814 ______________________________________ TEXTB(X)KS __________________ ~N~A~T~U~R=E~V~O~L~.~3~19~2~7~F=EB~R~U~A~R~Y~19=86 cause the lack of the former and the con­ This at once suggests that the title is in­ Making of singular tent of the latter were both weaknesses of appropriate, but it by no means detracts landforms the original version. from the undoubted value of the contents. Most of the book has been rewritten, Almost half of the text is devoted to Paul W. Williams the original Chapters 4 and 5 and 9 and 10 geomorphic processes. Complex subjects have been reversed in order, and more are handled skilfully with a masterly blend than 50 per cent of the extensive reference Karst Geomorphology, 2nd Edn. By J.N. of theory and field data. Chemical and list is new, with entries to 1984. To those biological processes in the soil, on rock Jennings. Basil Blackwell: 1985. Pp.293. of us who had badgered Joe Jennings to outcrops and along the coast are particu­ Hbk £27.50, $49.95; pbk £9.50, $14.95. produce a second edition, it is a great larly well dealt with, reflecting Trudgill's Limestone Geomorphology. By Stephen relief that he completed the work before original research contributions. Much less Trudgill. Longman: 1985. Pp.196. Pbk his untimely death. His book will live successful and substantial is his treatment £12.95, $19.95. on to educate another generation of karst of morphology and physical processes. geomorphologists; Peter Bull and I regard Jennings's book as balanced, SECOND editions of successful books can Andrew Goudie deserve our thanks for comprehensive and authoritative, and be very disappointing. Not so Karst seeing it through the press. Trudgill's as too uneven to stand alone Geomorphology. The new edition reflects Limestone Geomorphology by Stephen as an introductory text. Although it is Joe Jennings's indefatigable energy, en­ Trudgill is the eighth in a series of geomor­ narrower in scope and more limited in thusiasm and scholarship. It retains the phology texts under the general editorship reference material, however, Limestone best features of the first edition, yet shows of Professor Keith Clayton. Its publica­ Geomorphology is much superior on pro­ a thorough revision, and there can be little tion in the same year as Jennings's second cesses, and generally better illustrated and doubt that the book will retain its place as edition inevitably invites comparison easier to read. These, then, are a valuable the pre-eminent introductory text on the between the two books. Trudgill's preface and complementary pair of texts, but I subject. accurately describes his purpose: "The shall require my students to purchase only Karst geomorphology is the study of book is . primarily a selective assess­ one ofthem. 0 landform development on carbonate and ment of recent work on limestone erosion Paul W. Williams is Professor in the Department evaporite rocks. Unusual landforms and processes, indicating, where possible, of Geography, University of Auckland, Private hydrology develop because of the high how process and form may be related". Bag, Auckland, New Zealand. solubility of these lithologies in natural waters. Carbonate rocks alone cover about 10 per cent of the continents, and ity theory, vibrations and waves are re­ are particularly highly represented in Seismological event tained with only minor changes, and some some areas: they outcrop over 45 per cent Peter D. Marshall new material has been added on seis­ of France, 33 per cent of Yugoslavia and mometry, but the rest of the book has 15 per cent of the United States. There are been drastically restructured and, with all also more than two million square An Introduction to the Theory of Seis­ the new material, greatly improved. kilometres of karst in China, including an mology, 4th Edn. By K.E. Bullen and There are, for example, new chapters on Bruce A. Bolt. Cambridge University incredible tower karst, which, for Jen­ the theory of earthquake sources, seismic nings, provokes "images of giants in Press: 1985. Pp.499. Hbk £35, $69.50; wave propagation through the Earth and drunken reel transfixed into immobility". pbk£15, $24.95. its anomalous regions, free oscillations, It is one of the world's great landscapes strong motion seismology, earthquake and has been the subject of traditional UNTIL his death in 1976, Professor Bullen prediction and risk. Each chapter has Chinese art for centuries. was gathering material for a new edition of been carefully prepared to provide a good Jennings helps his readers to under­ his acclaimed textbook, An Introduction grounding in the fundamentals ofthe topic stand karst by following the same success­ to the Theory of Seismology, three edi­ concerned, and there are exercises for the ful formula as in his first edition. Again, tions of which had appeared between 1947 reader to test his comprehension. the book is a model of clarity, and the and 1963. Since the early 1960s much With the additional material and the newcomer to the field will appreciate from progress has been made in seismology, enlarged reference list, the fourth edition the chapter headings that karst is a micro­ due largely to a massive injection of funds is longer than its immediate forerunner cosm of geomorphology as a whole. After for research aimed at improving our even though some topics such as seismic describing the rocks it develops on and the understanding of the physics of seismic prospecting and model seismology have, processes that mould it, Jennings discus­ sources and elastic wave propagation quite rightly, been dropped. In earlier edi­ ses and explains the special features that phenomena, with the eventual object of tions the illustrations were not exactly give karst its singularity, among them resolving problems concerned with earth­ prolific, but Bolt has rectified this short­ sinking rivers, springs, caves, gorges, kar­ quake prediction and the monitoring of coming by providing numerous real ren, towers and a range of enclosed de­ nuclear test-ban treaties. Many ofthe adv­ seismograms and clear informative dia­ pressions (dolines, uvalas, poljes and ances have been on the theory side of the grams which have been carefully selected cockpits). Ofthe concluding chapters, one subject, particularly in the development to complement the text. is entirely new ("Coast and Karst") and of improved statistical and mathematical Bolt has drawn on his wide knowledge one from the first edition has been omitted techniques such as inversion theory, of seismology and expertise as a university ("Present State of Karst Geomorphology making radical revision of the book a teacher to produce a valuable and well­ and its Value") - sensible decisions, be- necessity. presented textbook. It will at once fill the It is appropriate that Bruce Bolt, Pro­ course needs of students and teachers of • Themes in Geomorphology, edited by Alas­ fessor of Seismology at the University of seismology and related subjects, and be tair Pitty and published last year by Croom California, Berkeley, and a former col­ Helm/Barnes & Noble, is a collection of re­ very useful to professionals engaged in views on the broad subject of geomorphology league and student of Bullen, should have seismological research. 0 and includes a chapter on karst forms and accepted the task of modifying and updat­ ing the original text. Bolt has tackled the Peter D. Marshall is a Principal Scientific Offic­ processes. The book is intended to offer "a er in the Seismology Division of the Ministry of geomorphological aperitif for students of geo­ job with characteristic enthusiasm. The Defence (Procurement Executive), Blacknest, graphy ... ". Price is £25, $28.50. first ten chapters on topics such as elastic- Brimpton, Reading RG7 4RS, UK. © 1986 Nature Publishing Group.