From a member of my critique group, Michael W. Lucas:
"For many years, the standard textbook on planetary conditions has been
Stephen Dole's "Habitable Planets for Man." Published in 1964, it's
just as accurate and relevant today as it was when first released. I
spent years searching for this book, only to learn it had been
systematically stolen from every university and major library in the
United States. Copies existed in locked archives, available only to
qualified researchers who were willing to leave a kidney as
collateral. Inter-library loan was Right Out. It's the Necronomicon
of the scientific world; mythic, powerful, possibly even outright
fictional. (I got my copy thanks to an archivist friend at the
library where I worked, who had a friend in the UCLA archives with a
photocopier. That favor got called in not long ago, but I cannot
discuss it until the statute of limitations runs out.) IMHO it is the
single most valuable hard-science SF resource, ever.
To my delight, HPfM has been legitimately re-released on-line. [ed.: FREE DOWNLOAD!!!]
http://www.rand.org/pubs/commercial_books/CB179-1/
While I have mixed feelings about ebooks (see the music industry
implosion), this is a perfect use for them; making valuable
out-of-print information widely available again. Get yours before the
RAND corporation comes to their senses.
If you are writing about inhabited worlds around distant stars, and
you want even a hint of scientific verisimilitude, read this book.
Study it."
You can also order the book for $22.50, which I am doing as well.
ALSO, YOU CAN GO HERE TO DOWNLOAD A NUMBER OF RAND CLASSICS, INCLUDING TOMES ON STRATEGY AND "PLANETS FOR MAN," WHICH IS AUTHORED BY ISAAC ASIMOV AND STEPHEN DOLE AND IS A "LESS-TECHNICAL TRETISE" BASED ON "HABITABLE PLANETS FOR MAN"!!!
I have to mention: I felt the way Michael does about this book about Encyclopedia of Arms & Armor, which I finally found via the internet for only about $20 a couple of years ago. Both are great books.
Posted by: writtenwyrdd | July 07, 2008 at 08:52 AM
I have The encyclopedia of Arms and Armor, which I got many many years ago. I'm going to download this ebook, though, and check it out.
Posted by: Charles Gramlich | July 07, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I can remember my first awareness of whether or not a planet could be habitable. Kirk leaned forward on the bridge as a Chekov identified it as a Class M planet.
Thanks for the update on this tome. I'll download it and then see about ordering one. Good post. Thanks.
Posted by: Stewart Stermberg | July 08, 2008 at 09:41 AM