The Blue Planet - Hardcover

Byatt, Andrew; Fothergill, Alastair; Holmes, Martha

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0563384980 ISBN 13: 9780563384984

Publisher: BBC Books, 2001

Synopsis

From space Planet Earth is blue. It floats like a jewel in the inky black void. The reflection of the suns light from the vast expanse of water covering its surface creates its gem-like blue colour. In the entire solar system Earth is the only planet that has water in its liquid form in such quantities. Scientists have calculated that 70 per cent of our planet is covered by water; small wonder then that humans have always been so fascinated by the oceans and what lies beneath. Today while we still have so much more of the ocean realm to uncover we have discovered enough to know that beneath the waves lies a vast treasure-trove of rich and diverse life. The Blue Planet leads us on a voyage of exploration from the coasts, the very edges of the oceans, to the deep where weird and monstrous fish lurk in a world of perpetual darkness. Along the way we meet a host of wonderful creatures from tiny copepods to majestic blue whales, from the grotesque hairy anglerfish, to the amazing tripod fish that stands on 3 delicate legs waiting to snap up unsuspecting prey. With a foreword by David Attenborough and 400 colour photos The Blue Planet is the first complete and comprehensive portrait of the whole ocean system.

About this title

Review

Whether you have seen the BBC TV series or not, The Blue Planet is a must-have book. It tells the story of life in the oceans, upon which we all ultimately depend. From the tropics to the poles, from the shores to the deeps, the waters of the planet teem with an amazing diversity of creatures and plants and a wonderful sample of it is portrayed here in the book's 400 or so colour photos.

The Blue Planet is a reminder of what we know and what we still don't know about the oceans and is a timely reminder of how fragile its ecosystems can be. We still know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the floor of the oceans. As David Attenborough reminds us in his introduction the highest peaks on Earth are still unclimbed and there are still thousands, maybe even millions, of animal species that remain undiscovered because all are hidden under the waves of the oceans. People have walked on the surface of the moon, nobody has walked on the floor of the deep ocean and probably never will. Looking at a book such as this you can get some idea of the thrill of exploring the last unknown section of our planet. And since 70 per cent of Earth's surface is covered in water, there is still plenty left to find out about.

The story the book tells is so momentous that much of the scientific background has to be condensed. For the general reader, however, this is an excellent and up-to-date introduction. Martha Holmes, one of the three authors is a marine biologist and all have worked in the Natural History Unit, the jewel in the crown of BBC TV, and so have been exposed to most of the researchers whose work has helped inform the series and the book. There is a useful glossary and index but, disappointingly, there is no Further Reading list for those who want to find out more. The Blue Planet will no doubt encourage a whole new generation of marine biologists and oceanographers.-- Douglas Palmer

About the Author

Alastair Fothergill was educated at the universities of St. Andrew's and Durham in the UK, joining the BBC Natural History Unit in 1983. He has worked on a wide range of the department's programs, including the award winning The Really Wild Show, Wildlife on One, and the innovative Reefwatch. He worked with Sir David Attenborough on The Trials of Life and again, in 1993, when he produced Life in the Freezer, for which he also wrote the accompanying BBC book. In 1992 he was appointed head of the BBC Natural History Unit. In June 1998 he stepped down as head of the unit in order to concentrate on his role as series producer of The Blue Planet TV series. Martha Holmes specialized in marine biology and gained her Ph.D. at the University of York in UK. She started work with the BBC in 1998, presenting programs such as Reefwatch, a live underwater broadcast from the northern Red Sea, and The Natural World: Splashdown, which was followed by the award-winning wildlife adventure series Sea Trek, for which she wrote the accompanying BBC book. She worked in Antarctica for Sir David Attenborough's Life in the Freezer and has produced a number of other natural history films, such as Hippos out of Water, Deadly Liaisons, Otters -- The Truth and Reefwise. More recently, she produced the groundbreaking and BAFTA-winning film Wildlife Special: Polar Bear. She joined The Blue Planet team as a producer in 1997. Andrew Byatt began working with the Natural History Unit in 1989 as a safety diver for The Natural World: Splashdown. He has been highly acclaimed for his work on several Wildlife on One programs, including the award-winning film on jellyfish, The Swarm. More recently, Andrew has produced two films for Incredible Journeys on gray whales and rattlesnakes, and has co-produced Wildlife Special: Humpback Whales. He joined The Blue Planet team as a producer in 1997.

About this edition

• Publisher: BBC Books
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0563384980
• ISBN 13: 9780563384984
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 384