|
| 
 enlarge | Author: Claire Nouvian
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Category: Book
List Price: $45.00
Buy New: $29.22
You Save: $15.78 (35%)
New (35) Used (10) from $26.60
Avg. Customer Rating:  66 reviews
Sales Rank: 6119
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.7
Dimensions (in): 11.9 x 10.4 x 1.1
ISBN: 0226595668
Dewey Decimal Number: 591.77
EAN: 9780226595665
ASIN: 0226595668
Publication Date: March 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
|
| Customer Reviews:
"I need somebody to love!" January 8, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Joe Cocker's lament at Woodstock might well be echoed by the horde of bizarre creatures inhabiting the world's ocean depths. Their forms are alien - in fact, at least one may be the Earthly version of the film's off-world predator. Their habitat is cold and dark, yet there is more opportunity to flourish, and perhaps more species reflecting that condition, than the surface we're familiar with now contains. Many live on the remains of life drifting down from the surface or shallow layers. Others seek out prey in a number of zones in the water column. For there are but two things inhabiting this stygian realm - animals and minerals. Life is spent "looking for something to eat or somebody to love". In this spectacular album of photographs, accompanied by informative essays by oceanic researchers, we are given a first clear view into an unknown zone of life's largest arena.
Although quite possibly the zone where life began billions of years ago, the deep sea has long been hidden. Sunlight fades quickly, and perceptible colours shift from blue to red, then disappear. In the deeps, red is the dominant biological colour because nothing can see it. Reflecting this, the photographs are dominated by scarlet-hued creatures who only wish to be seen by potential mates. Others are almost perfectly transparent, a survival trait in a locale where having too much brain, heart or eyes can be fatally visible. Shapes vary across species with infinite ingenuity, but no few of these creatures can modify their profile either on demand or as part of their normal life cycle. With survival always a challenge, both predators and prey must be able to adapt effectively. From our viewpoint, seeing these animals in fully-illuminated conditions, they seem to stand out vividly. Nouvian and the researchers point out why we need to reconsider the images to what life is like in the chilling depths. Depths where the pressure is the equivalent of a cow standing on your thumbnail. And Joe Cocker's plaint might need revising in the face of mating habits of the black seadevil. The male attaches himself to his mate's body and is slowly absorbed into her flesh when she's utilised all his sperm to fertilise her eggs.
In her Preface, Nouvian opens by relating her astonishment at seeing a film of creatures found deep in the Monterey Canyon off the California coast. "These animals aren't real!" she exclaimed - probably in chorus with the other viewers. As you turn the pages, you can hardly blame her: an octopus with "rabbit" ears, a sponge resembling the Brussels "Atomium", and a host of species that have never seen the sun - a condition we were all assured in school wasn't possible. There were hints - the 19th Century exploration ship HMS Challenger brought up evidence of deep life, as had many a fishing net. Relocating deep-sea creatures to the surface is a hazardous undertaking - for them. Those transparent bodies are fragile, shattering or dissolving shape when they emerge. William Beebe descended into the Western Atlantic in a steel ball, but it's the introduction of the Remote Observing Vehicles that have brought information from the deep for us to see. Look quickly, because the bottom of the sea isn't immune to the effect of shifts in climate we're generating.
It is the greatest area on the planet where life exists. We would do well to begin to understand it. This book is an outstanding introduction to this unknown part of our world. Take it up and learn about forms of life seen only in dreams and visions - until now. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Spectacular book! January 7, 2008
I bought this not only to feed my fascination with the subject matter, but to use as a reference for my 3D illustration work. The huge, full-page images serve both purposes wonderfully. I have been obsessively thumbing through the images, just soaking them in, and therefore have no comments on the written portions of the book.
One thing that I should mention is that very large portions of the page are inky black. This makes it very difficult to get good prints, and though the print quality here is truly excellent, I had to exchange the book to replace on that had very unevenly printed pages. Don't be afraid to take it back if you find the print quality sub-par, the stunning quality of a well-printed copy is well worth the effort.
Top notch coffee table book. January 7, 2008
This is an ideal gift for anyonw who is interested in nature. The photos are stunning. Put it on your coffee table and it will end up being the focus of everyone's attention.
Review of "The Deep" January 7, 2008
Excellent photographs and fascinating commentary. One of the most interesting books I have read recently.
The Deep January 2, 2008
I bougt this for my nephew as a Christmas gift. It was exactly what he wanted. He gave me the "thumbs up" so I know I did good. He is 12 years old and we took him to the movie a couple of years ago and since then he has really been interested in the ocean and it's creatures. He loves to read and learn so this book and the several others I bought him were just perfect. If you have a child who loves the ocean and wants to learn about it and it's creatures I would recommend this book! They might just give you the "thumbs up"
|
|
|
Disclaimer: This is an Amazon storefront - the products referenced on this site are manufactured and sold by other parties and sold through Amazon.com We make no representations regarding either the products or any information vendors offer about their products. Any questions, complaints, or claims regarding the products must be directed to the appropriate manufacturer or vendor, or to Amazon.com. |
| |
