Illustrated with brilliant color photography. One hundred and eighty stunning images from fourteen well-known photographers showcase the scenic wonders and spectacular marine wildlife the region...coupled with a thoroughly researched and readable text.
Imagine taking a C++-based program you've been using for a decade and giving it a snazzy new interface using Windows Presentation Foundation. How about making your old business applications talk to your new ones using Windows Communication Foundation. C++/CLI makes this--and more--possible. C++/CLI in Action shows you how to bridge the gap between your existing C++ code and the .NET platform. C++/CLI in Action will help you if:
You only need to use pieces of the .NET framework, such as Windows Forms or web services.
There's no fluff here. Designed for readers who already know C++, this book starts by teaching the unique aspects of the C++/CLI language. After a quick tour through the basics, readers work through examples of integrating standard C++ into the .NET-based applications and building programs that mix C++ and .NET code for maximum performance and efficiency.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2007-05-14
Nishant did an excellent job with this book. The only complaint is that he could have made it bigger.
He separates himself from the rest. The difference is his book covers:
1. MFC/Managed C++ integration. Excellent chapter.
He shows how to add any Managed class to either
an MFC Dialog or MFC View. My favorite chapters are
five and six.
2. Templates/Generic mixing. Even covers managed template
inheritance.
3. Advanced event covering with C++. I have worked with C++/C#
for years, and I didn't know this about events. Very good.
4. Avalon integration. This is somewhat lacking, but it is still
very good coverage.
I would recommend this book to anybody.
Average customer rating:
- The Responsibility of Being an Animal Lover.
|
Blue Moon (Orca Soundings)
Marilyn Halvorson
Manufacturer: Orca Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1551433206 |
Book Description
Can Bobbie Joe transform an old mare into a champion barrel racer? (RL3.4)
Customer Reviews:
The Responsibility of Being an Animal Lover........2005-05-02
Growing up can have a harsh reality when taking responsibility of an animal. It is not always fun and games it is very hard and frustrating work. For a young person that is a very big responsibility to know that the life of this animal is in your hands.
Bobby Joe is a teenage girl with a heart for barrel racing. She had saved her money for years for that great horse. Then Bobby Joe's parents let her go to her first horse sell by herself. She came home with a beaten up old mare and $690 short. At the horse sell Bobby Joe had to ask Cole for so money. Cole is this boy that she does not like. He work at the horse sell and he was the only person there she knew so she had to ask him for the money, which she did not like. When at home she set her mind to have a barrel racing horse by the end of summer.
Things were going good through the summer with the horse and she was going to go to the barrel races. Her and Cole had become good friends and were always together, but then one-day things started going wrong. Then she finds out that the horse show is in a few weeks. What is she going to do and will she be able to go?
Taking the responsibility of buying and raising a horse is a big thing. When taking the responsibility of owning a horse and the things that can happen will make you grow up and face reality.
This is a great book to read. Anyone that likes horse will love this book and will not want to put it down. Even if you don not horse this book will show you the love people have for their animals.
Average customer rating:
- Having a dream
- Matt's review
- Great Hi-Lo series
- Bull Rider
|
Bull Rider (Orca Soundings)
Marilyn Halvorson
Manufacturer: Orca Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Fiction | Parents | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1551432331 |
Book Description
Layne must face his greatest fear. (RL3.0)
Customer Reviews:
Having a dream.......2005-05-02
" What is it?" "An entry form for the rodeo next month." We all have dreams. Everyone should get a chance to fulfill his or her dreams at least once. That's the way a young man named Layne thinks. He has a dream to be a bull rider in the rodeo. But there are some problems to his dream coming true. Some people don't want him to accomplish this dream. Although this book is short it makes for a quick and easy read. It sure was a joy for me to read.
Layne's father was a bull rider in the rodeo, and he was a great bull rider. But a tragic accident happened. Layne wants to be a great bull rider in the rodeo like his father was. But Layne knows how his mother feels about the bull riding. His mother will not let him ride the bulls because she is only trying to keep him from getting hurt.
