J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide (Two Volume Box Set)

Book Description

Designed to be the essential reference works for all readers and students, these volumes present the most thorough analysis possible of Tolkien's work within the important context of his life.
The Reader's Guide includes brief but comprehensive alphabetical entries on a wide range of topics, including a who's who of important persons, a guide to places and institutions, details concerning Tolkien's source material, information about the political and social upheavals through which the author lived, the importance of his social circle, his service as an infantryman in World War I -- even information on the critical reaction to his work and the "Tolkien cult."
The Chronology details the parallel evolutions of Tolkien's works and his academic and personal life in minute detail. Spanning the entirety of his long life including nearly sixty years of active labor on his Middle-earth creations, and drawing on such contemporary sources as school records, war service files, biographies, correspondence, the letters of his close friend C. S. Lewis, and the diaries of W. H. Lewis, this book will be an invaluable resource for those who wish to gain a complete understanding of Tolkien's status as a giant of twentieth-century literature.

Customer Reviews:

A Magnificent Work of Scholarship.......2007-03-05

This is an enormous work and a stupendous achievement. Christina Scull and her husband Wayne G. Hammond have created, in two large volumes, an indispensable compendium for students of JRR Tolkien. Although the two volumes can be obtained separately, I recommend that both be purchased, preferably at the same time, so that you can turn from one to the other as your studies lead you down one fascinating avenue to countless others.

The Chronology Volume is an amazing achievement. JRR Tolkien's entire life is chronicled, many times day by day, so that we know what classes he taught, lectures he gave, conferences he attended, and guests he invited for dinner throughout a long, active life. This may seem to be inconsequential minutiae, but all of it is important in revealing the personality and character of the author and the many sources from which his own writings sprang. Historians and sociologists will also find this volume extremely useful since it reveals one man's daily life through three quarters of the twentieth century.

Equally as impressive is Volume 2, the Reader's Guide. Here Scull and Hammond have provided a multiplicity of information on every bit of extant writing by Tolkien, other authors and thinkers with whom he conversed or otherwise communicated, and so much else that it is impossible to enumerate it all. Scholars studying other writers besides Tolkien will do well to consult this volume, since he had contact with so many of them.

As a matter of full disclosure I should reveal that I met Christina Scull some years ago in London, and I have maintained a friendship with her and with Wayne ever since. I am honored that an article I wrote for the Tolkien journal "Beyond Bree" has been referenced in this Reader's Guide. But I hasten to assure you that I would be just as impressed with this work and would recommend itjust as highly even if these connections did not exist.

Incomparable Reference Work on an Incomparable Author.......2007-02-26

Scull and Hammond's "The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide" is an unparalleled reference work about Tolkien as author. The "Chronology" volume examines his life in extraordinary detail, often day-by-day. It draws heavily from Tolkien's letters. The Reader's Guide" volume discusses in equal detail the persons, institutions, and literary works that influenced Tolkien's great cration. Published in a boxed, two-volume set of excellent physical quality, Scull and Hammond's "The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide" would be a handsome addition to any library, and a fountain of sparkling interest to any serious Tolkien student.

Absolutely indispensable - Hammond and Scull have done it again!.......2007-01-12

In the Preface to their long-awaited J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide, Hammond and Scull write that the book "has been designed to serve as a reference of (at least) first resort", but I would daresay that in a great many cases, theirs will be not only the first but the *only* reference work needed. It's *that* exhaustive!

The first volume is mainly a chronology of Tolkien's life, with several satellite chapters detailing his published works, poems, art, a series of Tolkien's family trees, etc. To say that the chronology is detailed would be a considerable understatement. It's really an almost daily accounting of the events of Tolkien's life: essentially an 800-page biography of dates. Staggering!

The second volume, the Reader's Guide, is even larger at well over 1000 pages. This volume, meant to compliment the chronology (and vice versa) provides alphabetized entries for just about every person, place, and literary idea of importance to Tolkien studies. Many of these are in quite astonishing detail, and even the short ones are extremely valuable little gems. For example, in the entry for Jennie Grove, Hammond and Scull provide the basic facts, of course -- but they also point out where to find a photograph of her as well as a portrait of her drawn by Tolkien. These are fantastic kernels of information, and nowhere else are so many collected together in one place. Not only that, but the list of unpublished and archival sources Hammond and Scull consulted is very impressive indeed! Many details represented here have never been brought to light before.

