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Rating: 
Summary: Great reference but poor value
Review: There are three classes of science & technology encyclopedias currently available. The best and most comprehensive one, by far, is the 20+ volume 15,600 page McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology-it's in a class by itself but it will cost [quite a bit]. The next class of science & tech encyclopedias are what you might call the mammoth 2-hand desktops. There are only two in this class, Von Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia and the McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science & Technology. The next class of science & tech encyclopedias are the smaller 1-hand desktops of which there are many. After looking at them all and buying several, I've come to the conclusion that the two mammoth desktop encyclopedias are the most useful and the best value. The 20+ volume McGraw-Hill would certainly be nice to have, but if you're the average non-scientist college-educated layman it's too expensive (you could buy a top of the line PowerMac G4 computer for that price) for an encyclopedia whose scientific content will be obsolete in a few short years until McGraw-Hill follows Britannica and makes it available on affordable CDs or online. On the other hand, the smaller more affordable desktop 'encyclopedias' are really misnamed dictionaries given their tremendously broad scope and relatively short length, making them virtually useless (except for James Trefil's excellent Encyclopedia of Science and Technology). That leaves the two mammoth desktop encyclopedias in the middle; they're the best values: large enough to be truly useful, yet small enough to be affordable. Comparing these two qualitatively, they're both authoritative, scholarly, and top-notch. I read each of the encyclopedia's articles on data, information, and computer technology (an admittedly small sample of the enormous content of each). I found the Concise McGraw-Hill to be much more useful. The larger Von Nostrand had more information on these subjects, but it was of such a technical nature that only IT specialists with a heavy mathematics background could understand it. That's great for other professors (who probably wouldn't be consulting a desktop encyclopedia for help in their field anyway) but not very helpful to non-specialists. In other words, as a college-educated liberal arts generalist I learned more from the content of the Concise McGraw-Hill. Comparing them quantitatively in terms of their value, the Concise McGraw-Hill is also a much better value. Von Nostrand's 4192 page encyc. [is costly] while the 2318 page Concise McGraw-Hill goes for [cheaper]. For the price of Von Nostrand's you can purchase the Concise McGraw-Hill and Trefil's smaller but excellent work and still have [money] to spare. Until McGraw-Hill and/or Von Nostrand's delivers their content in more economical and accessible forms the printed Concise McGraw-Hill is the best value available (December 2002).
Rating: 
Summary: The Best General Reference in Science Sees an Innovative 9th
Review: VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, 9th Edition edited by Glenn D. Considine and Peter H. Kulik (Wiley-Interscience)Chronicals significant scientific advancements with special attention to Life-Biosciences; Chemistry; Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Energy Sources and Power Technology; Mathematics and Engineering Sciences; Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology; Physics; Plant Sciences; Space and Planetary Sciences
Continuing a proud tradition of excellence that dates back nearly seven decades to the First Edition, published in 1938, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA now finds itself in the Information Age. Born before the Atomic Age and updated at intervals ever since, the book now finds itself in the Information Age, and much has changed. Indeed, so much has changed for this edition that, in answer to the first question of what is new, we might just as well ask: What isn't new?
With frequent, extensive revisions, this work has kept speed with advances in science throughout the 20th century and now the tradition continues into the 21st century with this landmark Ninth Edition. A concise, extensive, and accessible resource, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA remains a reference work that contains comprehensive coverage of all areas of science including engineering, mathematics, and medicine.
Much of the existing material has been extensively revised, with new or completely rewritten articles in emerging technologies like genetics engineering and cloning, bioprocess engineering, astrobiology and the universe, artificial intelligence, AIDS and STDs, global warming, computer science and the Internet, and flat panel display technology. Each topic is discussed progressively, beginning with a simple definition expressed in plain terms, developing into a more detailed treatment, and augmented by additional reading suggestions containing both updated print and Internet references. Topics covered in VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA include animal science, anatomy, astronomy, atmospheric science, chemistry, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, earth science, energy sources, information science, life science, materials, mechanical engineering, medicine, mining, physics, physiology, planetary science, structural engineering, and a host of other subjects.
The essence of VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA is enduring summary research, and it remains a fine, concise, comprehensive, and accessible general science work. Its intellectual scope ranges from the introductory to the highly technical in a vast and ever‑expanding array of topical coverage in the sciences, engineering, mathematics, medicine, and more. As has long been the case, the editors have designed the book to be approachable by students of many ages. An important feature continued in this work, therefore, is the progressive development of the discussion of each topic, beginning with a simple definition expressed in plain terms, developing into a more detailed treatment, and augmented by often‑extensive Additional Reading suggestions.Contemporary readers can now turn to VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA for information about how their daily lives are increasingly affected by the sophistication of today's science and the complexity of modern technology. They will be reminded that knowledge and discovery exist in a continuum, and that often, but not always, what is new depends entirely on what came before.
