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Posted by: monitorlizard Jun 21 2007, 02:57 AM

Just noticed on the U.S. Amazon.com website that Philip Stooke's soon-to-be-published book is now available for pre-order, with a release date of December 31, 2007:

The International Atlas of Lunar Exploration (400 pages, Cambridge University Press)

Book Description: Bringing together a wealth of information from many sources, including some material never before published, this atlas is a comprehensive reference on lunar exploration. It tells the story of every spacecraft mission to the moon since the dawn of the space age, illustrating each account with a unique combination of maps and annotated photographs. Many of the illustrations were created especially for this atlas, including panoramic photographs from every lunar mission. The missions are listed in chronological order, providing readers with an easy to follow history of lunar missions. Special attention has been given to describing the processes involoved in choosing landing sites for Apollo and its precursors. The atlas also includes missions that were planned but never flown, before looking ahead to future missions as the world's space agencies prepare for a new phase of lunar exploration.

The price is sufficiently hefty that I'm convinced each copy comes with a genuine moon rock.
Actually, this appears to be something really special compared to other books on the subject.

If Dr. Stooke is reading this, I have a question. It looks like this may be an oversized book. Do you know the dimensions?

Posted by: stevesliva Jun 21 2007, 04:12 AM

Noticed it was from the Cambridge U. Press... it's merely 95 pounds on amazon.co.uk. Cursed weak dollar.

I *love* atlases.

Posted by: elakdawalla Jun 21 2007, 04:38 AM

Ooh...Cambridge University Press? That means I should get my very own copy, um I mean review copy, for free -- except that I'll have to fight my editor for it...

Guess that means I'd better write a review though!

--Emily

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Jun 21 2007, 04:47 AM

Hopefully Phil will be out on the West Coast sometime where I can get my copy signed. Phil? I'll buy a second copy for my kids' school library if you come visit us. I'll even drive to LA or San Francisco.

Posted by: David S. Jun 21 2007, 08:29 AM

This will definitely look nice in my library !

Posted by: Ian R Jun 21 2007, 10:08 AM

As the President of the International Philip Stooke Fanclub, can I be expecting a free copy Phil?

Posted by: remcook Jun 21 2007, 10:12 AM

seems a pretty essential book to me, especially since I wasn't born yet when most of that stuff was taken I guess I have to start saving up...

Posted by: climber Jun 21 2007, 11:38 AM

I'll surely (invo)loved to have Phil's book.
I'm glad this one is finished up! Phyl can now fully concentrate on "Atlas of Mars Exploration"

Posted by: remcook Jun 21 2007, 12:29 PM

from the CUP website:

Size: 276 x 219 mm

Posted by: um3k Jun 22 2007, 01:34 PM

Yargh! That thing costs an arm and a leg! I don't have either that I can afford spare, so I think I'll wait until either the price comes down, or I grow extra appendages. Unless I can convince my parents to buy it for me...

Posted by: tty Jun 22 2007, 05:53 PM

um3k, keep an eye on the used-book market (e. g. bookfinder.com). Often review copies become available quite quickly.

tty

Posted by: lyford Jun 22 2007, 11:17 PM

Amazon has it for http://www.amazon.com/International-Atlas-Lunar-Exploration/dp/052181930X/ref=sr_1_1/002-2041832-8675222?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182553826&sr=8-1....

For just under double that I could fly Phil out from Ontario to San Diego to sign it....!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 23 2007, 09:56 AM

People of Earth, I'm back from my vacation in the UK... to be greeted by this. Well, yes, it's expensive, but don't worry. In just a few weeks it will be in the discount bin.

I put a bit more about it here:

http://publish.uwo.ca/~pjstooke/atlas.htm

I am spending this year on a high resolution photomosaic of Eros. But I have three other projects gradually building up:

1. Atlas of Venus and Mercury exploration - expected about 2010
2. Atlas of Mars exploration - expected about 2014
3. moon vol. 2 - about 2018

Phil

Posted by: Stu Jun 23 2007, 10:31 AM

Congratulations on a fine achievement Phil. I know what a buzz (and relief!) it is to finally see a book you've been working on for ages sitting on the shelves.

Hope you enjoyed your hol over here in the UK.

Posted by: lyford Jun 23 2007, 04:10 PM

Phil -

Please do not misconstrue the paucity of my pocketbook as reflecting the depth of my desire... Kudos to you for creating and releasing such a feast of imagery and information!

Though I am curious as to the December 31st release date.... is that a common publishing day?

