Cruisin' the Fossil Coastline: The Travels of an Artist and a Scientist along the Shores of the Prehistoric Pacific

by Kirk R. Johnson, Ray Troll

Overview

In this long-awaited sequel Kirk Johnson and Ray Troll are back on a road trip—driving, flying, and boating their way from Baja, California to northern Alaska in search of the fossil secrets of North America’s Pacific coast.

They hunt for fossils, visit museums, meet scientists and paleonerds, and sleuth out untold stories of extinct worlds. As one of the oldest coasts on earth, the west coast is a rich ground for fossil discovery. Its wonders include extinct marine mammals, pygmy mammoths, oyster bears, immense ammonites, shark-bitten camels, polar dinosaurs, Alaskan palms, California walruses, and a lava-baked rhinoceros. Join in for a fossil journey through deep time and discover how the west coast became the place it is today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781555917432
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/01/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	290
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Kirk R. Johnson is a paleobotanist and the Sant Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He is the host of two recent PBS series, Making North America and The Great Yellowstone Thaw. He has written ten books including Prehistoric Journey, Cruisin' The Fossil Freeway, and Ancient Wyoming.

Ray Troll is an artist who has illustrated ten books, including Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway, Sharkabet, Rapture of the Deep, and Planet Ocean. He and his wife, Michelle, own and operate the Soho Coho Gallery in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Editorial Reviews

06/25/2018
Paleontologist Johnson and illustrator Troll, previously coauthors of Cruisin’ the Fossil Freeway, exhibit an infectious enthusiasm for extinct species in this entertaining combination of illustrated guidebook and science lesson. Over several years they traveled to various sites up the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska, where the pair sought out fossil beds, museums, and fellow fossil enthusiasts. Johnson, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, points out that discoveries can occur in unlikely places: “I found it wholly bizarre that key members of the walrus family would not be known were it not for a San Diego subdivision.” As he notes, the “world’s largest and most famous Ice Age fossil site” comprises the La Brea tar pits, right in the heart of Los Angeles. Troll’s fabulous illustrations bring Johnson’s scientific insights to life, showing the layers of remains in the geologic record and tracing the family trees of species alive today, while also betraying a fondness for visual puns, such as a “roadside dino” and “tree-dog night” (inspired by the extinct tree-climbing canine Cynarctoides). Far from a dry scientific textbook, this is a charming celebration of fossils and those who study them. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Johnson and Troll have done it again, congratulations! This book is a knockout blend of science and humor, featuring superb artwork, people, and stories about the West Coast of the US and its fascinating prehistory. This book will make you laugh while exciting you with extraordinary science. It revives that sense of childhood wonder about dinosaurs and other bizarre creatures of bygone days." —John Long, Professor in Palaeontology at Flinders University in Australia, and author of many books, including Dawn of the Deed—The Prehistoric Origins of Sex


"Far from a dry scientific textbook, this is a charming celebration of fossils and those who study them." —Publishers Weekly


"Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline packs written and visual stories from cover to cover—all infused with a genuine passion for science and the joy of discovery." —Susan Ewing, author of Resurrecting the Shark


"This is a fun and informative book that moves briskly, bringing science and scientists alive." —David A. James, Anchorage Daily News


“In the long and storied history of fossil-hunting, the dynamic duo of Johnson and Troll is unique. No one else has made this grueling work look like so much fun. Once again, they’ve returned from an 'epoch' road trip laden with tales and images that are at once joyfully accessible and deeply informative. And the colors! They'll knock your eyes out.”— John Vaillant, author of The Tiger and The Golden Spruce

From the Publisher