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Considering the impact that JAWS (book and movie) had on me as a kid, and my lifelong interest in sharks, this is a major downer. I really appreciate the effort Benchley put into championing sharks and arguing for the need to protect them. Many of his books were exciting and entertaining, a few of them were awful. Still, I read them all and will likely re-read several of them again.
Benchley often talked about the dichotomy created by JAWS. He created a monster in more ways than one. His fictitious shark sparked interest in these animals, and led many people to become marine biologists and researchers. On the other hand, he accidentally empowered others to feel more justified in hunting down and slaughtering sharks because they were "evil." He had regrets about adding to that popular conception, but he understood that we humans "love our monsters," and have to have them.
Personally, I am grateful both to have been scared witless by the shark of his imagination, and to have been enlightened by the real and beautiful sharks he worked to save.
Rest In Peace, me heartie,
a very sad Flippyshark!
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