I Thought Book Sales Were Supposed to Skyrocket, Not Booksellers

This weekend, Chuck Robinson will become the first bookstore owner sent into space when he takes a zero-gravity flight sponsored by Quirk Books, the publisher of The Space Tourist’s Handbook. Robinson (pictured here with his wife, Dee, at their Bellingham, Washington, store) won a seat on the flight after learning about the contest—aimed exclusively at booksellers—from the online newsletter Shelf Awareness. A separate contest was held for the general public, so he’ll be joined by USC economist Julian Jamison and his wife. (Jamison found out about the contest after spotting the Handbook in a bookstore, and sent in an entry every night for months.) The flight is co-sponsored by Space Adventures, the firm owned by Handbook co-author Eric Anderson; in approximately ninety minutes, the passengers will experience eight to twelve thirty-second bursts of zero- and low-gravity conditions at altitudes between 24,000 and 34,000 feet.