Author and columnist Wood guides what is in essence a walking tour of the moon, keeping in mind that most readers have never been there but always planned to go someday. He starts by describing those who described the features of the moon, then moves among those features, detailing what we do and do not know about the dry seas, faults, basins, and the terraces, central peaks, and rim crests of craters. He includes the craters within craters in the Imbrium Basin, the "searing whiteness" adventurers imagined at the north polar region, the Mare Serenitatis, serene in name only, and the concentric rings of Crisium Country. Wood includes hundreds of maps and photographs, and even tells readers why pre-Apollo maps have south at the top. He closes with a brief discussion of space exploration beyond the moon. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)