This book is a selection of essays by the well-known European paleontologist and author whose works include the novel Dance of the Tiger ( LJ 1/1/81). The essays range from a retelling of the familiar story of the Piltdown hoax and a recounting of the development of the theory of plate tectonics to discussions of lesser known topics such as prehistoric oil seeps and the story of a bison, frozen 36,000 years ago in Alaska, that was discovered, still frozen, in 1979. These well-written essays should provide fascinating reading for those interested in prehistoric life.