In spite of his mothers words and feelings about the bull riding. Layne has been sneaking behind his mothers back and has been riding the young bulls at his friend's farm. But in order to make it to the rodeo he will need some practice. So his friend's grandfather is willing to train him and get him ready for the rodeo.
There is a couple set backs in getting to the rodeo, but he finally gets there.
He gets a tough bull to ride but he does well. As he gets done with his ride someone shows up, a little mad but also very proud. The crowd goes wild. He had a great ride.
People have life long dreams, but you should also in mind your friends and your family. Do they approve of what you want? Is your dream something that could worry them? And will it hurt them in the end. These are some things that you should think of before you go through with it.
If you want a book that is a quick and easy read, but one that gives you some action, this would be a great book for you. This book is great for a person who likes a little action and drama. Also if you like animals this book would be great.
Matt's review.......2004-12-14
I read Bull Rider by Marilyn Halverson. I liked the book because it had a lot of cool parts in the book. I liked when Layne got bucked off a bull named Rhino and when they loaded the horse up in the back of the truck and the horse fell out because these party animals drove and shouted out the window. This story is about a boy that wants to become a professional bull rider but his mom won't let him. His mom won't let him because his father died riding. I think the person who would like this book is someone who likes action and bull riding.
Great Hi-Lo series.......2004-01-23
In Bull Rider, Layne defies his mother to tackle the sport that killed his father: bull riding. With the help of a mentor, he might just have a chance at landing a prize - or he might break his neck. Layne's moral dilemma would make a excellent topic for classroom discussion.
Ninety pages of enlarged typeface doesn't leave a whole lot of room for details such as setting and character development, but the quick pace, suspense, and sports action blended with a light "love interest" subplot will hold the reader's attention once the snazzy cover has hooked. While not quite as tightly written as those by Beth Goobie and William Bell (side note: when is Orca going to commission Don Trembath to write a Soundings book?), the series as a whole is highly recommended. The rodeo-themed Bull Rider may not do as well here in New England as in other areas; the Canadian settings generally don't limit the audience. Recommended for school and public libraries.
Bull Rider.......2003-12-05
This is an awesome book. We are currently reading as a family. My son who has reading difficulties and doesn't like to read, can't seem to put the book down. It has really got his attention. I would recommend it to anyone!
Book Description
The orca, also known as the killer whale, is one of the most intriguing and mysterious animals in the world. This lavishly illustrated portrait of this almost mythical sea mammal offers visions of the orca throughout the ages and across cultures, describing its hunting techniques and refined sonar and communication abilities. Full-color photographs capture whales breaching, playing, hunting, and caring for their young. The book also discusses the ethics of captivity and the environmental threats to whale populations. A foreword by internationally acclaimed scientist and environmentalist David Suzuki is included.
Customer Reviews:
good photos; good info; great package.......2005-11-19
A few months ago National Geographic had an article on orcas that basically persuaded me that this was an animal I wanted to learn a lot more about. I shopped around on Amazon, and decided that this would be the best book for starters. Now that I've read it, I think I was probably right: and if your situation is similar, I recommend it.
Now the text is not for kids. I shared it with a young orca enthusiast, and we couldn't even get through the picture captions. But for adults without degrees in biology, this is probably the most informative and descriptive text available. For a good sample, look at the description of seal hunting technique on pages 73 and 75.
(Another one to check out is "Cetacean Societies." The text is a step heavier, the subject broader; yet it just might be what the curious scientifically-literate adult ordered. This book may actually be a bit simple if you've read many science books. For instance, check out the history of evolution on p. 22. Compare that to another pop-sci book, Carl Zimmer's "Fish with Fingers.")
The pictures are great for everyone. I was a little wary after reading about the "haunting" photo on the cover, which I judge as actually very ordinary. But inside the book it gets better.
On page 25, there's a great view of the mouth and teeth of an orca, as close as you'd probably ever like to get; on 59, a picture of a birth taking place; on 60, a picture of a mother petting her calf; on 87, a picture of a calf nursing; on 92, a picture of a whale playing with kelp. Those are great shots, IMO; illustrating the life of an orca, rather than merely arial acrobatics (pictures of which are included plentifully).
