Australia Books

Author McKay has provided for the reader a brief synopsis of the geographical regions of interest in Viet Nam and tied them to their historical importance in Australia's participation in the "American War", the war in Viet Nam. This is recommended reading for the armchair historian, wishful traveller, or anyone trying to connect with the time, the era, or, as happened in my case, with my father whose death during TET in 1968 is surprisingly described in some detail. What Gary McKay writes parallels that which I was told as a young man when he was killed. A great book!

Dr Strahan's masterly review of changing Australian perceptions of China is nothing short of miraculous. My only comment is that Dr Strahan neglects somewhat the role of the Collingwood Australian Football Club in Australia - China relations in favour of the less important and quite frankly overrated Carlton.

This short work by accomplished historian Geoffrey Dutton, which fell apart in my hands as I was reading it (as Seal paperbacks of this age are wont to do!), provides an entertaining account of the unusual life of explorer Ernest Giles. There are several aspects of Giles' life and explorations that make him an interesting character to study, particularly the combination of his poetic nature and sturdy constitution. The former allowed him to pause and reflect on the hardships he experienced in Australia's harsh interior, and at the same time appreciate something of the extraordinary savage beauty of the McDonnell Ranges and other landscapes with which he became all too familiar, and the second allowed him to survive and bring the majority of his expedition members and animals through safely as well. That he led five such major expeditions into central and western Australia is a tribute to his stamina and perseverance. As Dutton notes, it is extraordinary to think that, after narrowly escaping with his life in that waterless place, he could think of returning straight back into the same desert region, as he did on more than one occasion.

Although he failed to understand the aboriginal populations through which he passed, and at times was at loggerheads with them in a way which was to become all too common later as the desert areas were opened up by pastoralists and miners, his many qualities make him a fine man and pre-eminent explorer in other ways, and Dutton pays fitting tribute to a personage who was, no doubt, the last real explorer on the Australian scene.

Riversleigh is a major World Heritage listed fossil site, primarily discovered in the late 1970s in Queensland, Australia. Since the first discoveries an abundance of prehistoric Australian fauna dating from 25 million years ago to the present has been recovered, preserved in limestone sediments and ancient caves, which testify to a formerly lush rainforest climate prevalent as Australia drifted north from Antarctica. It is unfortunate that most of Australia's present day, rather unique animals are in fact, just a remnant of what once was, when formerly higher rainfall spanned much of the continent. Many lineages and individual species, represented by the abundance recovered at Riversleigh, are now extinct and forgotten, except of course by a few enthusiastic palaeontologists, as described in this book. Readers will be surprised and delighted at the peculiar forms and fantastic colour illustrations and reconstructions presented in this book, and what things can be learnt of their extinction over time, as Australia drifted north.

Exquisitely illustrated, with on-site field notes and diagrams should keep the enthusiastic amateur fossil hunter entertained. An abundance of technical notes, photographs of real specimens and colour reconstructions, many of which uphold Australia's reputation for the unusual and/or the alternative, in terms of evolutionary development. Evolutionary experiments abound with examples which include 'thingadonta' (nobody really knows what it is), several species of marsupial lion, Tasmanian 'wolf' (thylacine) ancestors, flesh-eating kangaroos, several failed lines of kangaroos, several platypus ancestors, giant marsupials such as Diprotodon-the world's largest, a giant wombat, koala ancestors, numerous bats, possums, and creepy critters of all types, are presented. No primates unfortunately, and no bears or dogs, but it is interesting how some of these vacant evolutionary niches were filled by marsupial alternatives-especially in the case of the 'Tasmanian wolf', and the carnivorous marsupial 'lion'. And it is interesting to speculate what kind of alternative type of 'marsupial primate' may have (could still!) have arisen. An upright 'hominid'-like marsupial, wandering the Australian plains-who knows if Australian rainforests hadn't have all but disappeared.

The book puts the various animals and lineages into perspective, describing the changes of climate and habitat loss over the last 25 million years as Australia's climate became drier as the continent drifted north. Many lineages were/are in slow decline before the arrival of the aborigines and Europeans, as Australia's rainforests progressively shrank.

The colour illustrations and landscape reconstructions are a major feature, and they are outstanding. This book is highly recommended for the enthusiastic fossil hunter, or for those just curious in Australian animals and palaeontology in general.

An excellent book, full of facts and historical items. Excellent photos of the ships of the RAN.

This book is nothing short of spectacular! I am fully impressed by the photography, the artistic layouts, color schemes, map layouts, attention to detail and overall balance betweena art and science. Notwithstanding, the scientific text and information presented in this beautiful monograph is cutting edge, but the overall impression given to the reader is that you're looking at the finest work ever published and dedicated to this paricular subject. Shell collecting, in and of itself, represents a very small microcosm in zoology, but Australia's Spectacular Cowries has elevated this science to a great new and higher level. Mr. Jackson should be commended for an excellent job, and I believe that this work has raised the bar for all other publishers attempting to capture the essence and soul of shell collecting. This book is truly a piece of art! I have never seen any work on the subject that even compares to this effort. Many others I know will want to share and appreciate the pleasure of owning this top of the line jewel for decades to come.

This is a fantastic book. It's very informative and has great photos of harness horses from our past. Recommended reading.

This immense coffee-table style book has long been popular in Australia. With incredible photographs by Australia's most renowned photographer Reg Morrison, the viewer is taken to every part of this giant country. The shots are aerial as well as macro, giving a true feeling to what most people never see about this grand country.

Writer/Editor Helen Grasswill comprises the narrative which includes detailed descriptions of the countryside, it's geological make-up and the country's landscape heritage. The writer and photographer compiment each other's work immensely. This has to still be the most comprehensive book on the natural landsape of Australia.

This is a great resource for children and adults. The author covers different Pacific cultures (New Guinea, Hawaii, etc) and describes their unique contributions to world music. The text and book design (an ocean-blue motif that perfectly complements the subject) are both outstanding.

I used the 86 edition as the basis for designing a 2500 day Grand Tour of Oz. It gave me detailed info on not only the major cities, but the minor ones as well. I really liked the set up where the places described were in the order you you reached them as you drove along. I intend to get the lastest edition to take with me on my mini-GTO of Oz later this year. The book is well worth the money spent!