The Earth Books

happened upon this and first 5 books in series .. it was a very pleasant surprise and find... good action.. neat concept and good action and stories .. great characters and character development.. i fully enjoyed this and first 5 books..i am now searching for other books in series.. hoping to find number 6 and on... anyone with info please contact me.. willing to trade or sell mine .. let me know..thanx..

I came online looking for more of these books, I am shocked and appalled that they do not exist! how upsetting! i am one of those people that hits a couple used book stores every 6 - 18 months and purchases 300$ worth of books (25% and i want 75% as chances) this was a chance book but darnit if it wasnt an awsome book!! I am so upset there isnt more of them!! in fact, i recomend this book to NOONE! DONT READ THIS BOOK!!!! you will just want to read the sequal! and guess what; turns out there IS NONE! I had to say that yes, the book was geared toward youth. but the author did do a very good job of expanding beyond that, with exellant and diversified characters and an apallingly interesting story line, i would buy the entire series if it existed!! Like i said, i am EXTREMELY upset i read the book because if leaves off perfect for a sequal, it was designed to have a sequal! and it doesnt have one! its extremely infuriating!! because it leaves off right in the middle of the story. leaves you with a hollow feeling, knowing you will never know what happens next.

I came online looking for more of these books, I am shocked and appalled that they do not exist! how upsetting! i am one of those people that hits a couple used book stores every 6 - 18 months and purchases 300$ worth of books (25% and i want 75% as chances) this was a chance book but darnit if it wasnt an awsome book!! I am so upset there isnt more of them!! in fact, i recomend this book to NOONE! DONT READ THIS BOOK!!!! you will just want to read the sequal! and guess what; turns out there IS NONE! I had to say that yes, the book was geared toward youth. but the author did do a very good job of expanding beyond that, with exellant and diversified characters and an apallingly interesting story line, i would buy the entire series if it existed!! Like i said, i am EXTREMELY upset i read the book because if leaves off perfect for a sequal, it was designed to have a sequal! and it doesnt have one! its extremely infuriating!! because it leaves off right in the middle of the story. leaves you with a hollow feeling, knowing you will never know what happens next.

Forget about Photon the book, or the books. Where is Photon the TV show? Where is the deluxe 18-disc leatherbound autographed special edition DVD set of this legendary show that only the few and the cool can recall?

Where is the jaw-dropping, I-can't-believe-I-just-watched-that TV show, where the bad guys used to do impressive back flips after being shot with the Photon gun? How did an 80s light-gun game with that chunky helmet birth a TV show and spin-off tie-in books, no less? Why has Bhodi Li not reappeared in one of the newer Star Wars movies?

Why hasn't the soundtrack appeared on a 2-CD set? With that action-scene music and the background vocals going 'Photon...photon...photonphoton' [dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun]

I remain confident that Photon will see the light of day on DVD, and should, in fact, be put in a space capsule and launched out of the earth so that our legacy as humans can be known to all.

Yes this is a great book! Did you know that it was based on a game that I LOVED to play.. Just like the main character. But furhter more, Lord Baethen in the book was one of the founders of the original game. He was also my friend. Also, I have found other books in the series.. So I hope to get them all soon..

Great SCI-Fi Book, full of action, and the effects of war on our young.

In September 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, arrived in St. Louis after a grueling expedition that had lasted for more than two years. Hailed as heroes, they were feted and honored by an eager nation forever pressing on its Western borders. This novel begins in St. Louis three years after the celebrations had ended with Will Clark serving as Superintendent of Indian Affairs and Meriwether Lewis as the appointed Governor of the Louisiana Territory. But the intervening years have not been kind to Lewis. He is fending off people to whom he is indebted and, more importantly, rebutting criticism from his superiors in Washington that he has misused government funds, and the rumors are washed down with a liberal amount of whiskey and a healthy dose of laudanum.
Sensing his vulnerability, Lewis is approached by James Wilkinson, who had been caught up in the Aaron Burr conspiracy a few years earlier, and who is now an agent of Spain. He attempts to involve Lewis in another conspiracy which will put him at the head of an empire carved out of the Louisiana Territory. Not only does Lewis not bite, but he heads off to Washington to defend his honor and to warn the government of Wilkinson's actions. Because Lewis believes that Wilkinson has hired men to kill him in New Orleans, he heads to the Federal City by way of the primitive Natchez Trace on horseback with the priceless records from the Expedition.

