FIELDS OF SUN AND GRASS To all caring and compassionate environmentalists out there, Fields of  Sun  and Grass, the latest offering by gifted naturalist, writer, and  artist  John R. Quinn, is a glorious cry of victory via a remarkable  portrayal of  some of the most durable and stubbornly determined  survivors in the faunal  and floral kindgdom.The setting is the New  Jersey Meadowlands, a wild  and reedy tract located a mere six miles  west of New York's Times Square.  It is considered by many as nothing  more than a "toxic wasteland," but is  in fact home to a dazzling array  of often overlooked plants and animals.  While there is little doubt  that many of the life forms that once thrived  here are long gone, many  others remain, and these are the primary focus of  this book. Many, many  species are discussed; far too many to list here.  Suffice it to say  Quinn leaves no stones unturned.The book has three  central  parts, respectively called "Yesterday," "Today," and "Tomorrow."  Each  covers a different time period in the ecological life of the   Meadowlands. There also is an "Introduction," a "Starting Point," an   "Epilogue," a bibliography, an index, and an interesting sort of  "hands-on"  chapter called "Exploring the Meadowlands." This will be of  particular  interest to anyone who lives within traveling distance of  the region. It  gives helpful and experienced advice on enjoyed the  Meadowlands firsthand  through boating, fishing, hiking, and the  visiting of local  parks.