boreholio wrote:This is the Official Caving Forum of the National Speleological Society after all, so it wouldn't seem out of line to announce NSS publications here.
You are correct, and I believe that the Publications forum is the
perfect place to announce new NSS publications as well as non-NSS publications.
However, it is
not the place to advertise "Hey, I'm a store that sells books! Buy some books!".
(Unless it is the place for advertisements, in which case I will shut up)I'm not trying to pick on Kelli, but her post did not mention any specific book, the front page of the NSS bookstore (which she linked to) doesn't list any new books, and the
New Products section does not list any new publications either.
It turns out that searching the NSS Bookstore for "Blue Springs Cave" - as I originally did - turns up nothing; searching for "Blue Spring Cave" shows the above-mentioned book by Larry E. Matthews and Bill Walter - and yes, it looks like a really
awesome book! But, despite Kelli's assurance that NSS publications make fantastic Valentines Day gifts, the Bookstore gives no indication as to when this book will be available.
To prove that I'm not a complete jerk, I will now turn this post into a NEW NSS PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Blue Spring CaveBy Larry E. Matthews and Bill Walter, 2010346 pages, 249 photographs, and 14 maps!
Blue Spring Cave is Tennessee's longest mapped cave with over 35 miles of surveyed passages. Although it's natural entrance has been known since prehistoric times, only 500 feet of cave had been explored as recently as 1989. In that year a group of cavers pushed a tight, blowing crawlway at the rear of the cave and discovered miles and miles of fantastic, virgin cave passages. Exploration still continues as this book goes to press.
Follow along with the modern explorers as they describe their exploration of this underground wonderland, mile by mile. The path was not simple or easy and required long-term perseverance to slowly unravel this underground labyrinth. In the process huge passages and rooms were discovered along with rare and beautiful cave formations. Divers have recently pushed in from Blue Spring for over a mile in flooded cave passages. A connection has not yet been made to the air-filled passages, but they are getting close. The story of their exploration is exciting and dangerous.
This book is lavishly illustrated with photographs and maps. Each chapter will actually show you where the explorers have gone and what they found. The maps will enable you to follow them further and further from the entrance. This book will treat you to the complete exploration of Blue Spring Cave since the breakthrough in 1989 up to the present.
$50
Hardback$30
SoftbackAvailable
someday from the
NSS Bookstore!
Edit: fixed incorrect page count copied from NSS Bookstore description - this book is 346 pages long!