#########################################################################
I reserve the right to omit letters from the mailbag if I feel they don't
really contribute anything such as new ideas or new recommendations or
(most commonly) they make recommendations for books I've already read or
refuse to read until they're all out in paperback (i.e. Jordan).
Large .sig's deleted for my own sanity.

When appropriate, I have summarized my response to the letter by quoting
myself on lines prefaced by "##".  I hope this is clear.  Also, please
contact me if you would like your letter to be left off of this page.
Sometimes, I've inserted editorial comments in [].
#########################################################################
From: John Simpson 
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 94 13:40:04 GMT
Subject: Book Reviews

Doug,

I've just discovered your book reviews at:
    http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/books.html

Thanks for taking the effort to write these and then be so generous to share
them with everyone else out here on the 'net. I've just started reading the
Terry Pratchett Discworld series and having just finished Wryd Sisters must
agree with your opinion that it was "plodding" compared to the rest. However,
since I borrow rather then buy the books I'll continue reading the series
although he writes at a prolific rate so I hope I eventually catch-up !!

I also want to recommend the Scottish author : Iain Banks; he writes both
general fiction and science-fiction (under the name Iain M. Banks). Some of
his stories are VERY strange but "Consider Phlebas", "The Player Of Games", 
and "Use Of Weapons" can be highly recommended.

- John.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert Devereaux 
Date: Thu, 01 Dec 1994 13:26:51 MST
Subject: Book suggestion :^)

Hi, Doug,

I found your WWW page today, thanks to your message.  Great job indeed &
thanks for providing this service.

Book suggestion?  DEADWEIGHT, my first novel, a Dell/Abyss horror novel 
from March 1994 & still orderable if not stocked.  Mix of a Kingish sort 
of plot with the graphic presentation of the splatpack, plus of course 
what I think is my own unique voice.

If you want to see my bio & a short story originally published in Weird
Tales, Spring 1993, check out Casey Hopkins' horror web page at:

   http://www.ee.pdx.edu/~caseyh/horror/horror.html

Best,
--
Robert Devereaux
bobdev@fc.hp.com
Fort Collins, CO
(303) 229-3423

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "avedon@leland.stanford.edu" 
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 1994 10:41:52 -0800
Subject: Your WWW Books Page

Just wanted to say hi, and mention that I enjoyed your Books Page.
I followed the URL on your Weber review for rec.arts.sf.reviews.

My SO and I share your taste in authors to quite a degree, although
we split across a few:  I like Clancy, she reads King and Simmons.
We are both raving Weber fans.

By way of suggestions, I thought Vernor Vinge's Fire Upon the Deep
was exceptionally entertaining, particularly for anyone on Internet.  
It's far superior to the, IMHO, highly overrated Snowcrash.  

If you're into Trek, the best Trek novel I've ever read (with the
possible exception of John M. Ford's Final Reflection - I'm a 
Klingon-o-phile of sorts) is Barbara Hambly's Crossroad.  It's
actually gritty.

-- Roger

p.s.  This mail probably echoed in various unfinished forms several 
times.  Thank my cats!  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: paisley@bilbo.suite.com (Theo Petersen)
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 95 15:17:39 -0600
Subject: Gene Wolve reviews

I like your book review page!  Thanks for making it public.

You haven't much to say about Gene Wolfe, but I'm glad you avoided the  
frequent r.a.sf statement that he couldn't write his way out of a paper bag.  
Like Donaldson, for most readers he's either a hit or a miss.  I don't have  
enough of a literary criticism background to say easily just what the hell he  
is trying to *do* in his stories, but it's almost as if he's more interested  
in the state of the characters than the action of the story.  I always seem to  
discover the plot of a Wolfe novel is a side-effect; the characters usually  
haven't much of an idea what's going on.

If you should happen to find a copy of _Peace_ by G.W., I suggest you give it  
a try; it's short and serves as a good example of what I'm stumbling to  
describe.  Easier to find is _A Soldier in the Mist_, set in the wars of the  
Greek city-states, about a prisoner of war whose head injuries result in him  
not remembering anything beyond the previous 12 hours.  There was a sequel  
which wasn't quite as good, _A Soldier of Arete_.

By the way, I agree with you about _Free Live Free_; I think it was a complete  
muddle, and Wolfe tossed in an ending to get it over with.

..Theo

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: robert@bookwire2.bookwire.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 13:16:34 -0500
Subject: Doug's Library/BookWire

Your Home Page will be featured as a link on the new BookWire Home Page.  
BookWire is an online service for those interested in the publishing 
business.

We would be most appreciative if you would browse our WWW site and add a 
link to our Home Page to your site. Our address is:
http://www.bookwire.com

Thank you.
Robert Pierosh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: swart@POINCARE.CIMS.NYU.EDU (Pieter Swart)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 95 11:54:45 EST
Subject: your sf review page

Hi Doug, thanks for some super reviews. Now I have quite a few 
books  I can't wait to check out.

Looking through your list, I missed Mervyn Peake's "The Gormenghast
Trilogy". I thought it surpassed Tolkien & Donaldson in its vivid style & 
selfcontainedness. 

Best
Pieter Swart     

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: craig@phobos.ME.Berkeley.EDU (Craig Smith)
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 1995 16:15:28 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Thanks

I really enjoyed reading comments on the books you have read.
I got caught by Robert Jordan with the Wheel of Time series.  I
think you've got the right idea there.  I read the first five books 
in about five days, then came to a grinding halt unwilling to spend the
$25 on the next one.  Damn it.

	I like Heinlein.  You haven't read Stranger in a Strange Land?
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress?  I agree that The Cat Who Walks through 
Walls is a crappy book, but don't base your opinion of Heinlein on
that one.  Try 'Time Enough for Love'.  

	Another suggestion, not sure if it is part of the Mission:Earth
series, I really enjoyed 'Battlefield Earth' by Hubbard.

	They are both really long, but I liked them when I read them.


Thanks again.

	Craig

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: amanda.wells@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (Amanda Wells)
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 16:21:21 -0500
Subject: sf reviews

Why don't you have Sheri S Tepper on your list?, she's great!

*    Amanda Wells                                   *
*    Address:  amanda.wells@stonebow.otago.ac.nz    *
*    =8^)                                           *

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Brian Scholl 
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 95 6:49:00 EST
Subject: Random sf/f suggestions...

Hi Doug--

I was procrastinating with a vengeance last night, and happened across 
your web site full of sf/f reviews.  We seem to have remarkably similar 
taste in books, so I'll offer some suggestions, before I head off to 
sleep:

1. My favorite author is also Donaldson.  I admire your patience in
    waiting for the complete Gap Cycle to come out in paperback. 
    Alas, I was too weak, and was forced to buy all the hardcovers!
    
