One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2000 "[Van Dover] writes well and is not above conducting heroic experiments in what I assume is her own kitchen."
Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post Book World "[An] impressive, eminently readable book."
Ellis L. Yochelson, American Scientist "Foremost in understanding the ecology of hydrothermal vents has been Cindy Van Dover. "
Paul A. Tyler, Trends in Ecology ... Read moreand Evolution "The strength of Van Dover's book is that it is academically definitive... Coverage is comprehensive, and detailed geophysical, chemical and biological issues are taken in their stride with the same sureness of touch."
Richard Shelton, Times Literary Supplement "A remarkably thorough and balanced, dynamic account of evolving and expanding knowledge of these ocean systems ... This unique, most up-to-date book on a vast multidisciplinary subject, written enthusiastically and authoritatively, will be an invaluable resource..."
Choice "The book is remarkably thorough and comprehensive and keeps the reader captivated right up to the end... [A] unique source of information on knowledge of an ecosystem that few of us will ever get a chance to see first-hand."
D. Chandramohan, Current Science "I heartily recommend it to anyone with an interest in learning about what is undoubtedly one of the most important discoveries in earth and life sciences of the past century."
John Woodside, The Leading Edge Show Less