Some people will care a lot about the quality of the photos, which are varied: the surface photos are uniformly excellent, but underwater, I guess you take what you can get, especially in the wild.
(David Suzuki's foreward argues against having orcas captive in small pools; that evidently upset a previous reviewer. Well, it's just an opinion, and a reasonable one at least.)
over-all an excellent book.......1999-01-25
I was very dissapointed by David Suzuki and his biased view-points about killer whales and society. However the rest of the book, makes up for a sour start
It's mad!.......1998-12-06
I reckon it's the best i've ever seen, MAD
Book Description
In Listening to Whales, Alexandra Morton shares spellbinding stories about her career in whale and dolphin research and what she has learned from and about these magnificent mammals. In the late 1970s, while working at Marineland in California, Alexandra pioneered the recording of orca sounds by dropping a hydrophone into the tank of two killer whales. She recorded the varied language of mating, childbirth, and even grief after the birth of a stillborn calf. At the same time she made the startling observation that the whales were inventing wonderful synchronized movements, a behavior that was soon recognized as a defining characteristic of orca society.
In 1984, Alexandra moved to a remote bay in British Columbia to continue her research with wild orcas. Her recordings of the whales have led her to a deeper understanding of the mystery of whale echolocation, the vocal communication that enables the mammals to find their way in the dark sea. A fascinating study of the profound communion between humans and whales, this book will open your eyes anew to the wonders of the natural world.
Customer Reviews:
Listening to Whales By: Alexandra Morton.......2005-12-01
'Listening to Whales' was a touching story of how a women's life was enchanted through her passion for marine life. We follow the author, Alexandra Morton, through her life and career- which often go hand in hand- as she evolved as a marine scientist and a woman devoted to her love: the orcas. We are taken from her first job as an acoustics expert in Marineland to her more profound passion which is to examine the killer whales in their natural habitat; the open ocean. This book was not only captivating, but as I read through it I learned so many fun facts about orcas and dolphins and the life of a marine enthusiast.
My favorite aspect of the book was the way she explained how her extreme passion for orcas came to be. I loved learning about how her love for marine life evolved from her love of frogs and grew from there. I find it so fascinating that as a small child something like loving frogs has evolved for decades and turned into her fulltime career. It proved how dedicated she has been to her work for so long and how there is constantly so much more to learn. I loved how she dedicated her young life to follow her dream, and this story showed how far you can come if you are persistent and dedicated.
There wasn't any specific part of the book I didn't like. It was a story of this brilliant woman's dreams and stories, I don't think anyone is to say there was something wrong with it; it's an unedited, unchangeable story of her life. I think she had a good balance of her life-stories and experiences and her knowledge and history of her life with the whales. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in marine life or anyone who has a passion that they want to persue. It's a very inspiring story, which makes the book good for almost anyone.
Listening to Whales.......2005-11-30
The novel "Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us" tells Alexandra Morton's story of how she dedicated her life to studying marine mammals, in particular killer whales, in captivity and in the wild. In addition, it describes the struggles she encountered along the way, such as caring for her young son on her own. After finishing this novel, the reader feels like she is an expert on killer whales, due to the clear descriptions Morton gives on the lifestyle, habits, and traits of the species. I felt that for the parts of the novel when Morton described her life aside from the whales, though, that she skipped over details, making it seem like events occurring over a long period of time were instead occurring over a matter of a few days. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to anyone interested in learning about killer whales and how important it is for people to protect their species.
learning about whales.......2005-11-30
Alexandra Morton's book, "Listening to Whales" is a fantastic story of how she came to study and love dolphins and killer whales. Morton grabs the reader's attention from the beginning by telling of her childhood and how she came to love animals and research. She was first intrerested in frogs, then snakes, then moved onto dolphins and eventually to killer whales. Morton's story of how she started her career was fascinating, and all about meeting the right people at the right times. She started slow but her passion willingness to learn kept her going. After years of tedious work, Morton finally landed a job at Marineland where her first job was to study the sounds that dolphins make. By using a hydrophone, Morton was able to listen to the dolphins, but there were many problems in her studies. One problem was that the dolphins were too fast for her to write cooresponding notes, and also, she wasn't able to figure out which dolphin was making which noise. Two killer whales that also happened to be in Marineland started Morton's true interest on killer whales.