Another excellent feature of the set is the common index; that is, a single index at the back of both volumes covers references *in* both volumes. This makes cross-referencing between the Reader's Guide and Chronology a snap. Both volumes also have extremely thorough bibliographies.

The price tag for the two-volume set is high, yes, but it is well worth it. NB: I'm speaking of the U.S. edition published by Houghton Mifflin *only*; I have not seen the British edition published by HarperCollins (however, I can say that I've been consistently disappointed by the production quality of most British books -- including HarperCollins' otherwise excellent extended edition of "Smith of Wootton Major" (ed. Verlyn Flieger). The books are sturdy and well made, bound in cloth, with sewn binding. The slipcase, also, is attractive, sturdy, and cloth-bound and will help to protect the books over time. The pages are a pleasant cream, with a nicely proportioned and very readable font, and with appropriate margins. The pages had to be a little thin to accommodate so many, but there is only minimal bleed-through.

The two volumes are a little unwieldy to read from -- but given their size, how could they not be? And reading them cover to cover will take a long time (perhaps all the way until John Rateliff's History of the Hobbit is published next November ;), but it's something I've been looking forward to for a long time now.

The most significant addition in Tolkien scholarship.......2007-01-06

The long delay was well worth the wait: the depth and detail of the work are astounding. I daresay the two volume work is exhaustive, but I have been hardpressed to find any topic or date of significance that is not addressed.

The chronology may seem overwhelming for the reader without an agenda. Tolkien's letter collection edited by Humprey Carpenter is a great resource for cross referencing. Even if you aren't interested in what day Tolkien had lunch with a comittee at Leeds, don't ignore the chronology! The bibliography towards the rear is well worth the big bucks--plenty of bread crumbs to helpful sources.
The reader's guide is excellent and ranges from Tolkien's work to his life. Hammond and Skull are very good about pulling information from primary sources. Even more so, they do well at avoiding speculation on more subjective matters, and limit their own interpretation to those primary sources (though I am sure it is valuable).

This is type of book that should occupy the reference area of every college library. The companion is certainly a scholarly work, and is the best reference material on Tolkien to date. It is also, however, valuable to readers who are equally fascinated with Tolkien as they are with his creations.

Well, it is finally out.......2007-01-04

After long wait and anticipation, the Companion and Guide Box Set is out.
I reviewed the two volumes separately. I think that those books are the most important Tolkien's scholarship books since H.o.M.E. Vol. 12.

Is J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide suitable for all? the answer is no. vol. 2 will be more appealing for the "average Tolkien enthusiastic" and Vol.1 will be of much interest and importance for serious Tolkien scholar.

The box set is very impressive and convenient, But make sure that you want both books before buying it.

Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape

Average customer rating:

Home Ground
A Beautiful Book
Home Ground
Nature Lover from Portola Valley loves Home Ground
Landscapes and Language

Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape

Manufacturer: Trinity University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1595340246

Book Description

Barry Lopez asked 45 poets and writers to define terms that describe America’s land and water forms — phrases like flatiron, bayou, monadnock, kiss tank, meander bar, and everglade. The result is a major enterprise comprising over 850 descriptions, 100 line drawings, and 70 quotations from works by Willa Cather, Truman Capote, John Updike, Cormac McCarthy, and others. Carefully researched and exquisitely written by talents such as Barbara Kingsolver, Lan Samantha Chang, Robert Hass, Terry Tempest Williams, Jon Krakauer, Gretel Ehrlich, Luis Alberto Urrea, Antonya Nelson, Charles Frazier, Linda Hogan, and Bill McKibben, Home Ground is a striking composite portrait of the landscape. At the heart of this expansive work is a community of writers in service to their country, emphasizing a language that suggests the vastness and mystery that lie beyond our everyday words.

Customer Reviews:

Home Ground.......2007-07-17

Everything Barry Lopez touches is guaranteed quality reading. "Home Ground" a wonderful reference for understanding various geographical/landscape features. Pulling the reference to same from literature onto the same page as the definition is a brilliant idea. I enjoy opening it and reading it at random and also referring to it to refresh myself on terms.

