103 replies to this topic

[SNH]

I placed my order last Saturday and today the tracking on the package says it should arrive tomorrow. I'm excited!!

 

Scott H.

[BrentKnight]

Mine has been 10 miles down the road since 6am.  Said it was out for delivery, but probably tomorrow...

[Knasal]

Ordered! 

Mine arrived the other day. I read the “Acknowledgments” section and there’s some cool stuff in it about series advances since the last volume.

 

Three things stuck out:

 

1) An AAS employee “handled the acquisition of of permissions for figures from journal articles”  (described as a Herculean task)

2) An AAS Sky Publishing employee “granted permission to use Sky and Telescope’s proprietary Star chart software to produce Star charts” for the series.

3) Husband Jeff’s tribute to Alex for “inching closer and closer to coauthor status”!

Very cool, as was a dedication to James Kaler.

 

The color in the illustrations and figures makes a big difference for me (this has been in place for some time).

 

Still worth the price for me. 

Kevin

 

EDIT - corrected name in Dedication reference above from Keeler to Kaler. Sorry folks, my error.

Edited by Knasal, 09 December 2023 - 04:51 PM.

[SNH]

Mine arrived the other day. I read the “Acknowledgments” section and there’s some cool stuff in it about series advances since the last volume.

 

Three things stuck out:

 

1) An AAS employee “handled the acquisition of of permissions for figures from journal articles”  (described as a Herculean task)

2) An AAS Sky Publishing employee “granted permission to use Sky and Telescope’s proprietary Star chart software to produce Star charts” for the series.

3) Husband Jeff’s tribute to Alex for “inching closer and closer to coauthor status”!

Very cool, as was a dedication to James Keeler.

 

The color in the illustrations and figures makes a big difference for me (this has been in place for some time).

 

Still worth the price for me. 

Kevin

Oh, that's awesome to hear that he included a dedication to James B. Kaler. Amateur astronomers really do owe him for all the work he did in teaching us about all the different kinds of stars that are visible to us.

[obrazell]

Note there is a difference between James Kaler and James Keeler the pioneer photographer at Lick. Without seeing the volume I can't comment on which is meant..

[yuzameh]

Note there is a difference between James Kaler and James Keeler the pioneer photographer at Lick. Without seeing the volume I can't comment on which is meant..

Unless Keeler also died recently, context suggests a currently published book is more likely to be dedicated to Kaler.

[awitze]

Unless Keeler also died recently, context suggests a currently published book is more likely to be dedicated to Kaler.

It's Kaler! 

[SNH]

Got mine today and having the color images sure does add a lot!

 

[SNH]

[SNH]

[Knasal]

It's Kaler! 

My error, sorry for the confusion.

[BrentKnight]

Mine was out for delivery again, but now it's back at the post office saying processing at USPS facility.  It's going to be sitting there for two more days.  Gotta love the post office...

[SandyHouTex]

Mine was out for delivery again, but now it's back at the post office saying processing at USPS facility.  It's going to be sitting there for two more days.  Gotta love the post office...

USPS is a shadow of its former self.

[jonbosley]

USPS is a shadow of its former self.

Not to hijack the initial post, I just sold an item in the classifieds who lives just over an hr up the road. I am in central Texas, It got delayed in Porto Rico! It did make it eventually. 

[BrentKnight]

Not to hijack the initial post, I just sold an item in the classifieds who lives just over an hr up the road. I am in central Texas, It got delayed in Porto Rico! It did make it eventually. 

I still have some faint hope then...

[desertstars]

A little slow to leap upon the bandwagon (life has been... interesting of late) but I have finally place an order for Vol. 10.

[Pat Rochford]

Mine was out for delivery again, but now it's back at the post office saying processing at USPS facility.  It's going to be sitting there for two more days.  Gotta love the post office...

Be patient Brent.  It takes a few days to read it (i.e. processing at facility), re-wrap it to look like it's never been opened and then send it on its way. 

[BwanaBob]

Mine is due today - 8 days after ordering.  How can the fullfillers justify $16 for an 8 day delivery of a book that weighs - what, 1-2lbs?.  It better be well wrapped/cushioned.