Morton's career has let her listen to these killer whales, witness a birth, and uncover habits of these creatures that no one at first believed. Morton then goes into the wild to listen to and observe these beauties in their natural habitats. Morton continues to study killer whales in the wild and learns a lot from listening to these whales communicate.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was interesting that Morton gave a lot of information on her personal life and background and told the readers of how she started her career. I thought the way she opened the book got the reader's attention from the start and built up her ethos. The only weakness to the book I'd say is that it is a little slow at the beginning. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about killer whales, or anyone who wants to hear the story of how a young, animal loving girl, grew up to be a wonderful scientist. This is story is one of "following your dreams". Morton did what she loved and knew she wanted to do, even when discouraged by others. Aspiring scientists and whale lovers would love this book.
amazing.......2005-11-29
Listening to Whales is a wonderful story of a woman's life in the wild and the beautiful creatures she has devoted her life to. This auto-biography of the life of Alex Morten follows her journey through studying dolphin noises to captive dolphins to captive orcas and finally spending 25 years in the wilderness off the western coast of Canada studying killer whales in the wild. This story is so powerful and definitely shows us how important and intelligent these creatures are. Aside from retelling the moving story of how the whales thrived in those empty waters to completely leaving the same land with the coming of fish farms, this novel teaches the reader so much about this whale species, their culture and their environment. This is a must read for anyone interested in the preservation of the once pristine waters that are home to the killer whales and other marine animals--such as dolphins, porpoises, salmon, seals and otters--and for anyone who finds these beautiful and smart animals at all intriguing. Morton will make any reader fall in love with orcas as she takes the readers out on the waters in her boat, watching the whales live, play, love, and die. The end of the novel becomes more of a commentary on the industries--fish farming in particular--that destroy natural ecosystems. Morton leaves the touching story of her whales as they leave the once peaceful waters near her home, and throws a lot of political jargon at the reader. Though what she has to say is quite shocking, and definitely will leave the reader understanding the terrible effects of such an industry, the constant barrage of numbers and statistics that Morton uses to get her point across can become quite tiresome. However, it makes the final beautiful pages of this novel all the more emotionally touching. This book is amazing, and will definitely leave any reader feeling the same love that Morton does towards killer whales.
A researcher's life study of the complex marine mammal, the killer whale.......2005-11-29
The book, Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us, is a spellbinding story of a woman's stuggle through life as she relentlessly studies killer whales. She brings us with her through her life's work of note taking and photo identification of the whales as she raises children, survives as a single mom in the wilderness, and falls in love. Alexandra Morton also teaches us of our human errors and our insensitive treatment of nature, as we do whatever is needed to fill our own pockets with more money, acting naive to how it is affecting the world around us. I especially enjoyed the peace and serenity of the novel. The setting and the whales themselves calms the nerves. I think it makes us all somewhat jealous of life outside of busy streets and many people. However, like with all autobiographies, the author can not control what has already happened, which makes the story move slow at the times when not a lot happened in the author's life. I would definitely recommend this novel, especially to anyone wishing to learn about whales and to anyone who loves reading about the serene and complexity of nature.
Average customer rating:
- Not Free SF Reader
- Good story, but a different perspective
- In which Vlad Taltos investigates the death of a banker
- Mysteries Revealed
- We've seen this before
|
Orca
Steven Brust
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Brust, Steven | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0441001963 |
Amazon.com
Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos novels are wildly and deservedly popular. Here Vlad--wanted all over the Empire, and trying to elude capture--aids a young boy who saved his life and probes the secrets of the House of the Orca.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Kiera the Thief is friends with Cawti, Vlad's estranged wife. She wants to know what he is up to, so Kiera fills her in, and a large part of the book has to deal with Kiera, and who she really is.
