"A fresh and welcome perspective on bioluminescence knowledge, especially before the Second World War, Luminous Creatures provides a window into the evolution of a fascinating aspect of natural history through recorded time." James Morin, Cornell University "Engagingly written and informative, Luminous Creatures covers the history of observations and research in connection with the phenomenon of bioluminescence through the ages, providing the reader not only with a chronology of scientific advances in the field but also with glimpses into the lives of some of the key researchers of living lights." Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow, Research Institute of Luminous Organisms, Hachijojima, Tokyo "Enlightenment is the through-line in Michel Anctil's intelligent new book on the history and science of light production in living organisms. After all, what is science, if not a journey from the darkness into the light? A probing of the mysteries of nat "Luminous Creatures provides an unparalleled holistic narrative of the development of oceanography as a scientific practice, the characters that drove the efforts, and the animals that they studied. [It] is profoundly well researched, is scientifically ac "This book is as much about the "luminaries" behind the major finds about light-producing organisms as the organisms themselves, and that in large part is why it is such a compelling read. Recommended." Choice "This work highlights how small the historiography of marine biology still is and how much space for expansion is available; Anctil is the first to tell many of these stories." Journal of the History of Biology "The story of the 'cold light' of bioluminescence is told by Anctil with the warmth of personal involvement. His account of the changing face of the field offers valuable insights into the processes behind the publications and success stories. The particular value of this book is in the detail of the accounts, the prevailing sense of wonder, and the delight and curiosity of the human intellects engaged in understanding the lights in the darkness." The British Journal for the History of Science"An outstanding resource which is of great value for historians interested in the field, … Luminous Creatures can be seen as a historical source itself, written to urge bioluminescence forward and call for a return to basic, unpredictable research from the applied, medical research of recent years. He is open to where this research will go but predicts the recent trend in visual ecology could combine with study of molecular mechanisms to yield productive problems amenable to large-scale projects." H-Environment
