A field guide to coastal marine life of the Pacific Northwest by Rick Harbo is another in a series of books by this long -established local author. This book is designed for everyone from the expert biologist to the weekend naturalist. It is a ready reference to the 420 most common species, fascinating local sponges, jellyfish, crabs, shrimp, barnacles, clams, snails, seals, fish, whales, sea algae and hundreds of other living things that can be seen and identified without being disturbed. The area covered ranges from Alaska to Northern California.

This guide, in full colour, is arranged for quick identification with colour coded sections, photographs of all species, mostly in their own habitat, and comprehensive, concise information on size, range, habitat and facts of interest about each.

Rick Harbo, BSc., is author of Tidepool and Reef, the Edible Seashore, Guide to the Western Seashore and Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest. He is a well-known local diver, teacher of marine life courses and a senior marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Harbour Publishing, Box 219 Madeira Park, BC. V0N 2H0. Canada. Phone (604) 884-2730. fax (604) 883-9451. email: m_alps@sunshine.net.

This is a novel. It is written by Jon Coon, PADI regional manager, Navy medic, oil field diver, NASA dive safety and training officer, scuba instructor trainer and English teacher, and is a sequel to his previous book Thief of the Deep.

Drawing from his own experiences the novel is a tale of deep diving, underwater demolitions and plundered treasures from the deep. Hunting for clues to the mysterious disappearance of Blackwolf, a deadly high-tech submarine, the protago nist penetrates a sunken tunnel leading into Bermuda's former British Royal Navy fortress and picks up clues to track the sub to the Cayman Islands. Of course, their are dangers, plots and counterplots and a powerful antagonist with links to the Middle East.

Clive Cussler seems to like Coon's work. Of Thief of the Deep , Coon's first novel, he says "A great tale of suspense and romance at every turn."

Published by AquaQuest Publications Inc., P.O. Box 700 Locust Valley, New York. 11560-0700. (516) 759-0476

The unexpected appearance of a novel by the actor Gene Hackman caught our immediate attention. It's a collaboration of work with a neighbour of Hackman's Daniel Lenihan, and focuses on shipwrecks and pirates set in the early 1800s. The main character survives a murderous attack on his parents followed by a perilous journey on the sea, a violent storm and a shipwreck. His travels take him around the oceans of the world, Cape Horn to Good Hope, the South Seas and Philippines, Cuba and the Americas. Wake of the Perdido Star is a morality tale, an action packed sago of heroism and an historical treatment of men at sea in the early nineteenth century.

Published by Newmarket Press, 18 East 48th Street, New York NY 10017. Ph (212) 832-3575. Fax (212) 832-3629.

This is a revised edition of the field guide by Andrew J. Martinez for visitors and divers from Atlantic Canada to the mid-Atlantic. Its text is thoroughly updated as are illustrations and colour photographs which add vivid detail to more than 200 marine plants and animals found along the shore or within easy reach by snorkelling or scuba.

Each listing is accompanied by colour photography, identification tips, habitat and range information. It includes space for users to record their own observations and field notes. The book includes an outline of taxonomy, glossary, bibliogra phy, indexes of common and scientific names and the author's personal comments and observations. Published by Down East Books, P.O. Box 679 Camden, Maine. 04843-0679. Ph (207) 594-9544 fax (207) 594-7215.