"Mr.David Hollins' Amazon Page: Real or Prank?" Topic

Did anyone else see this? I just purchased Marengo on Amazon and couldn't help but see this. Is it real or a cruel joke? I honestly do not understand.

From Amazon, David Hollins Authors Page:

I would wish to formally dissociate myself from Osprey Military Publishing and any books I have written for them. Having put in lots of work to bring new material to its audience (rather than rehashing third hand nonsense like many authors) and having helped several other authors, they presumed to write lies about me on their site. Likewise, it seems that unless you subscribe to the whooping end of US society, you don't count for anything. They exploit British and European sacrifice in war to make money, yet seem obsessed with the US – good luck when the USD bombs after all the money printing.

Do you want to know why there is no Austrian Tactics book? Simple, Osprey would rather pander to a few Rednecks than publish anything worthwhile. That is all those posters on TMP achieved – well, aside from saving me a lot of work.

So, please do not buy any of my Ospreys. I have sold mine and sent the money to a military charity.

Please do buy the P&S book: Armies of the Napoleonic Wars as it is a good overall summary and for Austria, I have summarised much of my new research. Only an idiot like Kevin Kiley, who has lied and fabricated material in his book, while waging a bizarre 12 year campaign against me, seems not to like it plus his little Scouse mate, Walsh. It is a shame that some people simply wish to shout down proper research and new information, which the vast majority of readers do appreciate.

ANYHOW, I like his books. If this is real it is a real shame.

Ah, another 45 page thread in its beginnings.

Gee Mr.Smith. I'm so sorry for asking an HONEST question. Most authors don't tell you NOT to buy their books…So SORRY for thinking that was strange.

Lighten up.
I see nothing ahead but the usual TMP Napoleonics brouhaha where "experts" hurl insults at each other.
You have been around long enough to see that happen, particularly with the other expert he names.

Do you want to know why there is no Austrian Tactics book? Simple, Osprey would rather pander to a few Rednecks than publish anything worthwhile. That is all those posters on TMP achieved – well, aside from saving me a lot of work.

I would love to know what the heck he is talking about here, particularly how Big Bad TMP got that power.

I think it is real. He really does hate Osprey and IIRC he in part blames some of whatever his problem is with Osprey as a result of "a campaign" of negative criticism from certain specific people.

But I am sure other posters here will know better.

He blames TMP????
Sheesh.
Bill's secret editorial agenda?

If there is a campaign of negative criticism against his Osprey's it is not in Amazon. Reviews are few and mostly positive.

Actually, this is the review in amazon.com of Hollins' Austrian Grenadiers for Osprey, by Kevin Kiley's:

link

This kind of thing:

TMP link

TMP link

link

link

Some posts seem to indicate that people had used Amazon for negative reviews. But perhaps those reviews have been deleted now.

OK I now see there seems to have been a long dispute of some sort between authors. I have happily been completely unaware of it until now. Again, I just found it extraordinarily strange that an author would encourage you not to buy his book…so much so that for a moment I thought it was perhaps it was a prank. Kinda sorry I even asked, lol. Thanks for the info.

Maybe, because I've been checking Amazon and haven't seen anything. Only one short negative review in one of his books, of a man complaining of some slight against Americans in Hollins' book.

Not that I am a Kevin's fan, but in this particular case I believe that David Hollins is overreacting.

OK I now see there seems to have been a long dispute of some sort between authors. I have happily been completely unaware of it until now.

Well to be fair, I am not sure of the exact substance of Dave Hollins' dispute with Osprey, I believe the criticism was one aspect but I'm not sure of the mechanics of it.

More recently, there was a similar dispute between John Franklin (who wrote the recent 100 Days campaign Ospreys) and a couple of people who were writing negative reviews, downvoting people who gave positive reviews on Amazon and so on. However, in that case, Osprey didn't seem to then have a problem with the author, no matter how intense the dispute became. So maybe there were other elements in the Osprey/Hollins dispute.

But this is only a view from the outside and there are likely to be other issues involved.

Yeah, probably you are right. Otherwise it doesn't make too much sense.

As I suspected, the usual suspects.
None of whom play wargames, I believe. So why do they hang out here?

The usual "Although the author shows some elementary knowledge of the existence of the Demi-God Napoleon, it is sad to see…….."

I wonder if it was the reviews for the "Armies of the Napoleonic Wars" book? link

Although it was for Pen & Sword rather than Osprey, maybe it put Osprey off commissioning it.

So… who writes the best disclaimer: Hollins or Kiley?