2. Make sure to read David Brin's "Glory Season", now that it's out
    in PB.  It doesn't top "Earth", but it explores a bunch of
    neato ideas, and is worth reading if only for the afterword.
    
3. Perhaps my strongest suggestion concerns Jack Chalker.  I certainly
    agree that the "Rings of the Master" series is mediocre at best 
    (although I rather liked the first volume), but some of his other 
    series are just fantastic.  (For a long time, he and SRD were my 
    favorite authors.)  His writing never has any real depth in the way 
    that, say, Orson Scott Card's books have, but his plots are always 
    quite enjoyable.  His best series, IMHO, is "The Four Lords of the 
    Diamond".
    
4. Perhaps my other stongest suggestion concerns the book "Snow Crash" 
    by Neal Stephenson, which is painfully absent from your list.  It is 
    written in the spirit of "Neuromancer", but is better in every way, 
    and is entirely original and refreshing.  If I ignore SRD's "Gap"
    books, it is probably the best book I read in 1994.
    
5. Do get around to reading Arthur C. Clarke's "Rama" books.  The second 
    volume, "Rama II", is definitely in my best-books-I've-ever-read 
    club.
    
6. Finally, I think you'll like Orson Scott Card's newest "Homecoming" 
    series, although they're not all out yet.
    
As for me, I'll be sure to pick up some of Dan Simmons' novels.  I've never
heard of him...

Have a nice day,

Brian Scholl  (scholl@ruccs.rutgers.edu)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jehovah-1 
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 1995 20:14:04 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Brust

	I hope this piece of mail isn't an intrusion, but I came upon your Home 
Page completely by accident this evening, and I must say that I was very 
impressed!  Your Myst page and book reviews, in particular, caught my eye.
	I, too, am a big fan of Steven Brust, P.J.F. (whatever that 
stands for) and I noticed that you hadn't listed _Broke Down Palace_, an 
earlier work by Brust.  The novel is strange in a lot of ways, but I can 
see the roots of Dragaera in it.  You should read it, I think.
	Thank you for the book list.  I read straight through it, and am 
excited about several of the books I saw listed (many of the series' I 
had already read).
	And as for Jordan, I know you said you don't read any series 
until it is all out in paperback...but MAKE AN EXCEPTION!  These are BY 
FAR the finest fantasy books I have EVER read...and I am a HUGE Tolkien fan.
	I know what it is like to wait for books, and why you don't want to 
though.  I am stuck.  My mother brought me _Eye of the World_ when it 
first came  out, and since then, I have been a slave to publishing 
schedules.  (Luckily I use this as an excuse, and have guilted my mother 
into buying most of them for me in hardback only days after they are 
released).  I went through _The Lord of Chaos_ in about 30 hours, and it 
is a hefty book.
	Thank you again for your page, it is bookmarked!

		JHVH-1 (toliverp@pcificu.edu)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: smhenry@vt.edu (Steve Henry)
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 95 03:28:03 GMT
Subject: Re: Sci Fi Book Reviews on WWW

I checked out your page and I think its great.  I noticed that you hadn't read 
one of my favorite sci fi authors - Ben Bova. I might suggest Voyagers, Mars, 
or Cyberbooks.

| smhenry@vt.edu                   73's KE4IMK               Virginia Tech |
| Steven M. Henry	     Cleveland Sports Fanatic	        Go Hokies! |
| ftp: succeed.ee.vt.edu /pub/smhenry					   |
| www: http://succeed.ee.vt.edu/smhenry/smhenry.html                       |

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Aaron DaMommio 
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 95 12:00:35 -0600
Subject: Your personal page

Thanks for the tip...I traveled from there to your book reviews.   
Some good stuff there...I agree with your opinion of the Dune books,  
by the way; I think their quality plots more like a parabola than a  
slope.

Have you read Brin's Uplift books?  Great stuff there.

I can recommend "Mother of Storms" (can't remember the author).  It's  
about a lot of things, but centers around a bombing of the arctic  
that sets up conditions for a tremendous series of hurricanes.  It's  
got a lot of great speculative technology, and interesting  
characters.

--Aaron

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: alan williams 
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 18:26:43 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: sf reviews/ratings

Hi Doug,
        I just stopped by your web page while waiting for a long
document to print out. I haven't had an extensive look yet, but
I must say, some of your opinions strike me as perverse. Varley's
Titan trilogy getting 5/3/3?  Are you *nuts*???  You gave ratings
almost as bad to Gibson's cyberpunk stuff and Wolfe's Book of the
New Sun, while bestowing a (relatively) glowing 8 out of 10 to
Jurassic Park. 
     You're perfectly entitled to your opinions, of course, and
I respect your willingness to fly in the face of conventional
opinion. But that conventional opinion - just like the opinion
that generally puts Pablo Picasso a few rungs above Chuck Schultz -
is not *entirely* without foundation.
     All I can say is, you have very strange tastes. (Thank god you
didn't review any of Sam Delany's stuff - I probably would have a
coronary.... :)
                   
     Just thought I'd throw in my two cents.
                      
                                alan williams  
           
## [Ed. note:  To be fair, I responded that Mr. Williams should really
##             read the complete review of Varley's trilogy.  His email
##             message is a case study in why one should never trust 
##             book opinions that are distilled into a single number,
##             not even when it's my number.  :)  ]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Olin Workstation #16 
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 95 00:17:02 -700
Subject: Book Reviews

Great job your doing on the book reviews.  
I am looking forward to getting into Bear and Vinge.
Suggestions for further reading include Sheri S. Tepper 
(all of her novels are excellent, try  Grass or A Plague of 
Angels), L.E. Modesitt Jr. (his Recluse series is great and 
you don't really have to read them in any particular order), 
David Brin's Uplift Books are amazing, and Weis and 
Hickman's Deathgate Series.  I won't say a thing about 
Jordan.
  Once again great job.
   Douglas Woodbury 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Lawrence Watt-Evans 
Date: Tue, 9 May 1995 12:31:34 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Fan mail

Hey, thanks for sending the review -- I'd missed that one.  Much appreciated.

The only part I'm not thrilled with is the description of me as a 
grizzled old-timer; I'm all of forty.  Not that you had any way of 
knowing that.  And I do like being seen as a storyteller.

I'd never thought of those others as professorial, though -- maybe 
because my father really WAS a professor...

Well, anyway, thanks.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Bryan J. Rice" 
Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 01:33:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: WWW Page

Doug,

I've really enjoyed your WWW page, "Doug's Library."  I share your 
opinion of Donaldson (he is my favorite author).  In your review of _The 
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever_ you make reference to "the 
Covenant discussions on the net."  I was wondering what they were about 
and if you knew of a way for me to go back and read some of the dialogue.  