Vlad is trying to get help for Savn from a local woman named Mother. She agrees, if Vlad will look into her own problem.
He takes her up on the deal Vlad ends up in a private investigator type role, looking into some Orca financial skullduggery that could have very serious ramifications. This he does with Kiera's help.
Good story, but a different perspective.......2007-03-31
I'll be honest that I didn't care for the way the narrative was done in this book. I enjoy the stories from Vlad's perspective, but much of this book isn't. The story, to my mind, was a good one one with typical Brust twists and turns and a very interesting end. I just think that the change of perspective flattens the narrative a bit.
In which Vlad Taltos investigates the death of a banker.......2007-01-04
This highly entertaining comic fantasy novel is the seventh by publication order, and eighth in chronological sequence, in the story of Vladimir Taltos. It follows on shortly after the sixth book, "Athyra." Vlad's attempt to obtain a cure for a young man who was injured saving his life in "Athyra" leads him into the attempt to unravel the secrets around the mysterious death of an Orca financier. This book also contains important plot revelations affecting the rest of the series.
If you have not previously read any of Steven Brust's "Vlad Taltos" novels or "Khaavren" romances, they are all set in a world of magic, where there are several intelligent species, including two types of men and women. Humans like ourselves are usually referred to as "Easterners," the other type of men and women call themselves humans but are usually referred to in the books as "Dragaerans" or occasionally as Elves.
All Dragaerans belong to one of seventeen "Great Houses" named after animals of the fantasy world in which the novels are set. Nine of the ten novels to date featuring Vlad Taltos, including "Orca" are named after one of these great houses, usually also featuring a member of that house in a prominent role: if Steven Brust is planning to write a novel for each house we are about half way through the series.
Most of the great houses also have a preferred occupation. For examples: "Dragons" and "Dzurlords" are soldiers, "Tecla" are peasants, "Chreotha" are merchants, "Orcas" are sailors, pirates or - wait for it - bankers, and "Jhereg" are gangsters or assassins.
Most members of House Jhereg are also involved in "the organization," which is the equivalent of the mafia. The hero, Baronet Vladimir Taltos, is an assassin and minor sorcerer, who used to be a prominent member of House Jhereg but is now on the run from the organisation after developing an unfortunate case of principles. Vlad has a companion and familiar, Loiosh, who is an actual Jhereg - that is to say, he is a small intelligent flying reptile - and Vlad is also accompanied by Loiosh's mate, Rocza.
Taltos narrates most of the stories with a wonderful dry wit which is one of their best aspects. In "Orca" the story is being told by Vlad's oldest friend, Kiera the Thief, to his separated wife Cawti. Sometimes the story is told from Kiera's own perspective, but for most of the book she is quoting Vlad.
The books are not written in a regular chronological sequence. For example the fourth published novel, "Taltos" is a prequel set before the main action of any of the others, while the eighth novel, "Dragon" is mostly set just after "Taltos" but jumps to a few weeks after "Yendi" for the conclusion.
Many of the Vlad Taltos novels contain either flashbacks to much earlier events, references to much later events, multiple timelines, or all three. "Orca" has one of the simpler timelines in the series, in that you get the story in rough chronological sequence as Kiera told it to Cawti.
This book includes a critical plot revelation for the series as a whole, as Vlad finds out the real identity of one of the most important characters in the series. Brust has obviously been setting this up from the start, because there are events in novels written a decade before "Orca" which make more sense when you have read this book. Further, Brust does not always remind you in later books about this real identity, so you need to read "Orca" beforehand to make sense of some events in later books such as "Issola" and "Dzur".
There is also a rather moving scene between Vlad and Loiosh: usually their relationship consists of a constant stream of insulting banter, but in "Orca" there is a scene in which Loiosh is badly injured and you get an insight into another side of the relationship.
Make sure you read to the end because another important revelation comes in the very last sentence of the book.
You will get most out of the Vlad Taltos books if you read them in something close to the "official" order. My recommendation would be to start with either the first book written, "Jhereg" or the chronologically first book, "Taltos."
