I AM EAGLE

From the extensive interviewing, in Russia, by Wilfred Burchett and Anthony Purdy, British Journalists, of Cosmonaut Major Titov and many others, Caldin has reworked the material into the story of the Russian who made the ""first journey of the Age of Space"". Here is Titov's childhood and life in Siberia, the evidences of his tenacity, even obstinacy, that made possible his endurance of the training to come, his early dedication to flying, and the path that led to an Air Force pilot's commission and the chance to be a candidate for a new air program. With a wife who was against flying and a temper that he had to learn to control, the testing period was difficult; conditioning and training accelerated, Titov made the grade all the way and found a new love in the Vostok which was to be their ship. Standby for Gagarin, Titov sweated out his classmate's flight but knew real satisfaction when he was chosen for the 17 circuit ""voyage"" in Vostok II, with experimental manual controls. His record of his 25 hour experience, with his mounting excitement over colors, darkness and light, the earth's appearance, with his meticulous attention to all instructions, with his sure knowledge of success, is impressive to read -- and in some contrast to Glenn accounts to date. This material on the Russian road to space, the training course, the portrait of the Chief Constructor, and of the Vostoks, should be of immediate interest because of our recent achievements, with unmistakable comparisons. Not only for the space-minded but for those concerned with international affairs.