Customer Reviews

Star Lore: Myths, Legends, and Facts (Dover Books on Astronomy)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Excellent book for midnight stargazers and serious astrologers alike.Eventhough,this book is a reprint of the 1898 edition,it's an amazing astronomic masterpiece.I think the original type-set,images and print-plates are the best.The illustrations and photographs add scope and depth to the histories of the constellation origins.The one thing a didn't like about the book was that there were no annotations or footnotes listed.I felt that Olcott's writing was credible,yet the footnotes would have given the book vindication from doubt.The bibliograghy has a complete listing of authors discussed ,but no page numbers or chapters listed.Quite extensive stellar literary and star poetic quotations provided,that may have been overlooked by fellow enthusiasts of Shakespeare,Shelley ,Ovid and others.All the proto countries of the classical world had some fable tale to recount the origins of the star groups and constellation clusters.Whether they be animals,mythic or real,and that of the supreme gods or lesser deities.These bucolic narrations were hand-down through the generations and are still a source of cosmic inspiration today.Not only for the great sculptural artists of ancient Greece and the Renaissance,yet for countless global scientists of modernity.And this celestial classic will continue to inspire and captivate everyone to explore the vast vaults of the firmament.

This is not a casual read. Largely an amalgamation of excerpts and references to other works, at times "Star Lore" reads more like a detailed notebook to a classroom lecture than a source in it's own right. It seems a fine place to start researching your dissertation on the origins of astronomical nomenclature. If you desire a more anecdotal read on the subject, look elsewhere.

Star Lore of All Ages is beyond fascinating-it is the Alpha and Omega!
A fanatical reader, I have found no better book on Constellation history. The sage Olcott's information is brilliantly, exhaustively presented. One's neurons gratefully sparkle, like The Perseids on a moonless night! Star Lore's old-fashioned illustrations are copious, illuminating and revelatory. Get this book! It should be a revered reference in every passionate star-gazer's library. I plan to buy everything the erudite Olcott has written.

For those who like a combination of history, mythology, and amateur astronomy observing, this book is a must-have. The origin of each constellation grouping--from a variety of different cultures--and its stars is discussed in detail. At the end of each chapter, Olcott makes note of particularly beautiful deep-sky objects that the constellation contains. The illustrations and maps are superb. Bear in mind that Dover has reprinted a volume that first appeared in 1911. That said, the quality is excellent and there are several useful appendixes at the back.

I'm sorry to be so critical, but this book was such a disappointment. Starting w/the cover and everything else: the weight of the paper, the font of the print, the quality of the images, etc.
I had such high expectations and I was quite surprised someone would produce such a dismal "reproduction". I returned the book.