Winner of the Commonwealth Award for Science and Invention, Sigma Xi Commonwealth Award for Science and Invention, Sigma Xi Association of American Publishers Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Geography and Earth Sciences Honorable Mention for the 2000 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Geography and Earth Sciences, Association of American Publishers A straightforward look at a complicated business that shows again not just that exploration is worth doing but that even at home here on earth it is far from over.
Michael Parfit, New York Times Book Review An excellent book... It is impossible to put down.
Richard Shelton, Times Literary Supplement The man who found the Titanic, discovered black smokers on the sea floor, and first ventured into the mid-Atlantic ridge tells the story of deep-sea exploration... Scores of photographs highlight the steadily absorbing text; together, words and pictures present a vital and authoritative general history of humanity's adventures deep beneath the waves.
Publishers Weekly Drawing from the expertise gained during his more than one hundred trips into the abyss, Ballard highlights historical and scientific events that he and Hively weave into a series of scintillating tales.
Loretta DiPietro, Scientific American Cool technology meets personal obsession in this history that's also a memoir by the discoverer of the wreck of the Titanic. Break out the bathospheres, the minisubs and the ROVs (Remote Operated Vehicles); it's time to take the plunge and see what's Down There.
Washington Post Book World This book takes the reader into the deep-sea realm along the discovery paths of famous deep-sea explorers as chronicled by the preeminent explorer of our time. Ballard's book will leave readers enlightened and concerned about the expanding role the oceans are playing as the future evolves.
Choice Pitched to the lay reader, Ballard's The Eternal Darkness is engaging, sometimes thrilling and always authentic... Ballard was also involved in the 1985 discovery of the Titanic, and his account of the sleuthing that went into the hunt makes for terrific reading.
Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post Book World An informative and interesting book written with authority on a fascinating subject.
Daniel Lenihan, Naval History A remarkable story of science and adventure, as fascinating as the exploration of space and the landing on the moon.
American Way (Airline Magazine) The Eternal Darkness is a highly readable book... I am always on the lookout for books that will motivate and enthuse potential and present students. The Eternal Darkness will become a firm favourite on that list, as Ballard shows what can be achieved by hard work, determination and unbounded enthusiasm.
Paul Tyler, New Scientist Doing science is exciting! This is the main message of Ballard's fascinating combination memoir and history of deep ocean science.
Library Journal Titanic discoverer Ballard ... handily summarizes a technology unfamiliar to many readers. Ballard has published popular books about his recovery of other famous sunken ships besides the movie's namesake, which adds cachet to this more scholarly work.
Booklist Dr. Ballard is a passionate advocate of deep-sea exploration, pointing out that all such expeditions so far undertaken have probably surveyed less than 1 percent of the sea floor... One can hardly disagree with Dr. Ballard's proposal that we should expand that 1 percent.
Phoebe-Lou Adams, Atlantic Monthly