The Dragon Behind the Glass by Emily Voigt | LJ Review

by LJ Reviews
May 06, 2016 | Filed in Reviews+
LJ's review of Emily Voigt's The Dragon Behind the Glass: A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World's Most Coveted Fish
the_dragon_behind_the_glass_9781451678949_hr__1462202122_20418redstarVoigt, Emily. The Dragon Behind the Glass: A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World’s Most Coveted Fish. Scribner. May 2016. 336p. maps. notes. ISBN 9781451678949. $26; ebk. ISBN 9781451678963. SCI Not since Candace Millard published The River of Doubt has the world of the Amazon, Borneo, Myanmar, and other exotic locations been so colorfully portrayed as it is here. Reporting how the Asian arowana fish, an endangered species, has become a cultural and commercial phenomenon, journalist Voigt, whose work has been published in the New York Times, OnEarth, and Mother Jones, opens with the shocking murder of a young exotic fish seller who has an eye for selecting extremely valuable arowana. The author traveled to Singapore and other South Asian destinations, visiting fish conventions, exotic fish farms, and remote and dangerous locations trying to find out why the arowana cultivates such passion among exotic fish collectors. She discovered a surprisingly cutthroat business, encountering unusual characters such as Kenny the Fish, the reigning head of the South Asian aquaculture; ichthyologists Heiko Behler and Tyson Roberts; and Ralf Britz. Voigt skillfully intersperses historical and legal aspects of the unusual world of these sea creatures and poses a number of intriguing ethical questions for readers to ponder. Who knew that aquaculture could be so ruthless? VERDICT A compelling must-read that will appeal to those interested in wildlife or conservation.—Rebecca Hill, ­Zionsville, IN This review was published in Library Journal's May 1, 2016 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35 percent off the regular subscription rate.
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.
Fill out the form or Login / Register to comment:
(All fields required)

RELATED 

BOOKPULSE

Trump Fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden | Book Pulse
by Sarah Wolberg
BOOKPULSE

Amazon Canada First Novel Award Finalists | Book Pulse
by Sarah Wolberg
READERS' ADVISORY

Read-Alikes for ‘The Tenant’ by Freida McFadden | LibraryReads
by Kara Kohn, Cyndi Larsen, and Lucy Lockley
BOOKPULSE

Otherwise Award Winners Announced | Book Pulse
by Kate Merlene
BEST OF

The Awakening and Other Stories by Kate Chopin | Review Anew
by Neal Wyatt
FICTION

Hunting for Love | Adventurous Romances
by Whitney Kramer and Kellie Tilton
More
RECOMMENDED
Story Image
REVIEWS+

Run Your Week: Big Books, Sure Bets & Titles Making News | July 17 2018
Neal Wyatt Jul 17, 2018
The Other Woman by Daniel Silva leads holds this week. Former President Obama has more summer reading. Downton Abbey is heading to the movies.
Story Image
TECHNOLOGY

Materials on Hand | Materials Handling
Matt Enis, May 16, 2018
Automated systems are helping libraries move staff to patron-facing work, while manufacturers innovate new design features.
Story Image
PROGRAMS+

LGBTQ Collection Donated to Vancouver Archives
Lisa Peet, Jun 21, 2018
Longtime archivist, former head of the Vancouver Public Library’s history division, and queer rights activist Ron Dutton donated more than 750,000 items documenting the British Columbia LGBTQ community to the City of Vancouver Archives in March.
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?