In deference to World Ocean Day which fell on 08 June, this edition’s Ultimate Library selection is all about the myriad magical creatures that call the sea their home. From tiny organisms that inhabit rock pools and shallow waters to Britain’s only pod of orcas and stories of recovering the world’s coral reefs, these 10 reads bring the ocean to life in its many fascinating facets.
1. The Last Sunset in the West: Britain’s Vanishing West Coast Orcas by Natalie Sanders
Britain’s west coast is home to only one pod of orca, and they’re heading rapidly towards extinction. In 2014, Dr Natalie Sanders joined the crew of the HV Silurian to seek out the West Coast Community of Orca and study them before we lose them forever. Her captivating account takes the reader from the Western Isles of Scotland to Vancouver Island and around the world, deep into the history of our relations with these beautiful and sentient creatures.
The Last Sunset in the West: Britain’s Vanishing West Coast Orcas by Natalie Sanders
2. Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea by David Doubilet
The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet, and yet we rarely glimpse its depths – and especially its exquisite beauty as documented by pioneering underwater photographer David Doubilet. His first major book in two decades stunning selection of images from his 50-year career, spanning the Galapagos to the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean, each uniting life above and below the water’s surface. This mesmerising body of work raises important questions about conservation and global warming, topics never far from the headlines.
3. What a Shell Can Tell by Helen Scales
‘This wondrous compendium will enthrall beachcombers and landlubbers alike’ (The New York Times). Award-winning marine biologist Helen Scales introduces children to the wonders of shells (from seashells to land snails) through the art of observation. Using a friendly question-and-answer format, she explores, through a richly sensory experience, the incredible diversity of shells around the world and showcases the environments molluscs inhabit. This book encourages children and adults alike to get up close to nature and observe its wonders.
4. Where the Seals Sing by Susan Richardson
Susan Richardson has always been entranced by seals; they seem to have surfaced at key junctions throughout her life bringing her comfort and joy. Now she sets out to trace the rhythm of their lives, travelling the coasts clockwise from Cornwall to Norfolk, in line with the autumn pupping season. Brimming with vivid descriptions of the natural world, Where the Seals Sing is a lyrical tale of memory, rescue, and rehabilitation. While loss, both personal and ecological, is a recurring theme, the human-seal connection that flows through the story is stirring and uplifting.
5. The Little Guide to Shorelines by Alison Davies
This informative, practical and beautiful guide to life between the tides is part of a new nature series designed to encourage creativity through exploring the outdoors. The forty entries in the book range from pebbles and shells to crabs and sea creatures. Each entry has been delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics and is accompanied by associated facts and fables. There is also an interactive spotter’s guide at the back, where you can check off what you find.
6. Life Between the Tides: in Search of Rockpools and Other Adventures Along the Shore by Adam Nicholson
Few places are as familiar as the shore – and few as full of mystery and surprise. In Life Between the Tides, Adam Nicolson explores the natural wonders of the intertidal and our long human relationship with it. The physics of the seas, the biology of anemone and limpet, the long history of the earth, and the stories we tell of those who have lived here: all interconnect in this zone where the philosopher, scientist and poet can meet and find meaning. An eloquent tribute to the intertidal wonders of the sea, this is a lovingly written volume about the creatures beneath the waves.
7. Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs by Juli Berwald
Coral reefs are a microcosm of our planet: extraordinarily diverse, deeply interconnected, and full of wonders. When they’re thriving, these fairy gardens hidden beneath the ocean’s surface burst with colour and life. They sustain entire ecosystems and protect vulnerable coasts. But corals across the planet are in the middle of an unprecedented die-off. Life on the Rocks is an inspiring, lucid, meditative ode to the reefs and the undaunted scientists working to save them against almost impossible odds.
Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs by Juli Berwald
8. The Living Sea by Hussain Aga Khan
Nicknamed “The Green Prince,” Hussain Aga Khan has dedicated his career to protecting and preserving marine life in all its forms. In recent years, he has cultivated a private photographic practice also centred on marine and wildlife protection. This volume gathers his photographs of the ocean depths and its inhabitants, taken over several years. The eloquent narrative formed by these extraordinary images serves to inspire conversations on the global impact that oceans have on science, as well as overarching issues of environmental destruction and the extinction of species in the face of the ongoing climate crisis.
9. Sex in the Sea: Our Intimate Connection With Sex-changing Fish, Romantic Lobsters, Kinky Squid, and Other Salty Erotica of the Deep by Marah J. Hardt
As Richard Branson describes it, ‘Sex in the Sea is a highly entertaining, exhilarating book and a wonderfully fresh take on the amazing biodiversity beneath the waves.’ Part science, part erotica, the book delves into the mating rituals of armoured lobsters; giant right whales engaging in a lively threesome while holding their breath and daily mating blitzes by blue-headed wrasse. Beyond a deliciously voyeuristic excursion, it uniquely connects the timeless topic of sex with the timely issue of sustainable oceans.
10. Shapeshifters: the Wonderous World of Jellyfish by Lisa-ann Gershwin
Jellyfish come in a dazzling array of colours, shapes, and sizes, drifting through every ocean, from the surface to the deepest of the deep seas, and are even found in freshwater locations. These ancient creatures, also called sea jellies (they are not, technically, fish), are so otherworldly and luminous that it is no wonder they are often compared to mythical shapeshifters. This visually breathtaking book showcases 100 species of jellyfish within its pages with astounding facts about these fascinating marine life forms.
Shapeshifters: the Wonderous World of Jellyfish by Lisa-ann Gershwin
