The plethora of research on Sagittarius A* since its discovery in 1974 has long seemed an interwoven pattern of loose threads. No one has successfully synthesized this growing body of work into a manageable, coherent book both for professional researchers and for students taking courses focusing on black holes and galactic nuclei--until now. With Fulvio Melia's The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole, readers finally have at their disposal a one-volume crucible of essential ideas, logically streamlined but with thorough references for those wishing to explore the various topics in greater depth.
"A gripping high-level account of the best-studied supermassive black hole in the universe, truly a central object of modern astrophysics. Professionals, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates will all benefit from this physics-rich and authoritative tour through the heart of our galaxy. I can't wait to use it in my courses."--Niel Brandt, Pennsylvania State University
"This is a timely, comprehensive, and readable account of the current state of knowledge about the Milky Way's supermassive black hole and its stellar and gaseous environment. There is definitely a need for a book like this."--David Merritt, Rochester Institute of Technology
"Fulvio Melia's new book sets a high standard that will not be displaced soon. A culmination of the author's own extensive work over the past twenty years, it is an ideal resource for researchers who wish to become familiar with the state of the art on the galactic black hole. It will also be a valuable reference for experts who want the key ideas assembled coherently in one place. And it can be used as a text in graduate courses employing the galactic black hole as a vehicle to convey a range of important astrophysical topics."--Mark Morris, University of California, Los Angeles
