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'Don't go looking for Antarctica without this book.' - Susan Solomon
This is a magazine to be proud of. The publishers of Icelandic Geographic 'seek to portray in an informative manner the most interesting and unique aspects of Iceland, and the interplay of man and nature.' They certainly have achieved this in their first issue, launched in Autumn 2002.
The articles are of high standard, written by experts in their field; brief biographies are given at the beginning of each so that the reader can relate to the author. Most articles have been translated from their original Icelandic, and expertly so. The Icelandic alphabet has several unique characters, and the pronunciation of these are helpfully explained on the editorial page.
This issue presented a balance of features with the Mystery of the Draining Lake, Curse of the Drift Ice, an account of the Black Wasteland, birds, foxes and the exploits of an Icelandic adventurer. In addition there are several short pieces giving informative shapshots, such as what happened the killer whale from the film Free Willy and the hot and cold water sources available to the Icelanders.
In the true style of geographical magazines, the photography is stunning. Iceland lends itself to dramatic images, of course, and several double-page spreads take full advantage. The wildlife close-ups are remarkable. And most articles are supported by excellent maps.
On the technical side, the design of the magazine is modern and friendly, with clever use of white space and wide margins giving it an uncluttered feel. The typeface is a very simple sans-serif for both headings and text, not normally a preference for long texts but helped here by generous line spacing. I particularly like the subtle use of the magazine's logo used to mark the end of each article.
Whether for the Icelander, the traveller or the general reader, this is a magazine that will be kept and treasured, looked at time and time again. Icelandic Geographic has developed a unique character and I am sure that it won't take long before it establishes a worldwide readership.
So that readers of Polar Worlds may sample this magazine, the article Curse of the Drift Ice is reproduced on this website. To subscribe, complete the attached order form and return direct to Icelandic Geographic.
Reviewed by S.G. Servian
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