No one can say exactly what happened on the Natchez Trace, but what is known is that Meriwether Lewis, the hero of the Corps of Discovery, died alone in a room rented from a Mrs. Grinder. Most historians believe that Lewis committed suicide. Because so few details are known, the author is free to create a story of conspiracy, pursuit, brutality, betrayal, and murder.

The characters of Lewis, Clark, Wilkinson, and York, Clark's slave, are richly detailed and wholly believable. You can sense what it was like to travel the Natchez Trace with its seedy inns, runaway slave communities, and robbers. Everything necessary to recreate the early part of the 19th Century in the Louisiana Territory is covered, and all is woven into the compelling story of Meriwether Lewis, a man who had become a drunk, drug-addicted, persecuted wreck of a man, and his friend, William Clark, who could do nothing to save him. The Lewis and Clark Expedition is one of the great events of American history. But for Meriwether Lewis, it all ended in a rustic cabin on a territorial road in Tennessee, and To the Ends of the Earth is his story.

I hardly put this book down after I started it. It immediately engaged me. I was concerned about the characters whether good or bad (there are plenty of those), male or female, "important" or more secondary to the plot. Hunter's use of a wolf as a way to deal with mental illness was especially effective. History was followed faithfully when it provided needed details; other details were, I guess, made up, but done very effectively and within the scope of the known facts. I have recommended the book without hesitation to friends and family and will continue to do so.

To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark is a very interesting read....not only a good historical fiction book, but also a compelling mystery. It was such an intriguing read that it was difficult to put down.

I especially enjoyed the characterizations. The development of the people portrayed in this book added a great deal of realism to this novel.

One can tell that the author researched extensively her subject matter. The book was quite authentic in time and place and sent the reader back to this fascinating period to learn more about this famous pair of explorers and the mysteries associated with their lives after their famous expedition.

"To the Ends of the Earth; The Last Journey of Lewis and Clark," is a wonderful work of historical fiction. I'll admit that in the beginning, the first twenty pages or so, did not grab my attention at all. I found myself wondering how on earth I was going to get through this entire novel. Suddenly it was an hour later, I was over a hundred pages into the story, and completely intoxicated by it. The story is absolutely incredible, and once I got into it, I couldn't make myself put it down.

We all know who Lewis & Clark were (if you don't, go find out on your own, I'm not going to explain it to you here.) but what we don't all readily know, is what happened to them after their three year expedition. That is what this book is about. It opens in 1809, and Lewis is a man in trouble. He's drinking too much, writing government vouchers for things that later will not be honored, postponing the writing of his novel, and lying to his best friend.

Due to a corrupt adversary within the US government, Lewis sets out for Federal City (the then name for Washington DC) In tow, are all his journals, maps and notes from his previous expedition. En route, Lewis is faced with enemies and allies alike, sometimes making it impossible for him to tell the difference. Hearing that his friend may be in trouble, Clark packs up and leaves after him, hoping to save his friend.

Its hard to explain what takes place on the journey to Federal City without ruining the story for those who would like to read it. Just know that its full of twists and turns, ups and downs, chaos and honor. It's a story you won't soon forget, and one that should be added to any historical fiction library.

As the book opens, its 1809, three years after the Corps of Discovery has returned from the West, Meriwether Lewis is governor of the Louisiana Territory and William Clark is General of the militia. While Clark is happily married, Lewis is plagued by malarial fever, is drinking too much and is dependent upon laudanum for the pains from the fever. They are both about to be swept into a treasonous plot to gain control of the Louisiana Territory. To say anything more would give away the whole plot.