I also have a suggestion for you.  Julian May has written quite a number 
of SF books involving humans with "metapsychic" abilities.  The works are 
in three series, with the third (and final?) series two-thirds 
completed.  The titles follow.  Each series is interconnected, but the 
first series is sufficiently stand-alone that I don't believe your 
restriction about "waiting 'til everything's out in paperback" applies.  

    The Saga of the Pliocene Exile Tetralogy
        The Many-Coloured Land [1981]
        The Golden Torc [1982]
        The Nonborn King [1983]
        The Adversary [1984]

        (companion work: A Pliocene Companion [1984] [Non-fiction])

    Intervention [1987] [split into:]
        The Surveilance [1988]
        The Metaconcert [1989]

    The Milieu Trilogy
        Jack the Bodiless [199?]
        Diamond Mask [199?]
        Magnificat [awaited]

Anyway, I enjoyed many of the characters and her system of
"metafaculties."  Hope you read and enjoy them.

--Bryan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Michael LEWIS 
Date: 17 May 1995 10:03:00 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Stuff from your page of book reviews

1)  Are there really five more books in the Lankhmar series after the first
six?  I've never seen any more...

2)  Ron Luciano's third book is called "The Fall of the Roman Umpire".

3)  You should try a little more of L. Sprague de Camp's work--the Enchanter
stuff isn't his best.  There is a fairly early series of his--hard to find,
and not made easier by my inability to remember the first book (the
second is "The Clocks of Iraz", and the third is "The Unbeheaded King")--
that reminds me a lot of Lawrence Watt-Evans.

4)  Have you seen/read "Ties of Blood and Silver" by Joel Rosenberg?  I
didn't like it as much as the first few books of the Guardians series,
but it's not bad...

5)  Philip K. Dick is also a very good author, although quite difficult to
find in bookstores for a reasonable price (his current editions are all
trade paperbacks for $10 each, but you can find a lot of it in libraries).
If you didn't know, he's the guy who wrote the book Bladerunner was based on.

- Mike

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Michael LEWIS 
Date: 17 May 1995 10:09:00 -0800 (PST)
Subject: (also from your reviews)

While poking around further in different parts of the Web, I discovered that
the first book of that de Camp series is "The Goblin Tower".  You really
should read them...if you can find them.

- Mike

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Ogden, Marcus" 
Date: Mon, 29 May 95 19:30:00 PDT
Subject: SF suggestions

Hi Doug,

Just spent most of an afternoon combing your WWW page. I'll certainly chase 
up some of your suggestions!

Meanwhile, here are a couple of mine:

1)  You asked which Pratchett books were the best: IMHO, "Guards! Guards!" 
and "Pyramids" were where Pratchett hit his peak. I agree "Wyrd Sisters" 
(and several follow-up witch books) were weaker, but definitely read these 
two.

2)  If you read people like King and Simmons, you should definitely read 
some of H.P. Lovecraft's short stories. Lovecraft wrote in the twenties and 
thirties but his stuff is still very readable, and King cites him as his 
biggest influence as a writer. His most interesting work is the "Cthulhu 
Mythos" stories (which have become popular again recently through the "Call 
Of Cthulhu" RPG) which certainly qualify as SF. "The Shadow Out Of Time" and 
"The Thing On The Doorstep" are my favourites along with "The Call Of 
Cthulhu", "The Rats In The Walls", and others.

All the best,

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Lorelei Lee 
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 95 12:09:09 -0400
Subject: (no subject)

Doug,
Your page is great- I only have one thing to say- before you judge Robert
Heinlein's The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, at least read Time Enough For Love,
The Number of the Beast, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset- and Methusalah's (sic)
Children, too, if you can stomach it. They were meant to be read in order, with
The Cat... after (I believe)  the sequence of Methusalah (sic), Time..., and
The Number..., with To Sail Beyond the Sunset last, being his final book. The
Cat.. may not stand alone very well, but there is a huge interconnection with
these books... die-hard Heinlein fans will find things in The Cat.. that they
won't find anywhere else. But it and Friday are often judged to be two of his
worst adult novels.. and rightly so, he freely admitted that they were mostly
written for the money, although I admit this is true of all his books (in fact
most people's books.) I hope to see your opinion on some of the better Heinlein
books- thank you for listening to a neurotic netscape fanatic/Heinlein fanatic
who just can't help herself.

					Lorelei Lee
 					(brownl2@rpi.edu)
    					http://www.rpi.edu/~brownl2/index.html

P.S. I have a link to your page on mine; It is now on my new links page but
will soon be classified under books in my bookmarks directory. :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Tom Hiley 
Date:         Fri, 02 Jun 95 10:48:37 CDT
Subject:      Looking for book

I've been trying to learn more information about a science-fiction book that my
dad read sometime in the 60's.  He's told me it's one of the best he's ever
read, and recommends it very highly, but I can't find it anywhere.  Its
title is _They All Died At Breakaway Station_.  Unfortunately, he doesn't
know the author's name.  After I found your exceptional Web Site, I thought
you might have heard of this book.  Is there anything you can tell me about it?
Thanks a lot,

Tom Hiley
tshiley%samford.bitnet@uga.cc.uga.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Tom Hiley 
Date:         Wed, 07 Jun 95 08:55:05 CDT
Subject:      Vampire$ movie

First off, let me say thanks a million for your review of Vampire$.  If I
hadn't seen it, I never would have picked the book up (I'm almost finished
with it now, and it's great).  I just thought you'd be interested to know that
the current issue of Cinescape magazine mentions that there is a movie in
development called "Vampires" (no dollar sign) and the description it gives for
it looks very much like it is in fact based on Steakley's book.  It says
something like, "A high-tech group of mercenaries battle vampires for the
Vatican."  I think the book reads very cinematically, and if this movie is
really what I think it is, I'd be the first in line to see it.  Thanks again,

Tom Hiley 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jim Wagner 
Date: Fri, 09 Jun 95 13:53:59 -0700
Subject: Doug's Sci-Fi Reviews

Dear Doug,

Thanks and congratulations on such a fine collection of book reviews!  
Reading your book reviews has considerably lengthened my "to read" list 
:).

