This far-ranging book is part travelogue, part natural history essay and an excellent example of science reporting. Not just a book of intellectual adventure, it is a superb, detailed overview of the science of island biogeography. A talented writer and formidable researcher, Quammen is a master at explaining complex evolutionary phenomena with humor, wit and understanding. In this book, Quammen takes us from university offices to the rain forests of Brazil, the island of Komodo in Indonesia, among the lemurs in Madagascar and, perhaps most memorably, to the island of Mauritius where the dodo once roamed the forest floor. Eight years in the making, Song of the Dodo is a masterwork: forceful, clearly written and engaging.  (CON05, $22.00)