Endangered Species Books

It is not an amazing literary work, but it is fun to read, for adults as well as children. The entire series is well-written, and most deal with social issues. This gives children a way to relate to their world and form their own opinions.

The ideals - as expressed by this book's own introductory information appear to be quite splendid. The author has gone in search of creatures that were so endangered as to be almost mythical. For me, of course, the dilemma is a simple one; Should we go in search of critically endangered species in the wild in the hope that we might discover them and hopefully add something to their fight for survival? OR!, should we recognise that our very intrusion may only hasten their end?

In this case the author did not find the legendary "Mitla" and most, if not all the creatures he did encounter, appear to have been better chronicled elsewhere. In addition, a lot of the photography leaves much to be desired.

In summary, useful in some areas - but hardly worth the cover price.

NM

A fine book of photos, many quite rich in color and amazing in content. Prose is geared toward the least knowledgeable person among us. Author again shows his love of the Panthera tigris and his devotion to their conservation. A nice book for hte coffee table.

The main reason I couldn't get into this book was that I hated the main character. I really couldn't get into her intense introversion and there were scenes that I just sat and read and said to myself "go and do something damnit!!!". But she never did. I realize the point of the story was that she was supposed to learn to overcome her failings and cope with them, but the book was hugely introspective on her part. I found her inhibitions more annoying than endearing. Though, I must give credit to the author for presenting this kind of character, it truly felt I was reading from her personal experience and transporting herself into the realm of the island. While that is a major credit to the author, I personally could not get behind this character, but that is my own failings, not the authors fault as a writer because it is pretty well written.

The best part of this book was Faith's flash backs to her past. Those are what really kept me turning the pages. Even though the past tale was pretty annoying at time's because Faith was supposed to be pretty intelligent, but she missed such obvious things. Maybe I read things too much, so I kind of suspected something was up, but being able to predict things very early on was kind of a let down. It consisted of her getting involved with some environmental activist group, because she met a boy she liked that was involved (I don't want to give away TOO much). Things kept getting more extreme as her past is revealed. I realize the character probably wouldn't have noticed it, because her socialization skills seem to be very sub par, but being able to predict the ending very early on was rather annoying to me. However, it kept me going because I kept thinking "maybe it won't be obvious." But it was... and in the end it was still the most entertaining piece of the book.

The island's tale was lackluster at best and the main Lost stars had minimal involvement. The other character, George, she had interacting with Faith was also very annoying to me, so to have two characters that frustrate you didn't make for a good tale. But I kept reading because of that past tale. The other thing that kept me going was that this was only 200 pages, if it was more than this, like a normal 300+ page book, I think it would've been too tedious for me.

In the end, this makes me see why the other 40 or so people don't have major roles or tales on the island. I know that wasn't the intention of the book, but I'm trying to tie it in with the story. For the person that complained about no hatch and no Dharma Initiative, this book takes place in about the first three days the people were on the island. So they would have barely found anything yet. The book feels like it spans a lot more of that time frame, but I don't think so.

This is a quick read, good for in between seasons and a look at what is going on with other survivors. Yes, sometimes it's trite, but you know what? It's a fun read and true LOST fans will enjoy this.

If you like a good Saturday-afternoon read, this story, which is about an environmentalist who's got a pretty whacked-out past, is okay for you. But if you're one who worships Lost (or at least likes it quite a bit) should avoid this novel. About 49% of it is flashback, and there are cameos made by some of the original Lost characters. But it seems as if Hapka only read the transcript of the first episode, because she hasn't met the criteria needed for any Lost made-up character. You needed:
a) A purpose of flight (Faith, the character that this story's point of view is based on, had)
b) A dark, unresolved past (Faith had that too)
c) A run-in with any sort of main Lost character (this is what she's missing)
Also, the true characters aren't portrayed very well (Sawyer would have at least assigned Faith some sort of nickname by then), but at least the author put in some sort of effort. If you're a really big Lost fan, you'll be kind of insulted. So steer clear, huge Losties! No one should have to pay more than 4 dollars (USD) for this. Go rent it at the library instead...

The producers of Lost once said that the reason the show has worked so amazingly well, is because the audience is keen, sharp, and aware of what's going on. They think of ideas that the writers may or may not have thought of on their own, they uncover secrets the writers were trying to hide - in summary, the audience is nowhere near stupid. Nor do they need to be hit on the head with clues or messages to heed what the writers were trying to say.
And yet, this is exactly what Endangered Species did. It treated the reader as if he were stupid, as if he wouldn't be able to understand anything past the obvious. As a an avid fan of the show, I was a bit offended that the reader should be treated in such a... stupefying manner.
And as a writer, I'm even *more* surprised at the book! The Producers of the show have such a cache of talented writers on their crew, would be able to find better ones if they wished to, and yet somehow they came out with *this*. A completely predictable plotline and a main character one can barely sympathize with.
To be fair, the author had a lot to compensate for. The fact that Faith couldn't be part of the main mystery, couldn't have *that* much interaction with the main characters. No original mysteries of her own could be created unless it was kept completely separated from the main plot of the show, and was unimportant to the welfare of the lostaways as a whole.
As a whole, it was pretty unentertaining. The only reason I would recommend reading it would be to idle away the time.

