Synopsis
This reference work is the third supplement to Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia (a 1998 American Library Association Outstanding Reference Book) and follows the intent and format of the encyclopedia and the first two supplements ("superb...the scope is phenomenal"-ARBA; "recommended"-Booklist/RBB).
This continuation of what is now the standard encyclopedia provides up-to-date concepts, based on the latest original research of paleontologists, on such topics as the Mesozoic Era; new discoveries, ideas and studies; ectothermy versus endothermy; dinosaurs and birds; dinosaur extinctions; dinosaurian systematics; dinosaurian genera; nomina nuda and excluded genera; and an appendix discussing dinosaur tracks and eggs.
Donald F. Glut is a prolific book and article writer, and movie producer-director. Among his many works are Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia (1997, $195) and its Supplement 1 (1999, $95) and Supplement 2 (2002, $95), Jurassic Classics: A Collection of Saurian Essays and Mesozoic Musings (2001, $29.95) and Carbon Dates: A Day by Day Almanac of Paleo Anniversaries and Dino Events (1999, $29.95). He lives in Burbank, California.
VOYA
Here is a riddle for all librarians who work in college and large public libraries: what is it that you cannot afford to buy, yet cannot afford not to have? The answer, of course, is Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia. The title says it all: this book is now the dinosaur encyclopedia. It blows its closest competitors not just out of the water but into earth orbit. How exactly does this book differ from earlier works of its type? It gives the reader more, that is how. There are more articles; more illustrations and photographs; more glossary, bibliography, and index entries; more everything-period. Paleontologists both professional and amateur will want to have it, as will museums and universities with a paleontology department. Entries in this work are arranged alphabetically by dinosaurian generic name. Entries include first appearance in the scientific literature, cladistic (rather than Linnean) classification, name derivation, geographic area and geologic era, known types of skeletal material uncovered to date, a diagnosis of genus, a comments section, and a list of key references in the scientific literature. It has perhaps occurred to you that a book technical enough in nature to be of use to a professional paleontologist is possibly too technical to be of much use to the casual dinosaur enthusiasts you serve. This type of reader will not be able to read any of the articles in this book without making extensive use of the glossary. So what is the average school or public librarian to do? I recommend that she purchase The Dinosaur Society's Dinosaur Encyclopedia by Don Lessem and Donald F. Glut (Random House, 1993). It is well illustrated, both extensive and recent enough to answer most dinosaur questions you will receive, yet cheap enough ($25) that most libraries can afford it. It provides basic information (order, suborder, and family; type species; length in feet and meters; geologic era; locality; and preferred diet) on six hundred dinosaur species. It also gives the correct pronunciation for each species, something most dinosaur guides do not provide. Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio. Appendix.