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Book ReviewsA new section devoted to reviews of Astronomical books.Note for Authors: if you would like your book reviewed here please contact me at the email address at the bottom of this page.
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Postcards from MarsAuthor: Jim Bell Published: Dutton (Penguin Group) Date: 2006 ISBN: 0-525-94985-2 Price: $50 Website: www.postcardsfrommarsbook.com |
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Imagine the legendary photographer Ansell Adams visited Mars and sent us back some Postcards. That's the effect that this large format book so admirably portrays. Unlike Ansell Adams these are full colour but with Mars having a palette of reddy-brown and white the comparison is, I believe still valid. Jim Bell is the lead scientist for the imaging system of the NASA Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. He was therefore ideally placed to author this book and select the very best images. And what images they are. Many are featured across 2 pages and 4 involve twin foldouts producing panoramas almost 4 feet wide! Image quality for this book, which was printed in China, is superb. For me the weakest image is the one used for the front cover - virtually all the rest just grab your attention. Most of the text is in chapter 1. We get an introduction and background to the Mission with inside detail that only someone so close to the Mission could tell. However, I suspect most will read this last rather than first! The meat of the book is 150 or so images, each with captions giving just about the right amount of information. A book to pick-up at any time and just dive into. Any amateur astronomer who has looked at Mars through his or her telescope and wondered what it really must be like, then the moment they see this book, they will want it! They will also probably want a ticket to Mars as well - but that will have to wait and until then this book is the closest we will get. Thoroughly recommended. DR |
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