A fascinating life-like portrayal of the last days of one America's great adventurers, and the author has provided an interesting theory on one of our country's great mysteries. Worth checking out for any one interested in this period of our history. Four stars.

this is the most interesting book i've read in years; prof. liebes presents the history of evolution from stardust to us, at the end of the book one relizes that all of us humans are actually single cells of a larger life form, the planet earth. In an informative and easy to read way, "a walk through time" presents a holistic theory of evolution that emphasises symbiotic co-evolution of geo-bio-matter admidst the theme that while life starts out in a state of competition, all life forms even on a cellular level learn to cooperate, develop symbiotic relationships that enable life to first develop and then evolve billions of years to present day. the glory of the sheer will of all life,(particularly at the cellular level) reminds me very much of shoupenhauer,nieztche,spinoza, henri bergson and hegal. i would recomend this book to all people,especially those who enjoy philosophy and those theologians seeking a more meaning cosmology.

A Walk Through Time - From Stardust to Us - The evolution of Life on Earth.

A Walk Through Time (AWTT) is an incredibly well done book, from all aspects. The artwork and printing make it suitable for display and the content challenges us to re-think our position in the world and the decisions we are making.

The explanation of evolution is both plausible and understandable to the lay person. Yet the mystery of life is not diminished or hidden, so there is more than enough room for those who understand our existence through their love of God.

Beginning more than 5,000 MYA (5,000 Million Years Ago, or 5 Billion Years Ago) we are told, the "universe did indeed begin in an explosion of energy powerful enough to send all matter flying apart for billions of years into the future." From that starting point, AWTT traces with considerable detail the evolution of our living earth of which we are a part. And everywhere the mystery of "the life force" is to be found.

One can read the prose or follow the exhibition text along the bottom of the pages, or take in both to re-enforce what is being explained. Sidney Liebes managed to convince HP of the merits of creating a 1mile "walk through time." That project is staffed by volunteers and has been presented in a dozen venues in three countries. The "exhibition text" mentioned above is from that project.

The final paragraph of the book summarizes the challenge for our existence in this totally interconnected web of life. "Is it possible that a sense of awe, wonder and humility, of origins, place, possibilities, and recovery of a belief in the sacredness of nature, can, and perhaps must, become operational imperatives in guiding humanity into the future? Rather than pondering the illusive purpose of life, can we not accept and appreciate the gift, live the life we are given, respect all life, and preserve options for the future. Though none of us has the power to control the future, each of us is free to determine how we will contribute to the circumstance out of which the future will evolve."

Perhaps the purpose of life is simply to ensure that life continues. Then there is much in this book to set us on the right path.

I never had the opportunity to see the "Walk Through Time" exhibition, initiated by Sidney Liebes and supported by Hewlett-Packard, but it must have been a marvelous experience. What rivets my attention in this book, however, even more than the beautiful pictures of the exhibit, is the text written by Elisabet Sahtouris, who expresses her own "cosmovision" with an incomparable eloquence and vitality. While her words are grounded solidly in the most advanced theoretical and empirical evolutionary science, she takes the reader not on a walk but an exciting dance through time. If I were asked to recommend just one book that best told the story of how the universe conspired to bring us into being this would be it. It's a real "roots" story but the roots are not merely those of a particular individual or family or species but of all life, reaching back to the point where time itself loses meaning.

Keith Chandler, author of Beyond Civilization

this is the most interesting book i've read in years; prof. liebes presents the history of evolution from stardust to us, at the end of the book one relizes that all of us humans are actually single cells of a larger life form, the planet earth. In an informative and easy to read way, "a walk through time" presents a holistic theory of evolution that emphasises symbiotic co-evolution of geo-bio-matter admidst the theme that while life starts out in a state of competition, all life forms even on a cellular level learn to cooperate, develop symbiotic relationships that enable life to first develop and then evolve billions of years to present day. the glory of the sheer will of all life,(particularly at the cellular level) reminds me very much of shoupenhauer,nieztche,spinoza, henri bergson and hegal. i would recomend this book to all people,especially those who enjoy philosophy and those theologians seeking a more meaning cosmology.

