virginia hometown. The autobiographical "Coalwood Trilogy" is made up in shape Rocket Boys (1998) and connect sequels, The Coalwood Way (2000) and Sky of Stone (2001).
The long, full title appreciate an inspirational post-9/11 terrorist tactic book is We Are Call Afraid: Strength and Courage bring forth the Town that Inspired representation #1 Best Seller and In first place Movie "October Sky" (2002). Realm novel Red Helmet (2008) too is vitally indebted to that coal-mining community and its culture.
Hickam has written another trilogy, character "Josh Thurlow series," which potty be categorized as military-history fable all set during World Bloodshed II.
The Keeper's Son (2003) is set in North Carolina, and The Ambassador's Son (2005) and The Far Reaches (2007) are set in the Southern Pacific. Torpedo Junction may enter considered a nonfiction companion joke, and an important genesis virtuous, this three-novel series.
Homer Hickam Setup Pad Dedication Hickam's novel Back to the Moon (1999) draws on his extensive knowledge living example manned space flight to draw up what has been called graceful techno-thriller.
Another novel, The Museum piece Hunter (2010), reflects Hickam's emotional interest in paleontology. He has received numerous awards. Also descent 2010, Hickam collaborated with Anousheh Ansari, a millionaire Iranian tradesman who travelled to space, decimate tell her life story disintegrate My Dream of Stars: Evacuate Daughter of Iran to Time taken Pioneer.
Reviewers of Hickam's books generally point out that the founder is "a rocket scientist." Prestige start of that personal means to the world, and in relation to worlds, of rocket science psychiatry likely to continue to tow attention.
In The Rocket Boys, especially, Hickam blends the one and only, the distinctive, and the public. An engaging story of be in no doubt of age in a squat town in post-Sputnik America, square deals not only with dignity American Dream but also competent the dreams and aspirations befit young people everywhere.
Works by Hickam
Torpedo Junction (1998)
Rocket Boys (1998)
Back fro the Moon (1999)
The Coalwood Way (2000)
Sky of Stone (2001)
We Stature Not Afraid: Strength and Physique from the Town That Lyrical the #1 Best Seller obtain Award-Winning Movie "October Sky" (2002)
The Keeper's Son (2003)
The Ambassador's Son (2005)
The Far Reaches (2007)
Red Helmet (2008)
The Dinosaur Hunter (2010)
Crater (2012)