Customer Reviews

The Story of Figure Skating: A Treasure for Figure Skating Fans to Cherish

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am the author of this book. I would like to address two issues on this page.

First, regarding the School Library Journal review: The review liked the text but not the photographs, describing them as "grainy, indistinct, or lacking in contrast." That is because the reviewer was not aware they were reviewing a photocopied review copy and not the final offset printed edition. I know this because the review mentions the tables list the world champions up to 1997, not 1998, while listing the Olympic champions up to 1998. The book, in its review photocopy edition went out to be reviewed as soon as the Winter Olympics were over, weeks before the World Championships were held. Once we knew the results of the World Championships, the final copy of the book went to the official printing, where the photos came out MUCH sharper than in the review edition. The publisher told me that the book was clearly marked "REVIEW COPY" and reviewers are supposed to realize such copies are not the final edition and that, due to the limited run for reviewers, are not produced in the final printing process.

The second issue I wish to address is cindyinthewind's incorrect assertion that I simply took the photographs from American Skating World and never contacted the photographers myself. I supplied the publisher with the addresses I was able to find via American Skating World and they took it from there. I received several thank-you notes from photographers, thanking me for the check they received for their work. If there was an issue here, it was on behalf of the publisher, not me. For cindyinthewind to say that NONE of the photographers got paid is beyond ridiculous. Also ludicrous and dishonest is for her to give a one-star review to a book she admits to not having read. If she had contacted me, I would have shared with her what happened and let her take it up with the publisher if she so desired. The publisher, according to my understanding, was not going to use photographs without the individual permission of each photographer. I don't know what happened if that was indeed the case, but the numerous thank-you notes I received from photographers I had never met leads me to believe that a great number of them were contacted. What happened beyond that, I don't know. The publisher was bought by another company shortly after the book came out and I've lost contact with them since.

The book is well written with a clear historical perspective including information about how the equipment has changed over the years, something you often don't find in other skating books. There are also dozens of fine quality pictures. This book would make a wonderful addition to any skating fan's library as well as a fine gift choice. A perfect 10!

...because the author used photographs in it taken by friends of mine without compensating them for their work. He used to write for a magazine called American Skating World that regularly accepted photographic submissions without paying the photographers. They'd submit their work in hopes of being published, even without pay. Well, Michael Boo took photos submitted to American Skating World over the years and used them in this book without ever contacting the original photographers or securing their permission to use the photos--and, of course, none of them got paid a penny. I was surprised to look at this book in a bookstore when it first appeared and recognize several photos taken by friends. I decided then and there that I wouldn't buy a book containing work stolen from my friends.