A Beautiful Book.......2007-05-23

If you have a passion for the land, for the language, for fine writing, for earth's mysteries, and for peculiarities of places; and especially if you like books that are simply well-wrought objects, this is a truly beautiful volume. Trust to accident, and crack it open anywhere - you will be enlightened about some little place or feature you likely never knew existed. A true treasure.

Home Ground.......2007-04-04

The format of this interesting exploration of the landscape lends itself to those occasional free moments when one wants a connection with something of worth. Here is a wonderful blending of history, language and the land. Home Ground deserves a permanent place on the coffee table.

Nature Lover from Portola Valley loves Home Ground.......2007-01-23

I'd recommend this book to anyone who reads widely and loves to discover the derivation of geographical terms pertainig to nature. What is unique about this book is the input from 45 well known writers to define unique American landscape terms. I ordered 3 copies for all my family located in the Pacific Northwest and they agree that this book is a great resource.

Landscapes and Language.......2007-01-12

The book defines (with illustrations) terms used to describe land features, such as barranca, grand bois, quaking bog. It is primarily a book to dip into for fun or to consult as a reference. If you like descriptive terms (e.g., meander scar) or puzzling friends with new words, you will like this book.

Antarctica and the Arctic: The Complete Encyclopedia

Average customer rating:

Much more than a "coffee table" book!
AWESOME
Excellent book!
An excellent book on Antarctica!

Antarctica and the Arctic: The Complete Encyclopedia
David McGonigal , and Lynn Woodworth
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Antarctica: The Blue Continent

ASIN: 1552975452

Book Description

Antarctica has not always been a place of ice and snow. Once part of the supercontinent of Gondwanaland, it is believed to have enjoyed a warmer climate in which plants and land animals thrived. However, nowadays less than one percent of the surface is ice free, and at bedrock level the ice can be up to a million or more years old. In comparison, the Arctic consists entirely of pack-ice which breaks into ice floes in summer and floats on the Arctic Ocean.

While the ice gives rise to spectacular scenery, both on land and sea, these regions also have an astonishing variety of wildlife. The two Poles have few common species (apart from some birds and whales) but many unique endemic ones - polar bears, walruses and puffins in the north, penguins and elephant seals in the south.

The content will cover the following topics, among others:

Geography and geology
Climate and weather
Ice, icebergs, glaciers and land formations
History and exploration
Wildlife and flora - how unique life has evolved in a very harsh environment
Polar science - the scientists who live and work in Antarctica, the research bases
Icebreaker shipping and tourism
Politics and treaties and the interested parties, including the 1988 Minerals Convention
The people of the Arctic
Conservation and the future (specific Polar issues, such as melting of the ice caps and ozone depletion).

Both regions have long been associated with tales of great heroism in their exploration, and here too there are common links. Roald Amundsen was first to the South Pole and died in a rescue in the north (at that time his ship, the Fram, had been furthest south and furthest north). Frederic Cook, who lodged a false claim to being first to the North Pole, was the first to winter over in Antarctica, as part of a Belgian expedition. Nowadays, tourists can visit in cruise ships and see the almost impossible task the explorers set themselves.

Both areas are of concern ecologically. For several years there has been a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica; one is now opening over the Arctic Circle. Ecologists watch both Antarctica and the Arctic for any signs of change that may have implications for the planet as a whole. They join scientists from all over the world conducting research in these unique conditions.

With interesting and authoritative text written by a team of international experts, accompanied by over a thousand superb photographs, this book will fascinate all with an interest in the Poles and their wildlife.

Customer Reviews:

Much more than a "coffee table" book!.......2005-01-01

This is a beautifully produced and wonderfully comprehensive book. If you want a book which concentrates on wildlife then look elsewhere (eg Antarctic Wildlife by H Shirihai) - better still get both as complementary to each other!
The layout and structure is well conceived, the maps are clear, the photos are always good and often magnificent, the writing is aimed at intelligent readers, the index is good and above all the coverage is all-embracing within its subject. There is a nice section on Antarctic related Web links but, a minor criticism, no Bibliography. As the title indicates it is 90+% about the Antarctic with the Arctic as an "add-on". I was at first a bit negative about the inclusion of the Arctic but have come to the view that it is useful as a comparator - but you wouldn't buy this book for its Arctic content.

