Great Shark Writings (Paperback)

by Valerie Taylor (Author), Ron Taylor (Author), Peter Goadby (Author) "The best-known shark movies ever made are Peter Gimbel's documentary Blue water..." (more)
Key Phrases: blue dynamite, accessory populations, commercial shark fishing, Dangerous Reef, White Death, Zane Grey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Sharks have been a source of continuing terror and fascination to mankind from time immemorial. In the forty-two selections in this book, there is probably more information about sharks, their species, the seas in which they live, and their relationship with humans than has ever been gathered in the pages of one volume. This book includes the adventures and discoveries of scientists like William Beebe and Eugenie Clark, personal experiences of survivors of shark encounters, legends from Polynesia and the Indian Sea, shark-fishing stories, and tales of adventure from other parts of the world. The observations and personal encounters collected here will enthrall readers time and time again.

"Great Shark Writings is part of the Taylors' ongoing crusade to reduce myth to fact, to tell the truth about sharks. If some of the tales seem fantastic, don't dismiss them: they are all true. One of the book's many virtues is that the Taylors have demonstrated that the truth about sharks is spectacular enough. Sharks don't need a boost from fiction."--Peter Benchley

About the Author
Valerie and Ron Taylor are an Australian husband-and-wife team whose underwater photography has won them international acclaim. Their work includes such films as Jaws, Blue Water, White Death, and The Silent One, and they have produced many television documentaries.
Peter Goadby is an Australian sport fisherman and expert on deep-sea fishing. A frequent contributor to newspapers and magazines throughout the English-speaking world, he also serves as a technical consultant to an American manufacturer of fishing equipment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 329 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585670561
• ISBN-13: 978-1585670567
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,812,492 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A rehash of the fairly abysmal "Great Shark Stories.", May 1, 2009

By	Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

There are two ways in which any author can become associated with truly great writers. The most obvious and, of course, most desirable, course would be to write a great work. Alternatively, you can always produce a book in which you put your own name (in this case names) next to the good and great from literature in a bid to convince the unwary that you belong in such company.

This book is a rehash of the fairly abysmal "Great Shark Stories" in which the Taylor's place themselves alongside the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Peter Benchley, Arthur C. Clarke, Zane Grey and others. In this revision, we are told about the "Taylors' ongoing crusade to reduce myth to fact, to tell the truth about sharks." Not only have they failed in that goal, how on earth it might have been achieved by confusing FACT with FICTION is beyond me. The very fact that Peter Benchley - author of one of the greatest fictional films about a shark ever to have been produced (Jaws!) is mentioned, reduces this to a work of utter confusion.

Ron and Valerie Taylor came to prominence through their underwater photography and a series of television appearances many years ago. In those days they were very good but they failed to evolve. Instead they placed greater emphasis on the ever-ageing (it comes to all of us!) Valerie and, along the way, became Valerie and Ron Taylor. Sadly, this once very attractive lady now looks like mutton dressed as lamb as she refuses to accept the inevitable ravages of time. Be that as it may, my one over-riding criticism of this couple is their desire to use the Shark to publicise themselves without any thought for the consequences brought upon this magnificent creature. Only last week, there was yet another variation of Valerie Taylor on some TV Channel where she was being exalted as the bravest of the brave as she donned that wretched chain-mail suit covered in fish and invited Sharks to feed off her arm. In so doing she portrays all Sharks as being in the same category of "dangerous to man."

It must be 30 years since she first pulled that stunt, isn't it about time this so-called research moved on? Isn't it about time she proved the value of this ongoing experiment in nothingness by trying it with, say, protective head gear, or test her existing equipment with either some of the great sharks such as the Great White or even - amongst a pride of Lions!? Now that would demonstrate any true validity. Instead she is playing with the underwater equivalent of puppies with the conviction all viewers are gullible enough to believe she is playing with a pack of the most dangerous Rottweilers!

There are no lessons to be learned from this book. There is no original material in this work where fiction is confused with fact. For those who believe that Sharks really do follow people across the world to extract their revenge, Jaws 4 (or was it 5, or was it 45?) may be your preferred area of study - because even you will be confused by this effort.

For those who are genuinely interested in the "Shark," you should be aware that some are so small they could never be dangerous and others are truly fearsome beasts. By portraying all Sharks in the latter category, the Taylor's have, in my opinion, done far more to damage this splendid creature than anyone other people of whom I am aware.

NM