Absolutely flipping marvelous… as if it wasn’t bad enough that I am hopelessly addicted to natural history books, particularly those that are produced at such a high level of content and production value that they seriously endanger my old age savings more than ten Wall Street executives could ever hope to do, it now comes to my attention that Lynx Edicions, the publishers who bring the world that magnum opus of bird books – the Handbook of the Birds of the World – are now preparing to begin the publication of the Handbook of the Mammals of the World.
Described as “a definitive work in 8 volumes, the first ever to illustrate and treat in detail every known mammalian species on our planet” will make its first appearance in April of 2009. Up until March 31, 2009, a pre-publication order can be made at the steeply discounted price of $185.00 for volume 1 (the normal price will be $240.00).
Will it be worth it? As one who has twelve volumes and counting of the Handbook of the Birds of the World already on the shelf, I have the greatest of expectations that it will be worth every penny and then some; thus making it an indispensible addition to every naturalist worth his or her field boots. Have these publishers no shame?
Peace and good bird watching.
