NavList:

As one of the authors of the final chapter, I can assure you that none of the authors or editors had any say in the price, which I agree is exhorbitant, but unfortunately is not unusual for technical books nowadays.  They are now mostly done on a print-on-demand basis.  The editors might get a few bucks per copy, but not the chapter authors.  Almost all of it goes to Springer.  The book's contents is a bit eclectic, in that not all topics are covered evenly, and there are some gaps.  The book is really mostly about the history of the British and US almanac offices and the almanacs themselves.  "History of Celestial Navigation" was not the original title, and not one I would have chosen.