The Earth, of course, is much too close to the moon, or vice-versa, I’m not sure which. And both are much nearer to the sun, unless it is in the process of exploding in which case the Mercurians and Venusians have already had it. The Earth is 93 million miles or so from the sun and, as everyone knows, of course, the moon is exactly one helvetica away from the Earth, roughly 238,857 miles.

Still, it does well to set up the whole vast loneliness of space thing, which is a bit much for a kids book written in the midst of the space race. Figure this, between the book’s first printing, 1965, and this edition, 1970, Americans had already witnessed two landings and were beginning to scan the dial to see what else was on TV.

Feelings of inadequacy wash over young Werner.

Seriously, though, is this guy styling or what? Presumably they edited out the smoke or cocktail in his right hand. The left hand in pocket denotes casual authority. He’s hip, he’s a scientist and isn’t about to let the Freudian implications of his research blow his cool. Also, you can slice cheese with the crease in those pants.

Its hard not to love The Question and Answer Book of Space. For one thing, while it was obviously written for the kids of 1965 — this is the 1970 edition — it really doesn’t talk down to them. Instead its written in plain, confident English. No math, no orbital mechanics, but straight answers to your pervasive space questions. Except the poop thing, for that you’d need to wait another 45 years for Mary Roach to publish on the topic.

Just look at the hangdog astronaut on the cover. Its no Chesley Bonestell, but it really ain’t bad.

Little Buzz hated getting picked last for stickball, a fate that weighed heavily upon him on the way back to base.

More to come.