I've just terminated to read this book and it was very interesting in many respects: - The text is well written and a pleasure to read; - Sometimes you have a fact per line, which shows the incredible work done by the author to synthesize a huge amount of knowledge on the subject; - Essential things are said and you'll have doors open for further readings; - The fact that timescale is respected as the text goes on gives a striking perspective of life's evolution over the millions and millions of years; - The first stage of evolution (unicelled creatures) is longly explained; - The incredible role of living creatures (especially bacteria) in shaping our planet is highlighted; - Emphasis is put on the unity of life in it's diversity.

But there are some shortages : - Pictures are of poor print quality; - There is a lack of details, especially after the microbial stage.

Globally speaking, if you want the life's story before animals and plants, it's a good book, but otherwise, the Book of Life by S. J. Gould is better. However, in my opinion, it's a good buy and one can learn many many things by reading this book.

A well written and consise book with a lot of information for those with ears to hear and eyes to see.......

St. Clair has been talking to the elves, nature spirits, rocks, trees, and otherworldly beings since childhood. He started out in those "highly spiritual callings" in the military, law, and banking to survive, but left all that boring, soul-killing stuff behind to become an astrologer and a psychic predictor.

No prediction can be set in stone, but he does claim to see our most possible futures, if we don't change our ways. The future is that up to 80 percent of us will be dead within a few years. The unenlightened dead will end up being dark spirits that cannot reincarnate in bodies anymore (sounds a little Calvinist). Only a remnant shall be saved, but they will eventually enter the gates of peace and paradise. The people who survive will be psychic and will have a new consciousness based on cooperation, not violently aggressive competition. All the races will be eventually mixed into one. All those of the old consciousness will eventually die off. There will be no borders and people will roam the earth, ever changing, to survive and thrive in the new world. As the ages change, cataclysms will occur: many land masses will go underwater and new land will rise up out of the sea. It will be an age of knowledge, not belief. Expect the beginning of the collapse of society on all fronts by 2009. Get out of the cities and go to remote areas 5,000 feet above sea level. One positive prediction is that corrupt and incompetent politicians will be a thing of the past by 2020.

The indigenous tribes with their ancient spiritual knowledge will be respected once again and colonizing will be stopped. "Cool" indigenous tribes, to St. Clair, are the Celts, the Mayans, and the Tibetans. "Uncool" colonizers are the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Spaniards. I do not share his belief that indigenous tribes are morally superior to the colonizers. I think that were just losers in the violent competitive game of life, best represented in the violent sports that most people love to watch in which the victor wins all and the loser is "beaten". The author didn't prove their moral superiority to me; I don't think they were less violent.

He touches on almost all the new age apocalyptic themes, giving one the impression that you could just write a book by recycling other writer's ideas, although I am not accusing him of that. He convincingly advocates for the importance of the imagination and emotion and how suppression of such in the modern world is destroying us. He even talks about certain reptile aliens, not all, that are the dark lords of this planet who are trying to control us, free thought, and the internet, but will not succeed. Some aliens are creating human alien hybrids because the aliens are dying out because they valued technological progress over emotions and spirituality.

I would have liked the book better if he had gotten an editor to edit the many small but annoying mistakes that leave a bad impression and make me take the book less seriously. His style is adequate but not as good as esoteric writers such as Manly P. Hall, David Icke, or Julius Evola. Still, any writer that uses quotes from such polar opposites as the Christian C. S Lewis and the Satanist Aleister Crowley can't be all that bad.