My recommendations:
- "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, as suggested by at least one other 
respondent. I highly recommend it.  I was surprised not to find it there, 
particularly since you plodded through the four similar (but inferior) 
Gibson works.  Unequivocably the most enjoyable book I've read in the 
past two years.
- the Arthur C. Clarke "Rama" series. When the first was written there 
was no plan for a sequel. That may also be true for the second volume. By 
sticking to your plan of reading the series more-or-less together, you 
will probably enjoy them more than many of us who've waited years between 
volumes.
- "Interface" by Stephen Bury which is an excellent combination of 
biotechnology, politics, and suspense in the Crichton genre.
- "Dragon Tears" and "Lightning" by Dean Koontz - The same people who 
poo-poo Stephen King are probably unkind to Koontz; however, since you 
enjoy King you will like Koontz's best stuff.  I have read at least six 
of his books and enjoyed those two the most.  If you like them, consider 
"Watchers" and "Mr. Murder." Beyond that, his storylines seem to get 
repetitive.

Regards,
Jim Wagner
Ann Arbor, MI

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: nmyerson@iserver.interse.com
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 1995 21:58:57 -0700
Subject: Simmons

	Simmons used to be my favorite author. My friend recommended him about
five years ago and I went right through Carrion Comfort, which I think is his 
best book. Yes, better than Hyperion. The way the plot forms is fantastic. 
Anyway, what makes him drop in my though is his new book Fires of Eden or 
something of that nature (i got it from the library, so don't remember the 
name). It was not excrutiating painful to read, but didn't even have any 
depth.
	Even if you are a big fan of Simmons, do NOT read this book, it can 
only waste your time and ruin your image of him.
	
	By the way one of my favorite short stories is Vanni Fucci is Alive 
and Well and Living in Hell by Simmons.

	Otherwise great list. One question though, you have many of Brust's 
books in your top twenty, but you say you don't recommend the series too 
highly. Is this an error.

	Thanks for the advice, nice job.
	neal

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ewayne@mail.pittstate.edu (Earl W. Lee)
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 08:36:03 +22310353 (CDT)
Subject: review from Technomancer (fwd)

I thought you might be interested in this.  _Drakulya_ is a novel based
on the idea of vampires as psychic parasites that move from body to
body, as in the SF novel _The Madness Season_ by C.S. Friedman.  I am
currently working on a screenplay of _D._ and (with K. DeGrave) a novel
about time-travel, called _Slipstream_.  For more reviews of _Drakulya_
visit my home page at:

http://www.pittstate.edu/~ewayne/books.html

Thanks!  Earl Lee

Forwarded message:
> 
> The Sci-Fi magazine _Technomancer_ can be viewed at:
> 	http://timon.sir.arizona.edu/techno

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ramsey@desperado.sp.trw.com (Scott Ramsey)
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 95 18:29:55 PDT
Subject: Book Reviews

I enjoyed reading your page very much - got some great suggestions. I am
glad to see another Brust fan in the making. I was surprised you had only
read Zelazny's Amber series (he is one of my favorite authors and is
supposed to be a strong influence on Brust). Zelazny novels that you may
like more than Amber are 'This Immortal' (hard to find), 'Roadmarks' and
'Isle of the Dead' which are all reminiscent of Vlad Taltos in one way or
another. I also respected 'Lord of Light' but found it was not as 'fun'
as the other ones I mentioned.

-Scott
ramsey@desperado.sp.trw.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Gary Reents" 
Date:          Sun, 18 Jun 1995 18:54:46 +0000
Subject:       Library Page

  Hi, Doug

I was just surfing and did a Webcrawer search on Brust and your 
Library page was listed in the hit list. I wanted post a line or 
two,to tell you that I really enjoyed the page.

I was particulary pleased that you also like Steakley. Do you know if 
he has published anything since Vampire$. I've been keeping an eagle 
eye out for his books and have been keeping an ey on the publishers 
pages and gophers, but I haven't seen anything. I thought Armor in
particular was a topnotch book.

Brust is my favorite author, but Glen  Cook is a close second. I love the 
Garrett files and the Black Company books. I understand that he will 
be coming out with The Glittering Stone if GM shuts down for 
retooling like expected. 

Anyway, just wanted to drop a line to say thanks for the effort on 
the page. I'll be watching with interest for the Brust page.

Take care
Gary

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: nmyerson@iserver.interse.com
Subject: Gilden-fire

i started reading the tom covenent stuff, and is there a fourth book to the 
first series? I figure that since he was your favorite author you would know. 
I saw a listing of Gilden-fire in the first series. What is this?

thanks,
neal

##I responded:
##
##To: nmyerson@iserver.interse.com
##Subject: Re: Gilden-fire
## 
##Gilden-Fire is a short-story/outtake from "The Illearth War" describing
##part of the journey of Hyrim and Shetra through the Sarangrave Flat.
##This entire story was cut (for reasons Donaldson explains in the intro
##to Gilden-Fire) and assimilated into the chapter "Korik's Tale", in
##which Korik (or maybe it was "Runnik's Tale"...the first of the two)
##tells Covenant about the Lurker of the Sarangrave and so forth.     
## 
##Doug
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Bruce Levine 
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 14:33:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: reviews

Do you review novels published on the internet?  If you do, I have an 
unusual fantasy quest novel at New badger Books I'd like to send you.

Bruce Levine
Blevine@crl.com  "Lost in cyberspace"

## I'll happily accept review copies of books, but I can't promise that
## I will read them.  My reading time is precious to me, so I'm very picky
## about diving into completely unexplored territory without some good
## recommendations.  In fact, this is largely the reason I designed my
## book reviews page, to get feedback and pointers to new books.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: xxx
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 95 15:40:42 -500
Subject: Donaldson...

Hi Doug,
    Love your web pages. They are way helpful when I'm stuck for 
what to read next. I'm trying to find information about Stephen 
Donaldson (the best writer on the planet!!), do you know of 
any home pages dedicated to him or any other info in web land.
I did a search on him and came up with your page (which I was 
eternally thankful for) and an interview he did a while ago, anything
else you could pass on would be appreciated.
    Thanks in advance.
       
## I know of no Donaldson home pages, but a great place to look for
## more Covenant-related material would be Karen Wyn Fonstad's "The
## Atlas of the Land".  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kirk Reeves 
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 95 22:32:02 -0700
Subject: Book Review

Doug,

    I greatly enjoyed your review page.  I scaned your book rankings and 
found that I shared a great many of your views.  I want to recommend 
three books to you that I have found excepional.

Emerald Eyes - Daniel Keys Moran
The Long Run - Daniel Keys Moran
The Last Dancer - Daniel Keys Moran

If you ever get a chance to read them don't pass it up.