And are you planning to come to the west coast? Mebbe ElkGroveDan and I can coordinate a California signing tour....

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 23 2007, 04:46 PM

I think Dec. 31 is just a placeholder while we wait for a spcific day. Actually, Cambridge and I planned years ago for Oct. 4, but we might be a bit late. November, maybe.

Phil

Posted by: lyford Jun 23 2007, 05:01 PM

Interesting - I thought it may have been the publishing equivalent of a movie being released in December to make the Academy Awards for that year.

And thanks for the teaser link - great maps and illustrations. But one question - why did you make all the craters look like domes?

That Lunakhod map makes me yearn for another lunar rover program.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Jun 23 2007, 09:26 PM

Phil Stooke's California book signing agenda

Mon: Fly to San Diego
Tues: Drive to Carlsbad, sign Lyford's book
Wed: Eight hour drive to Sacramento
Thurs: Sign Elk Grove Dan's book
Fri: Fly back to Toronto (or Detroit, your preference. If you choose Detroit we'll include the afternoon bus tour of the city)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 23 2007, 10:15 PM

I'm far too busy for a stupid trip like that. I'll sign Lyford's, fly home to catch up on my email, then come down again for Elk Grove's.

Phil

Posted by: Ian R Jun 24 2007, 02:03 AM

With regards to the difficulties posed by the logistics of getting so many books signed in so many parts of the globe, I think I have a cunning plan that could prove to be a viable solution.

"What?" I hear you ask. "Is it as cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University?"

Well, possibly.

How about Phil buys a pack of 'sticky labels', one of which he could sign every time someone here on UMSF wants a genuine Stooke signature in his or her copy of the atlas (all for a small fee, of course). Upon receipt of the signed label, they could stick it inside the book (or even on a body part of their own choosing).

This cunning scheme would save the ridiculous amount of money invested in sending such a hefty tome back and forth through the post.

Any thoughts, Phil?

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 24 2007, 06:04 PM

I preferred the idea of me being flown around the world to sign one book at a time. However, in the interests of reducing my carbon footprint, let me offer this special UMSF service:

Send me an adhesive label and a return-addressed envelope, and I'll return it signed.

Phil

c/o Department of Geography,
University of Western Ontario,
London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C2

Posted by: David Jun 24 2007, 09:31 PM

Maybe you should make them send you the receipt, so you know they actually bought it and aren't just autograph-hounding you! Or better yet, a picture of themselves holding the book...

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 29 2007, 10:08 PM

A little update...

Well, when I wrote this blasted tome I really crammed stuff in. I was given 400 pages (supposed to be a very strict limit), but I stuffed them to bursting point. Cambridge, bless their little cotton socks, could have told me to cut it, but they didn't, they have increased it to 440 pages so I can get everything in.

Right now I have the page proofs. Apart from looking for errors the main job is getting the hundreds of cross-references ('see page 305' etc.) set up properly. The pagination has changed so my original entries were printed as 'page XXX', and I have to add the correct number.

But in the process a problem arises. I have double-page spreads of panoramas for every landed mission with images. In my original pagination they are, indeed, double page spreads. But now I find 5 of them have become back-to-back pages. So I'm rearranging pages to fix that.

This publishing business is very interesting!

Phil

Posted by: As old as Voyager Jun 30 2007, 09:44 AM

Thanks Phil, signing those labels will be greatly appreciated!

Posted by: monitorlizard Jun 30 2007, 03:48 PM

Will the expansion of the book from 400 to 440 pages change the price from $175? Gotta start saving my pennies now.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 30 2007, 06:44 PM

"Will the expansion of the book from 400 to 440 pages change the price from $175? "

As far as I know that expansion was already taken into account.

Phil

Posted by: PhilCo126 Jul 5 2007, 04:46 PM

A must-have !!!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 31 2007, 02:06 PM

I've just sent in the last corrections. The book is supposed to be ready on 1st November, according to the Production Editor. At last! Now I can start work on the next one...

(PS don't blame me for the thread title!)

(new edit... Humble... yes, that's better)

Phil

Posted by: rlorenz Sep 1 2007, 01:18 PM

Rats, it's just under CUP's regular imprint. If it was part of the Planetary Sciences Series
I'd score a free copy too as a member of the editorial board....

oh the injustice.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Sep 1 2007, 04:06 PM

C'mon you cheapskates. Phil doesn't get any royalties from the free copies. Buy one for yourself and one for a school library. If money is tight just skip food and alcohol for a few weeks.

