RE: "T-rex&theCommetofDoom"

["Ilja Nieuwland" <I.J.J.Nieuwland@let.rug.nl>]

> Its really quite a good book.  Since its written by Alvarez, the 
> presentation is perhaps a bit one-sided, but he makes an honest effort to 
> review other viewpoints, especially the from the Dartmouth people.  Authors 
> who are busy doing real science tend to spend too much time on the 
> historical development of the idea, rather than the science itself, because 
> its easier to write.  This book is no exception.  Still, this is a book 
> intended for the educated puiblic, not specialists.
> 
[snipped] 
>   --Toby White

One of the last issues of ISIS had a review of this book, which was
quite positive. However, the reviewer (who I think was Ronald Rainger)
treated it as an autobiographical account of a scientific quest (i.e. 
as an effort in the history of science, which is what ISIS is about), 
with all the advantages and disadvantages that go with that type of 
book, and in this respect I guess it's quite OK. I will gladly let 
others decide on its precise geological and paleobiological merits. 
Having said that, I am well aware that such an approach provides 
justification for blatant one-sidedness of argument (as it did with 
Dave Raup's The Nemesis Affair), and one should separate 
autobiography and scientific content, which in these cases is never 
easy.  

Ilja Nieuwland
Groningen, NL