This is a modern classic in the literature of sky lore -- 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 civilisations 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.
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"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
"This is the best book now available on this material and well worth owning." -- The Griffith Observer, 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
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
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting and informational,
By A Customer
This review is from: The New Patterns in the Sky: Myths and Legends of the Stars (Paperback)
The book provides a good background on the myths relating to the constellations. Especially interesting is the coverage of the Chinese astronomy. However, I kept wishing there was just a little bit more information...
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
includes star lore from around the world,
This review is from: The New Patterns in the Sky: Myths and Legends of the Stars (Paperback)
Staal's death in 1986 resulted in this book being published posthumously. His original 1961 book was focused on constellations visible from London, but he was revising it to provide more complete coverage of all 88 official constellations and to include bits of the star lore he collected from all parts of the world.
The book is divided into five major chapters, four for the seasons of the year and one to cover the constellations near the celestial poles. Each chapter is then subdivided into individual constellation sections. Stall included plenty of descriptive text as well as sketches of the individual asterisms being described. The appendices include a few star maps that show the relation of each constellation and asterism to the rest of the sky. Although he does reference specific stars by their scientific names, the focus of the book is oriented towards providing the reader with information about the myths and legends associated with each constellation. Anyone interested in getting a good overview of star lore from the various cultures around the world will appreciate this book. Don Childrey, author of "STAR TRAILS - Navajo, A Different Way To Look At The Night Sky"
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A nice starting point,
By
This review is from: New Patterns in the Sky: Myths and Legends of the Stars (Hardcover)
Those looking for a good reference to start learning about star stories and legends will find a good tool in this book.
What I liked more was the different cultures kept in mind while narrating a story. Often, we see that only Greek Mythology is considered; this book keeps an eye to the other corners of the ancient world. Perfect for those involved in astronomical education and public outreach
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