Comments on: THE KAIJU EIGA MAN

By: August Ragone

August Ragone — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:33:58 +0000

Jeff,
This person, “Roger” (and various other monikers; real name withheld to protect his own undoing) is a former friend who is pulling this same nonsense on other sites (including at the Chronicle Books site) and posting the same libelous and slanderous garbage. He recently saw me at a movie screening and had the gall to try to shake my hand and I refused, while I gave him a piece of my mind. So, this is how he passively-aggressively retaliates. Sad and desperate.

As for my “lies”, I only have to say that my sources were all Japanese reference materials (why quote second hand translations?), and there were other “experts” who were asked to contribute sidebar articles, which they were indeed credited with in bylines (and in the Credits *and* Acknowledgment pages — look ‘em up!). Instead of defending myself, I will instead quote my editor at Chronicle Books, Steve Mockus:

“I’m the editor of this book and I can state without equivocation that August Ragone was the author of the book. Brad was helpful in editorial coordination, and in fact-checking, and in obtaining permissions, and a hundred other ways that improved the book, but August wrote the book, and that credit is not in any dispute by anyone in connection with producing the book, including Chronicle Books, Tsuburaya Productions, Ed, or Brad.”

As for Brad Warner, as Steve pointed out, he worked for Tsuburaya Productions, and was placed by his superiors in Tokyo, to be the overseer of this project — that was his job — to pull together the photographs while I wrote the book in the compressed time given to us to complete it. Brad also served as my fact-checker, and also provided other services for me in doing research.

Sometimes jealously and rejection are bitter pills to some to swallow. “Roger” needs to grow up and get on with his own life — his one-man mission to unveil the man behind the curtain is childish and only makes him look the fool. Especially when one’s ISP address can be traced (and has). I’m not the only person “Roger” has slandered and libeled.

To quote Friedrich Nietzsche: “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”

Best Regards,
August Ragone

By: Roger

Roger — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:05:37 +0000

Well Morlockjeff. You said it yourself, you are not an expert so why comment on a subject or facts that you know nothing about? The idea of making a great book is to have ideas and info that is new and exciting and is written '' By the author'' not taken from other book sources. Yes it is true that many authors borrow from other written sources, but again, not the entire book and when other people are involved and not given proper credit, that is plain wrong in my opinion. Rumor has it that ( No , I actually know the source ) That Chronicle books almost pulled this from the author because he was un-organized and that Brad Warner a very well know Kaiju author helped pull this all together! He was not given proper credit as well as a massive still collection by author and Kaiju film historian Ed Godziszewski. So again Morlockjeff. you are not an expert on this subject and you should research your own thoughts and material. I am sure the author as well known as he is in the kaiju area will have his own story to lie about. R.G.

By: morlockjeff

morlockjeff — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:16:14 +0000

I’m no expert on Eiji Tsuburaya but this book is a treasure trove of wonderful stills and behind the scenes photos alone. As for the accusation of plagiarization, you are a little confused. The Merrian-Webster Dictionary or any other one you want to use defines plagiarize as “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own.” Who cares if Ragone quotes or recycles something from an earlier book HE wrote on the subject. It’s a common practice of all writers and there is nothing unethical about it. As for the Chronicle Books accusation, I seriously doubt any employee of Chronicle Books would pass on negative information to a stranger about one of their authors.

By: Roger

Roger — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:04:44 +0000

One of the worst books on Kaiju films that I can recall. I have also heard from other sources that this Ragone author plagiarized many of the material from his book from other Japanese books on the same subject? Chronicle books informed me by request that though he is credited as the author, many other kaiju fans were involved, but were not giving any credit for their contributions?

My advise, This is a waste of your money and way over hyped piece of garbage.

By: August Ragone

August Ragone — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:39:05 +0000

Jeff,
Thanks for the props on my book, it’s much appreciated, especially from the great Movie Morlocks! (Can we swap Blog links?)

Cheers,
August Ragone
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND GODZILLA

By: Mike Burleson

Mike Burleson — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:41:49 +0000

Thanks for this. I love these old cheesy but fun films!

By: Buddy R.

Buddy R. — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:07:33 +0000

Don't forget about "Frankenstein Conquers the World," "War of the Gargantuas" and "Dogora, the Space Monster" which are great fun and full of bizarre effects and offbeat humor.