This book, the 5th in the Cambridge Astrobiology Series, provides a broad review of research in cold and dry Antarctic environments, specifically those in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), with an astrobiological perspective. Terrestrial analogues are locations on Earth that share physical or chemical conditions or features with other planetary bodies, either at present or in the past. The study of analogues is a fundamental aspect of comparative planetary science and astrobiology. As Sun et al. indicate in their chapter: “Studies of microbial ecosystems in analogue environments are the only way to provide a realistic basis for speculations of extraterrestrial biota”. In essence, the search for extraterrestrial life begins here on Earth. The cold, dry conditions and various landforms concentrated in the MDV are widely considered to be analogous to places on Mars today or, in some cases, in the past. Numerous other terrestrial environments also present features that are analogous features to those on Mars or other planetary bodies.

This is a long-overdue summary of research in the MDV and their study as analogues of Mars. Readers may be surprised to learn that NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory had an active soil microbiology programme in the 1960s and this included fieldwork in the MDV. Some of NASA's earliest grantees, including Wolf Visniac, also tested their life-detection instruments in the MDV. Despite the long recognition of the MDV as analogues to Mars and a half-century of astrobiology-related research there, this is, to the best of my knowledge, the first such broad synthesis of research in the MDV in the context of astrobiology.

There are nine chapters in this book, including an introduction by the three editors. The latter are all recognized experts in polar and Antarctic science and all three have abundant Antarctic field experience. All but one chapter deals with the MDV; the last chapter by Cabrol et al. surveys non-Antarctic analogue environments. The introduction provides a nice historical review of some of the important work that has been done in Antarctica. Chapter 2 by Marchant & Head, the longest chapter in the book, summarizes in great detail various geological and geomorphic features found in the MDV with extensive comparisons with actual Mars data. They also develop the concept of geomorphic features as indicators of climate conditions, both in the MDV and probably on Mars. Subsequent chapters cover in depth soil chemistry and aqueous processes in soils (Barrett et al.), cryptoendolithic microbial ecosystems (Sun et al.), fluvial environments and processes (Gooseff et al.), saline lakes and ponds (Mikucki et al.), and glaciers (including cryoconite holes and cryolakes; Tranter et al.). The chapter by Takacs-Vesbach et al. considers ecological and physicochemical factors (e.g. flow rate, wind, freeze-thaw, salt content) in controlling microbial diversity in the different environments of the MDV. The final chapter by Cabrol et al. provides a survey of analogue sites and recent analogue field campaign projects in places such as the Atacama Desert, high-altitude lakes in the Andes, Arctic springs, and specific localities such as Rio Tinto and the Haughton Impact Structure and surroundings on Devon Island. Each of these chapters addresses, to varying degrees, analogous features or processes on Mars and speculates on possible implications for the existence of life on Mars, either past or present.

Generally, the material is thorough, well written and well referenced. As with many books, truly up-to-date references are often lacking. For example, only a few chapters contain references to the Phoenix Mars Lander mission. This mission to the North Polar Region operated throughout the summer and autumn of 2008 and certainly many of its results are relevant here. There are a few minor typographical or spelling mistakes, but generally the book and its figures are of high quality. A few minor quibbles include some authors’ unconstrained speculation about life on Mars and author biases (with occasional lack of appropriate references) in reviewing some material. There is surprisingly very little on subsurface environments, including ground ice and polar permafrost. Also, the title is perhaps a little misleading. Only in the last chapter are “other cold dry environments” discussed. This chapter discusses a wide range of other analogues, many of which having very little in common with the MDV, and it feels a little out of step as there is little attempt by the authors to compare and contrast with the rest of the book and the MDV. This chapter, or indeed the book, would have benefited perhaps from a more detailed comparison of non-Antarctic sites. Sadly, this final chapter, and hence the book, also lacks an appropriate conclusion or summary section. My biggest criticism of the book as a whole is the unequal consideration given by the different authors to the analogue aspects and relevance of the features or processes to Mars and astrobiology. While some authors (e.g. Marchant & Head, Barrett et al.) provide ample comparisons with Mars and suggest practical lines of investigation on Mars, others fail to make a strong case of how the material presented is truly relevant to the search for habitable environments or traces of life on Mars, either past or present.

The expected audience for this book would be any practicing researcher working in or interested in Antarctica and the McMurdo Dry Valleys, or more generally those interested in Mars analogue environments on Earth. The book would certainly be relevant and useful in any senior undergraduate or graduate course in Antarctic science, comparative planetary science, planetary/polar geomorphology, or astrobiology.

Although this book is a timely contribution, and is a very useful reference, it may require updates in the near future as important analogue missions have recently been funded by NASA to integrate science-driven investigations with mission-relevant technologies in realistic operational scenarios in Antarctica in order to prepare for future space exploration missions. These include “IceBite”, a robotic drilling and sample handling system being developed by NASA Ames, and “ENDURANCE”, an under-ice robotic explorer led by the book's lead editor (PTD). The continued exploration of Mars by ongoing and future missions will continue to shows us as well the great diversity of environments, some similar to those on Earth, of our planetary neighbour.