If you want to see Laelaps in print...

...then I need your help.

Yesterday, after being inspired by the announcement of Ed's book, I broached the concept of there being a "best of" Laelaps collection. A few of you have voiced your encouragement, and I am definitely considering producing a collection of my work in print form. I'm probably the worst person to ask to choose what posts are best, particularly since I've been a little down lately, so I need you to pick your favorite Laelaps posts.

All you have to do is let me know which posts you would like to see in print in the comments. You don't even need to send me a link (a short description like "The one about the..." works fine). This goes for Laelaps mk. 1 posts, too.

From that list, I will then pick the posts I think would best lend themselves to book format and edit/rewrite as necessary. If I'm going to self-publish a book I am not going to simply be a copy of what is already available on the web, and I'm considering producing an extra essay or two that will only be available by purchasing the book. I want to try and find a way to make sure some of my photography makes it into the book as well, so if there are any particular pictures you liked, feel free to mention them.

If I had the time, I would jump right on this and try to get something out before the end of the month so that it would be available for Christmas. As things are, though, I don't have that kind of time and finishing the proposal package for my other book takes priority. Winter break might be an ideal time to get everything together, though, and if I hurry I could have things in order to have a few copies available for ScienceOnline '09.

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Oooh, this'll be a tough call. In general, I've liked your assaults on "textbook cardboard"; maybe "the one about Huxley and Wilberforce"?

I do like the idea. You're an excellent writer. The posts I tend to like best are the ones that deal with the things that are "generally understood", but wrong. It's nice to get a more detailed (and correct) look at the history of our understanding of things.

I like your posts on history of science the best - you seem to take the most time and greatest effort in research for such posts.

sounds great...I'll have to think about it.

But, that picture of the gibbon grooming the tapir must be included!

Hey, so my one piece of advice is allow a couple of months to put the book together. While you have obviously written everything, it takes a surprisingly long time to format it all, proofread everything, do the cover and actually understand Lulu's many instructions. Also, you might want an introduction, index, reference list, etc. It was unexpectedly involving.