AWESOME.......2003-11-30

I been looking for a whille for a great Antarctica book.
this is by far the best.
wall to wall photos topics on everything explorations,wildlife,marine life, you name it.
spectacular coffee table book dont miss.

it even covers the artic "north pole" also

Excellent book!.......2002-02-14

I am an Earth Science teacher and I have done research in Antarctica. The book has many wonderful photos and highly informative text about the geologic, oceanographic, atmospheric and biologic features of the polar regions. I recommend this book for anyone interested in these areas, especially teachers.

An excellent book on Antarctica!.......2002-01-28

I recently took a cruise to Antarctica and this book was in the ship's library. This is an excellent book on Antarctica and the pictures are fabulous! This makes a great coffe-table book!

Average customer rating:

For the nature-challenged
Wonderful book on nature for all ages
Rekindling Our Respect for Nature!
love of nature grows the more we know

DK Nature Encyclopedia
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0789434113

Amazon.com

Ever wonder what a tardigrade might have looked like? Or what tree wetas eat? Now you can find out, because this great nature encyclopedia answers these questions and a jillion more. Organized into sections ("The Natural World," "How Living Things Work," "Ecology," "Classification," "Plants," and "Animals"), the Nature Encyclopedia is a perfect reference for anyone curious about organisms, ecosystems, and the scientists who study them. It's full of amazing color photos and easy-to-understand illustrations and diagrams so you can feel confident when you say, "Look, there's a Periplaneta americana, otherwise known as an American cockroach! Say, did you know they evolved long before humans?" We love this encyclopedia, and its companion book, The DK Science Encyclopedia, which covers the nonliving world with excellent information on space, rocks, electricity, and more. (Ages 9 to 12) --Therese Littleton

Book Description

From the smallest single-celled organisms to the greatest mammals of land and sea, The DK Nature Encyclopedia describes in outstanding detail the rich diversity of life on Earth. Magnificently illustrated, and featuring dramatic time-lapse photographs, this compelling guide gives a fascinating insight into how living things evolve, feed, reproduce, and defend themselves. Explores each major plant and animal group, including flowering plants, birds, reptiles, insects, fish, and mammals. Thematic sections cover topics as varied as reproduction and survival, photosynthesis and communication. Also includes classification charts and a glossary of science terms.

Customer Reviews:

For the nature-challenged.......2007-09-06

This is a great book -- I tend to love the DK books anyway, but this is definitely one to have on your shelf. For all of us nature-challenged moms, this is a great one for helping the kids (whether you homeschool them or not!) understand God's creation! We love this one ... just wish it was spiral bound

Wonderful book on nature for all ages.......2005-03-14

Primarily bought as a gift for my 5 yr old nephew, I spent a considerable amount of time pouring over this book. A neat thing about this book is the wealth of information coupled with attractive, colorful pictures opening up the world of nature.

Rekindling Our Respect for Nature!.......2002-03-16

This book has succeeded in describing the great diversity of life on earth in such an interesting way with colorful photographs and new information that one can't help but stand in awe of our great planet.The chapters discuss : How living things work,ecology, classification, plants and animals. I was afraid that the animal section in this book would be a repetition of DK's Animal Encyclopedia, but thankfully it wasn't, I found new information everytime. For those who are not familiar with DK's encyclopedias one should know that the superior photography and layout of these books really captivate children's attention and fascination with this world.

love of nature grows the more we know.......2002-01-02

I am delighted with this encyclopedia which I ordered as a present for my six year old. This handsome book has beautiful pictures and lots of information covering many aspects of nature. Attractive and accessible, it provides great rewards for the young reader whose love and respect of nature will grow as their knowledge expands. I expect it to be used in greater depth as my daughter grows older. For now, she loves to open it up and see what she finds - and becomes engaged immediately. I highly recommend it.

Afghanistan to Zimbabwe: Country Facts That Helped Me Win the Nationa Geographic Bee

Average customer rating:

OK but...
Interesting...
I Love Wojo!
AWESOME!!!

