9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A modern classic, November 3, 1998
This review is from: Predatory Dinosaurs of the World: A Complete Illustrated Guide (Hardcover)
Once, I was just a kid obsessed with Jurassic Park. That's as in touch with dinosaurs as I got. Then, on a search for information on Velociraptor, I discovered this book at my public library. And it got me hooked. PDW got me into dinosaurs for real, and ever since I have been fascinated by them, a serious field of interest for me.
PDW is well-written, lively and readable, save for the occasional (and amusing) typo. The information is extremely valuable. Although some of Paul's theories on theropods, especially their classification, have since been disfavored (or were never really agreeable to begin with), an astonishing number of them have remained wickedly close to the truth. It is fascinating reading of Paul's then-outrageous theories of, say, feathered theropods, and not even ten years later watching feathered theropods pop out of the ground like weeds.
The illustrations are incredible. Paul is, without a doubt, the most influential dinosaur artist today; virtually every other artist has been influenced at least somewhat by Paul's magnificent work. They depict dinosaurs at the highest level of accuracy, painstakingly researched, skeletons reconstructed, muscles laid onto the bones, and finally the flesh (and, sometimes, feathers) added to reveal the finest possible restorations of these extinct animals. Greg Paul is truly a genius.
This book has been scrutinized by the conservatives, flamed, disappreciated. I think that is truly a shame, as the book is, in actuality, one of the gems of dinosaur paleontology. It is also a shame that this book is out of print. If you are fascinated by theropod dinosaurs, or dinosaurs or paleontology in general, I urge you to find a copy of this book. It may be hard, but it's worth it. Or, you can wait and hope Mr. Paul writes an update sometime in the near future. I wait for a version two with more anticipation that I can possibly relate in words. We'll see...
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great reference material, May 7, 1998
This review is from: Predatory Dinosaurs of the World: A Complete Illustrated Guide (Hardcover)
I only lower the number on this review because much of the material presented here is outdated. In fact, Greg Paul kinda went out on a limb with his classification system. While he was correct that a new one was needed, other schemes have left his behind long ago. This book also is missing (because of the date of publication) some of the essential and fascinating finds of the nineties. I've sent Paul an email before hassling him to get a new edition out! It would truly be the most complete reference of its kind available, and Paul's wonderful illustrations are a plus anytime, while his skeletal restorations are more than just a plus, they are a necessity! Maybe we could convince him to through in a couple of his color plates in that new edition...
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest dinosaur-dinosaur art books existence, August 13, 2001
This review is from: Predatory Dinosaurs of the World: A Complete Illustrated Guide (Hardcover)
Greg Paul is the greatest dinosaur artist. He inspired a whole generation of dinosaur artists including myself. When I first found his book and saw it's astounding, action-packed illustrations my art would never be the same again. His art is more accurate, more dramatic, and more breathtaking than any other dinosaur artist alive today. For thirty years he has set the bar, and for thirty years every dinosaur artist young and old have tried but failed, to put it any higher. That's without saying his book, the PREDATORY DINOSAURS of the WORLD, that did the same for all dinosaur-books there after. In my opinion, my small dim-witted opinion,is one of the greatest dinosaur books to exist today. The only thing that keeps it from being the greatest is it's out-dated by little over ten years. Maybe someday Greg Paul will update P.D.O.T.W. and will showcase gigantosaurus, sinosauropteryx, chacharodotosaurus, majungatholus, neovenator, afrovenator, and so many others that I can't even think of at this point. Let finish with saying that if you enjoy dinosaur art, dinosaurs or paleontology you're going to flip out when you get this book.
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