The enigmatic sedimentary structures in many pyroclastic sequences, which were commonly dismissed as reworking were primary features volcanic flow. Fisher generously acknowledges that the credit for seeing the link between the atomic base surges and volcanic phenomena belongs to Adrian Richards, who briefly noted the similarities in 1959, and to Jim Moore of the US Geological Survey, who developed the insight in detail. However, it was principally Fisher who pioneered the systematic documentation and interpretation of the deposits of base surges with colleagues and students such as Aaron Waters, Hans Schmincke and Grant Heiken. This exciting and important period in volcanic geology is described with the insights into the twists and turns of original discovery that is usually missing from scientific papers. Later in the book, Fisher also describes in characteristically modest fashion his important discoveries and ideas about pyroclastic processes such as ash-cloud surges, flow transformations and the expanded character of some pyroclastic flows.
Volcanology can be a dangerous profession.
The most poignant part of the book concerns the deaths of two outstanding young American scientists by volcanoes just as their careers were blossoming. When Mount St. Helens started to erupt in 1980, Harry Glicken was stationed at the Coldwater II observation post, six miles north of the volcano. Glicken had a meeting with Fisher on 18 May to discuss his career and so David Johnston took over his duty. The catastrophic pyroclastic eruption of that day killed Johnston. Eleven years later, Glicken was killed by a pyoclastic flow on Mount Unzen in Japan along with the film-makers Katia and Maurice Kraft and many journalists.