[EDIT] ....on second thought that's a bit of an unreasonable sacrifice to ask of anyone, so just skip the food.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Sep 1 2007, 04:40 PM

I was going to say "pay til your pockets bleed, you *&&^*%^" - but it sounds better coming from you! Anyway, how am I going to support my lavish lifestyle?

Phil

Posted by: nprev Sep 1 2007, 05:10 PM

Well, I'm gonna have to crack open the swear jar...but gotta swear a bit more first! Probably be able to swing it after Sept. 10th...

Posted by: Phil Stooke Sep 1 2007, 08:40 PM

Anyway, don't worry, people... in a few weeks it will be on the discount table.

Phil

Posted by: Paolo Sep 2 2007, 08:53 AM

Yep. We would loose most of the insight and clairvoyance of this forum without alcohol

Posted by: nprev Sep 2 2007, 11:57 PM

Aw, man...don't say that!!! You know that this work, this treasure you've produced, will at the VERY least inspire a school kid or two to look up, and out...even that minute fraction of what your book will do certainly justifies evey damn second of the hard work you put into it.

The first person to set foot on Mars may well be initially inspired by you; sure it's a crapshoot, but it's the best gamble I've ever heard of.

In so many words...you done good! My deepest congratulations, sir, and I hope that many other books will come; your work is honorable and important.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Sep 3 2007, 02:42 AM

Well, as they say in the classics (the Carry-On classics, that is) - "Stop muckin' about!"

Anyway, I'm now moving out into the rest of the inner solar system.

Phil

Posted by: PhilCo126 Oct 8 2007, 08:57 PM

Phil, especially this sentence fueled my curiosity: The atlas also includes missions that were planned but never flown, before looking ahead to future missions as the world's space agencies prepare for a new phase of lunar exploration.
Amazon still lists the book 'Not yet published'...
Two questions;
1. What is the size of the book?
2. When will it be available?

Thanks,
The other Phill

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 9 2007, 02:26 AM

Cambridge says November 1st in Europe, December 1st in North America (sorry) and February 2008 in Australia and maybe Asia (I forget the details).

The book is not an oversized atlas, it's A4 size, 440 pages (Cambridge has not updated their description of it to reflect that change from 400).

Phil

Posted by: PhilCo126 Oct 9 2007, 09:14 PM

Thanks for the update, I'll be the first to get a copie

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 10 2007, 01:47 AM

That bit about missions planned but never flown includes things like the Falmouth and Santa Cruz plans for lunar exploration, many plans for activities at sites Apollo didn't visit such as the Marius hills, and things like the Euromoon proposed landing sites, Lunar-A targets, Lunacorp and Applied Space Resources sites, and proposed lunar base and observatory sites.

Phil

Posted by: kenny Oct 11 2007, 09:23 AM

I'm very much looking forward to and it will certainly buy this treasure, despite the hefty £ $ Euro Yen etc

Publisher CUP has finally put indicative prices on the web site

http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521819305

Kenny

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 11 2007, 01:39 PM

"The book is not an oversized atlas, it's A4 size, 440 pages (Cambridge has not updated their description of it to reflect that change from 400).

Phil "

464 pages - I forgot about the intro section.

PS you want it cheaper - there's talk of a paperback edition.

Phil

Posted by: PhilCo126 Oct 11 2007, 04:54 PM

Such a book is worth every penny

Posted by: kenny Oct 29 2007, 10:13 AM

Cambridge UP has put back the European launch date into December

http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521819305

Posted by: PhilCo126 Nov 2 2007, 06:07 PM

Well I want a hardcover and ordered mine on Amazon.co.uk in order to get it under the christmas tree

Posted by: PDP8E Nov 2 2007, 07:55 PM

Dear Humble Author,

I look forward to reading and owning not only thisone, but the complete Philip Stooke Series.

Why not I just send you the $200 and you sign it and mail the book to me?

You do get a decent discount on your own book, right?

signed
Gentle Reader (PDP8e!)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 3 2007, 12:22 PM

Hi, PDP8E - I'm sorry, but I really don't have the time to get into being a distributor for my book! I'm too busy working on the next one.

(oh - and my new Eros photomosaic).

Phil

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 27 2007, 12:35 PM

Well, people, after all this time, I finally got my first copy of my book yesterday. As you might expect, the first thing I noticed was a typo! (capitalization in a figure caption). Oh well...

Phil

Posted by: djellison Nov 27 2007, 12:54 PM

Are you happy with the way it's come out generaly though - the quality of the figures etc?

