The Visual Encyclopedia of Nautical Terms Under Sail. New York : Crown, 1978
Reviewed by Leigh Kimmel
This review originally appeared in Science Fiction & Fantasy Workshop Newsletter # 154, July 1994.
This book is a superb source for terminology dealing with seafaring. It is divided into a number of chapters according to the types of words being dealt with. Each word is defined clearly and concisely. Where necessary, clear line drawings illustrate terms that are difficult to completely explain in words. Also there are some comical illustrations for some of the more humorous items of sailor's slang. Although this book is entirely about the terms used on sailing ships and doesn't even cover steam-powered ships, many of the terms relating to shipboard life and relations between officers and crew will also prove useful for a person writing a story taking place aboard a starship (following that time-honored practice of extending nautical usages to space travel). This book may be difficult to obtain in a bookstore, but it is definitely worth trying to locate if you wish to write about these subjects and don't have first-hand experience.
Last updated November 4, 2010