RE: [WEB400] Re: CGI URL

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: Eyers, Daniel
>
> I read the first few
> chapters but found the lack of a consistent and authoritative
> voice distracting (basic editing would have helped here).
> In contrast, Paul Conte's book on SQL/400 remains perpetually
> open on my desk. Based on your findings, I may move e-RPG
> to a location more suitable to it's quality.

I most definitely do not want to get into any sort of argument on the merits
of Brad's book.  Empirical sales evidence tends to indicate that the book
serves a purpose, but text-worthiness is in the eye of the beholder.

I just wanted to make a couple of points:

1. Paul's book and Brad's book were both put out by the same company, MC
Press.  As was my book.  I happen to know that the technical editors there
are very thorough and professional folks.

2. Writing a book about a technical subject is possibly one of the most
difficult things in the world.  The tradeoffs you have to make on content
vs. length, breadth vs. depth, and so on, are mind numbing.  Trying to put
yourself in the reader's shoes on each and every page is daunting,
especially since you know the material and may take something for granted.

So, while you may not find Brad's book useful, I'd still suggest that it's a
heck of a lot better than any book published by most of the members of this
list - if only for the simple reason that very few people on this list have
actually published anything.

Again, I'm not trying to get into a flame war.  I'll make my point and go on
with my life.  People know that Brad and I often have wildly contrasting
views and have had some, shall we say, ENERGETIC discussions on these lists,
and they also know that I'm no fan of RPG CGI programming, but even given
that, I think that referring to his book as garbage, however indirectly, is
a little bit extreme.

Joe