Afghanistan to Zimbabwe: Country Facts That Helped Me Win the Nationa Geographic Bee
Andrew Wojtanik
Manufacturer: National Geographic Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0792279816
Release Date: 2005-04-01

Customer Reviews:

OK but..........2007-09-21

Thought it was interesting that all of the other reviews are by kids who know Andrew personally...

This book was bought for my school library and I quickly realized that all of the information given is available in almost any encyclopedia or website. Token details on each country and while the information is there and in one place, it really isn't worth the purchase price.

I showed it to our geography teacher and he basically said that it was OK, but certainly not something he would use a lot.

Interesting..........2006-01-05

I was roommates with the author at the 2004 National bee, and while he was away getting interviewed, I managed to sneak a peek at his book. I was overwhelmed by the information presented in just the first few pages I read, and while I have yet to read the actual published work, I can definitely say that this book is an asset to any geography classroom or geobee contestant, and that the author deserved his win (well, maybe I deserved it more :-P).

I Love Wojo!.......2005-10-19

This book really is great. If you are looking for a reference book for ANY type of social studies, geography, history, area studies or just any class at all, this should make your wish-list. It is laid out well in an appealing format, and the information is all there. The author compiled it to study for the National Geography Bee, and then went on to win both that competition and even the International Geography Competition. I know him personally, and he put a ton of work into this book. It truly shows, and this book is definitely worth waht is charged. This book is a must for schools, as it will help anyone to study anything at all pertaining to geography or world cultures. I enjoyed reading this book, and I wholeheartedly believe you will too.

AWESOME!!!.......2005-08-08

This book is crazy awesome! It has all the information that one would ever need about geography. Everything from basic facts to unique details about an assortment of countries is neatly compiled into an easy to use guide. Anyone remotely intersted in geography should buy this book. Also anyone that needs to know anything about geopgraphy for a class or report should buy this book. It is worth much more than it costs!

Average customer rating:

Stunning
...from a student's perspective...
EXCELLENT
The state of the science
The King of Volcano References

Encyclopedia of Volcanoes
Haraldur Sigurdsson , Bruce Houghton , John Stix , and Steve McNutt
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 012643140X

Book Description

Volcanoes are unquestionably one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring features of the physical world. Our paradoxical fascination with them stems from their majestic beauty and powerful, if sometimes deadly, destructiveness.
Notwithstanding the tremendous advances in volcanology since ancient times, some of the mystery surrounding volcanic eruptions remains today. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes summarizes our present knowledge of volcanoes. Through its thematic organization around the melting of the earth, it provides a comprehensive source of information on the multidisciplinary influences of volcanic eruptions--both the destructive as well as the beneficial aspects.
The majority of the chapters focus on the geoscience-related aspects of volcanism (radioactive heat source, melting rock, ascent of magma, surface phenomena associated with exiting magma, extraterrestrial volcanism, etc.). In addition, complementary chapters discuss the multidisciplinary aspects of volcanism; these include the history of volcanology, geothermal energy resources, interaction with the oceans and atmosphere, health aspects of volcanism, mitigation of volcanic disasters, post-eruption ecology, and the impact of eruptions on organismal biodiversity.

In addition to its appeal to educators, students, and professional and amateur scientists, the Encyclopedia of Volcanoes functions as an important information resource for administrators and officials responsible for developing and implementing volcanic hazard mitigation around the world.

* The first and only reference work to cover all aspects of volcanology
* More than 80 separate peer-reviewed articles--all original contributions by leading authors from major institutions of science around the world, commissioned for this work
* An integrated transition from the volcanic process through hazards, risk, and societal impacts, with an emphasis on how volcanoes have influenced and shaped society
* Convenient single-volume format with topics arranged thematically--articles provide coverage of nine different aspects of volcanology
* Each entry in the Encyclopedia begins with an outline of the article content and a concise definition of the subject of the article
* 3,000 Glossary entries explain key terms
* Further Reading lists appear at the end of each entry
* Extensive cross-referencing system links related articles
* Sixteen pages of color will convey the science and excitement of this often violent phenomena
* Large 8 1/2" x 11" page size, easy-to-read double-column format

Customer Reviews:

Stunning.......2007-05-13

I'm an amateur volcano enthusiast, as well as a professional physicist. I can only say that I wish that a book such as this existed for my own field. It is stunningly comprehensive. Whether you are interested in the details of volcanic plumbing, caldera forming eruptions, or even if you want to read reviews of volcano movies like 'Dante's Peak' from the standpoint of a volcanologist - this book has it all! The only downside is that the book is positively enormous: over 1400 large format pages - it is a chore to lug around on business trips, let alone on field trips... Though I suppose that, at a pinch, you could use it as a shield against falling volcanic debris. Seriously though - if you are interested in volcanoes you owe it to yourself to get a copy of this book. Five stars is not enough.