Doug

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 27 2007, 01:15 PM

Yes, it looks great. The only issue I have a concern arises from a redistribution of figures relative to the text, from my original layout plan.

To explain, I should say Cambridge gave me 400 pages in the original contract. And I gave them 400 pages of text and illustrations. But I really crammed it in. They could have told me to trim it, but instead they opted to increase the number of pages so nothing was lost. That was very good of them, but it did involve some rearrangement.

My original layout had each mission or event treated like an encyclopedia article - a heading (date, mission name, country), and then all the text and illustrations. The next one didn't start until all the text and illustrations for the last one were finished. Result - the illustrations were right next to the relevant text. In the redesign, some illustrations are separated from the text they refer to (obviously still in order, but not right there). It's still good but a little more of a hassle when trying to refer back and forth between text and illustrations.

Anyway, it's very satisfying to hold a finished book in your hand for the first time.

Some UMSF colleagues get an acknowledgement for their advice over the last few years.

Phil

Posted by: djellison Nov 27 2007, 01:29 PM

Well - it's my Christmas present to me - I'm looking forward to it a LOT (and I'll be writing me a thank-you card as well)

Doug

Posted by: tedstryk Nov 27 2007, 02:44 PM

That is roughly equal to the $190 dollar American price to within a few dollars.

Posted by: PhilCo126 Nov 27 2007, 06:06 PM

Phil, great to hear the overall quality of the book came out 'perfect'...
Who got their book already and how was it ordered. I have pre-ordered on Amazon.co.uk but nothing yet here

Posted by: As old as Voyager Nov 27 2007, 06:08 PM

Got my copy today and was amazed at just how much information and how many images are packed into it!

It's absolutely fascinating and full of images I've never seen before. Just flicking through and looking at the pics will devour my entire evening!

Congratulations Phil, you've done yourself proud

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 27 2007, 06:25 PM

Thanks. I'm surprised that copies are appearing as quickly as this. But that's good, of course. I have set up a page on my website to accomodate corrections, if people have any to point out. I will eventually get around to adding them to a later edition.

Phil

Posted by: As old as Voyager Nov 27 2007, 08:26 PM

I think I may have beaten the rush as my copy came direct from the publishers for the purpose of reviewing

It's a safe bet it'll be a good review

Posted by: tedstryk Nov 27 2007, 09:09 PM

I have one on the way. I used the same tactic. Academia has its perks

Posted by: nprev Nov 29 2007, 01:13 AM

I almost hate to ask this, but could I have done the same thing before I graduated in Sept, or is this a benny reserved for profs and/or PhDs?

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 29 2007, 02:21 AM

It's not reserved for anybody, nprev, you just have to convince some reputable publication to accept a review of the book from you and see if they will arrange to get a free review copy for you. But undeniably, academics have a big advantage. After all, people believe everything we say, don't they? In fact, right now I am reviewing a book about the history of mapping North America.

Phil

Posted by: nprev Nov 29 2007, 02:42 AM

Thanks for the tip, Phil. Think I'd better pony up the cash instead, though; nobody would take me for an academic (a microbrewery, maybe, but not an academic!)

Posted by: tedstryk Nov 29 2007, 04:45 AM

Well, then I might be hitting you up for some beer.

In this case, I did pay for it - I felt bad about requesting a desk copy free of charge for such an expensive book when I have no intention of using it in the classroom - given our measures we are taking to reduce textbook costs, I would be up the creek for that!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 29 2007, 02:31 PM

Even I will not be using this as a textbook!

Hmm, wait a minute - I have 150 people in 136b next term... at that rate I could retire in... oops, I'm running out of fingers to count on.

Phil

Posted by: tedstryk Nov 29 2007, 03:05 PM

150 people? In one class? Wow.

Posted by: PhilCo126 Dec 1 2007, 04:57 PM

Just got an e-mail from Amazon.co.uk saying the book won't arrive before 25th December 2007. I guess they just see Christmas as an important milestone Anyway I hope to get it before the end of the year... and of course I'm already looking forward to PhilStooke's next book: Atlas of Mercury & Venus exploration

Posted by: tedstryk Dec 13 2007, 09:48 PM

Phil, I hate to tell you, but they are going to have to halt the release. There is a reference to folks with "seemingly boundless knowledge" and my name is one of the ones listed. Surely this is a mere oversight, or do I have you fooled ?

Posted by: Phil Stooke Dec 14 2007, 01:12 AM

Oops, my mistake, Ted. Thanks for pointing it out. I have a corrections page on my website - I'll fix it on there.