Here is a list of the books in publication order, with the chronological place of the main action of each book in brackets after:
1) Jhereg (4th)
2) Yendi (3rd)
3) Tecla (5th)
4) Taltos (1st)
5) Phoenix (6th)
6) Athyra (7th)
7) Orca (8th)
8) Dragon (2nd)
9) Issola (9th)
10) Dzur (10th).
If you enjoy the Taltos novels, you might be interested in another sequence of books which Steven Brust has set in the same country, but quite a few centuries earlier. These are something between a parody and a homage to the novels of Alexandre Dumas (Junior). He's called them the "Khaavren Romances" after the central character of the first two novels, who corresponds very closely to D'Artagnan.
Obviously none of the human characters overlap, but some of the Dragaerans do: Khaavren himself meets Vlad Taltos very briefly in the book "Tecla" and his current role in the Empire is described in a sort of offstage cameo in this book, "Orca." Two of the major characters in the Taltos novels, Sethra Lavode and Lord Morrolan of Castle Black, are also important enough in the Khaavren novels to have books named after them.
The five Khaavren romances, in sequence, are
1) "The Phoenix Guards" (equivalent to "The Three Musketeers")
2)"Five Hundred Years After" (equivalent to "Twenty years after")
Then a trilogy "The Viscount of Adrilankha" (e.g. "The Count of Monte Cristo") which comprises
3) The Paths of the Dead
4) The Lord of Castle Black
5) Sethra Lavode
Overall I found both the "Taltos" novels and the "Khaavren Romances" very entertaining: I recommend both series and this book.
Mysteries Revealed.......2004-10-19
Without going into detail, any fan of Vlad must read this book. Between Orca and the next few books it looks like we are starting to find out some of the mysteries that have been hinted at in previous installments in the series. Very cool and very unpredictable.
As far as Orca goes, Vlad and his faithful sidekick, Loiosh, continue wandering - just ahead of the Jhereg assassins out to get him and toward what appears to be a great destiny. They solve a mystery involving a deep conspiracy and encounter some covert operatives of the Draegaran government.
As always it's an excellent read. Brust has some of the best dialogue - fresh, crisp, wise cracking... and is the master of conveying emotion in the speech of his characters. The plot is in depth and challenging. Orca is better than most of its predecessors as a whole.
Obviously, however, you need to be familiar with the series to "get it."
We've seen this before.......2004-10-06
I liked this story the first time when Vlad was called Drizzt, and he was a dark elf saving villages in the Forgotten Realms.
Brust can do better.
Book Description
Watching killer whales in the wild in British Columbia and Washington is a popular recreational activity. Nothing quite matches the thrill of witnessing a pod of these immense creatures cutting through the waters of Johnstone Strait or listening to their strident underwater calls to each other in their own dialect.
This new edition of this best-selling book presents updated results of over twenty-five years of killer whale research in British Columbia and Washington. Intended for both whale enthusiasts and researchers, it contains the latest information on killer whale natural history and presents a catalogue of close to 300 photographs of "resident" killer whales as well as a genealogical registry that enables readers to identify individual killer whales and their family groups. The technique of photographing the dorsal fin and grey saddle patch of whales has revolutionized the study of killer whales, allowing researchers to follow individuals over the course of many years.
Also new in this edition is the latest information on the status and future prospects of west coast killer whales -- how they may be affected by declining salmon stocks, high levels of toxic chemicals in their tissue, and increasing vessel traffic and underwater noise. Whale watchers will particularly appreciate revised suggestions and guidelines on how to view whales in the wild without disturbing them.
Customer Reviews:
If you need to know about orcas..........2002-12-30
This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in orca whales. It has mass amounts of great information, it's easy to read, there are great photographs, and the ID catalogue of orcas is nothing but the best. This book is a must have for any whale-lover, researcher, or someone with just a general interest.
Orca Researcher's Bible.......2002-03-28
May I first say I have never encountered a better identification book then Killer Whales and Transients. Both books are written by THE wild orca authority in the Pacific Northwest. Catalouged pictures and organized information of each individual in every pod along the coast from WA to northern BC along with accurate info on feeding, behavioral and other habits of the pods in Puget Sound and British Columbia. Truly a great book, and as I plan on researching these animals in my adulthood, it has been a great boost to my knowledge on them.
