Mike Branney is a Professor of Volcanology at the University of Leicester, and jazz pianist. He investigates explosive super-eruptions, how volcanic ash is transported across the Earth surface, and how volcanoes collapse catastrophically, and has published many key papers on these topics. He works in Korea, Mexico, Phillippines, the UK, Canary Islands, Italy, and the USA.Jan Zalasiewicz is a Professor at the University of Leicester, and before that worked at the British Geological Survey. A field geologist, palaeontologist and stratigrapher, he teaches various aspects of geology and Earth history to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is a researcher into fossil ecosystems and environments across over half a billion years of geological time. He has published over a hundred papers in scientific journals, and has written and edited several books, including The Planet in a Pebble: a journey into Earth's deep history (OUP 2012), Rocks: A Very Short Introduction (OUP 2016), and Geology: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2018).

The authors have found a balance which enables both novices and experts alike to learn and enjoy reading. I would highly recommend this book to all; from those who simply seek to gain knowledge in the field of volcanology, to those who want to evolve their understanding beyond that of volcanism on Earth.

• Prologue List of illustrations 1 The making of magma 2 How do volcanoes explode? 3 Volcanoes and water 4 Lava 5 Making and breaking volcanoes 6 Hidden volcanoes: tales from the past 7 Volcanoes, climate, and the biosphere 8 What have volcanoes done for us? 9 Volcanoes beyond Earth A short glossary Further reading Index

Mike Branney is a Professor of Volcanology at the University of Leicester, and jazz pianist. He investigates explosive super-eruptions, how volcanic ash is transported across the Earth surface, and how volcanoes collapse catastrophically, and has published many key papers on these topics. He works in Korea, Mexico, Phillippines, the UK, Canary Islands, Italy, and the USA.Jan Zalasiewicz is a Professor at the University of Leicester, and before that worked at the British Geological Survey. A field geologist, palaeontologist and stratigrapher, he teaches various aspects of geology and Earth history to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is a researcher into fossil ecosystems and environments across over half a billion years of geological time. He has published over a hundred papers in scientific journals, and has written and edited several books, including The Planet in a Pebble: a journey into Earth's deep history (OUP 2012), Rocks: A Very Short Introduction (OUP 2016), and Geology: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2018).

The authors have found a balance which enables both novices and experts alike to learn and enjoy reading. I would highly recommend this book to all; from those who simply seek to gain knowledge in the field of volcanology, to those who want to evolve their understanding beyond that of volcanism on Earth.

• Prologue List of illustrations 1 The making of magma 2 How do volcanoes explode? 3 Volcanoes and water 4 Lava 5 Making and breaking volcanoes 6 Hidden volcanoes: tales from the past 7 Volcanoes, climate, and the biosphere 8 What have volcanoes done for us? 9 Volcanoes beyond Earth A short glossary Further reading Index