          Glad to see you on the net,

          Kirk Reeves 
          (http://www.kde.state.ky.us:8080/kreeves/index.html)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Dan Swartzendruber 
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 95 13:06:50 -0400
Subject: Re: Review of _The_Guns_of_the_South by Harry Turtledove

I loved this book too!  Of course, I love alternate-history SF,
since I'm a big SF reader *and* a history buff (particularly
military history).  If you haven't heard it, I was at a panel
on alternate-history at a Worldcon a couple of years back, and
Harry explained where he got the idea from for this book.
Basically, he'd been in a bitch session with another author about
the perversions perpetrated on authors by cover artists.  The
other author was complaining that the cover for his/her book not
only bore no relation to the contents, but was as anachronistic
as Robert E Lee holding an Uzi.  Harry laughed dutifully and
walked away.  He couldn't get the image out of his mind, and
started wondering "how on Earth that could plausibly happen".

#include 

Dan S.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Molly
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 95 20:28:38 -700
Subject: Book Reviews.

   Hi. I'm sorry to bother you - you needn't pay much attention to this if
you're busy. I just completed reading your list of book reviews and I know
of a fantasy series that you may like if you haven't already read it.

Judith Tarr
Book I.   The Hall of the Mountain King
Book II.  The Lady of Han-Gilan
Book III. A Fall of Princes (the best book by far of the series)

  If you have some time they may be of interest to you.

  -Molly

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: yum 
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 1995 16:41:45 +0800
Subject: Steven Brust

I was perusing through your book reviews and you convinced me to start 
reading the Steven Brust serieses... but I'm curious to know which 
series to start with: The Khaavren Romances or the Vlad Taltos Books... 
or does it not matter?  TIA

Youshik Um                                              Pomona College
yum@pomona.edu                                   http://www.pomona.edu

## I suggest starting with Jhereg, Yendi, etc., then you'll have a good
## background and will be able to better appreciate the history that
## is laid out in Khaavren.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: jost@itd.nrl.navy.mil (Patrick Jost)
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 95 20:51:47 EDT
Subject: Re: Review of _The_Guns_of_the_South by Harry Turtledove

Good review...and you left out the big spoiler. But since my mom
was S. African, I knew what AWB was right away...and I'm glad
HT managed to show the AWB for the horrible bunch of monsters
that they are.

BTW, all seems to be going well in S. Africa, I have an email 
pen pal there, she's in politics, there is some instability
but not the Swartgevaar (peril caused by blacks) that the AWB
predicted.

Patrick

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From nmyerson@iserver.interse.com Fri Jun 30 18:59:03 1995
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 18:58:59 -0700
Subject: one more question

welli cruised through the first covenant series, and i found a great book 
store that has all of the black company except one, Silver Spike. Why on the 
covers of the books does it leave this one out. For example each book says The 
X Chronicles of the Black Company or something like that, i don't have them 
with me. anyway The White Rose is the third and the cover of Shadow Games says 
it the Fifth.

and why is that Silver Spike is the only one of the series i can't find. are 
these two mysterious events related.

the other day i was reminded of a fantstic book, The Neverending Story, Ya, ya 
i know the movie was as exciting tying your shows, but the book is truly 
amazing. it is by some guy name Ende. the book is original in dutch or some 
language over there and  is only in a paperback version that costs 12 dollars. 
but get it.

neal

## The Silver Spike is actually a side-story involving Raven set in the
## same world as The Black Company.  It's quite good.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
## The letter that follows is a response from David Brin to my
## request to purchase "Glory Season" directly from him as part
## of the "Basement Full of Books" program.  Unfortunately, just
## after this email exchange, I found an excellent condition
## hardback version of the book for $4 at a Barnes & Noble
## bookstore bargain table.  Couldn't pass that up.

From brin@XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Fri Jul  7 01:14:45 1995
Date: Fri, 7 Jul 1995 01:14:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Glory Season (purchase by mail)

Hi... thanks for the reference.  Though I'm 2400 baud,
I'll try to look up your site.  MSG follows...

Hello!    Just got your query about my hardcover titles
available by direct sale.  Currently available --
 
EA -- $ 20.00
GLORY SEASON  -- $22.00 
 
(Although less expensive, EARTH was printed on acid-free,
recycled paper, with sewn bindings, a truly lovely edition.
GLORY SEASON comes on acid free paper.  It cost me more to buy)
 
Special collectable editions of Earth (leather) and Otherness
(the rare hardcover) may also be available to collectors.
 
ALSO please include a self addressed, padded envelope with  
$4.10 postage on it.  EARTH measures just under 7x10x3 inches.  
I'll send it soon thereafter.  If you have a special request for 
the signature, please enclose it, as well.
 
[Address deleted by request of Mr. Brin]
(Note --please keep the address confidential.  I trust the sort of 
folks who browse Basement Fulla Books to be fairly responsible.)   
 
Peace and good luck...  David Brin

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From 73443.1626@compuserve.com Fri Jul 14 05:24:14 1995
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 1995 08:21:54 -0400
Subject: BOOK REVIEW SITE???

Doug -

     I appreciate your insights and work towards sharing good reading
lists with everyone.

    Now, have you any idea where on the Internet I can find a collection
of general fiction book reviews?  Say, best sellers and all award winners
for the past five years?  Something online like BOOK REVIEW DIGEST,
MAGILL BOOK REVIEWS, or back issues of LIBRARY JOURNAL would
be an excellent start.  I've spent hours webbing, but cannot seem to
find any promising leads yet.

   How about access into a university library that keeps something like
those online via CDROM?  

     I sure will appreciate any leads you might be able to give me.

     Thanks much.

Tom Veerkamp

## I suggest IBIC as a good place to start.  You can get there from
## my list of book links (see the end of the book reviews page).
## I told Mr. Veerkamp that he could probably find what he wanted 
## within 3 links (sort of tongue-in-cheek knowing full well how
## exponentials work on the Web.  :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dspencer@WPI.EDU Mon Jul 17 08:50:05 1995
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 95 11:50:01 -0400
Subject: Your Library

Your library page is very impressive.

I thought I'd suggest something:  your Harry Harrison section is
missing one of the best speculative fiction series I've ever
read, IMO.

They are all out in paperback, I forget all the names but the first one is
West of Eden, and there's Winter in Eden, and another as well, but I
can't recall the title.

They are based on the question: What would have happened if the Dinosaurs
evolved into intelligence instead of the humans, and the humans were nothing
but a savage bunch of primates under the Dinosaur's dominion?

Very good stuff.

Just in general recommendations for stuff to read, Marion Zimmer Bradley's
Mists of Avalon is excellent (the prequel, The Forest House, was just released
but I didn't like it was much).  Mists of Avalon is basically the story of
King Arthur and Camelot, retold from the view of the women in the story,
with a very strong pro-pagan flavor.  Very interesting.

Hrm--what else to say.  Oh yes, I'm not sure Mummy belongs in the vampire
chronicles. Not sure if the mayfair witches stories are up your alley or
not, but I liked them alot.