Wonderful refrenece book.......2001-08-27
I just returned from a kayaking trip in the Johnston Straight just East of North Vancouver Island known as the inside passage. We had first hand views of the Orcas. This book was used as a reference manual to identify some of the whales. It has wonderful reference pictures of the known pods (families) in the area. It goes into great detail on their eating habits, language, and family history. It also explains their social behavior, and the differences between the pods. It is a wonderful book full of pictures, and details.
For anyone who loves whales........2001-03-07
This book, the second edition for Ellis, Balcomb and Ford, is a beautiful book for anyone interested in whales, their habitat and their behaviour. Focusing on the Orcas of the Pacific Northwest, this book details their lives from what they eat, to their social habits. It includes a wonderful photo chart of all the Northwest Orcas still alive when this book was published. It is a bit heavy reading, with many complex scientific terms. I would not reccommend for children, but if you know anyone with a facination with whales, this book will it into an obsession.
For anyone who loves whales........2001-03-07
This book, the second edition for Ellis, Balcomb and Ford, is a beautiful book for anyone interested in whales, their habitat and their behaviour. Focusing on the Orcas of the Pacific Northwest, this book details their lives from what they eat, to their social habits. It includes a wonderful photo chart of all the Northwest Orcas still alive when this book was published. It is a bit heavy reading, with many complex scientific terms. I would not reccommend for children, but if you know anyone with a facination with whales, this book will it into an obsession.
Book Description
Neptune's Ark illuminates the dramatic saga of evolution spanning 500 million years of marine life along the magnificent Pacific coast of western North America. In an engaging narrative that artfully blends elements of science, history, folklore, and personal observation, renowned naturalist David Rains Wallace reveals a marvelous diversity of creatures, not only modern ones, but those from the far prehistoric past. Mysterious forms have abounded--from giant sea cows, oyster bears, and flightless toothed birds to the orcas, elephant seals, and sea otters of modern times. Wallace tells a story about evolution as well as a tale of the storms, scurvy, and shipwrecks that plagued the coast's explorers, naturalists, and scientists, many of whom led turbulent or tragic lives, with themes reflected in the wonder and danger of the coast itself. Neptune's Ark is full of vivid characters--from explorers like Sir Francis Drake and Captain James Cook, to pioneer naturalists including Georg Steller and Charles Scammon, to early paleontologists Othniel Marsh and Edward Cope, and to recent scientists and ecological visionaries.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful topic given hasty treatment.......2007-06-16
I looked forward with anticipation to reading this book, since the topic is of great interest- origins of the many marine animals that came from land. While it has been very interesting to read, it is a great regret that I can only give it three stars, due to its writing and editing. The publishers weekly review given above is correct in mentioning that the reader has to be prepared to come to this project with a lot of her own armamentarium- such as ready internet access and interest in the field. There is no diagram of geological time, even though the author mentions ancient geological eras by name in virtually every other sentence. (A useful one is [...]
.) There are no diagrams of fossils, only a few beautifully rendered yet speculative drawings of extinct creatures. While these drawings are valuable (as seen on the dust jacket), the discussions about the history of the field and of life generally turn on comparisons of the fossils- ear bones, jaw bones, leg bones, etc. which are not presented. This is rather surprising in a book put out by the University of California Press, which one would think has higher standards of scientific communication.