[BrentKnight]

Mir

 

Be patient Brent.  It takes a few days to read it (i.e. processing at facility), re-wrap it to look like it's never been opened and then send it on its way. 

Miracles do happen.  Mine arrived yesterday.  I love the new more flexible paper they used.  I always felt I was going to crease the spine on these books, but not with this one.

[desertstars]

I love the new more flexible paper they used.  I always felt I was going to crease the spine on these books, but not with this one.

I've experienced the same concern, so this is welcome news.

[StanH]

My copy along with A Dictionary of Modern Star Names came in yesterday after tracking said it was to be here on December 8 then changed to December 9.  Unfortunately, the two books were loose in packaging that was too long with without any wrapping.  Both sustained significant damage to the top outside corner with the corner of the front cover for Annals essentially crushed.  Damage goes into several pages in that corner looking like dog ears.  For Dictionary the outside bottom corner is bent all the way through.  I emailed Shop at Sky yesterday, but only got an automated or form letter email about two minutes after I sent it.  There was nothing today.  I emailed another address after getting home from work today.  Hopefully, tomorrow they will respond.

 

On the other hand, today, I got in my proof copy of my reworked first volume on supernovae images and photometry which I first had self-published in 2012, but this past year did a significant rewrite.  Lulu.com packaged it well and it came out perfect.  Why can't Shop at Sky do the same?

[SNH]

My copy along with A Dictionary of Modern Star Names came in yesterday after tracking said it was to be here on December 8 then changed to December 9.  Unfortunately, the two books were loose in packaging that was too long with without any wrapping.  Both sustained significant damage to the top outside corner with the corner of the front cover for Annals essentially crushed.  Damage goes into several pages in that corner looking like dog ears.  For Dictionary the outside bottom corner is bent all the way through.  I emailed Shop at Sky yesterday, but only got an automated or form letter email about two minutes after I sent it.  There was nothing today.  I emailed another address after getting home from work today.  Hopefully, tomorrow they will respond.

 

On the other hand, today, I got in my proof copy of my reworked first volume on supernovae images and photometry which I first had self-published in 2012, but this past year did a significant rewrite.  Lulu.com packaged it well and it came out perfect.  Why can't Shop at Sky do the same?

For a book that costs the reader about $60, you'd really expect better. And you've got a current direct comparison, to boot! I seem to be getting lucky...either that or it's because I'm usually buying a stack of back issues with my article in it.

 

Scott H.

[turtle86]

My copy along with A Dictionary of Modern Star Names came in yesterday after tracking said it was to be here on December 8 then changed to December 9.  Unfortunately, the two books were loose in packaging that was too long with without any wrapping.  Both sustained significant damage to the top outside corner with the corner of the front cover for Annals essentially crushed.  Damage goes into several pages in that corner looking like dog ears.  For Dictionary the outside bottom corner is bent all the way through.  I emailed Shop at Sky yesterday, but only got an automated or form letter email about two minutes after I sent it.  There was nothing today.  I emailed another address after getting home from work today.  Hopefully, tomorrow they will respond.

 

On the other hand, today, I got in my proof copy of my reworked first volume on supernovae images and photometry which I first had self-published in 2012, but this past year did a significant rewrite.  Lulu.com packaged it well and it came out perfect.  Why can't Shop at Sky do the same?

 

Shop at Sky really needs to get someone else to handle customer fulfillment.  The packaging is terrible (and expensive!) and customer service is almost impossible to reach when there's a problem.  

[Foc]

For my Vol 9 of Annals, it was the larger hardback Night Sky Observers Guide that shielded that volume from the results of the insufficient packing, NSOG taking a minor ding in one corner in its valiant defense.  Since there does not seem to be any disclosures in Vol 10 that I urgently need, I may wait until the volume dribbles out to my 'local' astro shop and obtain it from them.

[BwanaBob]

Mine is due today - 8 days after ordering.  How can the fullfillers justify $16 for an 8 day delivery of a book that weighs - what, 1-2lbs?.  It better be well wrapped/cushioned.

I'll be fair.  It was well wrapped and cushioned.  Still, not enough to justify $16.