THE EROTIC OCEAN,
A HANDBOOK FOR BEACH COMBERS AND MARINE NATURALISTS
by Jack Rudloe
First edition: World Publishing, Times Mirror, New York, 1971
Second edition: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1971
Soft Cover: Updated edition, E. P. Dutton, New York, 1984
SCIENCE NEWS, February 12, 1972 "An introduction to the marine life in the various habitats along
coasts and estuaries, seen from the specimen collector's point of view who
must know the movements of jellyfish, the migrations of squid, the
ripeness of sea-urchin eggs and the spawning pattern of polychaete worms."
MARINE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY JOURNAL, November-December 1972 "The Erotic Ocean is a book for lovers; for men and women fascinated
by the ebb and flow of primeval life forces in the warm, fluid embrace
of this largest of all wombs. It is for those who wander by the sea,
probing for the secrets of life hidden in the sand, mud, rocks, and foam. "Jack Rudloe has written a shameless exposition of his deepest
passion-- a life-long love affair with the ocean. Of course, devotees of
Playboy might see things a bit differently: it's along way from waterbed to
mudflat! But Rudloe has found the beauty in the mud." THE MIAMI HERALD As well as a beguiling introduction to marine life and an excellent
handbook for the experienced collector, The Erotic Ocean is also a
delightful companion for the long chair beachcomber. Every environment is
covered-- from rocky and sand shores to coral reefs, wharf pilings, mud
flats, salt marshes and oyster reefs, from mangrove swamps and sea grass
to pelagic (open ocean) environments. There are individual chapter so marine life-- beginning with sponges
and continuing through evolutionary scale to fishes-- typical of North
American coastal waters from Nova Scotia to Texas. In his easy, conversational style Rudloe descries the individual
personalities of these creatures, their habits, their favorite haunts and
diets, along with other pertinent information, including his own colorful
and often amusing observations. One chapter is devoted to night collecting, another explains how to
assemble the most practical equipment for your particular purposes--
ranging from trowels to eye droppers to nets. Ingrid Niccoll's beautiful illustrations contribute much to the book's
charm and the section of sharp photographs includes graphic examples of
environmental pollution. Well indexed, the book also offers an
excellent bibliography. Additional Reviews of "The Erotic Ocean" Appeared In: American Statesman, the Beachcomber, Boston Evening Globe, Bound for
Reading, Charleston Evenings, Chicago Shell Newsletter, Clearwater Sun,
Detroit News, The Dow Texan, Honolulu Sunday Advertiser, Houston Post,
Kirkus, Kliatt, Library Journal, Library of Science, Limnology and
Oceanography,Los Angeles Times, Marine Technology Society Journal, Market
Square, Miami Herald, Monroeville PA Progress, Natural Science Book
News, Nature and Ecology, the News, Of Sea and Shore Magazine, Philadelphia
Inquirer, Progress, Publisher's Weekly, San Antonio Express\News,
Science News, Science Tech Books '71, Seventeen Magazine, St. Petersburg
Times, Tallahassee Democrat, Trans American Micro Society, Wall Street
Journal, World Publishing Times Mirror.
Reviewed by John Ludwigson
"DELIGHTS OF OCEAN LIFE GLEANED"
by Laurace Dickson, February 24, 1972
