corvi: (Default)
corvi ([personal profile] corvi) wrote in [personal profile] twoeleven 2019-10-28 12:06 am (UTC)

I own Stephen L. Gillett's World-Building. Highly recommended, though I don't know that you specifically would learn much from it. He's a geologist, so the book is more focused on the chemistry and geological processes of terrestrial worlds than cosmology and solar systems. A fair bit of it is taken up by discussions of Mars and Venus as almost-Earths. Also it was published in 1996. And his editor told him that every equation he used would cut the book's readership in half, so he only uses one that he considered absolutely indispensable (though he's snarky about it).

I would say the book is pretty worth it even if you know most or all of what's in it, it's kind of an inspiring experience to have all the information arrayed together, sparkly with possibility.

I got to see him give a talk on plate tectonics and weather patterns ... uh ... about ten years ago? It was called "The Weather Of Pangaea" or similar. Would also recommend attending a talk of his, if he hits a con near you.

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