March 2007 Bibliographies

“Abalone Vice”
Chad Hershler
pp. 16-20

Before we talk about molluscs, can we take a moment to talk about a fantastic board game called Abalone? Designed in the mid-1980s by two Frenchmen, it has sold over four million copies worldwide. It’s quick to learn, simple to play, and surprisingly subtle—think sumo wrestling with marbles. Visit the official site to learn more or play for free online.

To find out more about the animal, visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website, which features some fascinating video clips, along with particulars of abalone biology.

While the literary community continues to wait anxiously for somebody to write The Great Poaching Novel, the waters are plentiful in the non-fiction section. Hooked: Pirates, Poaching, and the Perfect Fish (Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 2006) is G. Bruce Knecht’s account of pursuing poachers who target the Patagonian toothfish, better-known to North American seafood consumers as the Chilean sea bass. While Knecht’s message is about conservation, he never preaches. This is a page-turner, interweaving the history of the fish with a study of the lawless world of commercial fishing.


“Hail to the Hammer”
Amy Reiswig
pp. 20-21

For a taste of Tyr’s own special blend of Norse mythology and killer guitar riffs, visit the band’s myspace page or their official website. The latter features a video for their hit “Regin Smiour,” in which shots of the band performing are intercut with re-enactments of Viking battles. If you like your metal darker (i.e., fewer broadswords and more church-burning and impaled pig heads), read this 2005 Observer profile on the band Mayhem, which explores the fascinating and somewhat disturbing world of Norwegian Black Metal.


“Selling on the Sly”
Matt Mossman