Guest Post by: Mardav

There is a line in the Biblical Song of Solomon, “The voice of the turtle is heard in the land.” A modern version might add, “and it sounds like Carl Safina.”

Safina is a scientist who writes like a novelist—well perhaps not exactly like a best selling fiction writer, but he does make science writing sound delicious. Safina speaks on behalf of the threatened leatherback turtle with both passion and compassion. In Safina’s narrative, the turtle is not a distant object of scientific observation, but rather a fascinating creature that becomes a central character in the tale.

However, as engaging and evocative as Voyage of the Turtle becomes, it seldom wanders far from solid scientific ground. Safina has done his research with masterful diligence and then uses flowing, image-rich language to tell the story. His photos and maps add a “being there” dimension to the interesting book. He offers anecdotal, historical quotes to give his readers a picture of a time—in fairly recent history—when the sea was literally swarming with turtles. Then he delivers the shocking details of a species rapidly approaching the fatal cliff of extinction.

Technorati Tags: “Voyage of the Turtle—In Pursuit of the Earth’s Last Dinosaur, Book Review, Carl Safina

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