The books Zen of Stars and Forseen by Michael St.Clair have made it possible for me to see into the future
Profoundly informative essential reading
I could not put the books down until they were finished
I have been changed by these writings
Sally Williams
Melbourne
Australia

All I can say about this book is WOW!! I stumbled upon Micheal St.Clair by accident (or rather synchronicity) via an online video, and I was instantly hooked and bought the book here. This book will take you on a journey that afterwards you'll be asking yourself whether you are awake, sleep-walking or dreaming... What impressed me about the author was his precociousness as a child and his depth of knowledge to how the universe works. I just don't understand how astrologers do it; however, after reading this book, I realized that Micheal St.Clair is truly gifted beyond belief. If you have pondered, wondered and searched for answers your entire life, then this is one book that will provide the quantum-leap (jump-start) to a higher level of understanding and knowledge.

St.Clair si most definetly a Magi, and has broken through the veil of duality and illusion...and in his book "Zen Of Stars" he tries to help others in doing the same...besides explaining astrology and earth changes that are happening and that possibly "could" occur....he weaves a most wonderful picture of his life, telling how spirit has always been a part...he also explains where we all come from, which of course is "Cosmos" or the "Stars"....I would recommend this book highly, especially for anyone on a spiritual path, who is looking for answers...the most important one is that they must look within...

it was a good present for my uncle who has been struck by lightning.

If you want to learn about lightening without too much science this is a great book. Very well written by a top scientist in the field.

An excellent little book on lightning, especially for its price. Fairly non-technical, it gives a fine overview of nearly all the known characteristics of different types of lightning, and many hints of how to protect oneself from its effects. Answers nearly all the common questions about lightning. An excellent book for any person to read who lives in lightning country, which means just about anyone, anywhere.

I recommend this book to all who have any interest in natural science. I was personally surprised at how interesting of a read this book was. Ulman did well brining to "light" topics that have plagued me about lightning since my childhood. He also satiated my engineering taste for technical aspects of the electrical phenomena. Photographs and diagrams add well to the text and support the facts presented without overburdening the reader with too much information.

Within my awareness, this is the best author on the physics of lightning (voltage, current, charge, speed, event sequence, frequency of occurrence, length/width of channel, temperature, etc). Related subjects such as injuries, death rate, damage, protection, thunderstorms, harnessing power, etc are also discussed. The book could use updating with data acquired in the last 16 years (1986-2002). An improvement to the book could be more info on lightning protection. Another book by Uman, 'Lightning', is less general and more technical about the physics of lightning.

This book has been edited skillfully. It contains highly readable articles and essays, especially on population issues.

As one of those whose writing is included in this anthology, I must say that I feel very proud indeed. My partisanship aside, I speak as a veteran journalist and author: this is a must-read work of journalism--especially for young journalists and general audiences.

I have read The Earth Times for almost a decade now--ever since it was started--and have always been impressed by the newspaper's imaginative coverage of global and local environmental issues. Now some of the best reporting has been put into an anthology, and I must say that the advance copy I received was a sheer delight--a book to savor.

This books represents an imaginative selection of reportage from the pages of The Earth Times, the leading independent international newspaper on the business of the human environment. There are wonderful dispatches from all corners of the world, particularly developing countries.

I have always found The Earth Times to be a wonderful newspaper covering such critical issues as population, the environment and sustainable human development. This book now gathers together some of the finest articles that have appeared in the newspaper over the last decade. It is highly recommended reading for diplomats, policymakers, students, teachers--everyone who has a stake in the way we live and how our common future is being shaped.

Batu has done a good job fitting all commonly used aquifer test analysis methods (that existed at the time of publication) into a common framework. He has gone through all the relevant journal publications and made things much more readable and uniform. Figures and diagrams are often clearer than those in the original journal papers.

I took Shlomo Neuman's aquifer test analysis class, and he recommended this as a very comprehensive book and based on that I bought it; I was not disappointed.

True there are fancy graphical aquifer test programs (e.g., Aqtesolv) that do everything for you, but first of all these programs are usually expensive. Secondly, even if you are a consultant using one of those programs, or a student learning things for the first time, you should really try to understand what the assumptions and background behind all the methods are. Blindly performing "plug & chug" with formulas is easy but is setting yourself up for trouble. Dr Batu's book is one of the few comprehensive guides out there that pulls everything together.

