McCann, T. (ed.) 2008. The Geology of Central Europe, Volumes 1 and 2. Volume 1: Precambrian and Palaeozoic; Volume 2: Mesozoic and Cenozoic. xiii + 748 + xxxviii pp.; xiii + pp. 749–1449 + xxxviii pp. + CD-ROM. : London, Bath: Geological Society of London. Price £45.00, US $90.00 each volume; GSL members’ price £32.50, US $65.00 each volume; AAPG/SEPM/GSA/RAS/EFG/PESGB members’ price £32.50, US $65.00 each volume (paperback). ISBN 978 1 86239 246 5 (Volume 1); 978 1 86239 265 6 (Volume 2).

These volumes represent the fifth member of the Geological Society of London's ‘Geology of . . .’ series. For some years this ‘series’ comprised only the volumes on Scotland and on England & Wales, now in their third and second editions respectively. However, the addition of volumes first on Spain (2002) and then on Chile (2007) has started to expand the regional coverage. Now, the Central Europe title is by far the largest and most ambitious of all, running to two volumes each of over 750 pages, and involving over 200 authors.

What is ‘Central Europe’ in this geological...