Loren Eiseley was a rare bird. He was both a scientist and a poet. In his world the two are not at odds. The scientist altered evolutionary theory permanently and each one of these essays is grounded in his knowledge. That depth feeds the poet. A crack in the Iowa earth of his childhood becomes a cavern, turning up the skull of an ancient rodent. To Eiseley there is nothing normal about nature. He can see the planet before man or flowers. Each step of their development is miraculous, a catalyst to further inquiry. As a collection the essay represent a coherent philosophy, where each aspect is scrutinized to reveal something wonderous.
