In Search of Falling Stars, H.H. Nininger’s Classic “Find a Falling Star” Revisited & Expanded, has been re-assembled and edited by Nininger’s grandson, Jim Banks. Another Nininger grandson, Gary Huss, well-known meteoriticist and Research Professor and Director of the W.M. Keck Cosmochemistry Laboratory at the University of Hawaii, has written the Forward. The additional seven Nininger grandchildren are enthusiastic in their support of this project.
Find a Falling Star was originally published in 1972. This begs the question, why is this new version being published today? Find a Falling Star was a significantly shortened version of the story Nininger wanted to tell. After years of revisions and editing, Nininger’s autobiography was hurriedly cut and rushed to press as he neared his 86th birthday. The book suffered as a result. The cuts destroyed a carefully crafted narrative structure. Nininger’s upbringing in backwoods farming communities in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, where he developed the characteristics of inquisitiveness and persistence that proved so important later in his career, were left out. The book ignored his developing interest in science despite his conservative religious upbringing and the lack of formal education early in his life. Also omitted were his early adventures and attempts to make a career out of collecting and studying meteorites, something that had never been tried before. Fascinating stories and details related to his search for meteorites were left out for the sake of brevity.
The book contains all of the material published in the original version, with some minor revisions and editing, plus several substantive additions to the previously published chapters. The book also includes four completely new chapters, focussing on Nininger’s backstory and early adventures, including some of his earliest experiences in trying to make a career out of meteorites. Many new and seldom-seen photographs have been added to round out the story.