Out of the Crater [Hardcover]

Richard V. Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 1998

Volcanologists venture to treacherous volcanoes the world over in the pursuit of their science. They work around craters of boiling magma and amidst smoke, flames, scorched rocks, and clouds of noxious gases--balancing personal risk against advancing knowledge about one of nature's most dangerous and unpredictable forces. Richard Fisher, a world-renowned volcanologist, has had more than forty years of experience in the field. In this book, he blends autobiography with clear, accessible science to introduce readers to the basics of volcanology and to the wonders of volcanoes that he has studied and learned to both fear and admire.

In the course of the book, we follow Fisher as he descends into the steaming crater of the Soufri re Volcano on the island of St. Vincent, as he conducts research on lava flows on the desolate south shore of the Island of Hawaii, and as he struggles to understand the explosion at Mount St. Helens. We learn about his pioneering work on pyroclastic flows and surges--the hurricanes of gases, molten lava, and volcanic debris that cause most of the death and destruction when volcanoes explode. He tells of solving a historic scientific problem at Mount Pelee, Martinique, where 29,000 people were killed in a pyroclastic flow in 1902. Fisher also offers a volcanologist's view of the explosion of Mount Vesuvius that devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum. He writes about the cultural rewards and challenges of conducting research in isolated areas of such countries as Argentina, Mexico, and China. And he discusses the early influences that steered him toward volcanology--including his army experiences as a witness to two atom-bomb explosions at Bikini atoll.

Out of the Crater is written in an inviting, nontechnical style. With its deft combination of personal stories and scientific information, it is an inspiring account of a remarkable life and a compelling examination of some of the most spectacular forces shaping the face of the Earth.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The title of this book is a slight misnomer, since author Richard Fisher seems to get out of a volcanic crater only long enough to board a plane bound for another one. This is a professional rather than personal memoir, although Fisher's wife of nearly 52 years, Beverly, pops up engagingly in several chapters. Fisher lyrically describes the physical landscapes in which he did his field work, amply revealing his own inner life--in particular his quiet conviction that the earth is a sacred place with workings human beings may study and marvel at but never fully comprehend. A volcanologist specializing in pyroclastic rocks (the kind shot out of a volcano during its explosive phases), Fisher was a professor of geology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from 1955 until his retirement in 1993. In this memoir, he lucidly chronicles the evolution of his knowledge and career as he moves from one otherworldly site to the next. The lava smoldering in remote regions of Hawaii and the enormous crater in which the Italian city of Naples is situated are evoked with vividness. Fisher conveys the romance of volcanology to the general reader without dumbing down the science of his fascinating profession. --Wendy Smith

From Publishers Weekly

Fisher, a geologist and volcanologist, has spent the last half century hopping the globe, studying volcanoes and volcanic rocks. This informal account of his fieldwork, though at times workmanlike and pedestrian, is for the most part a remarkable and enlightening adventure. Fisher's memoir boasts an itinerary that encompasses the Caribbean island of Martinique, where Mount Pelee?whose explosion in 1902 wiped out St. Pierre's 29,000 residents?is continually monitored; China's eastern coast, not yet open to foreign tourists when he tours it in 1985; and Hawaii's Puu Hou, a gigantic mound of volcanic particles, created in 1868 when magma flowing from Mauna Loa into the cold Pacific explosively sprayed the land with lava. Readers who think volcanoes are confined to exotic, far-off places should stay the course with Fisher: in central France, he visits a field of active volcanoes near the city of Clermont-Ferrand; in Germany, he explores Laacher See, a lake inside a volcanic crater; in Italy, he climbs Mt. Vesuvius, hovering over Naples and overdue for eruption. And, even closer to home: the author surveys Washington State's Mt. St. Helens three weeks after it erupted in 1980, killing 57 people, and offers potentially life-saving insights for those within killing range of future eruptions. Fisher (a professor emeritus at UC-Santa Barbara) believes that the "Gaia hypothesis," which views Earth as a complex living organism, may not be scientifically valid but nonetheless serves as a useful operative metaphor, and his guided tour indeed fosters an appreciation of our planet as a dynamic web of interrelated systems. Photos.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (December 7, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691002266
• ISBN-13: 978-0691002262
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,027,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Pyroclastic!, April 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Out of the Crater (Hardcover)

Mr. Fisher, besides being a world-renowned volcanologist, is also an amazing storyteller. I enjoyed every page of his book. What is wonderful about this professional journal is its appeal to all types of audiences. A young adult reader to a professional in earth sciences can enjoy this type of non-fiction literature. Not only did I learn general information about volcanology & pyroclastic eruptions, but I also laughed out loud when reading about Mr. Fisher's travelling mishaps -specially about Napoleon, the cantankerous mule he met in Mexico. The career path he chose was a result of significant events in his life, including being witness to two atom bomb explosions at Bikini atoll. The passion he holds for his career is felt as a reader and it truly is "geologically and culturally stimulating" as he describes the culture and geology of his research sites around the world.