Books in World of the Sagas series

Ten years ago, the first edition of Oxford's Atlas of the World was met with praise for the incredible beauty and accuracy of its maps as well as for its wealth of geographic data, and it only collects more accolades with each edition. The New York Times Book Review called it a "veritable encyclopedia of geographic and demographic information, profusely illustrated with multicolored maps and graphs," and Library Journal exclaimed that the newest edition was "a splendid achievement in geographical reference." The additions and improvements continue with an 11th Edition that boasts several new features. A Glossary of Geographical Terms will be an enormous asset to those unfamiliar with geographical jargon, and still more of the latest statistics will be collected in the colorful Introduction to World Geography section-providing abundant information on global issues such as climate, the greenhouse effect, plate tectonics, agriculture, population and migration, and global conflicts. Reflecting our turbulent and ever-changing planet, the 11th Edition will also highlight several key Regions in the News, keeping the atlas in step with current events. National Parks and Game Reserves have been added worldwide, and the overall precision and clarity of the entire book has been enhanced with redesigned map spreads. Laden with outstanding cartography, a revised Gazetteer of Countries, and nearly 70 sharp maps of the major cities on each continent, the Atlas also bears the distinction of being the only one of its kind that is updated annually to reflect the changing world around us. The recent dissolution of Yugoslavia, changes to provinces in Indonesia, refined name forms in Africa, alterations to administrative areas in Russia and Ethiopia, and dozens of other upgrades make this the most reliable atlas on the market. Providing the finest global coverage available, the Atlas of the World sets the standard for international atlases, living up to its reputation as an "indispensable reference," granted by NBC's Weekend Today Show.

Dogs have become an integral part of the lives of millions of people around the world - as working animals or simply as domestic pets - but their wild relatives are being pushed ever closer to extinction. The ancestor of the domestic dog, the grey wolf, has been eliminated from most of Europe and, in the USA, the red wolf's plight is such that it is currently the subject of an intensive captive-breeding and reintroduction program.This book examines all members of the Canidae, showing where the existing 34 species are distributed, and how they have been affected by human pressures. David Alderton describes fully the form, function, reproduction, lifestyles and distribution of the wild canids. The text is illustrated throughout by superb color photographs, specially taken for this book. There are also clear distribution maps for every species, and a full checklist of the Canidae.It is the ultimate irony that though we have accepted the domestic dog into our homes, we still generally perceive its ancestor as an evil killer. Such a lack of understanding is probably the greatest barrier to the effective conservation of wolves and other wild canids. Foxes, Wolves and Wild Dogs of the World breaks down these popular misconceptions and shows that positive action is needed to safeguard the future of wild canids.

This latest title in the "Of the World" series - the seventeenth - covers that fascinating group of animals whose evolution into their present forms and life-styles seems almost contradictory. While seals, sea lions and walruses are indeed mammals, their habitat is very much an aquatic one, their limbs now fully adapted for swimming rather than land locomotion.The various families of the order Pinnipedia - fur seals, sea lions, walruses and the phocid seals - are described and illustrated. Evolution, classification, distribution, life-cycles, zoology and their current status and future are all fully discussed. In addition, the complex question of their relationship with humans is examined. As with other marine-dwelling mammals, the issues are controversial. In examining topics such as conflicts between seals and fishing and culling and the fur trade, expert author Nigel Bonner adopts a professional and unemotional approach, based on first-hand knowledge and much experience.Their aquatic life and the remoteness of their habitats make the seals and their kin hard to study. Yet encounters with these species have produced in many people a particularly strong response, sometimes becoming sentimental. This book sensibly places them in context through a clear understanding of their natural history and their interactions with humans. The text is enhanced throughout by some 100 color photographs, detailed diagrams and maps.

Amazing and awe-inspiring, flight has always captured man's imagination. This dynamically illustrated title truly captures the excitement of flight, from the Montgolfier brothers' hot-air balloon to the latest "super jumbos" that carry up to nine hundred passengers. Readers will explore the basic principles offlight, meet aviation pioneers, discover which aircraft is the fastest, and fly into the future with amazing "space planes."

Hailed as "extraordinary" (New York Times) when it debuted, the Atlas of the World has now undergone its most significant revision ever, with sixteen added pages of world maps, including improved coverage of the South East United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, the Middle East, Indonesia, the Philippines, Central Europe, France, the British Isles, and Iceland. In addition, the index has been updated, the thematic section includes the latest statistical information, and five maps of Europe are now derived from a new digital database. Offering spectacular state-of-the-art maps and a gold mine of information, Atlas of the World continues to be the finest top-of-the-line atlas available.