"D. A. Hollins says:

I got bored with boorish Americans and the Idiot Tendency on TMP – hence my name change to XXXXXXXXXXXX. I don't wish to be associated with it at all, especially the editor's unfortunate tendency to allow Americans to abuse anyone but no European can be allowed to raise legitimate issues. "

Talk about burning your bridges…

David Hollins. Is he the one who was banned from TMP after posting some truly horrific comments about the members of Seal Team 6 when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in August 2011? I seem to recall he posted a lot of anti-American sentiment on TMP.

David Hollins. Is he the one who was banned from TMP after posting some truly horrific comments about the members of Seal Team 6 when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in August 2011? I seem to recall he posted a lot of anti-American sentiment on TMP.

This one? TMP link

Although TBF to the man, that doesn't necessarily make him wrong about the pros and cons of Austrian artillery…

That's it, Whirlwind. To clarify myself, I don't recall if he was banned or if he left TMP of his own accord.

I vaguely recall that he wasn't banned but asked Bill to lock his account to stop himslef being drawn into endless fights…but I could be wrong.

I only write book and DVD reviews on Amazon and, although I have most of his titles, I believe I have only written two reviews concerning David's work. One title was by the author and one containing a chapter by the author. Only one was an Osprey publication-Austrian Commanders to which I gave a 4 star review and stated within my review that it was only the poor artwork that put me off giving it 5.

The other title I reviewed, was Armies of the Napoleonic Wars, which was published by Pen and Sword. I only gave that title 2 stars because I felt Mr Hollins was given a massive amount of pages, which meant less pages for the authors offering information on other lesser known armies, and, in my opinion, he did not really offer anything new.

Both reviews can be seen on Amazon. But to claim that I have taken part in a malicious campaign against him is quite disturbing. I have actually corresponded with David away from forums and have even co-wrote a magazine series on Napoleon's early campaigns with him. I am disappointed that further Austrian titles have not been forthcoming, especially from Osprey, but that is a matter between the author and the publisher. I, for one, would certainly welcome further Austrian titles from the author.

The matter with the other author, Mr. Franklin, concerned his claim that an Osprey director had informed him that if I offered any manuscripts to them they would not be published. His claim may not be true but to make such a claim because I found fault with his Waterloo series I put down to a case of sour grapes. All the posts and claims he made were deleted and the matter is over and forgotten with, as far as I am concerned. And I am looking forward to his forthcoming Hougoumont title, whenever that finally becomes available.

Ah. Allow me to rethink above comments.

To answer the OP….
I believe that when one writes an Osprey, it is for a fixed fee, and there are no future royalties involved.
So, telling people not to buy what you have already been paid for is not contrary to your interests.
I could very well be wrong on that, and will stand corrected if I am.

And if I am wrong, Mister Hollins could very well be the type of person who cuts off his nose to spite his face. He does seem to have burned bridges in his past.

Either way, as said above, the books seem to contain useful information.

Ahh, Napoleonics. Where would TMP be without it?

A rather strange state of affairs. If something has set DH off it's not immediately obvious from the reviews on Amazon. Only one on the Austrian Frontier troops contains the completely irrelevant comment "I didn't find this book all to helpful and the author seems quite biased against the US readers. I won't be buying anymore of his books."

link

As a reader, I would ignore this one in the same was as another 1 star review say "Excellent".

I'm looking for detailed critiques like those provided by Kevin Kiley.

This may have been caused by some private correspondence between Osprey and DH to which we are not privy.

It is probably significant that all the 'biographical info' about his Osprey books on their site refers only to the illustrator.

It's a shame he is not going to write anymore Ospreys. I have always found Mr Hollins to be very helpful regarding all matters Austrian. He's responded to a number of questions I have posed on various forums over the years and he has always taken the time to provide detailed but concise replies. He also manages to do it without any condescension and if he makes a mistake or doesn't know the answer he is happy to admit it.

SJDonovan

Like I say, I have had no problems with him in the past, but considering I have only written two reviews of his work, one was a 4 star review on his own book, and the other a 2 star for a book in which he only had one chapter, I am sure he would admit his mistake, remove his absurd accusation against me which he has posted on Amazon.uk and Amazon.com, be a gentleman and apologise.

And who knows, perhaps he will resolve whatever issue he has with Osprey, apologise to them for asking people not to buy their books and maybe, just maybe, we might see some further Austrian titles. We could certainly do with them, whoever the author may be.

It is a shame that one of the very few experts of the Austrian Army was victimized so much – that he is giving up.

Perhaps some people should try contacting Osprey to find out the truth of the matter concerning Mr. Hollins.

Mad? He was FURIOUS!

I am pleased to say that common sense has prevailed and the remarks by Mr.Hollins have been removed from Amazon.co.uk.

Hopefully, that is the end of the matter, and who knows, we may yet see Osprey Austrian or Russian Tactics titles in the future. I know I would buy them.