Among the islands : adventures in the Pacific.

Abstract

Twenty-five years ago, a young curator of mammals from the Australian Museum in Sydney set out to research the fauna of the Pacific Islands. Starting with a survey of one of the most inaccessible islands in Melanesia – Woodlark, in the Trobriands Group – that young scientist found himself ghost-whispering, snake wrestling, Quadoi hunting and plunged waist-deep into a sludge of maggot-infested faeces in search of a small bat that turned out not to be earth-shatteringly interesting. With accounts of discovering, naming and sometimes eating new mammal species; being thwarted or aided by local customs; and historic scientific expeditions, Tim Flannery takes us on an enthralling journey through some of the most diverse and spectacular environments on earth. "Exemplifies the sort of writing that was once commonplace, when adventure meant contributing to our knowledge of the world. Absolutely fantastic in every sense of the word." - Booklist (starred review) "Flannery's account pieces together the jigsaw puzzle of South Pacific geological, natural, and cultural history, as well as respect and wonder for the natural world. We are lucky to have such an exuberant explorer to illuminate he intricate network of life in the South Pacific." - National Geographic Traveler (Book of the Month) "Part travel diary and part field notebook, Among the Islands is a rollicking good adventure-science read – something like what you'd get if Charles Darwin starred in an Indiana Jones flick." - Audubon Magazine "In [Flannery's] chest beats the wayfaring heart of a discoverer. and in this book [...] he reminds us that even right here on Earth, incredible things are waiting to be known." - Newsweek "Tim Flannery is in the league of the all-time great explorers like Dr David Livingstone." - Sir David Attenborough "A born scientist, Flannery brings a lover's eye to creatures of the past and present." - Bulletin "Flannery is perhaps the most gifted describer of the natural sciences writing today." - Weekend Australian "Flannery's writerly art stirs the imagination to pay attention." - Australian Literary Review