I'd also recommend the Alvin Maker series by Orscon Scott Card if you
like his stuff at all--speculation set in early 19th century America where
magic is real (i.e. hexes, indian magic, etc).

As for Asimov--I'm surprised you hated Nemesis so much.  I mean it wasn't
spectacular, but it wasn't _that_ bad :)  Oh well. 

Hrm--don't know what else to say, except that your taste in fiction seems
to closely parallel mine which is nice to find :) I too love King and Clancy
almost as much as Donaldson and Tolkien, and I too think Ender's Game is
Card's best work, etc.  I'm currently reading the newly released Anne Rice
vampire book, so that's not quite up your alley--but I just finished the
riftwar series and loved it.

Oh well--glad I stumbled onto your page :)

-Dave

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Dale_Ogden_at_RI__ANA__CC4@ccmail.anatcp.rockwell.com Tue Jul 18 08:26:46 1995
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 95 08:25:20 PST
Subject: books you might want to read

     I just recently found your homepage in the web.  In reading through 
     your reviews, I found that I agreed with your views quite a few times. 
     
     I noticed there were no reviews of books by L.E. Modisett, Jr.  
     Specifically The Magic of Recluse, The Towers of Sunset and The Magic 
     Engineer.  These three books are all related but not tightly.  Of the 
     three I recommend you read The Magic of Recluse as I enjoyed it very 
     much.
     
     Dale Ogden
     fdogden@earthlink.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From nmyerson@iserver.interse.com Mon Jul 24 14:17:21 1995
Subject: Glen Cook psuedo news group

It is located at:

http://sf.www.lysator.liu.se/sf_archive/sf-texts/authors/C/Cook,Glen

also i wrote to tor and they said that the glittering stone is a three book 
series and the first has already been written. it will be due out in hardback 
in may 1996. so if i understand you correctly, you wont be reading this series 
for 4-5 five years. i feel sorry for you, but can i recommend a visit to you r 
public library at that time. 

anyways i just want to add that i gave your link to my friend and he kind of 
agrees with you. our, we like the same books top three are:

ender's game
carrion comfort
neverending story (yes, it is excellent)

a lot of people like the first two, but wont give neverending story a chance. 
try it, you wont be sorry.

neal

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From andys@simba.lakeside.sea.wa.us Sat Jul 29 17:15:49 1995

I love your page, with all the reviews.  I have a few things to point 
out, however.  First of all, Anne Rice's The Mummy is not the fourth 
book in The Vampire Chronicles, It's a stand alone (although she is 
planning a sequel).  The 4th Vampire book is called The Tale of the Body 
Thief, the 5th is Memnoch the Devil.  Both were fairly good, IMHO the 
second (Vampire Lestat) was Anne Rice's best.
Also, Jennifer Roberson has written several non-Cheysuli books, they're 
fairly good.  It's the Sword Dancer Series (I think there's 4 -- I'm not 
sure).
I've read every Stephen Brust I could get my hands on, and liked most of 
them.  The only one I didn't take to very well was the one about the 4 
brothers & the taltos horse.  The Gypsy was his best, IMHO.  Stephen R 
Donaldson's Thomas Covenent books I've read several times over, each.  I 
think I prefer the original three, but they're all great.  He's got an 
incredible understanding of the human condition.

Cool page...

alex shepard
acidic@u.washington.edu

BTW, have you read any 'cyberpunk' authors?  ie William 
Gibson, Bruce Sterling.  Very highly recommended, indeed.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dawks@best.com Sun Jul 30 22:03:46 1995
Subject: Interesting web page

Hi,

been looking at your web page re book reviews. Given me a lot of good 
ideas for some new reading. Thought in return i'd mention a set of books 
that hooked me completely. It's a sort of gothic fantasy, although not 
really; can't place it against anything, but it tells of an invented 
"world" in the spirit of Dune or Lord of the Rings: It's the Gormenghast 
trilogy by Mervyn Peake (Titus Groan, Gormenghast, Titus Alone). First 
two are startling, but i believe he became mentally ill while writing the 
third, and it sort of shows. Apologies if you've already read them.

phil.

The world is divided into two sorts of people: those that believe the
world is divided into two sorts of people, and those that don't.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From perryw@coral.viper.net Sun Aug  6 15:57:40 1995
Subject: simon hawke

I realy enjoy your reviews and listings though I don't always agree.
 
I noticed that you did not list any of Simon Hawke's "Wizard of ...." books. 
I highly recommend them. They are set in the future where civilization is on 
the skids, then Merlin of Camalot fame reawakes and brings back magic. The 
entire society is now based on the workings of magic. 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: George Kalogridis 
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 95 10:05:53 -0700
Subject: Book Reviews

Hi, Doug.  I've enjoyed browsing through your library and reviews.
I'm a voracious reader of fantasy and sf myself.

Would you be interested in receiving free copies of my two dark hardcover 
fantasies, COVENANT WITH THE VAMPIRE: The Diaries of the Family Dracul, 
and CHILDREN OF THE VAMPIRE:TDFD, for review (if you can ever find time, 
of course, given all the other interests your page indicates you pursue)? 
COVENANT was published last October in hc, and CHILDREN is scheduled for 
this October (I can get you a bound galley).

Let me know...

Whatever your reply, thanks for maintaining the great on-line resources 
for us bibliophiles.

Jeanne Kalogridis

(P.S.  Being lazy, I happened to web-browse while my husband had logged 
on using his account.  *My* e-mail address is jmkalo@west.net.)

## I have since responded positively and received said review copies
## in the mail.  I will probably read these within the coming month
## or two.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: E.OMara@uws.edu.au (Edward O'Mara)
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 1995 12:29:03 +1000
Subject: Favourite Authors - Fiction & Sci-Fi

Dear Doug?
I eat fiction and sci fi books. I've read all of Donaldson, Brust & Simmons
and loved them. It seems you have a penchant for the dungeons and dragons
genre. Surprisingly none of my three favourite authors appeared in your
author index of book reviews. These are 1. James Clavell, 2. Philip J.
Farmer and 3. Julian May.
Clavell paints panoramic adventures based in Asia, Japan, Hong Kong and Iran
Have you read Shogun, Noble House, King Rat, Whirlwind? Most are really long
stand-alone historical fiction books. Farmer is famous for his Riverworld
series - a mega read (a FOUR book Trilogy - he needed 2 books to write part
3!) He is very imaginative - a creator of worlds. Julian May puts out a
fairly good sized novel as well. Get hold of her Golden Torc, Many Coloured
land Series. It all about a galactic civilisation, and humans with
psycho-kinetic powers who travel back six million years into our past. It
has prequels and sequels titled Intervention and Jack the Bodiless. I
haven't included all their titles and some may be incorrect. It's been years
since I read their stuff in some cases. Some of Farmer's short books which
he wrote early on are imaginative-weird-crap but most of his stuff is great.
Regards
Eddie

