Adventures in Volcanoland

Starred review from March 1, 2024

Volcanologist Mather (Oxford Univ.) crosses the globe in this mix of memoir, travelogue, and explanatory science. She details how volcanoes function, their cultural importance, and much more as she helps readers peer into the depths of spouters in Indonesia and Greece. Prepub Alert.

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April 8, 2024
Mather, an earth sciences professor at Oxford University, debuts with a prosaic deep dive into the science of volcanoes. Expounding on the molecular chemistry of molten rock, Mather explains that silicon and oxygen atoms in magma form larger structures than the “tidy molecular units of water,” giving “lava flows a strength and stickiness far greater” than water’s. She highlights the fearsome power of major historical eruptions, observing that the 1883 explosion of Krakatau “shattered eardrums on the British ship RMS Norham Castle just 60 kilometres from the volcano” and that the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius created pumice plumes that “turned day to night as if the gods were at work.” Personal anecdotes from Mather’s impressive career offer insight into how volcanologists conduct fieldwork, as when she recounts determining that the Pu‘u ‘О‘ō vent in Kīlauea, Hawaii, was at low risk of exploding in 2008 after sampling the chemical composition of its “volcanic smog.” Unfortunately, Mather alternates between matter-of-fact scientific discussions and labored descriptions of locales where she’s conducted fieldwork (she writes of the Aluto volcano in Ethiopia, “Over the volcano’s rim, the topography still feels rough-hewn, with the lobes of multiple previous eruptions building the rugged ramparts in a blocky geological pattern”), struggling to capture the excitement of her subject. Readers would be better off with Clive Oppenheimer’s Mountains of Fire.

April 15, 2024
A surprising sojourn into an unknown field and a paean to the mysterious sentinels of the planet's history. Most people, when they hear a volcano start to rumble, run away as fast as possible. Not Mather, whose instinct is to run toward it with a pack of scientific equipment and an obsessively inquisitive mind. Now a professor of Earth sciences at Oxford, she first became interested in volcanoes during a childhood encounter with Mount Vesuvius. Since then, she has climbed crumbling escarpments, hacked through jungles, and slogged across ice fields to study them. In this fascinating text, the author tracks through the history of volcanology as it unraveled the different types of volcanoes and eruptions. The rocks ejected during an explosion or left behind after a magma slide provided a wealth of information, once scientists worked out how to read them. Careful analysis of fumes also offered important clues. Slowly, the picture of how and why magma broke through a mountain crest was pieced together across decades of meticulous study. These days, most of the potentially dangerous volcanoes are monitored for warning signs, but these are cantankerous and unpredictable beasts. Mather notes that they are a constant source of surprises, even for people who have studied them for decades. They have been shaping and reshaping the terrain for millennia and will continue to do so for millennia to come. Mather finds them inspiring and humbling, and her love of the subject--of "the majesty of Etna, the beauty of Villarrica, or the understated intrigue of Masaya"--shines brightly on each page. Readers who are interested in popular science will find that this book is hard to put down, a remarkable journey with an entertaining guide. Mather combines a personal story with an era-spanning scope, turning esoteric information into a colorful, engaging account.

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May 1, 2024
Volcanoes loom large in human history, figuratively and literally. This testament to their fascinating influence comes from seasoned volcanologist Mather, who has spent decades studying the geologic processes and resulting environmental impact of volcanoes. Despite her vast experience working in various volcanic zones, Mather's tone consistently conveys her awe for these unimaginably powerful forces of nature. She shares the brutal physical challenges involved with getting up close and personal with active volcanoes and lava vents and is especially adept at describing scenes of volcanic destruction, whether historic eruptions, current ecological conditions, or even volcanism in outer space. Bringing in a host of literary and media references from notables ranging from Pliny the Elder to Jules Verne to Mark Twain, Mather shares her sympathy for early humans who mitigated the terror of unpredictable eruptions through anthropomorphism. For this all-around compelling account, Mather effortlessly integrates science and technology, geological and social history, harrowing scenes of skin-rippling heat and flying boulders, and thoughtful analysis of where our planet has been and where it may be going.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.