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| The New Patterns in the Sky Myths and Legends of the Stars by Julius D. W. Staal 1988, 6x9", 300 pages 145 b&w figures Softcover $24.95 (0-939923-04-1) |
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The New Patterns in the Sky — a modern classic in the literature of sky lore — is a comprehensive collection of myths, legends, and historical notes about each of the 88 constellations and the sun, moon, Milky Way, and shooting stars. Star maps depict the constellations with outline figures. Written for the non-specialist and widely respected by professional planetarians, this book provides a substantive review of the familiar star lore of classical Southwest Asian and Mediterranean civilizations as well as that of ancient China, South Asia, and traditional societies of northern Eurasia, North and South America, the Pacific Islands, and Australasia. This is one of the must-have books that should be in the library of every enthusiast of mankind’s enchantment with the night sky.
Click here to see sample pages (Table of Contents, Preface, Introduction, sample constellation) ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julius D. W. Staal was born in Batavia, Netherlands East Indies, in 1917 and began his work in planetariums in The Hague, Netherlands. He left the Netherlands during World War II, became a British citizen, worked in the London Planetarium, and was accepted as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, London. In 1960, he joined the staff of the Planetarium of Witswatersrand and the faculty of the University of Rhodesia. Subsequent travels took him back to England, then to the United States, where he open planetariums in New Orleans, Louisiana; Atlanta, Georgia; and Decatur, Georgia. He passed away in July, 1986. REVIEWS
"Interest in constellations and their lore has enjoyed a growing vogue. . . .Yet, there remains a need for quality popular works, ones that are comprehensive and well balanced. The New Patterns in the Sky fills this need admirably. . . . Looking at the current [edition] of The New Patterns in the Sky, I can appreciate what a major effort it was; to cover the subject comprehensively would require a multivolume work. But Staal chose his samplings well, from the familiar to the exotic. Neat and accurate star maps depict the constellations with outline figures." (George Lovi, Sky and Telescope, January 1989)
"The narrative is lively; the book most readable. The illustrations are the best this reviewer has seen for showing the novice the very perspective he will have from earth." (The Classical Outlook, December-January, 1988-1989)
"This is the best book now available on this material and well worth owning." (The Griffith Observer, 1989)
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