Customer Reviews

Out There: The In-Depth Story of the Astronaut Love Triangle Case that Shocked America

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As much as I like Diane Fanning and her earlier books this was a disappointment as was "Baby Be Mine". There were few if any interviews with family, friends, the victim, William Oefelein and co-workers, and certainly not with Lisa Nowak. There could not be because the book was written prior to courtroom proceedings. It appears that the author did extensive research on NASA and it strengths and weaknesses but that is not the reason I bought the book. I buy true crime for the backstory about the victim and the accused. That information can only be obtained after the trial is over. Unfortunatly this book was repetitive in its continuing explanations of the interworkings of NASA. I got it the first time it was explained, I didn't need it repeated more than once. I hope that the author will return to her excellent style as demostrated in "Through the Window".

I slogged through this book at such a slow pace because it is one of the most boring pieces of "true crime" that I've read. If I wanted to read a book on the space program, I would have gotten a book on the space program. This book concentrates more on NASA and the shuttle/astronaut experience than it does the human side of the story. I would not suggest it to anyone who wants to know what really happened. But, if you're interested in the space program, this book is for you.

Shame on you Diane Fanning for writing such a boring and not at all researched book.
I use to look forward to diane fanning book's and I am really disapointed. Do not waste your money on this book.
Diane needs to do more research and get back to writing a good book like her past books.

Texas resident, Diane Fanning, has written a surprisingly good true crime book that could have been written too quickly or without much thought. Since Diane lives in Texas, she has a better advantage and knows her subject. She provides a good background on the NASA industry. She also writes about recent crimes like Andrea Yates murdering her five children (her husband worked at NASA) and Clara Harris (who killed her husband by driving over him after finding him with his mistress) were also from the neighborhood. Lisa Caputo Nowak had lived her life's dream of going to space. She married Rich Nowak and had their three children. She fell in love with another astronaut and had an extramarital affair. When that relationship ended to her dismay, Lisa did the unthinkable. She drove from Texas to Florida to confront Colleen Shipman, the woman who stole her lover away from her. Fortunately she is alive and well but scarred psychologically by her unwelcome confrontation with Lisa. Fanning writes about Challenger and Columbia disasters with clarity. She also writes about the NASA family and how hard it is to become a female astronaut. For the diaper jokes which I still don't get, Lisa becomes a tragic figure of a woman who was so in love that she risked her career and reputation as an intelligent, hard-working astronaut for the sake of love. Yes, this book is not normally the true crime but it's still a sad reminder of how brilliant people like Lisa Nowak can lose their minds even for a brief moment. Fanning also writes that the NASA and the space program might end it's man-filled missions in 2010 but I hope not because becoming an astronaut is something rare and wonderful. there are people who were on Challenger and Columbia who died for it.

Fanning is one of my favorite true crime authors, and it pains me to give only 2 stars, but that's al this deserves.

When I spend my money on a book labeled TRUE CRIME, Iexpect just that. This is more SCI-FI/HISTORY. I don't LIKE sci-fi or history!

If you want to learn the steps to take to be an astronaut, or you want a complete history of every manned space fligh, and every delay, from take-off to landing, since the cold war...including every rip, tear, errant bird or bird dropping that caused a problem, then buy the book.

But if that bores or you would skip those pages, or you want an actual true crime book, save your money & read about the case at wikipedia or google it.

It seems that Diane Fanning had no access to any of the main actors when she wrote this book. There are no interviews, quotes, etc. from the people who could have given us the real inside story. I agree with the other reviewers -- this is a textbook about the space program, not a true crime book about the Lisa Womak love triangle and ensuing crimes.