Oracle SQL: the Essential Reference

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to a great many people who have contributed in large and small ways to the creation of this book.

This book began with a conversation with my editor at O'Reilly, Deborah Russell, who agreed that there was a real need for a book like this, and pushed me to get it done. I would like to thank her for providing invaluable comments on content, structure, and style. She is probably even happier than I am that this book is done!

The first Oracle employee I ever met was Ken Jacobs, who at the time was serving as our technical sales support liaison. Over the following 15-plus years I have had many interactions with Ken, who is known to the Oracle community for his remarkable expertise and quiet competence. Ken is a technical genius, an excellent scuba diver, and a really great person. I am honored that he agreed to write the Foreword for this book. Ken, I am forever in your debt!

I am grateful beyond words to Jonathan Gennick, who not only provided a detailed technical review and editorial assistance, but also supplied massive amounts of material and helped rescue me from the brink of disaster! It suffices to say that, for me, backups have taken on a new level of importance!

Special thanks go to John Beresniewicz, Steven Feuerstein, and Brian Laskey, as well as to Richard Sarwal and Sandy Venning from Oracle Corporation, who generously gave up their time to provide a technical review for this book.

I am also immensely grateful to my loving and supportive wife, ...