BOOK OF THE MONTH

We are thrilled that BBC Sky at Night magazine listed New Stars For Old as book of the month in their November issue (#102).


"New Stars For Old brings the history of astronomy to life through a series of 20 highly readable short stories, each of which mixes facts with a good dose of fiction to introduce us to some of the important characters involved. From the Earth-centred theories of Aristotle and Ptolemy through to the visionary genius of Isaac Newton, the basic theme of the book is to outline the often turbulent path taken in the growth and development of the way we think about the Universe.

The chapters are a mixture of letters, narrative accounts and diary entries, which collectively remind us that the figures involved are not simply names drawn from textbooks, but were people in their own right.

The text focuses throughout on the interplay between astronomy, astrology and science, as well as offering an insight into the influences of religion and political culture on the way astronomers worked. Other characters, both fictional and real, are brought into the stories. The ‘Notes’ sections that follow each chapter inform us off which characters are real and which are imaginary, and provide historical background to the science.

In one of the tales, Johannes Kepler remarks that he followed “where (Tycho) left off, and he picked up from Copernicus who followed Regiomontanus, who relied on Peurbach and all the way back to Ptolemy, no, further, to Callipus and Aristotle, to Eudoxus, to un-named Babylonians.” New Stars For Old tells this story very well and brings history to life in an entertaining and informative way."

5 stars (Outstanding)

Brian Jones
Sky at Night Magazine

Sky at Night magazine is available online and from all good newsagents.
www.skyatnightmagazine.com

www.candy-jar.co.uk/marcread

VISIT MARC READ'S NEW WEBSITE

To celebrate the release of Marc’s debut title, New Stars For Old: Stories from the History of Astronomy, Candy Jar Books have created a brand new website for the book.

Learn about this fascinating new author by browsing through the interviews, links and updates we have on offer. Not only that, but we’ve also created a blog for you to follow so you can learn the latest from science’s most promising new author. Aren’t we good?

To access the website, simply visit www.candy-jar.co.uk/marcread.html For the blog, go to marcreadauthor.blogspot.co.uk.

CANDY JAR AUTHOR TALKS TO NEWCASTLE RADIO

Marc Read, author of Candy Jar's latest title New Stars For Old, talks to Newcastle Radio about his book. Listen here:



www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

WONDERING WHAT'S MISSING FROM YOUR BOOKSHELF?

Well, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks here in the Candy Jar office as we cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the Dogs of More; more books that is.

 

Candy Jar Books

COMING SOON... NEW STARS FOR OLD

There’s a new face in the field of astronomy – Marc Read.

Marc’s passion and enthusiasm for the subject has spurred the publication of his first book New Stars for Old. Providing fictional accounts of the lives of some of the most prominent figures in astronomy as they make their factual discoveries, this title will be released by award-winning publisher Candy Jar Books on July 9th.

In a colourful attempt to remind us all that science is done by real people, Marc Read lifts the lid on the private lives of Aristotle, Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton along with many others, and explores the way in which human influences have shaped science.
Marc, who currently teaches at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, says: “We’re very used to the idea that when we think about art or architecture, we should learn a bit about the person who created the work. Why not science, too?”

From this challenging viewpoint, twenty short stories emerge, illuminating the worries of Ptolemy, and Aristotle’s unusual domestic situation, which shaped their efforts to make sense of the universe.

He continues: “The idea initially materialised as a series of one-act plays, but after writing a handful of them, I realised that short stories would be a much more suitable form.”

He continues: “The idea initially materialised as a series of one-act plays, but after writing a handful of them, I realised that short stories would be a much more suitable form.”

 

The historical context of New Stars for Old is drawn from Marc’s PhD in History and Philosophy of Science. Given its strong academic roots, it comes as no great surprise that this book has an educational slant. Yet Marc strikes a healthy balance between fact and fiction, succeeding in entertaining his readers, not boring them.

In spite of his extensive research, there is still a lot of room for speculation. Marc says: "Whilst much astronomical writing has survived from this period, people weren’t in the habit of keeping diaries in those days."

Consequently many of the details in New Stars for Old are fictional. Yet this is almost undetectable, as Marc skilfully weaves fact with fiction to create a believable historical narrative.

New Stars for Old is a surprisingly light and enjoyable read which encapsulates the concept of science as an ever-changing entity. It can be pre-ordered here.

Megan Jones