Unfortunately, worse than the missing media is the writing itself, which is laden with non sequiturs and oddly presented stories which put me in mind of the compulsive intrusion of King Charles's head into the writings of Charles Dickens' character, Mr, Dick. The author tries to liven up the book with descriptions of the 19th century conflicts between paleontologists Othniel Marsh and Edward Cope, who intrude at odd moments and have conflicts that are neither clearly explained nor convincingly resolved. I have no problems with the author's personal reminiscences and connections (dreams are wonderful sources of art & insight)- they are some of the more lively parts of the narrative. But they all seem to turn on only one location- one point on the Point Reyes seashore, which might be a metaphor of sorts for the modest amount of research that went into this book. More substantive parts of the narrative are also plagued with headscratchers, which may or may not be explained at some later episode. One example is the claim that sexual dimorphism was ruled to be minor or absent for Enaliarctos, when only two partial skull fossils had been found to the time. Another is the frequent refrain that some ancient group or other originated in the pacific, when only one fossil had been found world-wide. One might conclude that editing was either very lax, or was so severe as to impair the original sense- either way it can be a chore to figure out what is going on. What can be said is that this book is inspiring enough that this chore is gladly undertaken.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful balance of science and emotion.......2007-01-16
This book strikes a wonderful balance between straight science and the more emotional stories of interaction with the orcas. She discusses her own work, researching the orcas of New Zealand and Antarctica under more rigid scientific situations. But at the same time, she also discusses the more emotional side of her fascination with killer whales. The stories she tells of coming face-to-face with killer whales in their own element are wonderful. It's also interesting to see her acknowledge the possibility that these interactions could affect scientific data, but then also look at what she's been able to learn because of them. This book can appeal to both the more scientific-thinking public as well as the laymen - it does a wonderful job of bridging the gap between the two, a critical factor in today's world of translational science. Highly recommended for anyone with a love of wildlife!
A good source for learning about cetacean research.......2006-09-02
Dr. Visser is obviously a person who loves her work. She is a scientist specializing in cetacean research. In particular, she studies the behavior of orca, or killer whales. If you have been lucky enough to meet Visser in her native New Zealand or on an expedition to the South Pacific or Antarctica, you know how passionate she is about the creatures to which she has dedicated her life.
The book, "Swimming with Orca," is semi-autobiographical, tracing the 40 years of Visser's remarkably rich life from that of a child growing up in New Zealand and sailing around the world with her father, to that of a scientist observing orca in their natural habitat. It is the story of a young woman with a dream and the obstacles she surmounts to attain that dream. As such, the book is both educational and inspirational. The writing is unpretentious, honest and easily accessible, and is illustrated by excellent pictures, in black and white and color. It is good reading for young and old alike.
The title of the book reflects Dr. Visser's courage in the face of animals with a reputation as the deadliest in the ocean. Even more so, it reveals the mutual trust that has come to exist between Visser and the orca who know her: she literally does swim with the orca, unafraid and without the use of protective devices. And individual orca do recognize Visser and her boat, and come to play, communicate, and seek affection. Dr. Visser lovingly describes these encounters.
Important issues of wildlife management also get their due. Dr. Visser addresses some of the situations which endanger orca and other marine mammals including industrial pollution; keeping animals in captivity; and irresponsible boat handling and fishing practices. She also describes efforts to protect the N.Z. orca, including an interesting discussion of the process of rescuing beached whales.
The book is a good resource for learning about cetacean research. It documents Visser's observations of orca behavior, and it describes the scientific methodology required to do work in this field. Additionally, Visser addresses the issue: should field research among animals be of the hands-off, observation-only kind, or can a more humane and interactive approach be as valid? Visser comes squarely down on the side of the humane and interactive, citing the work of Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. This is fortunate for the reader: a tale about a whale named Ben is entirely more enjoyable and memorable than one about a scientific specimen labeled NZ101.
Although Swimming with Orca is her first book intended for a general audience, Dr. Visser has also helped produce a video for The Discovery Channel titled "Orca - Killers I have Known," has written several books for the children's market, and has published articles in scientific journals.
Books:
- Outcast (Guardians' League, Book 2)
- Raintree: Inferno (Silhouette Nocturne)
- Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind (Readers Circle)
- Shield of Lies (Star Wars: The Black Fleet Crisis, Book 2)
- Sky Woman Falling
- Snow Crash (Bantam Spectra Book)
- Snow Drop, Book 1
- Summer of the Sea Serpent (Magic Tree House #31)
- Systems Analysis and Design, Sixth Edition
- Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew
Books Index
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