When Galligan asked me to speak on his behalf I accepted with the proviso that he provide me a clear explanation of his project. Since then he's given me a two foot thick stack of memos and photos... to, as he says "guide me" but somehow he never managed to put together that simple clear directive.

I asked Steve if he could clue me in with a simple explanation of what Jan was doing in Prague. Here's what Steve wrote...
 

Dear Doctor Poobah:

First - you have to understand that Jan only had a week to investigate and complete his project here in Prague.

Second - You must know that the Czech language is nearly impenetrable to the newcomer. 

Third - although the Czech people are warm and charming, they are by nature cautious and suspicious, as you can well understand, given their history.

So, on his first day in Prague, as we were having lunch near my office, Galligan spots the Prague TV Tower. Not too difficult, being the tallest structure in the city. It looks like something out of the "Jetsons" tv show. At the very top of the tower he sees a giant baby sculpture.

"That's it!" he shouts. "I've gotta get up there."

"Good luck..." I tell him, knowing how impossible that would be.

The next day he shows me his photo of the baby's butt with Prague in the background.

"How'd you do that??!" I ask him.

He says, "It's a long story. I'll write it down and send it to you when I get back to Albany."

So, it's all there, in his book - NUDNY NOVINY (THE BORING STORY). Some of it's true - the rest lies, which I tried to correct in my afterword. It is true that we might have read about him in the papers after he made his photo. He did almost fall off the top of the tower because of the wind and the icy roof...

"NEW YORK TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER DIES IN FATEFUL PLUNGE"

What else can I say?

Read the book.

Buy a refrigerator magnet.

Sincerely,

Steve Fisher
PRAXIS
Prague
04-12-02