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Re: 2nd ed., Rocks from Space

Joel Schiff schrieb:

> >While on the subject, does anyone already have the 2nd edition, and
> can
> >they tell us if there's a whole lot different than the excellent 1st
> >edition?  I know there's supposed to be a new section on thin
> >sections...
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Joseph
>
> We hope to have a complete review of Rocks From Space II in our May
> issue. A
> copy is already in the air to us. Since I wrote the review of RFS I in
> our
> Feb '95 issue, I will also do this one as well and compare the two.
> Yes,
> there is a whole new section on thin sections among other things.
>
> Joel Schiff - Editor - METEORITE! magazine

   A few words on excellence:

(1) In the March 1995 Sky&Tel magazine (p.56) U.B. Marvin reviewed RFS
I.
Among other things she stated:
‘Written in a relaxed, anecdotal style that conveys a sense of
excitement throughout,
Rocks from Space is aimed at general readers, yet its clear, concise
discussions of
scientific topics will make it very useful to teachers and students in
high school and
undergraduate college...Norton introduces the reader to all the
essential topics in
meteoritics... meteorite compositions (complete with ternary
diagrams)... This book
successfully combines scientific information rarely found outside
technical sources
with amusing anecdotes and how-to directions rarely found in technical
sources.
I recommend it to all readers...'

(2) In Meteoritics 29, 898-899 (1994) T.J. McCoy wrote about RFS I
(excerpts):
‘...Part II (What is a Meteorite?) is disappointing..., it is overly
simplistic and dated.
For example, the chemical classification of irons is ignored in favor of
the older
structural classification, which is more useful to collectors*. This
section misses
the target of introducing meteorites... Is this book worth buying? ...
While it does
not fully meet its goal of introducing nonscientists to meteorites, it
is a good read
and can be recommended by meteoriticists to the interested public...’
* pp. 216 + 225

Now we all know that both U.B. Marvin and T.J. McCoy are renowned
meteoriticists although their reviews express somewhat different views
on the book.

Lessons to be learned: Joseph will have to find out himself if he wants
to buy the
second edition. I, for my part, will for five reasons:
a) I’ve always enjoyed browsing RFS I - so RFS II will be just as
enjoyable
b) RFS II will be more complete
c) Honorable and distinguished ancestry: Heide’s booklet and R.W.
Bühler’s ‘Meteorite’
d) Over the years, RFS I (and II) will perhaps no longer be available on
the market
and many a collector would then like to have them. Here’s a good
comparison:
Lots of collectors probably have the Catalog of Meteorites, 4th ed.
(1985) but who’s
also got the 3rd edition (1966 + Suppl. 1977)? I do! And I am proud of
this
‘little treasure’ although its contents is virtually the same.
e) $24-$30 is not too steep for anyone’s budget (I hope)

Regards, Bernd
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