Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest, by Elliott Norse. Wilderness Society and Island Press, P.O. Box 7, Covelo, CA 95428 (1990). Black-and-white photos, 327 pp. Hardcover, $34.95; softcover, 19.95.

The spotted owl on the cover announces that this book will be an appeal to save the last big trees, but the scientist the Wilderness Society asked to compile this book is no patsy. He begins by admitting that few organizations advocating public policies are careful about getting their facts straight. Although Norse has not included anyone who favors cutting the old-growth forests, the writers here are generally unsentimental, factual, understandable, and brief. With books like this the defenders of old-growth will be well armed and credible.