*****************************************************
     Edward O'Mara                                 
     UWS Macarthur                                 
     PO Box 555                                    
     Campbelltown  NSW  2560                       
     Australia                                      

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: pjmiller@pcug.org.au (Paul Miller)
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 11:15:17 +1000
Subject: Stephen Donaldson

Congratulations on setting up this homepage for the chronicles. I had been
looking for one for a while.  I am also a great fan of Donaldson, the
Chronicles, and the Gap series.  I think the Gap series is fabulous.  
I tried to get onto the Donaldson home page, but it give me a 404 not found.
Do you know how I could find more about him?  
The Chronicles did have a profound effect on me ( and my brother as well! ),
and I agree that rereading them all the time gives me a new insight on
something I might have missed before. A magnificent acheivement isn't it?
I also found the Mordant's Need and Gap series magnificent, very original
and it just proves how good Donaldson's imagination is.
I am just about dying to wait for the final book of the Gap series to come out!
Catch you later.
From Mark in Canberra, Australia.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From JERFLICK@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU Thu Aug 24 19:53:53 1995
Subject: suggestions

A couple of authors that u might find int. are robert jordan and michael w. gearjordan:  wheel of time series not yet complete, yet well worth reading in their own right, 7th of an unanounced number, thought to be 9-12.
gear:  am through 2/3 on two of his series, am planing on ordering the last 2, 
my bookstore continuely caries the first two but not the 3rds.
sorry about the shortness, need to get a decent mail program
jer

## What is it about Jordan fans, anyway?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: sam@peta.ee.cornell.edu (Samuel Lin)
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 95 18:19:40 EDT"
Subject: Doug's library

Dear Doug Ingram,

I'was browsing through your book reviews and saw your Backlash / 
The Beauty Myth reviews.

I haven't read these books, but I would like to recommend another 
feminist book I recently read:
_Who Stole Feminism?_  by Christina Hoff Sommers.

Before I began college, I would have had no problem labling myself 
a feminist. I consider my views moderate/liberal. 

In college though I meet a number of women feminist, and their 
attitutes really irritated me.  They always seemed to be angry, 
resentful, and self rightous. ( "Men are barbaric, Men are jerks...")

I've always supported equal opportunities, but I was immediately 
turned off by this style of feminism.  

Sommers' book is a sharp and incisive criticism of the Faludi, MacKinnon,.. 
style feminism.  Sommers' accounts of some of their behaviors and tactics 
are absolutely appalling.  Sommers has been criticised as being 
"a radical right winger", but as a strong anti-fundamentalist, I found
Sommers' criticisms to be extremely penetrating and on-target. 
(One of her harshes attacks is on "the unholy alliance of gender 
feminists and the radical right to oppose pornography")
Except for a few instances, all of them minor, I generally agreed
with her analysis.  ( A response to her critics has been posted at
http://www.pitt.edu/~dxdst6/csommers.html)

It seems that there is a wave of counter-feminism books coming out.
Some I've seen in the bookstores (haven't read) The New Victorians, 
Professing Feminism, Defending Pornography (don't remember the authors).

I  would certainly be in terested in your thoughts/reviews of these books.

Samuel Lin

PS.  Good luck on jobs.
        I'm a physics bailed and switched to EE grad student.
        You're not kidding that the job market is tough.
        (Endless postdocs, >500 applicants for a job opening...)
        I know physicists a whole lot smarter than I am who aren't
        finding jobs. I'm just not that brave!!

## Hmmm.  Not too sure I want to read a recommendation based upon
## political grounds rather than quality judgements, esp. from someone
## who seems to want to generalize feminists as being male-bashers.
## Nevertheless, I have an open mind.  I read through the WWW site,
## and found a couple of really silly and obviously untrue statements
## by Sommers (see http://www.pitt.edu/~dxdst6/AAUW2.txt and the
## quote at the end of the first paragraph...NOBODY but NOBODY speaks
## like this...for an example).  She doesn't really strike me as
## credible.  I'm sure there are other feminism books out there with
## alternate viewpoints from Faludi/Wolf.  I would appreciate
## recommendations.  Right now, I'm not inclined to seek out Sommers.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 1995 15:46:59 +1000 (EST)
Subject: Thomas Covenant

Dear Mr Ingram, 

I have just found your summary/review of the Thomas Covenant books on the 
NET.

Ye Ha...! Just what Ive been looking for.

Ive been after a simple summary and review that agrees with my thoughts 
and feelings on these books for a long time. 

I have always struggled with explaining these books while trying to 
recommend them to my friends. My ability to describe and comment is not 
too good. All I have to do now is show them your article!. 

Thankyou very much.

From another Stephen R Donaldson fan.

## Nothing quite like preaching to the choir!  :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From login@crucible.inmind.com Mon Sep  4 10:33:49 1995
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 95 13:22:14 -700
Subject: Glen Cooks

I've just read your Black Company series (Glen Cook) review, and
saw that you mentioned that the Glittering Stone was broken up
into three parts, the first two of which are released.  Did I
read that right?  That's the second time I've heard mention of
The Glittering Stone being broken into 3 books, but I've been
unable to find any of them anywhere!  Think you could send me
the publisher of them, or any other info you have?  Cook's books
are the greatest, and I'd hate to be unable to conclude the
series because the books are hard to find.

While speaking of the difficulty of finding Cook's books, do you
know where I could get a hold on some Dread Empire books?  I
have the 2nd and 3rd, and a friend has the 5th.  Ill Fate is
available through the publisher, but I can't find any others.

Have you read anything else by him, outside of these two series?
The Garrett series is excellent (if your books are printed
right!).  I've read all but three.  The order they're read in
makes little difference in the plots.

The best I've read by him were The Tower of Fear, The Silver
Spike, and perhaps the Swordbearer.  Check them out... Intrigue
galore.  Tower of Fear can be a pain at first because you have
to keep switching back to the title page to see the cast of
characters for things to make sense.  Hmm.. I think I've babbled
on enough about Cook.  :)  Let me know if you'd like to swap
titles.  

Thanks,
Brian Salomon
salomon@acavax.lyncburg.edu (not the @inmind address!)

