Review Monday: Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation

The Origin of the Species: A Graphic Adaptation
Authors: Michael Keller, Nicolle Rager Fuller
Publishing Date: October 2009
Publisher: Rodale Press
 

Reviewed by Brenda Clough (originally appeared at Book View Cafe)

2009 is the bicentennial year of Charles Darwin’s birth, and also the 150th anniversary year of the publication of his famous The Origin of Species.  So what better way to celebrate than a graphic novel edition of the great work?
The big problem of Origin for the modern reader is that, well, it was written 150 years ago, by a Victorian gentleman of great learning who was anxious to make an airtight argument by using many, many examples.  The book itself can therefore be charitably described as dry.

Any method of getting the work — one of the cornerstone volumes of modern science –  to be more accessible is therefore to be applauded.  This graphic novel edition  includes information about Darwin’s research, the scientific controversy, and lots of other ancillary material.  Also, some information really is better seen than described at length in text. — do you want to read about the difference between those finch beaks, or to see it?

Wouldn’t this be a great addition to a science classroom library?

Brenda Clough has written seven novels, including her most recent, Doors of Death and Life. Her short stories have been published in numerous magazines, including Analog SF Magazine and the anthology Starlight 3. Other work has appeared in SF Age, Aboriginal, Marion Zimmer Bradley Magazine, and many anthologies. She was a finalist for both the Hugo Award and Nebula Award in 2002. Her next workshop at The Writer's Center is Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy in February. Find her on the web here.