The harsh ice-bound landscape that is Antarctica has been the subject of constant fascination and study since humans first set foot on this frozen continent in 1821. This tome is a cross between a popular science book and a picture book. Mike Lucas's lucid prose is informative and concise, but the bulk of the volume is devoted to color illustrations. More than 50 photographers, including the author, contributed to the project. There are some breathtaking studies of the white wilderness and its inhabitants by Gerald Cubitt, Ken Findlay, and Roger Mear; Bruce Herrod's portrait of a scientist with a frozen beard sends chills down the spine.