Line #30 Literature/DinosaursTheMostCompleteUpToDateEncyclopedia


1	[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/full-hr2007_3224.jpg]]
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3	A 2007 encyclopedia on dinosaurs created by the combined might of paleontologist [[http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/ Dr. Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.]] and famed[[note]]though some would say ''in''famed[[/note]] paleoartist [[http://www.luisrey.ndtilda.co.uk/ Luis Rey]]. Unlike your average dino-book, this one doesn't merely cover the most well-known genera and calls it a day -- the author instead divided it into 42 chapters, each revolving around a major theme, like geology, fossilization, the Mesozoic periods, but the bulk of the written material is dedicated to thoroughly detailing each of the branches on the dinosaur family tree. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin True to the title]], this means birds get a chapter of their own, while [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles pterosaurs and marine reptiles]] ''don't''.
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5	Written in a casual language both young and adult paleo-nerds will find readable and enjoyable, this volume is seen as ''the'' "Dinosaur Bible" by many enthusiasts of the subject, for its sheer completeness and [[BuffySpeak scienciness]]. And for the colorful pictures supplied by one of today's top dino artists. The text is punctuated by short essays written by the world's most famous paleontologists, giving a deeper insight into the dinosaur age and the work that goes into deciphering it.
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7	Sadly, [[ScienceMarchesOn it's become pretty outdated and incomplete by now]]... paleontology is, ironically, a science that evolves in a faster pace than most people can keep up with... but most of it still holds up well, and the basic scientific thought processes which the book employs and stresses so much are as solid as ever.
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9	Also, [[http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/dinoappendix/ see here]] for a load of supplementary material that touches upon nearly every little detail in the book that has proven incorrect or obsolete. A web address for the site is also given in the book.
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11	!!The work contains examples of:
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13	* AmazingTechnicolorWildlife: A staple of Luis V. Rey's paleoart.
14	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: From the chapter updates: "On the troodontid side of things, little ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchiornis Anchiornis]]'' shows that troodontids a) were present in the Middle Jurassic; b) had long leg feathers like primitive dromaeosaurids and primitive avialians; and c) were cute."
15	* ArtShift: Pencil sketches, digitally painted images with real-life backgrounds, and lavishly detailed, traditional paintings grace the pages.
16	* AuthorAvatar: [[spoiler:The last page of the book has Holtz as a tyrannosaurid and Rey as a basal pygostylian.]]
17	* BizarreSexualDimorphism: The crests on various hadrosaurs.
18	* CanonDiscontinuity: Happens fairly often between the main text & genus list (for instance, in the carnosaur, deinonychosaur & basal ornithopod chapters).
19	* CaptainObvious: Often used to humorous effect. Holtz does this quite a bit in RealLife as well, it [[http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/G104/50things.htm appears]] (quotes similar to the last two appear in the actual book).
20	* TheFaceless: ''Deinocheirus''.
21	* FeatheredFiend: Most of the more fearsome coelurosaurs would qualify. These include, of course, tyrannosaurids (though most of the pictures still depict them with tough scales).
22	* GiantFlyer: The later, larger pterosaurs which are briefly discussed.
23	* [[SeaMonster Giant Swimmer]]: Marine reptiles, though again, the book only covers them cursorily.
24	* MixAndMatchCritter: Therizinosaurs (and, to a lesser extent, troodontids) are {{lampshade}}d as this
25	* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily: ''Pelecanimimus'', rebbachisaurids and hadrosaurs.
26	* NeverSmileAtACrocodile: Mesozoic pseudosuchians are very briefly discussed, and some are noted as being potential threats to dinosaurs.
27	* RaptorAttack: All but averted. A number of paleo buffs don't find some of the half-scaly/half-fuzzy raptors that pleasing, and there are a few, let's just say "[[http://www.luisrey.ndtilda.co.uk/jpegs/new/Chick.jpg outlandish]]" reconstructions the illustrator is so well known for... That said, the majority of the underfeathered restorations are the artist's [[ScienceMarchesOn older works]], though strangely not updated as some of his other old paintings have been.
28	* ShoutOut: Several of the headings within the text, such as "Series/WalkingWithDinosaurs" (on fossilized dinosaur tracks), "[[Literature/{{Jabberwocky}} The Jaws That Bite, The Claws That Catch]]" (on adaptations of theropods for predation), and "[[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy Mostly Harmless]]" (on ornithomimosaur lifestyles).
29	* SophisticatedAsHell: Noticeable on occasions in the writing style. One sentence may be deadpan and full of complicated scientific terms, only to be followed by "Dinosaurs are totally cool, dude!".
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Context Literature / DinosaursTheMostCompleteUpToDateEncyclopedia