Abacus Books ISBN: 0349117101 The dramatic story of the beginnings of the science of Paleontology. An in depth and entertaining look at the early characters-Mary Anning, William Buckland, Richard Owen, Gideon Mantell et al . It all starts here, the first scientific look at fossils and what they meant for understanding the world and the age of the Earth. Christopher McGowan is well placed to discuss the subject (being Senior Curator of Paleobiology at the Royal Ontario Museum) and does so in an accessible and entertaining manner.