New edition Gardner's book

[sirek]

Also available on E-bay:

[David]

We should just leave this as readily available from multiple sources. When i mentioned that i purchased mine on Amazon this does not promote any particular sell as Amazon gives many seller options for any item. If any member is selling copies, either on eBay or through a website they can make an announcement in the Swap Forum.

[DAHenkel]

A reminder to all that while a classic of the literature - this book should be taken with a fair pinch of salt. Gardner was a very interesting man but a bit of a crank with some rather dubious ideas about keris, history, magic and so forth. The book is perhaps the single most important source for many of the misconceptions, strange theories and errors which continue to plague keris knowledge - particularly in the Malay world. Buy the book but remember...it is an imperfect resource.

[David]

Originally Posted by DAHenkel

A reminder to all that while a classic of the literature - this book should be taken with a fair pinch of salt. Gardner was a very interesting man but a bit of a crank with some rather dubious ideas about keris, history, magic and so forth. The book is perhaps the single most important source for many of the misconceptions, strange theories and errors which continue to plague keris knowledge - particularly in the Malay world. Buy the book but remember...it is an imperfect resource.

Seems to me that just about all written sources are imperfect resources for the study of keris Dave. I am well aware that Gardner's book is perhaps even less perfect than others.I think i also made the "grain of salt" reference in my previous post. I would not, however, go so far as to refer to him as a "crank" and while i don't know much about his views on history i don't find his views on magic to be all that dubious.

[DAHenkel]

Well if you want to be post-modern about it sure - but Gardner is particularly egregious in this regard...

...just sayin.

[t_c]

Wish I had waited to find a copy, paid a pretty penny for a 70's edition not too long ago...
I'm interested in how the pictures came out though, even the publisher had some concerns. I'd be curious to hear your opinions when you get your copies in hand. The current price is nice for a book that appears in so many bibliographies (pinch of salt accounted for ).

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by t_c

I'm interested in how the pictures came out though, even the publisher had some concerns. I'd be curious to hear your opinions when you get your copies in hand. The current price is nice for a book that appears in so many bibliographies (pinch of salt accounted for ).

I've got a copy of the 1936 edition. There are good info found in it, but there are misleading info as well. The problem is when later authors (do not verify) simply use it entirely without scrutinising it, assuming that it's correct. Well, we know what assume can do..