WIX Archives
Re: 'Go Nuts, buy a magazine or book......'
Posted by Cees Broere on Wed Feb 27, 2002 04:27:44 AM
In reply top 'Go Nuts, buy a magazine or book......' posted by Paul Coggan on Wed Feb 27, 2002 03:26:30 AM
Paul,
Good point taken there.
But hasn't it always been like that, I mean when someone takes the challenge to write a book about a certain subject and tries very hard to make a good job of it, there are always others who are ready with their critisism, especially those who refused to cooperatie in the first place.
When writing a book it is always important to know that it will sell a certain amount of copies. Perhaps that is why there are so many books about the Battle of Britain, Spitfire, Lancaster, B-17 etc. The problem related to these books is that they are almost the same. I have many books about the Spitfire with the same old well known photographs. But if I want to know something about a certain subject, I have to look into dozens of books with the chance that my question is still not answered.
So to be able to sell some books you have to keep the costs down by using a lot of generally well trodden paths and photographs? I am also aware that these books are aimed at the general aviation enthusiast who are interested in anything, and not aimed at people like us on this forum who are actively (professionally or past-time) involved with historic aviation and have progressed beyond this point many years ago. Apart from that I think the prices of these books are very high considering what they are offering.
Speaking for myself, I also started by buying anything about aircraft, and this developed into a deep love for the piston engined warbirds. This resulted in streamlining the bookcollection over the years. I am at a point now that I will only consider buying a book if it is really interesting and has information not known to me before. This makes it difficult for the booksellers to sell any new book to me, and if there are more people like me prices will rise even further.
But on the other hand if a certain book has been well researched and fills the gap left by the more mainstream books that shouldn't prevent people who are also more deeply involved in historic aviation from buying it? Books about the restoration of Black Six, the Blenheim, the recovery of the Loch Ness Wimpy, the restoration of CWH's Lanc etc. are being read many times over and over.
The above is purely based on my own personal opinion and is not intended to offend anyone.
Now, how about a book about the Canadians and the Halifax. Dare I suggest a title: Halifax, the Canadian years???
or: Wellington, the production history,
Whitley, Britains underrated bomber
Cheers
Cees