Customer Reviews

A Dazzle of Dragonflies

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As soon as I heard this book was being released, I was dying to buy it. The authors have pioneered a method of scanning dragonflies on standard flatbed scanners and have produced some magnificent images of these insects, which they display online. As an entomologist and a woman fascinated by dragonflies, I have always admired their work and knew this book would be gorgeous if nothing else. I was not disappointed. The photos and scans of dragonflies in this book are spectacular. Even people who are squeamish of bugs could learn to appreciate the beauty of these magnificent insects after reading this book. Aside from the lovely images, the book also contains some very interesting information about dragonflies. I am particularly fond of the chapter called Dragonfly Tales, which covers dragonfly myths and folklore in more detail than I've seen in any other dragonfly book to date. Other chapters cover information rarely included in other books such as imaging, gardening for, and collecting dragonflies. It also discusses more commonly covered topics such as dragonfly life histories, structure, evolution, and development.

This is an impressive collection of amazing images and interesting, rarely published information. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in dragonflies, novice and expert alike.

This is a fantastic book - everything you wanted to know about dragonflies, with pictures! There are pages and pages of gorgeous photographs and lots of interesting information about dragonflies, from science to folklore. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with interest in these beautiful insects.

Texas nature writer, Ro Wauer, reviewed this book in July 2005 and described it as a book on dragonflies and damselflies. Well, the former is the case but the latter does not apply. The authors themselves make no such claims, but suggest any use of damselfly photos or references to them is merely for comparison's sake. That being said, the book is excellent and unique for format and photographic technique used. The flatbed scanned photos of scintillating dragonflies up-close-and-personal, is one of a kind. Finally, there is a book that is beginning to give dragonflies their due as relates to their splendid detail, coloring, and overall beauty! I was particularly impressed as well with the etymological study on the word "dragonfly"; I've not seen this very interesting and most imformative material presented in any other book on dragonflies until now. The book is well worth the price many times over. In fact, don't just get one copy! It is destined to be a classic gift item that will be treasured for years.

This is a "coffee table book" rather than a field guide. It provides a wonderful reference and background for those interested in dragonflies and damselflies. It is slanted towards those species occurring in the Southwestern United States, but includes species found elsewhere. It is nicely illustrated with computer scans and photographs of these insects, and of their habitats and interactions with other animals. There are chapters on observation, photography, and collection along with information on their role in various cultures.

I expected a gorgeous book full of professional pictures, I was rewarded with an entertaining overview that left me with greater perspective and general knowledge of our primitive friends. The photography is innovative, using office equipment to solve a technical problem in using standard cameras in the field, and , in the process, producing a unique set of beautiful, precise, jewel-like images. A very rewarding book.

An amnazingly beautiful pictorial review of dragonflies. The information provided in this book is perfect for someone who appreciates the beauty and serenity the presence of dragonflies brings to the soul.

This is a fine book on Dragonflies. The illustrations are excellent, and the authors obviously know this subject because of the informative text.

I was disappointed to see this book was printed in China. I expect small electronics to be assembled there but was hoping an item done by an automated process would be made in the USA.

This is an honest and forthright work, particularly for a newcomer to dragonflies. I wished there were more pictures but that only reflects my increased appetite for more.
Virgilius DiBiase

I have enjoyed this book very much. It is a beautiful picture book and also has quite a bit of good information if one is looking for such a book. I would recommend it for sure.

Forrest Mitchell and James Laswell's labor of love, "A Dazzle of Dragonflies", accomplishes a feat that any science exhibit hopes to do: hook the viewer with visual flair, and then pique their interest with previously mundane data. This method of exhibition is applicable for exotic or esoteric subjects, such as Himalayan vistas or microscopic bacteria activity, but it also holds well for specimens more acquainted with the viewer's scope of life. In Mitchell and Laswell's case, the elusive but omnipresent dragonfly is given the runway treatment.
"Dazzle" aims to give the reader a comprehensive introduction to dragonfly study; their place in folklore, the fossil record, their internal mechanisms, their behavior. But "Dazzle" is not just a study book for aspiring entomologists- Mitchell and Laswell also offer advice on capturing, luring, and photographing the famously elusive Odonata.
Photographic advice from the authors should certainly be heeded, as it is apparent from the first page that the photos of dragonflies are simply stunning. Every color of the abdomen, the compound eye, even the vein system of the wing are rendered with remarkable clarity. A perusal of the pictures in the hardcover edition justifies the hefty price tag.
The pictures may be intended to be the visual hook that snares the reader, but the excellent introductory chapters assure the reader's attention. After a brief introductory chapter, "Dazzle" veers to a sociological aside and studies the myths and folklore of several different cultures regarding dragonflies. This is a humanistic quality that is absent from many science books. The knowledge that some cultures have alternately hated (the Romanian dubbed "devil's horse") and revered (an ancient name of Japan was Akitsu-shima, or "Island of the Dragonfly") these insects is fascinating, revelatory reading (28-30). Not surprisingly, the folklore section is the best writing in the book, as it allows the authors to let their passion and emotion shine.
Equally interesting is the section that covers the fossil record. Dragonflies have left behind well-preserved fossils that give the reader insight to their evolution. Though this section is short, and gives a brief rundown of the various eras in which dragonflies were prominent, the photography of the fossils is a little sparse. There is a very nice shot of the Tupus permianus, but it would have been nice to see a picture of the massive Meganeuropsis permiana, the largest fossilized insect yet discovered (47). The lack of fossil pictures, which is the gateway into an evolution discussion, gives the impression that the majority of photography in this book is meant to be live action shots or scans of captured specimens.
It is this devotion to photography style that causes the next two sections of the book to falter. Devoted to the life cycle and natural history of dragonflies, the authors offer a fine primer, but the data load becomes quite heavy. In such cases, tables or graphics, so as to reinforce visually what the reader has mentally ingested, can lighten dense subject matter. The authors attempt to do this with their photography, and the result is unsatisfactory. Particularly, when shifting to dragonfly anatomy and physiology, a graphic with the dragonfly's inner structures and pathways would have been an excellent aide in comprehension. The life cycle of the dragonfly is reduced to a convoluted mess by the absence of a comprehensive table. While the pictures of the larvae molting to its adult life were fantastic, it would have been nice to have a better grasp of the inner workings of the dragonfly.
The concluding chapters regarding dragonfly watching, collecting, and photographing redeem this deficiency. The authors are experts in this department, as evidenced throughout the entire book. For those who are interested in dragonfly collection and further study, these sections are invaluable. There is also an appendix with ideas on how to properly document dragonfly finds, and a protocol for responsible bug hunting. A list of references and websites for further learning conclude the book.
"Dazzle" was surely aimed at the casual hobbyist and the curious, and its mark is hit clearly. A book that is scientific without being overly empirical will appeal to this broad audience, and the photography will cause even the most jaded National Geographic reader to do an about face. If the sections regarding anatomy and life cycle leave you wanting more, the authors have provided enough references and further reading suggestions to slake your thirst. "A Dazzle of Dragonflies" is an excellent first read for anyone who is interested in learning about dragonflies, and considering the scarcity of any such literature, it may well be essential.