This book is a rather exhaustive compendium of aquifer testing analytical methods. It also includes information on "slug" testing. Each chapter is logically constructed, and includes sections on the theory, mathematical development, implementation, and limitations of each method. Coupled with Kruseman and de Ridder's text (Analysis and Evaluation of Pumping Test Data, 1990), and Butler's book (The Design, Performance, and Analysis of Slug Tests) it comprises one third of the aquifer testing trilogy. A strong addition to the library of the hydrologist, hydrogeologist, and environmental consultant.

Dr. Batu has written the finest book on the subject of aquifer hydraulics I have ever read. The book is detailed and comprehensive in scope, well written and well organized. It is always the first book I reach for and usually the only book I need when I require knowledge on any aspect of aquifer hydraulics. This book is well worth the investment for anyone who works or studies in the field of hydrogeology.

All hydrogeologists should have this book in their personal library. The book opens with a comprehensive overview of basic aquifer principles useful for entry level practitioners. The pragmatic structure of the book allows the reader to quickly identify the appropriate solution applicable to a myriad of aquifer types and pumping conditions. The example problems provided and the graphical illustration of conceptual aquifer conditions are most useful.

Great Book! A book for all hydrogeologists and environmental professionals. I found this book well planned and organized. The information was presented simply and straight forward. Chapter 2 Fundamentals of Aquifer Hydraulics, was a nice overview of aquifer types and characteristics. I also liked the presentation of analytical models, hydraulics, testing, model limitations, and data analysis. A must have for the professionals personal library.

Beginning with Ptolemey and all the way up to the first siting of the Ant- arctic Continent, Gurney does a yeoman's job of presenting the finds and ever expanding knowledge of the Southern Ocean. As a sailor and scientist, Gurney presents both the good and bad when discussing the voyages of discovery of such men as Captains Cook and Bellinghausen; versus the luck and scandals of the sealers and whalers.

Each discovery builds on the previous findings and Gurney explains not only what the political consequences were but also the economic impacts. The sad part of this documentation is the annihilation of first the fur seals and then the other seals for the hides and oil, and then onto the whales. The destruction was so complete, that it is only now, one hundred years after the ending of the trade that the populations are back up to their pre-1800 numbers.

What I found most gratifying was Gurney's narrative as to what happened to the 'discoverers' later in life. Most died young, some from disease and quite a number of others (including Cook) where killed by natives of the islands they discovered. It's only fitting in a way, since their discoveries contributed to the destruction of so many of the native culture (such as Tahiti and Tierra del Fuego).

In an age where the entire planet hads been mapped from space it's hard to realize that there was a time, not that long ago, when the existence of a Southern continent was still a matter of speculation and doubt. Gurney's book beins with voyages of the Dutch East India company, skirting the South polar regions around the beginning of the 17th century and ends with the complete maping of the coast of Antarctica in the mid-19th. Along the way are detailed stories not only of the early polar explorers, but scores of detailed asides on such diverse topics as the food and other provisions used by sailors, the problem of scurvy, the history of the rum ration, and the story of John Harrsion and his clocks that made detailed navigation and mapping possible. An excellent choice for fans of sailing, history, discovery or geography.

After decades of reading daily, this is the first book I have ever read that when I finished, I immediately turned to the first page and started my second reading. For anyone interested in Antartica, this book is a must, and it is very well written. It's about courage, determination, the environment and maybe most of all about geometry.

Every fan of Antarctic exploration should read this book. It is a great tribute to those who came so many years before Shackleton, Scott and others into this completely unknown part of our world. The accounts are vivid and often times humorous, in spite of the incredible hardships these men endured. Although this might be considered difficult subject matter, the author does a great job of telling each story of adventure in a compelling and griping manner. We owe much to these men for their leadership, courage and vision. The account of Captain Cook is particularly good. What a great leader! This is a good addition for all you arm-chair explorers.

