FEATURED BOOK REVIEW

Oseong Publishing, Seoul. 534 pages. No ISBN.

This large-format volume is an extraordinary publication that compiles over 20 years of research and identification of suseok collecting sites in Korea. In his preface, Lee states that he has organized over 280 stone-producing and newly discovered sites throughout Korea. A typical stone is illustrated for each collecting site, along with information, and location-specific maps are provided for each site.

The collecting locations are arranged by the broader categories of rivers, mountains, and coastlines. For example, Lee identifies 13 specific collecting sites along the Nanham River. These are further divided into the Upper, Middle, Middle-Lower, and Lower Nanham River. Site-specific maps are sometimes included with each location.

People new to stone appreciation as well as more advanced collectors who enjoy collecting stones in nature will find this book a valuable resource. It has contributed to the growth of a large and active suseok community in Korea.

Rating: Excellent, a fine reference for stone collectors.