This volume is derived from the 13th meeting on Deformation Mechanisms, Rheology and Tectonics (DRT2003). The meeting was held in St Malo (Brittany, France) in April 2003, and organized by an informal group from Gdosciences Rennes (UMR 6118 CNRS, Rennes University), including Michel Ballbvre, St6phane Bonnet, Arlette Falaise, Olivier Galland, Fr6d6ric Gueydan, Charles Gumiaux, Benjamin Le Bayon, Alain-Herv6 Le Gall, Monique Le Moigne, Sylvie Schueller, and C61ine Tirel. It was sponsored by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Rennes University, the ity of Rennes, the Conseil G6n6ral d'Ille et Vilaine, and the R6gion Bretagne. Forty-eight reviewers have worked hard to improve the papers. We thank these persons and institutions for their contributions.

The flow of glacier ice can produce structures that are striking and beautiful. Associated sediments, too, can develop spectacular deformation structures and examples are remarkably well preserved in Quaternary deposits. Although such features have long been recognized, they are now the subject of new attention from glaciologists and glacial geologists. However, these workers are not always fully aware of the methods for unravelling deformation structures evolved in recent years by structural geologists, who themselves may not be fully aware of the opportunities offered by glacial materials. This book, and the conference from which it stemmed, were conceived of as a step towards bridging this apparent gap between groups of workers with potentially overlapping interests.

This Special Publication celebrates the life and times of one of the late 20th century's most influential structural geologists, Mike Coward. At various times Mike was H H Read Professor of Geology at Imperial College, Chair of the UK Tectonic Studies Group and Council Member of the Geological Society of London; but these official titles belie a deeply unconventional man who loved to challenge accepted wisdom and dogma. Mike's career was an eclectic mix of pure and applied research in structural geology that straddled continents and geological time. Normal chronological narratives can hardly do justice to a man who could step from theme to theme at times, seemingly to colleagues, almost on a daily basis. This brief biography attempts to draw together some of the strands, in rather the same way as the Special Publication itself, to offer a glimpse of a character who could be very much larger than life. <...>

Deltas, with their economic, political and scientific importance, have long fascinated and attracted Man's attention. The term 'delta' was coined by Herodotus in approximately 450 Bc for the triangular-shaped sedimentary body at the mouth of the River Nile. Today, the concept of a delta, its morphology and its controlling processes, are almost as numerous as the people who work on such systems.
This volume, of 23 papers on many aspects of modern and ancient deltaic sedimentary systems, will be useful to researchers as well as teachers and students alike. The well-balanced content of the book should prove particularly attractive.to those who seek a detailed state-of-the-science overview of this large and ever-expanding subject area. <...>