Today’s review concerns the Atlas of Prehistoric Animals, written by Radek Malý and illustrated by Petr Modlitba. Originally published in the Czech Republic, it received an English translation earlier this year, blessing us Anglophones with its presence.
First things first; there’s no point in beating around the bush about the main draw of the book. Petr Modlitba‘s illustrations are absolutely fantastic. Not only are they traditionally painted, but they possess a certain quality to them that recalls legendary paleoartists of old. Indeed, many of Modlitba’s paintings look like how I imagine Zdeněk Burian specifically might have reconstructed modern paleontological discoveries.
The information in the text is accurate and detailed, and scientifically up to date. It even touches on ethical concerns affecting the field of paleontology, such as the collection of private specimens, and of conflict amber in Myanmar. The translation occasionally feels like it might have been a little overly direct, but it isn’t an issue most of the time.
I should note that despite the title, this book is not a true atlas like Dinosaur Atlas or Where On Earth? Dinosaurs, but more of an illustrated encyclopedia, akin to something like Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life.
I really enjoyed looking through Atlas of Prehistoric Animals; its illustrations alone make it must-have, and the text isn’t too bad either. I recommend it to anyone interested in prehistoric life, and give it my enthusiastic Dino Dad Stomp of Approval!
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