The fish book includes chapters on the evolution of fishes, fresh- and salt-water species, endangered animals, and other aquatic organisms. The list of contributors includes such Science Times regulars as Natalie Angier, William K. Stevens, and William J. Broad, as well as notable occasionals like Gina Kolata. The writing is generally superb, with nary a trace of the oversimplification and inaccuracy that plagues scientific journalism. But these pieces were all originally newspaper articles, and they read that way, complete with sidebars and diagrams. The breadth of topic is great--everything from otolith (ear-bone) interpretation to social behavior, overfishing to snail toxin. A nice collection of 44 articles for the fish-curious or for ichthyologists who have a fat file of Times clippings. --Therese Littleton

Surely deserving of a lifetime achievement award for global domination, the class Insecta (and its eight-legged arachnid brethren) has doggedly proliferated into nearly every ecological niche imaginable, spawning some 15 million to 30 million species and accumulating a biomass that--in the United States alone--outweighs humans by a factor of 50. Broken down into loose thematic sections like "Rituals of Insect Courtship" and "Attack and Defense," the well-written, scientifically rigorous series tackles a broad range of creepy-crawly topics, with forays into both the ooh-ahh ("Serenade of Color Woos Pollinators to Flowers") and the eww-gross ("An Elusive Moth with a 15-Inch Tongue Should Be Out There.") Fun and often fascinating reading for anyone so inclined, the book is easy to pick up and put down. (Includes all illustrations originally published with articles.) --Paul Hughes

The Science Times brain book contains 45 articles on topics ranging from the nature of dreams and consciousness to the making of memories. For all its seeming structural simplicity, the brain is a mysterious and complicated organ, and a great deal of brain structure and function are covered in this book. Sensory systems and imagination get fascinating article treatment, as do addiction and homosexuality. Sidebars and illustrations maintain the journalistic tone. --Therese Littleton

Fossils and Evolution covers topics like the evolution of "bigness," fossil finds, and the origin of life. A chapter on the evolution of humans explores much of the recent paleontological research into this controversial subject. These articles are a great overview of the research highlights that made splashes in the media, as well as the quiet discoveries that make science fascinating. --Therese Littleton