...from a student's perspective..........2002-01-31

I found this text to be incredibly useful, especially considering the noticable dearth of textbooks dealing with volcanoes. The encyclopedia is comprehensible, yet in depth, and covers a broad range of topics. Whenever I have a volcano question I start here first!

EXCELLENT.......2001-10-31

An excellent book. Written by some of the worlds most renowed experts-one of whom I am fortunate enough to know!
The book is well worth the money as every aspect of volcanology is covered.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a serious intest in volcanology.

The state of the science.......2001-06-21

Great compendium of volcanology. Especially thrilling to an older geologist to see the advances in knowledge since we got out of school; for instance, seismic tomography has mapped actual magma chambers, which were semi-mythic suppositions in my undergrad day; and lo, there is the anatomy of the very volcanoes I grew up under. The book comprises dozens of specially submitted articles by diverse international authors, so you get many perspectives, not just of different disciplines, but of authors' sense of how they relate to others.

Flawed by abundant typos. The editing of this book is a great advance over say The Solar System by the same Academic Press, which was a mangled turnip; but they still have a ways to go. It is disappointing to see major scientific works bungled by bottom line that slashes proofing. NASA is probably largely responsible for the Solar System mess (Sally Ride, take a course in remedial english!). Geologists are a lot more meticulous than astronauts. But the buck shd stop with the publisher.

So buy this book and complain to Academic Press. Buy it before it goes out of print and you have to kick yourself; it will be long before the like comes again.

The King of Volcano References.......2000-08-22

As a master's student studying volcanology and remote sensing, and a research assistant at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, I can honestly say this is it! From the depths of the mantle on Earth to the dynamic volcanism on Juptier's moon Io, the large team of authors and editors cover every aspect of volcanology possible in this 1,000 + page book. The book is extremely organized, complete with a detailed index, large glossary, and most importantly, references to journal publications. The book also uses high quality images and photos (black and white and in color), as well as scientific graphs, tables, and plots of data when necessary. Despite being written by such a wide array of scientists from all over the world, this encyclopedia is written with both volcanologists and the lay person in mind. This impressive compilation is well worth the price.

Average customer rating:

Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science
John Gunn
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Encyclopedia of Caves

ASIN: 1579583997

Book Description

Extensively illustrated with over 500 photographs, maps, diagrams, and tables, this unique reference source offers comprehensive coverage of this fascinating subject. The IEncyclopedia's 350 alphabetically arranged entries cover a wide range of topics, including biospeleology (by organism and by habitat); geoscience; cave archaeology and human use of caves; cave art; cave and karst history; hydrology and groundwater; conservation and management; and exploration, equipment, and rescue.

Many entries are devoted to important sites across the world, from individual caves such as Mammoth Cave (the world's longest cave) and Krubera (one of the world's deepest), through key regions such as the Dinaric karst and the Gunung Mulu World Heritage Site. The book also features broader examinations of cave and karst geography within individual countries and continents.

Written by an international team of experts, the essays progress from general concepts toward deeper understanding, explaining jargon for the non-specialist. Each essay is fully referenced, with suggestions for further reading and cross-references to related articles. Thematic content lists and a comprehensive index facilitate easy searching and browsing.

A wide-ranging and up-to-date reference work, the Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science is an ideal source for students and researchers, as well as professional hydrogeologists, planners, environmental scientists, and conservationists. It is also a perfect starting point for cave explorers or any general reader with an interest in caves. Also includes an 8-page insert.