Phil

Posted by: kenny Dec 27 2007, 05:21 PM

I have my review copy now, and Phil's magnum opus is truly excellent and extraordinarily detailed - every landing site and crash site mapped in detail, plus the sequences of landing site selection and mission planning all documented with maps and photographs. All unmanned missions such as the Lunokhod traverses, Surveyor sites, and orbiter impact sites are mapped and discussed. Mysteries such as "where is Luna 9?" are systematically addressed, if not always answerable. Apollo traverses actually undertaken are compared with those planned. When future lunar explorers stumble across unidentifiable wreckage of any sort, this is where they will find the answer as to what it is.

Some of Phil's conundrums will certainly be solved by LRO, but for the most part this work will not be superseded for a long time.

Posted by: djellison Dec 27 2007, 07:33 PM

It sounds like it's THE book you want with you when we start getting LRO imagery of spacecraft on the deck.

Doug

Posted by: Phil Stooke Dec 29 2007, 07:56 AM

You didn't get your Christmas present in time for the big day, Doug?

Kenny forgot to mention that he had picked up (at least) one silly mistake in the book. I will be keeping a list of all corrections on a page of my website as they are brought to my attention. There is talk of a paperback edition in a couple of years - it might give me a chance to incorporate some corrections.

http://publish.uwo.ca/~pjstooke/corrections.htm

Phil

Posted by: PhilCo126 Dec 29 2007, 10:13 AM

I already e-mailed Phil Stooke but wanted the rest of UMSF to know that Amazon.co.uk is shipping the book... (got mine on 22nd Dec)

Posted by: djellison Dec 30 2007, 04:23 PM

I always wait till after Christmas before buying me my own Christmas present - so I'll be placing my order probably this week

Doug

Posted by: Bernard Jan 7 2008, 08:43 PM

I commanded it today on amazon.

I think this is the book i wanted since i began interested by the moon, during Apollo 8...

Thank you Phil for ending this long wait.

Posted by: um3k Jan 15 2008, 03:19 PM

I'll get this book sooner or later. Either when the price goes down or my budget goes up. I've never spent more than $100 on anything in my life. Then again, I'm 18 and unemployed.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jan 15 2008, 05:05 PM

Don't worry, the price is going down all the time! Keep checking Amazon and other book sites and you'll see lower prices already.

Phil

Posted by: kenny Jan 25 2008, 04:26 PM

My review of Phil's book is in the current (26 Jan 08) issue of New Scientist mag (GB), page 54. I'm afraid it's miniscule, as they have limited word space for these things...

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg19726402.200-review-ithe-international-atlas-of-lunar-explorationi-by-philip-j-stooke.html

Kenny

Posted by: As old as Voyager Feb 13 2008, 06:56 PM

Look out for the March 2008 issue of UK magazine Astronomy Now (Out any day now).

I've reviewed The International Atlas of Lunar Exploration and also interviewed the humble superstar himself!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Feb 13 2008, 07:26 PM

That was you??? I'll be darned.

Phil

Posted by: As old as Voyager Feb 13 2008, 08:25 PM

It's funny but I bet a lot of people on UMSF have had contact with other members and never realised it!

I'll try and send you a copy of the relevant page Phil.

Posted by: djellison Feb 13 2008, 10:59 PM

My copy is now on it's way, along with Planetary Landers and Entry Probed

Doug

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Feb 13 2008, 11:11 PM

...and if you don't do something about that dog of yours as I've warned before, I'm going to stop delivering your mail altogether.

Posted by: nprev Feb 14 2008, 04:11 AM

Um...yeah, sorry about that mousetrap in my mailbox last week as well, Dan; thought the other guy was covering your route....

Posted by: PhilCo126 Mar 5 2008, 06:56 PM

There's a book review of this book ( " The International Atlas of Lunar Exploration " by Philip Stooke ) written by Peter Grego in the monthly magazine The Sky At Night March 2008 page 103. Meanwhile the book is available for £ 79.99, was £ 95.00 a few weeks ago)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Mar 26 2008, 12:04 AM

I am keeping a list of corrections, as they are drawn to my attention or I find them myself. You can check them out here:

http://publish.uwo.ca/~pjstooke/corrections.htm

Please let me know if you find anything else.

Phil

Posted by: PhilCo126 Apr 1 2008, 04:57 PM

There's another book review of this book ( " The International Atlas of Lunar Exploration " by Philip Stooke ) written by Clive Simpson in the monthly magazine Spaceflight April 2008 page 156, priced £ 95.00 ...