Along with his oversize achievements, Millay has a Shamu-sized eccentric personality that makes for fascinating reading. Ultra-conservative, incredibly demanding, and oddly preoccupied with minutiae like his employees' hair length, Millay nonetheless commanded the respect and admiration of those who shared his amazing theme park journey. Their stories help paint an intriguing portrait of one of the industry's leading innovators.
Tim O'Brien, a journalist formerly with the trade publication, Amusement Business, and author of The Amusement Park Guide, is uniquely qualified to tell Millay's tale. The narrative jumps around a bit in time, but O'Brien's obvious passion for the industry and his loose, playful writing style make The Wave Maker an entertaining and informative read. Magic Mountain, which Millay and his SeaWorld cohorts unloaded soon after it opened, receives scant attention. But anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes intrigue involved in developing not one, but two theme park milestones will enjoy the book's insight into the early years of SeaWorld and Wet 'n Wild.
