Dinosaurs Ever Evolving - by Allen a Debus (Paperback)

About the Book

From their discovery in the 19th century to the dawn of the Nuclear Age, dinosaurs were seen in popular culture as ambassadors of the geological past and as icons of the "life through time" narrative of evolution. They took on a more foreboding character during the Cold War, serving as a warning to mankind with the advent of the hydrogen bomb. As fears of human extinction escalated during the ecological movement of the 1970s, dinosaurs communicated their metaphorical message of extinction, urging us from our destructive path. Using an eclectic variety of examples, this book outlines the three-fold "evolution" of dinosaurs and other prehistoric monsters in pop culture, from their poorly understood beginnings to the 21st century.

Book Synopsis

From their discovery in the 19th century to the dawn of the Nuclear Age, dinosaurs were seen in popular culture as ambassadors of the geological past and as icons of the "life through time" narrative of evolution. They took on a more foreboding character during the Cold War, serving as a warning to mankind with the advent of the hydrogen bomb. As fears of human extinction escalated during the ecological movement of the 1970s, dinosaurs communicated their metaphorical message of extinction, urging us from our destructive path. Using an eclectic variety of examples, this book outlines the three-fold "evolution" of dinosaurs and other prehistoric monsters in pop culture, from their poorly understood beginnings to the 21st century.

Review Quotes

"Highly readable prose.... Debus is a master at bringing together both the scientific and cultural aspects of dinosaurs, and this book will be warmly received by anyone with an enduring fascination with the prehistoric 'terrible lizards.' Highly recommended"-Choice; "[Debus'] prose exhibits welcome wit and an abiding fondness for all representations of dinosaurs in literature and films, past and present"-Scary Monsters Magazine; "Debus has built a reputation as a superbly informed critical thinker, and this new book showcases his abilities admirably"-G-Fan; "A lot to read and enjoy"-Prehistoric Times; "A lot of detail and information... Not only will you come away with insight into dinosaurs in pop culture, but also a bit of world history as well"-Mad Scientist; "If you are interested in the history of dinosaurs in popular culture, Debus is an author you simply cannot ignore...Debus does a huge service to those who work in the history of science"-H-Net Reviews.

About the Author

Allen A. Debus, a retired environmental chemist, has long been infatuated with dinosaurs, paleontology, science fiction, Godzilla and King Kong. He has written several books addressing prehistoric creatures--both real and fictional--in popular culture, and attends Chicagoland's Wizard World and G-Fest. He is a member of the G-Fan Hall of Fame and lives in Hanover Park, Illinois.