Death of an Ocean is the geological history of the Scottish Borders whose rocks were mostly laid down in the Iapetus Ocean of Palaeozoic times but also includes Upper Palaeozoic and Quaternary episodes. In telling this story the authors extend well beyond the geographical confines of the region to give an overview of the development and demise of the Iapetus Ocean and at the same time detailed evidence as found within specific Borders sites such as Dob's Linn. Additionally, they explain for the general reader the geological and palaeontological background to the processes and biota involved in this remarkable story and short vignettes of some of the historically important geologists who pioneered our understanding of this complex terrane. So there are concise introductions to a variety of topics such as plate tectonics, turbiditic sedimentation, volcanism and the Hirnantian glaciation as well as palaeontological topics such as graptolites, their palaeobiology and use in biostratigraphy.

The authors are both very experienced geologists who have spent a considerable portion of their academic careers tramping over the rocks of the Scottish Southern Uplands. Consequently, they are very well placed to recount the events and describe the sites and geological phenomena from which the story has been reconstructed.

Death of an Ocean is far more than just a geological guide. With its numerous coloured maps, diagrams, pictures of fossils and excellently reproduced colour photographs of the rocks and landscapes of the region, it provides a really useful introduction for students, the informed amateur and anyone who wants a good up to date synthesis of this important part of the geological history of the British Isles.