For whatever reason, recent book reviewers try to relate any nautical book to Patrick O'Brien's fiction. This is akin to relating the taste of any strange mystery meat to the taste of chicken. There is absolutely no relationship between the present book and O'Brien's fiction. One can wonder if some reviewers actually read the books they review. Having said that -

The book provides an interesting overview of early Antarctic exploration, both planned and accidental. There is a chapter on scurvy, the bane of historic long sea voyages, with indications of the various means used for prevention - as usual, politics got in the way of common sense (the British government used lime juice controlled by British interests instead of the more effective lemon juice controlled by Spanish interests) and the government was slow to adopt what was being routinely used in the private sector. There is also a chapter on the problems in finding longitude, and an overview chapter on the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic Convergence.

Accounts of the voyages begin with Edmund Halley's expedition aboard the Paramore in the closing years of the 17th century, then skip forward to the second voyage of James Cook (1772-1775). Sealers began their activities immediately after the American Revolution. One problem with scientific exploration, then as now, was that commercial interests immediately rushed in to exploit any resources discovered, initially decimating the fur seal population. John Nicol in his autobiography (see John Nicol, Mariner) mentions being aboard the Amelia (1791-1792) when they killed and skinned 30,000 seals at the Island of Lopex (Lobos Island in northern Peru). The sealers added some knowledge, but mainly to identify sealing grounds. There are some comments about diet - people commonly ate penguins among other things.

People carrying out research are familiar with dealing with bureaucracies that want proposals two or three years in advance with an indication of what discoveries will be made before the research is conducted. Consequently, real discoveries are often unfunded, i.e., it is work carried out on the side while carrying out other funded work. William Smith commanded the merchant ship Williams on a voyage from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso when he discovered the South Shetland Islands, somewhat by accident, early in 1819 while sailing westward around Cape Horn. On a subsequent voyage around the Horn that same year, he made an unauthorized deviation in his route to go south for further exploration (insurance companies tended to forbid such deviations). After he reported his discoveries, the Royal Navy chartered the Williams later that same year and, under the command of Edward Bransfield, made the first observations of the mountain ranges on the Antarctic Peninsula and sailed a short distance into the Weddell Sea (the British lost Bransfield's journal). The immediate rush of sealers into the area resulted in the slaughtering of an estimated half million seals during the 1820-1821 season. Forty sealing ships visited the islands during the 1821-1822 season and essentially exterminated the remaining seals. William Smith eventually died in poverty in an almshouse.

The book goes on to discuss the voyages of James Clark Ross, James Weddell, and others up through 1839, with some mention of later expeditions. It provides a good description of the early Antarctic explorers and their voyages through the ice and freezing temperatures.

Brad Matsen is an excellent historian. Not only is Matsen' book a first rate adventure story about Beebe and Barton's explorations in the Bathysphere but he gives historical prospective on the times they lived in, including the influence of the media and the politics of science and exploration in the 1930s. If you ever wondered what it would be like to sit in a four foot metal sphere a half mile under water, read this book.

The deep-sea expeditions of Otis Barton and William Beebe revolutionized undersea concepts and exploration - and at the height of the Depression years, when money was tight. Beebe was a famous naturalist who became obsessed with oceanography, and had his own research station off Bermuda, along with the support of many industrialists of his times. The younger Barton was heir to a fortune and had his own dreams of deep-sea exploration and adventure. Together the two opened a new world, directly observing new life in the abyss until a bitter dispute left them estranged. Descent: The Heroic Discovery Of The Abyss re-creates their adventures and discoveries.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends DESCENT by BRAD MATSEN as a fascinating time capsule of the early beginnings of oceanographic exploration, as well as a detailed narrative of scientific vision & determination set against the 20th century era of great wealth & discovery. An absorbing recreation of the life & times of Barton & Beebe, their Bathysphere & what they survived & discovered as they descended into the abyss of the Caribbean.

