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Gorillas in the Mist
Dian Fossey, translated from English by Choi Jae-chun & Nam Hyun-young; Seungsan: 520 pp., 20,000 won
Although her name is not as widely known here, Dian Fossey was with gorillas what Jane Goodall is with chimpanzees. Only the devoted American zoologist's life was tragically cut short on Dec. 27, 1985, by a brutal murder that took place inside her cabin at the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda, which she founded to research a variety of gorilla groups there. The case remains unsolved even to this day. Many, including poachers, were antagonized by her gorilla-first preservation activities.
Fossey, who once worked as children's therapist in her home country, became interested in mountain gorillas in Africa after reading a book, and was eventually picked up by prominent archeologist Louise Leaky on a mission to watch and study the species. This book is part essay, part journal, detailing her observations of gorillas groups she met and her thoughts on issues related with animal preservation.
It is the bureaucratic workings and insensitive meddling of African and European governments, and selfishness of poachers, media people and tourists than sometimes brutal, or inhuman, side of gorillas that are truly disturbing. In fact, despite the occasional somber descriptions of gorillas, gorillas come across as peaceful, thoughtful and even graceful beings. Reading this book will invite readers to ponder on many thought-provoking questions regarding nature, human society, and preservation philosophy, even though it is being introduced in Korean more than two decades after the original publication in English. A warm, delightful and informative read that combines in-depth academic research with human drama.
-Seo Dong-shin
 Born on a Blue Day
Daniel Tammet, translated from English by Bae Do-hee; 296 pp., 12,000 won
Remember Dustin Hoffman in the film ``Rain Man?'' Or the best-selling novel from a few years ago, ``The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time?'' These all attempted to portray autistic minds.
Daniel Tammet, a British autist with Savant Syndrome _ which allows extraordinary mental abilities, especially with mathematics and languages _ reveals the true inside workings of the autistic mind in this memoir.
What kind of extraordinary life it could be, if you possess synesthesia and can automatically associate numbers and words with colors or shapes and have an innate ability to calculate massive numbers and learn several languages perfectly? But your ability to empathize or communicate is impaired.
This book tells of Tammet's courgeous venture into the big wide world, how he eventually gains independence in life, as well as tribulations of growing up _ all told in his own words. It makes him probably the only person in the world with the savant syndrome to have done so, and the result is an intriguing read for anyone.
-Seo Dong-shin
The Science of Sherlock Holmes
E. J. Wagner, translated from English by Lee Han-eum; Hanseung: 294pp., 12,000 Won
Sherlock Holmes may be the most famous fictional detective of all time, but the author of this book speculates that Holmes' tales may have been influenced by (and influenced) the real crime cases of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The birth of Sherlock Holmes also coincided with the birth of forensic science, in effect marking the turning point where crime investigation became a science. The book gives a fascinating account of how a new science such as graphology, the analysis of handwriting, emerged, as well as how a field like phrenology has been exposed as a pseudo-science over time.
The current popularity of television shows such as ``CSI," that feature high-tech forensic science methods, may have influenced the book's conception, but it very well holds its own in terms of maintaining interest by discussing famous real-life criminal cases such as those of Jack the Ripper and Lizzie Borden. The author wonders whether Sherlock Holmes, and his scientific method of investigation, could have prevented those cases from becoming famous unsolved mysteries as they remain so now.
-Lee Hwan-hee
 Memories of Idhun 1-2
Laura Gallego Garcia, translated from Spanish by Goh In-kyung; Munhakdonge: 336 pp., 432 pp. each, 9,800 won each
Touted as Spain's answer to Harry Potter craze, this series by young Valencia-born writer Laura Gallego Garcia, herself an avid fantasy series reader, tells of a story of a boy who leads a normal life in Denmark until unknown intruders appear out of the blue and kill his parents. From that day forward, he gets involved in a battle between the evil force and the resistance from the magical world called Idhun.
The story employs tools typically donning fantasy novels, such as dragons, unicorns, swords, magic spells, duels and revenges, while mixing in the elements of coming-of-age. Skillful enough to engage young fantasy readers, but the thrill and originality pale in comparison with the compelling series like Harry Potter.
-Seo Dong-shin |
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