 |
|
|
|
| |
|
List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £72.32
Author:
Willy Puchner
By Konemann UK Ltd
 An absolute must for Linux hacks. Tux goes globetrotting., 1999-08-31
Some beautiful photographs of Joe and Sally - both fibreglass penguins - as they travel the world. And somehow it actually makes sense.
List Price: £12.95
Our Price: £5.85
Author:
Helen Macdonald
By Reaktion Books
Comprehensive, eclectic, marvellous, 2007-01-24
This book is not a zoological monograph, but a comprehensive history of the complex relationship between humans and the falcons. In describing the varied ways in which we have attempted to deal with the unsettling presence of these birds in our world, Macdonald delivers new insights into ourselves and the essential strangeness of the genus.
The author is also a published poet, and the writing is well-matched to its subject. In general, the result is subliminal - like listening to an erudite, academic friend expounding on their specialist subject. But occasionally, where the situation demands, the language expands to suit and the results are spectacular. From the preface:
"Shrugging one shoulder sharply forward to slice through the molecules of resistant air, she dropped away from the astonished cameraman, cutting the sky in two at a velocity of over 200 miles an hour." (p.7)
At other times - particularly in response to the wilder excesses of our appropriation of falcons as icons of our own values - the voice changes to a gentle, dry humour, as in the caption to a photograph of US Air Force US servicemen holding their live falcon mascot: "Real men, it seems, don't need gauntlets to hold falcons" (p.47).
This is a beautiful book, of breathtaking breadth and full of surprising detail, throughout which the author's command and love of the subject is clearly apparent. The only question now is whether Reaktion will commission Macdonald to write 'Eagle' and 'Hawk' as well.
List Price: £43.95
Our Price: £38.86
Author:
Luis M. Chiappe
By WileyBlackwell
A glorious flight over a sea of new information, 2008-02-15
It is, unfortunately, a rare pleasure to read a popular science book that manages to balance in such an exquisite way, the wealth and depth of scientific data it provides with a simple and elegant writing style, accessible to all interested parties irrespective of their educational background.
The author follows the avian evolutionary saga, from the first indication of the existence of primitive birds, via "Archaeopteryx", up to the beginning of the Cenozoic Era which saw the rapid radiation of all modern birds' families. The story begins during the Mesozoic, and the dinosaurs-birds connection is firmly and irrevocably established, courtesy of the wealth of new Chinese fossils of feathered maniraptorans. Then Mr. Chiappe tackles the complicated and quite heated debate of the origin of flight and the solution he proposes at least seams more probable than the alternatives. The following chapters examine, quite thoroughly, various avian families, as they make their appearance in the fossil record, until the beginning of the Tertiary period.
The book offers a real cornucopia of information on the subject of birds' origin and early evolution, managing to incorporate the very latest of what paleontological research has to offer. Anyone, with a minimum educational background on natural history, can easily follow the scientific arguments presented in the precise and very well written text. And the abundant fossil photographs, diagrams and creature restorations are one of the book's bigger advantages, going a long way to enhancing the reader's education and pleasure.
Any book on the subject of prehistoric creatures, their physique, behavior or ecology, is bound to contain a lot of controversial issues. This one is no exception. And it is to the author's credit that, irrespective of his strong and well supported opinions, he always presents all arguments and continuously warns the reader that the validity of his conclusions depends on current information and new discoveries can easily overturn them. Plus, he constantly reminds us about the scarcity of the fossil record and the need of continuous research in order to fill the blanks and correct any errors.
Overall an excellent book for anyone interested in prehistoric life or birds evolution in particular.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|