In reply to UKC Articles: I have read this relatively recently along with Freeskiing www.freeskiing.nu (bought one and got other as present) and would recommend both
BCS is perhaps somewhat more of a "manual" like Fyffe (or Blackshaw depending on your vintage) on climbing and quite American in character, whilst FS has lots of pretty (unnecessary? inspirational?) pics and perhaps more of a "coffee table" feel to it and has been written by someone whose first language is not English.
Overall both cover much the same ground and are reasonably comprehensive. FS is more adventurous skier / less climber oriented, full of anecdote, and very keen to emphasise the uncertainty and lack of absolute rules in an alpine environment and analyse decision making and the roles of experience / judgement. All of this is present to some extent in BCS as well but in (IMHO) a more formalised psychobabbly sort of way. In technical instruction the diagrams are generally better in FS but explanatory text better in BCS. FS is IMHO better on weather and avalanche assessment but BCS better on beacon search and rescue and on up and downhill skiing technique
In all both are excellent and maybe complementary - if I was to read one right through again it would probably be FS (which I guess reflects my finding it more entertaining) but if I wanted to look up one particular technique etc I would use BCS. Put on the spot as to which one to go for by spmeone getting in to ski mountaineering I'd recommend BCS. More experienced people who will probably be familiar with most of the contents of both might prefer FS
cheers P
