The Huffington Post today features my slideshow about SEALAB and the people who brought the daring undersea project to life. The slideshow will be archived on HuffPo’s Travel page, which may seem a little odd but, hey, the seabed is a destination, so . . .

Really nice review of SEALAB in this month’s Naval History magazine by Captain Don Walsh, a renowned U.S. Navy veteran, who says my book “combines the work of a diligent investigative reporter with that of a feature writer who loves a good sea story.” To read the complete review click here: SEALAB Review – Naval History.

My inaugural book event will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the lively Third Street Promenade Barnes & Noble store (at Third and Wilshire) in Santa Monica, Calif. I will read a bit, as per tradition, but also talk about the story behind the story of SEALAB, with the aid of audio and/or video clips. There will be time for a Q & A and of course for book buying and signing, too.

A complete listing of upcoming event dates and locations can now be found by clicking on the web site’s Events page.

Please “like” my Author Page on Facebook to receive all the latest news and information about SEALAB: www.facebook.com/BenHellwarth. It’s a public page, so you can view it even if you’re not on Facebook yourself.

In an op-ed in today’s New York Times, I explain some of the reasons for Sealab-style outposts, and why now may be the time to pursue them.

Had a great time today talking about SEALAB on ‘AirTalk’ with KPCC’s Larry Mantle. Of course I couldn’t help thinking afterward that I should have mentioned this or that – but, hey, that’s live radio! The audio link is here, for anyone who’d like to hear the segment, which runs about 20 minutes and includes a great clip of Astronaut/Aquanaut Scott Carpenter speaking by phone in his barely intelligible helium-spiked voice with President Lyndon Johnson. Many thanks to Larry and his fine crew at Southern California Public Radio.

I will be a guest on “AirTalk,” Larry Mantle’s long-running LA-based public radio show, from 11:30 a.m. to noon this coming Tuesday, Jan. 17, to talk about – what else? – SEALAB. Hope those of you in the Southern California area can tune in. If not, or if you live beyond the reach of the KPCC 89.3 FM signal, I believe a podcast will be available on the AirTalk web site. Wish me luck in my radio debut. . .At least I won’t have to fret if having a bad hair day.
http://www.scpr.org/about/people/staff/larry-mantle/

Thanks to Library Journal for the great review: “…As Sealab labored to develop stations deeper underwater, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Edwin Link were building their own habitats in competition. The physiological effects of deep-sea diving, the gradual improvement in equipment, the tragic deaths of several of the aquanauts, and the personalities of all involved are vividly depicted. Although Sealab was discontinued in 1970, the Navy, offshore oil companies, and the diving industry continued to reap many benefits from its legacy. VERDICT Although remotely operated vehicles have replaced manned undersea habitats, this account will be of great interest to divers, Navy buffs, submarine fans, and those interested in the exploration of both inner and outer space.” [See Prepub Alert, 8/1/11.]—Judith B. Barnett, Univ. of Rhode Island Lib., Kingston. http://bit.ly/qc88HN

I’ve got to hand it to the New York Post for being fast out of the gate with a write-up about SEALAB and for recommending it today in the paper’s “Required reading” section. Thanks to the Post’s Susannah Cahalan for talking with me about my book – and she’s got quite a book in the works herself, about her own bizarre and frightening medical odyssey, so stay tuned for that. Sounds like “Required reading” to me.