Richard Fortey鈥檚 wonderful The Earth (Harper Perennial, 拢9.99) is now in paperback. Ted Nield reviewed it for 快猫短视频 saying, 鈥淏ooks with a title this ambitious generally do not live up to their billing. This one does.鈥� Fortey takes us around the world, showing that it is 鈥渇orever in transit鈥�. The evidence he gives us ranges from the glassy strands that form as gases burst through molten lava to rocks thrown up from Earth鈥檚 core. Those delicate filaments, known as 鈥淧ele鈥檚 hair鈥� in Hawaii, are clues to the volcanic action that shaped the Hawaiian islands. Even a single crystal in a mineral or rock can reveal how the earth has moved. Buy yourself a copy, and prepare to share it around.
Digging Up Deep Time (ABC Books, Australia, A$34.95) takes you round 16 sites that are the key to Australia鈥檚 past, from ancient bacteria and dinosaurs to kangaroos. Paul Willis and Abbie Thomas are great guides as they unravel the mysteries of fossils in shale, sand mines and stones, from pike-like fish to the ankle bone of the ozraptor, Australia鈥檚 only carnivorous dinosaur. Superior armchair reading and invaluable to travellers.