ACTA CARSOLOGICA 36/3 – 2007 523 Alexander Klimchouk: Hypogene Speleogenesis: Hy- drogeological and Morphogenetic Perspective. Cave and Karst Researc� Institute, Special Paper 1, vii + 106pp., National Cave and Karst Researc� Institute, Carlsbad NM, 2007. The new book under review indicates t� at t� e turn of t� e millennium was an important milestone in t� e de- velopment of ideas related to speleogenesis, marking t� e beginning of a period t� at will completely c� ange our un- derstanding of t� e formation of t� e underground karst. Alexander Klimc� ouk is one of t� e few cave scientists w� o combines topmost scientific skills and knowledge wit� maximum p � ysical caving condition. This enables �im not only to consider t � e deepest problems of speleo- genesis but also to visit even extremely difficult accessible caves and test �is ideas on t � e spot. The contents of t� is A4 format paperback book are arranged into five main sections, covering different as- pects of � ypogene speleogenesis. The book’s scientific core is preceded by Contents, Foreword, List of Figures (62 in total), List of plates (19 in total), List of Tables (2 in total), Abstract and Introduction and followed by an Epilogue, Acknowledgements and References (225 in total). C� apters and sections are numbered using decimal notation. The Foreword by Dr. George Veni (Executive Direc- tor of t� e NCKRI) outlines t� e background of t� e book’s Hy POGENE SPELEOGENESIS: Hy DROGEOLOGICAL AND MORPHOGENETIC PERSPECTIVE conception and gestation. He concludes t� at: “…this book firmly establishes a new paradigm that will guide much karst research for decades to come. ” The main c� apter titles speak for t� emselves: In- troduction, Basic concepts and terminology (1), Karst in the context of the systematized and hierarchical nature of regional groundwater flow (2), Ascending hypogenic spe- leogenesis (3), h ypogenic cave features (4), and Some im- plications of the hypogenic transverse speleogenesis concept (5). Ric� in new ideas, t � e book c� allenges t� e very foun- dations of some current perceptions of understanding t� e karst. Its main value is t� e provision of a synt� esis of t� e aut� or’s enormous practical knowledge of � ypogene speleogensis and its related literature. Many informative and easily understandable figures support t� e straig� t- forward reasoning wit�in t � e text, w�ic � deepens t � e discussion of t� e notion of karst, w�ile also widening its meaning. Anot� er valuable facet is a lucid presentation and commentary upon existing definitions of karst and karstification, involving t� e ideas of several leading kar- stologists. A t�ird positive aspect is discussion of virtu - ally all possible cave morp� ological features, supported wit� clear p � otograp� s from around t� e world. W� ereas t� e personal aut� ority stamped on t� e en- tire text by t� e aut� or is close to being absolute, suc� a work could never be realized wit� out t� e involvement REVIEWS AND REPORTS / POROČILA ACTA CARSOLOGICA 36/3 – 2007 524 and support of many individuals or institutions, as rec- ognized by t� e warm t� anks presented in t� e Acknowl- edgements. References are abundant, 225 in total per 99 pages of text (2.3 per page). Works written in Englis� dominate, t� oug� Russian contributions form a signifi - cant part of t� e w� ole. This provides an invaluable in- sig� t into t� e relatively less well-known, t� oug� abun - dant, Russian karstological literature, and makes t� e text unusually well supported. Per� aps weak points exist, even in so excellent a book, but more detailed dissection would reveal as many additional positive as possibly minor negative issues. In any case, as t� e reviewer is not specialized in t�is kind of speleogenesis, deeper analysis is omitted. Slovene karstologists mig� t ask w� et� er suc� ideas – t� oug� of t � e utmost t� eoretical value – are applica- ble to t� e Slovenian karst, w�ic � is an example of epi - gene karst par excellence? In answering one must take Klimc� ouk’s own assertion (p.2) very seriously: “h ypo- genic speleogenesis is much more widespread than it was previously presumed”. The last few decades of researc� into Slovene underground karst genesis � ave pus� ed t� e beginning of karstification back by millions years. Only few, limited, cave systems can still be explained as prod- ucts of straig� tforward sub-recent, processes. In reality it transpires t� at most of t� e best known cave systems are at least partially in� erited from earlier stages, adapted to t� e present � ydrological situation. Consequently, allow- ing for known rates of denudation, many c� annels were formed at far greater dept� s t� an previously expected. Acceptance of t�is opens t � e way to application of t� e principles of � ypogene speleogenesis wit�in t � e classical karst of Slovenia. Some formerly problematical features, especially w� ere tectonically conditioned ascending wa- ter circulation was implied, can now be reconsidered in t� e � ypogene context. Hypogene speleogenesis mig� t well turn out to be a �ig � ly relevant topic in Slovenia, as elsew� ere, and will inevitably spawn a w� ole generation of new findings. Only a few more words need be added. The book is an unavoidable “must” on t� e desks of t� eoretically- oriented karstologists, as well as of more pragmatic � y- drogeologists. One can only agree wit� t � e aut� or (p.57): “The number of such caves recognized around the world is rapidly growing, and it is going to expand dramatically by re-interpretation of many caves, based on the new ap- proach suggested in this book. ” The book is available for $35 plus $6 domestic s�ip - ping or $13 international s�ipping. Payable by Visa, MC, AMEx, or Discover cards via sales@nckri.org or by call - ing 001-505-835-6168, or by c� eque written to “NCKRI” and sent to NCKRI/E&ES, Attn: Lisa Majkowski, New Mexico Tec�, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, New Mexico, 87801, USA. France Šušteršič REVIEWS AND REPORTS / POROČILA