Book review: Holtz and Rey's Dinosaurs

Okay, so this is a trifle late. But my copy of Dinosaurs by Thom Holtz and Luis V. Rey just arrived from Alibris (the excellent online bookshop to which I also owe The World We Live In and The Snouters), and I had to chuck in my own review.

Is it as good as expected? The bad news is no. The good news is that it's better. It's aimed squarely at an audience of older children, but it can be equally read by serious scientists as well. The writing style is engaging and fun, and various technical points are painlessly explained. The book groups the dinosaurs according to classification and evolution, which is already a good thing. There are also one-page essays contributed by over 30 palaeontologists, on subjects ranging from British dinosaurs to coprolites. A good sprinkling of cladograms is also present, and, all in all, the book would make a fine introduction to palaeontology and cladistics for children.

The illustrations are as exuberant as the writing. For fans of Luis Rey's palaeoart*, the book is a goldmine, holding many previously-published pictures (including those from the Field Guide) as well as new, never-before-seen images. The feathered, colorful dinosaurs are a fine antidote to the depressing CGI dinosaurs that have become all the rage in pop-science publications. Some of my favorite pictures include the "dinosaur stampedes" opening each chapter, Astrodon exacting some revenge on Utahraptor, Mapusaurus running down Argentinosaurus, Deinonychus trying to reach a treed avian, the furry Leaellynasaura, and Supersaurus preparing to stomp its attacker to pulp.

*Or palaeontography. Those who'd rather use this term know who they are. I'm not giving any names. :-)

The scope of Dinosaurs is truly staggering. A meaty book, many of the animals in it are apparently new to general-interest books. There's Silesaurus, Nigersaurus, Antetonitrus, Mapusaurus, Guanlong, Megaraptor, Falcarius... One notable exception is the recent media darling Gigantoraptor, which would have looked good with its oviraptorian relatives. But, since palaeontology changes on a near-daily basis, Thom Holtz helpfully supplies an indispensable update page to correct future errors and changes.

In short, it's a great, colorful book. If you have children or younger siblings, get it for them as a present. And read it out loud to them. And read it on your own, too, when you get the chance.