It is obvious to the editors we have entered a new Age of Discovery, as witnessed by the scores of new entries on topics that were in their nascent stages in 1994 with the 8th edition. The 9th Edition features entirely new or completely rewritten home articles or whole families of articles on the full array of topical coverage, including but by no means limited to: Genetics, Engineering, Human Genome Project (The), and Cloning; Bioprocess Engineering (Biotechnology); Space Shuttle, Space Stations, Spacecraft Missions, Satellites (Communications and Navigation), Cosmology, X‑ray Astronomy (family of articles), Astrobiology and The Universe; Artificial Intelligence (family of articles); Medicine, Diseases, Vaccines, Vision (family of articles), AIDS, and STDs; Climate, Global Warming, and Acid Rain; Gerontology and Biochemical Theories of Aging; Computer Sciences and The Internet; and Flat Panel Display Technology (family of articles).
Next the suggested readings at the end of articles now contain both updated print and Internet references. One has only to engage a typical search engine, on any server, on a large topic, say Artificial Intelligence, to realize the value of these sources. Instead of beginning with "hits" that number in the thousands, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA readers will have the luxury of having much of the culling already done for them, as they will be offered good "first places" to go for more information. These thousands of references throughout the Ninth Edition will, one hopes, provide a bridge to further and deeper knowledge on literally scores of topics.
New to this edition, editors have added detailed Time Lines and Glossaries to some of the large home articles (Bioprocess Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Vision and the Eye, Optical Fiber Systems, The Internet and many others) to offer "at a glance" information and historical perspective. Finally, the editors have added brief biographies of scores of scientists whose work is alluded to in the text of the book. A history of their times is not complete without mention of their works. Science is history.
A statistical summary of the Ninth Edition would include (1) more than 8,000 entries; (2) more than 9,000 crossÂreferences for convenient retrieval of information; (3) an alphabetical index with more than 19,500 lines; and (4) 4,378 diagrams, graphs and photographs, and in excess of 550 tables. The interior references in the book, where one article refers to another article that offers augmented or corollary coverage, and the visual aids, as well as the index, have been entirely overhauled; this will result in much greater ease in "navigating" the book.It is the best place to begin with encompassing the vast innovations of the science at the beginning of the 21st century. VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA is the best reference for initial consultation and orientation. REPRESENTATIVE TOPICAL COVERAGE:
ANIMAL LIFE: Amphibians, Annelida, Arthropods, Birds, Coelenterates, Echinoderms, Fishes, Insects, Mammals, Mesozoa, Mollusks, Paleontology, Protozoa, Reptiles, Rotifers, Zoology
BIOSCIENCES: Amino Acids, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Cytology, Enzymes, Fermentation, Genetics, Hormones, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Proteins, Recombinant DNA, Viruses, Vitamins
CHEMISTRY: Acids and Bases, Catalysts, Chemical Elements, Colloid Systems, Corrosion, Crystals, Electrochemistry, Free Radicals, Inorganic Chemistry, Ions, Macromolecular Science, Organic Chemistry, Oxidation‑Reduction, Photochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Solutions and Saltes
EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES: Climatology, Ecology, Geochemistry, Geodynamics, Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Tectonics, Seismology, Volcanology
ENERGY SOURCES AND POWER TECHNOLOGY: Batteries, Biomass and Wastes, Coal, Combustion, Electric Power, Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectric Power, Natural Gas, Nuclear Energy, Ocean Energy, Resources, Petroleum, Solar Energy, Steam Generation, Tidal Energy, Turbines, Wind Power
MATHEMATICS AND INFORMATION SCIENCES: Automatic Control, Communications, Computing Data Processing, Measurements, Navigation and Guidance, Statistics, Units and Standards
MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Glass and Ceramics, Laser Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Mining, Microelectronics, Plastics and Fibers, Process Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation
MEDICINE, ANATOMY, AND PHYSIOLOGY: Brain and Nervous System, Cancer and Oncology, Cardiovascular System, Chemotherapy, Dermatology, Diagnostics, Digestive System, Endocrine System, Genetic Disorders, Gerontology, Hematology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Kidney and Urinary Tract, Mental Illness, Muscular System, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology/Dental, Parasitology, Pharmacology, Reproductive System, Respiratory System, Rheumatology, Skeletal System
PHYSICS: Atoms and Molecules, Electricity, Electronics, Fluid State, Gravitation. Magnetism. Mechanics. Motion. Optics, Radiation, Solid State, Sound, Subatomic Particles, Surfaces, Theoretical Physics, Waves
PLANT SCIENCES: Agriculture, Algae, Botany, Diseases and Pests, Fruits, Fungi, Growth Modifiers, Nutritional Values, Plant Breeding, Seeds and Germ Plasm, Trees, Yeasts and Molds
SPACE AND PLANETARY SCIENCES: Astrochemistry, Astrodynamics, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Probes and Satellites, Solar Systems
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