Discovery

DORLING KINDERSLEY DICTIONARY OF SCIENCE; Dorling Kindersley, 1999/Penguin; 448 pp; $79.95

PHILIP'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ENCYCLOPEDIA; George Philip Ltd, 1998/Reed; 471 pp; $69.95

These two books represent two quite distinct ways of compiling information and, as such, could be considered to complement each other nicely.

Dorling Kindersley is well known for its beautifully designed books, using extremely effective juxtaposition of text and graphics to present clear, vivid images across the broad range of the sciences. They have been brave to tackle such apparently unvisual areas as mathematics within this volume and, as we have come to expect, have done well. Thematic arrangement into different subject areas (including physics, life sciences, electronics and earth science), assisted by a comprehensive index, makes it easy to find information. Despite large illustrations, there is a large amount of supporting text that will, for the most part, provide good contextual understanding of the concepts and areas presented.

The Philip's Encyclopedia is more traditional in approach, consisting of an A to Z (aa to zygote) listing of terms found throughout the sciences. Its more formal offerings would suit the older student who is able to use the cross-references or who has already gained sufficient understanding to place the information in context. A 60-page chronology explores the development of various areas of science and technology, from the domestication of the dog 10,000 years ago to the 1998 Lunar Prospector mission.

Vicki Hyde, NZSM

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.