Jack. Kate. Sawyer. AnaLucia. Libby. Eko. All these names inspire a variety of emotions because they are the show called 'LOST'. But really, these books aren't about the show. Sure they tie-in with it and most of the first season characters make a few appearances but they're about how the other half live. Yes, I love Sawyer like any sane woman should, but I don't like Kate as much since Ana showed up and Jack's anger at anyone questioning his decisions-especially Locke's-is starting to grate on my nerves. Eko, however, is a calming influence that I look forward to every Wednesday night. Hurley is my overstuffed teddybear.

I actually picked up this book because it had 'LOST' plastered across the front, then bought it because the main character's name was Faith (I'm slightly obsessed with Buffy/Angel as well and she's my favorite character). I didn't really expect it to be as good as an episode of 'LOST' nor be a dramatic, swelling novel as wonderful as 'The Lord of the Rings'. But, I did enjoy it, finding it to be a fun read. It's short enough that you can read it in one sitting, it's complex enough that it leaves you wondering at what she did until it's revealed and it kept me occupied enough with the brief cameos of Jack, Kate, Charlie, etc.

I'm not saying rush out and buy it right away because it's fantastic. Just saying I thought it was a good read.

Any book dependent on photographs to put over it's message cannot get away with including blurred images or pictures of creatures that are so far away that, in either event, they fail to convey the intended message. Too many images in this book are simply unacceptable because they are out of focus. In addition the captions appear to be all over the place. There are captions immediately below photographs which do not relate to that particular picture but instead direct the reader to elsewhere on either the same or facing page to connect with the image in question. Finally the graphics are not of a high standard. All of which is a great pity because I actually believe the message in this book might have been useful.

Having photographed Alligators and Crocodiles in the wild, I know sufficient images are available from photographic libraries.

NM

Any book dependent on photographs to put over it's message cannot get away with including blurred images or pictures of creatures that are so far away that, in either event, they fail to convey the intended message. Too many images in this book are simply unacceptable because they are out of focus. In addition the captions appear to be all over the place. There are captions immediately below photographs which do not relate to that particular picture but instead direct the reader to elsewhere on either the same or facing page to connect with the image in question. Finally the graphics are not of a high standard. All of which is a great pity because I actually believe the message in this book might have been useful.

Having photographed Alligators and Crocodiles in the wild, I know sufficient images are available from photographic libraries.

NM

The content was sparse, but ok, as were the pictures. But for [the price] it was a complete disappointment! The book looks like one of the old, "golden books" of my childhood, and I was hoping for a bit more in the way of content for that price. But if you want something concise, with a few pictures, to put on your coffee table or for your child, this would be fine at maybe half the price. Maybe ...

If you're a bird watcher, you know about "lifelists" - otherwise, ask a birder. With the publication of this book, herpers have their own equivalent, which more-or-less gives you about 250 blank pages so you can write down the date, location, habitat, weather, size/sex, and remarks about the sighting of each of 438 known Genus and species of snake in the U.S. and Canada. Personally, however, the book reminds me more of a stamp album from my days as a child, where blank spaces were provided where the stamps could be pasted. For each snake, only the Genus and species are stated, along with a note about the endangered, threatened, or protected status of the snake; and for those which are protected in form or another, the note is provided "Do Not Collect Protected Species".

Also included with the book is a very handsome section of 92 color illustrations - basically printed 3 per page - and 11-pages of discussion focusing mainly on conservation concerns and suggestions about how to fill in the book's species records. And finally, the book closes with a silly, miniscule glossary containing 43 rudimentary terms - many of which have little or nothing to do with snakes (e.g. nocturnal, siren, etc.), 16 selected "general" references (the most current of which are twelve years old as of the time of this review), and 106 "regional" references (many of which were included because they covered endangered, threatened and other protected species and were published mainly by various State wildlife departments and only incidentally cover snakes) and mailing lists of -

- 130 domestic herp societies (many of which are of doubtful validity or which have nothing to do with snakes),

- 41 internationally-based herp societies (again, including such organizations as the British Dendrobatid (Poison Arrow Frog) Group, British Association of Tortoise Keepers, National Association of Private Animal Keepers, etc. - all of which arguably have little or nothing to do with snakes),

- 26 U.S. and 2 Canadian universities, albeit with no information about whether or not they have substantial collections of snakes, how many specimens are on deposit, how large their course offerings, enrollments, or herp faculty is, or anything else of any value, and

-30 U.S. State Game and Fish or Wildlife departments which can provide the "regional" references cited above.

