how to combine sql and return in one result

[scorpioy]

I often use:

$result = mysql_query($query) or die( mysql_error());

        if ($idr = mysql_fetch_array($result))
        {
            do
		.....
            }while ($idr = mysql_fetch_array($result));
        }

the above code to retrieve data from MySQL. If I want to get another set of sql result, I have to use this block of code again with different sql statement.

Is there a way I can merge new SQL with existing one, and let it return combined result so that I don't have to change anything in PHP part?

For example, if I have SQL:

SQL1:   select * from book where title=....

and I want $result set also return values that is from

SQL2:   select * from book where author=...

I know I could do where title=... OR author=...

but is there a way I can let it return result of SQL1 first, followed by SQL2?

I don't want to change PHP code, so how do I merge these two SQL and return combined results?

Please help

[bretticus]

If you are using MySQL version 4.0.0 or above you can use UNION syntax.