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Meteorites

Average customer rating:

A beautiful, illustrated book for everybody interested in meteorites
Meteorite right!
Great meteorite reference
STUPENDOUS

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Meteorites
O. Richard Norton
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521621437

Book Description

In recent years, meteorites have caught the imagination of scientist and collector alike. An army of people are now actively searching for them in the hot and cold deserts of Earth. Fascinating extraterrestrial rocks in meteorites are our only contact with materials from beyond the Earth-Moon system. Using well known petrologic techniques, O. Richard Norton reveals in vivid color their extraordinary external and internal structures and taking readers to the atomic level, describes the environment within the solar nebula that existed before the planets accreted. Extensively illustrated, this volume is a valuable guide to assist searchers in the field in recognizing the many classes of meteorites and it is a superb reference source for students, teachers and scientists who wish to probe deeper these amazing rocks from space. O. Richard Norton is a contributing editor for Meteorite magazine and the author of The Planetarium and Atmospherium and Rocks from Space (Mountain Press, 1998). For the last 40 years, he has taught astronomy and space sciences at various US institutions.

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful, illustrated book for everybody interested in meteorites.......2007-05-29

This book was delivered in excellent condition, and has already proved itself very useful. It is most interesting, provides useful information, and helps to understand the evolution of our solar system using the asteroid pieces fallen on Earth.

Meteorite right!.......2006-10-29

A very up-to-date review and very comprehensive. Some parts are for the chemists in the crowd but all-in-all well worth having on your bookshelf.

Great meteorite reference.......2005-08-02

This is a fantastic reference to meteorites. Large, beautifully bound and with great colour images and illustrations. Norton certainly knows his subject and takes us on a cosmic jouney, from black rocks found in the desert to a time before the formation of the solar system. There is plenty of technical and scientific details to feed the mind of the most educated reader. He explains concepts like radio-isotope dating with a clarity lacking at many eductional institutions today. Highly recommended for all those with an interest in space or astronomy and the growing number of meteorite collectors out there. My only minor criticism is that the font used in the book could have been a little bolder and easier to read for my aging eyes. Norton deserves a 10/10 for this fine effort.

STUPENDOUS.......2003-05-17

THERE IS NOT MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS EXCEPTIONAL BOOK EXCEPT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT IN-DEPTH LOOK AT METEORITES WITH SUPERB COLOR PICTURES. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN METEORITES, ESPECIALLY COLLECTING THEM, YOUR LIBRARY SHOLD NOT BE WITHOUT THIS BOOK.

Encyclopedia of Earth Science (Science Encyclopedia)

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Encyclopedia of Earth Science (Science Encyclopedia)
Timothy M. Kusky
Manufacturer: Facts on File
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0816049734

The Usborne First Encyclopedia of Our World (First Encyclopedias)

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English as a Second Language
AWESOME!
Colorful book - bias presentation
The Usborne First Encyclopedia of Our World

The Usborne First Encyclopedia of Our World (First Encyclopedias)
Felicity Brooks , and Susannah Owen
Manufacturer: E.D.C. Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0794502164

Customer Reviews:

English as a Second Language.......2007-01-04

I purchased this book as a gift for a young boy in Germany who is studying English. He wrote me a thank-you note (in English) saying tne book is "brilliant." Even the adults around him had great fun looking at this lively book. I was attracted to the interactive format of the book. It can be used with the internet.

AWESOME!.......2006-02-23

This is a beautiful book that encourages children to learn about their world. Information is provided in bits, making it easy for children to digest. In addition, the internet links provide unlimited learning on the topics in the book. As far as the person who complained that they showed a photo of NYC without the World Trade Centers, I think you need to be aware that the book was published in 2002 and the WTC no longer was there, nor will ever be there in the future. Don't we need to depict the here and now truth in our books for children?

Colorful book - bias presentation.......2005-09-22

While the book is well made and quite educational, I can not avoid but see the bias of the publisher in presenting the "world." I almost wonder what world are they presenting? P. 52-53 the "City" depicting NYC without WTC, and the picture of a Mosque in the middle of their "city" (no other religious buildings there i.e. no church or synagogue near by). Living in post 9/11 America I find this offensive. This is certainly not the "world" I would want my child to live in.

The Usborne First Encyclopedia of Our World.......2005-09-11

This is a colorful and interesting science text for a first to third grader and definitely worth the price. It has a neat internet link feature which I know my child will enjoy.

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