Astounding Mushrooms

[Review of hardcover edition: ] In this beautiful hardcover book entitled Astounding Mushrooms by Jaroslav Maly and Alain Bellocq, we’re given a glimpse into the wild world of mushrooms that exists like another realm beneath our feet. With over one million species of mushrooms said to exist worldwide, this book shows us some of the world’s most diverse. Maly’s photos detail mushrooms of various shapes including buttons, nests, fans, feet, clubs, hooves, trumpets, mesh, tentacles, stars, tubes, and spines. Textures are smooth, shiny or pimpled. They can be dry or wet, edible or deadly. Nuanced colours and blushes include yellows, reds, blues, and greens. They may be speckled, stinky, slimy, hairy, or fuzzy. Some wear a hat, a “skirt”, or can even move. There is much in nature that goes unnoticed on a leisurely afternoon trek of the woods. Astounding Mushrooms inspires us to explore with new vision. You won’t wander the same way after reading.–Leyla Top “Ontario Nature Blog” (10/20/2015 12:00:00 AM)

Alain Bellocq is a mycologist specializing in the study of the Inocybe genre, who trained with Marcel Bon, a mycologist of worldwide reputation. He is president of the Association Mycologique de l’Ouest de la France and secretary of the Observatoire Mycologique.

Jaroslav Malý is a mycologist and member of the Czech Mycology Society. He created a mycologist club near Prague in Melnik, where he lives today. His photographs are published regularly in journals and books.