Just to clarify a little: Counter-advertising is more commonly known as a 'mud-slinging' campaign. Is is considered against advertising protocols (and may indeed be illegal under restriction or hampering of fair trade practices). For example, it would be bad form (and as I said, possibly illegal), for Coca-Cola to pursue an advertising campaign saying: "How can you drink Pepsi? It tastes like twice filtered horse-whiz. Drink Coke instead!". This is why they use 'taste-test' campaigns for a great deal of advertising. Then it's not THEM saying it, it's the PEOPLE...and the PEOPLE have a right to be heard. (And if you believe that, I should be in advertising). In any case, we're not on a smear campaign against this author to promote another book for our own benefit...at least not our financial benefit. We just don't want to see a bad author getting more money for doing an inferior job. Just my two pixels worth, CT