I very much respect and approve of the obvious sincerity of Scott's conservation ethic and his stated purpose in writing this book, hoping to encourage Americans to appreciate the value of our wilderness and its inhabitants before it's too late and these animals are extirpated. I agree with Scott that it is far better that interested herpers keep a life list and record their finds rather than collect them from the wild or kill them, and I salute Scott for presenting this view.

This superbly well-intentioned book is available at Amazon.com as a used book in good or like-new condition for as little as $3 or $4 dollars! Amazing. And you can even buy it on-line as a new book for as little as $6 or $7!! (At the time of this writing, over 130 copies are available for sale on Amazon.com for a variety of prices ranging from as little as $2.50, used, depending on condition.) I don't think I would fork over the publisher's full list price of $19.95 for this book even if I didn't already have a copy; but I would run - not walk - to get it for the prices stated above even if only for the beautiful pictures and the value of having the snake list for the U.S. and Canada. As an amateur herpetologist, I feel that I and fellow herpetologists owe the University of Texas Press a debt of gratitude for publishing this book, and Chris Scott likewise is to be commended for authoring it.

A disappointment. Here's a book on wild
animals, those extinct and those nearly so,
something we should all care about. The author
traveled extensively to interact with some wild
animals, or at least with people who interact
with wild animals.

And what happens? Bergman simply can't leave
behind his postmodern pinhole view of the world.
He sees people trying to save nearly extinct
species, protecting the existing animals, and
asks: what is the MEANING of it? And his
answer: a foucaultian rant on power over nature.

With respect to the effort to save the North
American condor, he says that because the condors
live in zoos, "this is the central paradox, we also
demystify the creature. The condor lives the life
of a secret, but the zoo, run by vets and bureaucrats,
steals its strangeness and makes it a creature we
can train."

He continues to rail against the rationalism of
science: "We can't expect biologists and
bureaucrats to solve our problems. We need a
revolution of consciousness. That's why I believe
in desire and passion, make my attacks upon the
sovereignty of reason, look for answers in the
shadows and the gaps in our knowledge -- and in
endangered species."

That sums it up. Bergman's bogeymen are bureaucrats
and scientists. It's too bad he decided to embellish
such a serious topic with postmodern cant that
French philosophers discarded years ago.

There isn't really much to add to the already scathing reviews already here, so I am just adding my opinion for quantity. I can't figure out how the guy who rated this book a 4 rated it so high. 4 is giving this piece of trash way too much credit. It MIGHT have been a 4 as a stand alone book, but to anyone who follows this series, it is nothing less than an insult. Write to Gold Eagle and tell them what you think of what they have done to the series since Will Murray left as author.

This was without a doubt the WORST attempt at pretending to be a destroyer novel, I've ever read. I mean come on...Remo eating meat...Remo using a spear...Absolutly none of the wonderful anti-PC counterplay and "no sacred cows" that makes "The Destroyer" so much fun to read. My recommendation is to burn a $5 dollar bill.

You will:

1. Save the shipping

2. Not have to read the novel

3. Be able to say that you paid for the entire series

Pathetic. More mistakes than Clinton's love life, shallower than a rain puddle, more difficult to endure than a biopsy. In short, the absolute worst tripe I have ever read. It has no place in the series.

This was without a doubt the WORST attempt at pretending to be a destroyer novel, I've ever read. I mean come on...Remo eating meat...Remo using a spear...Absolutly none of the wonderful anti-PC counterplay and "no sacred cows" that makes "The Destroyer" so much fun to read. My recommendation is to burn a $5 dollar bill.

You will:

1. Save the shipping

2. Not have to read the novel

3. Be able to say that you paid for the entire series

Wil Smith did a creditable job ghosting for Warren Murphy; his adventures took Remo & Chiun new directions but still had the flavor and humor of "the old ones". Alas, the new ghost writer has failed to pay attention to even simple story guidelines. Eating meat and eggs--Chiun would have taken Remo back to the New York warehouse and started over with the training at step one! Remo scared of snakes? Flirting with Audrey? Worried about how to take out a handful of pitiful rebels? It's time for Chiun to adopt... There's no excuse for a writer taking over a series with this kind of history making these horrible mistakes. Sinanju is doomed unless swift action is taken. I suggest a "perfect accident"...