The reviewer below says that this book is a historical novel: it is not. This book is historical fact.

Mr. Matsen is truly a great storyteller. With one notable exception the book seems a flawless execution of a historical novel with some fantastic technical detail.
My one objection, which is nitpicking, is the statement on page 207, where he states that red light has a higher frequency than blue. The exact opposite is true. The extensive reference listing for each chapter shows this man truly did some work before writing this book. This book is very readable for all who love science.

Barbara Spring's The Dynamic Great Lakes is a primer on the ecology of the Great Lakes. Written simply and clearly, this relatively short work begins with an overview of Great Lakes ecology and geology. It then takes us on a tour of each lake, highlighting both the natural ecology and environmental problems of each. She concludes with an overview of the 21st century challenges the lakes face, and a challenge to us all to work for their preservation.

Like a good teacher, Barbara repeats herself patiently and expresses herself simply so everyone will understand. The charm of the book made it easy to overlook a few minor inaccuracies. And, in the end, I learned a thing or two, which is probably what Barbara hoped for.

The five great lakes are between the boundaries of Canada and USA. The book describes the lakes, one by one with lots of details. The great lakes are the most important liquid water reserve. Each lake is different. There are ecosystems like nowhere in the world. We have to protect them. The lakes are not usually well known, so with this book, you discover a fantastic area !!

I have a great interest in saving our environment. The only way to do this is through knowledge. I am thankful to the authors that bring their vast knowledge to the reading public.

This book is a masterpiece, filled with fascinating information and references. Barbara Spring has done an outstanding job of bringing her love of the Great Lakes to others. I have been watching the return of the bald eagles to New England. What a wonderous sight to see them soaring overhead after an absence of many years. This was made possible by active ecologists and hard working nature enthusiasts. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about saving the Great Lakes. I feel that this book should be a required read for science classes.

I would recommend this book to anyone who lives on or near the Great Lakes or to anyone interested in preserving the environment. The author taught me as much about the havoc the modern world has strewn on the natural world as she did about Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Erie.

Many of us know very little about the five Great Lakes other than perhaps being able to name them. As Barbara Spring states in her introduction to her outstanding primer The Dynamic Great Lakes they are "a flowing river of seas left behind by Ice Age glaciers and are nearly twenty percent of the world's supply of fresh surface water; the world's greatest freshwater system." The ecosystem of this great body of water is very complex and unfortunately due to pollution and the fallout of modern industry and agriculture they have gone through a gradual transformation.

One of the unique characteristics of this compact book is that it is written in a language devoid of esoteric explanations. The eight chapters of the book reflect the author's teaching and journalistic aptitudes in knowing how to unravel the mystery of the Great Lakes and the many painful dangers it has faced and continues to face.

Each of the five Lakes is introduced with a brief synopsis of important elements distinguishing one from the other such as: elevation, length, breadth, average depth, maximum depth, volume, water area, retention time, population and outlet. From this point of departure the author deals with the various changes that have taken place as well as the various major issues affecting the Lakes. There are also brief descriptions of the various animal life found in each of the Lakes and how they have been affected by pollution and the appearance of harmful species, such as the Lamprey Eel.

However, we are also reminded throughout the reading of the book that "people power" can have an effect and if we band together and make our voices heard we could exert influence in reversing some of the harmful trends that have caused ecological disaster. For example we are apprised of the situation that occurred in relation to Lake Erie. In 1969 a tributary river of Lake Erie, the Cayahoga, caught on fire due to being heavily coated with oil and debris. As a result, the Federal Water Quality Administration launched a one and half billion dollar municipal sewage treatment program for the Erie Basin which included the five surrounding states: Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.

The conclusion of the book most appropriately reminds us that: "we are all challenged to use our knowledge, creativity and common sense to keep the Great Lakes great. Can you think of ways to think globally and act locally?" We are also warned " life on earth is only possible as long as our limited life support system works."

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com