## I haven't heard this "Stone" rumor, but I don't really pay attention.
## I stopped looking for news on this series about 4 years ago.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Naomi Kalmus 
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 95 14:14:14 -700

I'm anxious to read your review of Downbelow Station, since i couldn't get 
interested enough to finish it.  Try a new series by Margaret Wies (sp?).  
Its got a Star Wars "feel" to it.  Good light reading.  Stephen Donaldson's 
series that starts with The Real Story is quite interesting and quite 
different from his other stuff.  Its more traditional sci-fi on the surface.  
His discussion about the series and how it was inspired by a Vagner series 
of operas is very interesting. 

The series is the Star of the Guardian series.  So far its four books long.

## I started "Downbelow Station" once and then put it down for some
## reason I can't recall.  Looks like it has "name-itis", but I'll give
## it another chance.  I mean, it's a Hugo winner, right?  Then again,
## I thought the same thing about Willis' "Doomsday Book" and was wrong.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: jason@sentex.net (N. Jason Kleinbub)
Date: Thu, 07 Sep 1995 09:59:45 -0400

Not that I think it is my place to bring this up ... but
I was browsing your Web page and I noticed that you are missing 
"the SUN the MOON and the STARS" by Steven Brust.
Published by ACE in '87 Hardcover, '88 paperback.

In which, 

"Once upon a time, there was a kingdom
that lived in darkness, for the Sun, the Moon, 
and the Stars were hidden in a box...which
was hidden in a sow's belly...which was
hidden in a troll's cave...which was surely
hidden at the end of the world.  And...

Once upon a time, there was a 
struggling young painter who also lived 
in darkness, and-like the hero of that
Hungarian folktale-was the beginning his
most perilous quest.  Shooting for the Moon.
And the Sun.  And the Stars..."

Although, I did not particularily enjoy this
book, you may.  We disagree about "To Reign
in Hell" so who knows.

Just for your information.

NJK

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
X-Personal_Name: Mike McCullough
From rbe@spl.lib.wa.us Thu Sep  7 10:43:23 1995

Try reading Eye Contact by Stephen Collins.  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Cynthia Chewter 
Date: Sat, 09 Sep 95 12:27:14 -700

Just finished Kay's new book the other day. [Lions of Al-Rassan]
It's an epic fantasy of two religions - the Jaddites and the
Asharites - who occupy and vie for control over a peninsula.
The culture and time period are similar to the Spanish
renaissance.  Three main characters are: Ammar (warrior of
Al-Rassan, the civilized city centre of the South), Rodrigo
(warrior of the northern Jaddites in Esperana, a horse rearing
people of the plains) and Jehane, a Kindath (similar to Jewish)
physician in Al-Rassan who loves both warriors.

It wasn't a bad read by any means but it wasn't Tigana by a
long shot either.  The characters were not quite up to Kay's
usual standards - a little too cardboard & obvious - nor was
the culture or land one interesting enough to support another
book.  Ok, it was violent in the extreme and there was a tension
asking who, really are the civilized ones here? but in the end,
its been done better elsewhere.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: BUZZY58485@aol.com
Date: Sun, 10 Sep 1995 22:20:19 -0400

Try "Mustapha and His Wise Dog" by Esther Friesner.   I've never been
disappointed
with anything written by Spider Robinson.  R.A. MacAvoy wrote a series of
books, the first of which was "Damiano."  She also wrote one entitled "Tea
With the Black Dragon"
that was excellent.  This is the first time I have travelled to your site,
and I was pleased to see that you have read Glenn Cook's Dread Empire series.
 I am missing one of the books. Never could find it.    

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Frank Koren 
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 95 10:48:35 -0700

Congratulations on a wonderful collection.
I have decided to add your link to my own library.
You will find it at
http://vaxxine.com/koren/books.html
Any recommendations regarding books containing time travel?
My personal recommendation for you would be "The Witching Hour" by
Anne Rice.

Regards,

Doris

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From: Robert West 
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 95 16:27:52 -0700

from your page, at least at a quick glance:

LEGACY by Greg Bear --- his new novel, set in the same universe 
as eon and eternity but not really related to them. Interesting 
story about the problems of settling a new planet, reminded me 
in some ways of OMNIVORE by Piers Anthony (written by him back 
in the days when he could still write serious fiction).

THE PRACTICE EFFECT by David Brin ---- light science fiction, 
with an amusing twist, and an entertaining tale.

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From: Matthew Ross Davis 
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 95 14:22:09 0400

Eco's "How to Travel with a Salmon & Other Essays" is now out 
on paperback. You should definitely check it out...it's making 
me laugh out loud on the subway. Have you read his other 
novel, The Island of the Day Before? I haven't heard anything 
about it, so I don't know if it's any good. But it's Eco, so 
what more can be said.

Matthew Ross Davis, WWW Design and Editing
Quantum Research Corporation
mdavis@qrc.com, (301) 657-3070
http://muon.qrc.com/mdavis/mdavis.html

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From: Steveland@aol.com
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 15:36:44 -0400

Hi Doug,

I love your pages, but I must say, "How J of you!"  ;)

I'm an INFP, so we do have quite a bit in common.  I agree with your theory
that personality type has a lot to do with taste in reading.   Here are some
of my thoughts about the matter.  They are mostly gross generalizations, but
still....

I suspect the E/I scale has a lot to do with whether someone reads a lot, the
I's reading more, on the average, than the E's.  

What kinds of books someone enjoys is strongly influenced by the S/N scale.
 N's, like us, enjoy fantasy, intricate plots, imaginative, creative works.
 It's hard to say what S's like; how-to books, I suppose (joking again).

For example, take mystery and detective novels.  I'd guess that S's enjoy
more the detective novel, where there's not so much of a puzzle to be solved
as a relatively straightforward story of detective work.  And that N's prefer
a mystery in the Agatha Christie tradition.

I don't have any strong ideas about the T/F scale and reading.

About J/P, my theory here has to do with which parts of a story we like best:
J's liking the ending, and P's prefering the set up.  P's like it when
characters set out on a journey, J's like it when they arrive.

Well that's all for now.  Thanks for a wonderful time spent poking around on
your pages and links.

Take care,
Eugene

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From: Michael B Sachs 
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 1995 15:37:59 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Covenant

Mr. Ingram,

I just ran across your review of the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant on the 
World Wide Web, and was excited to see that there was somebody still 
writing about this series.

I first read the Chronicles about ten years ago while still in high 
school, and certainly enjoyed the stories.  However, back then, I 
probably had different perceptions about the characters.  Well, namely, I 
thought Covenant was whiny.

Anyway, I'm now rereading the Chronicles for the third time, and I now 
consider the Chronicles one of my favorite Chronicles of all time.  

I'd like to write more and ask you a few questions, but I don't want to 
write a novel or something if I'm not even sure you're still at this 
E-mail address.  So, if you have time, please drop a note and maybe we can
talk about the books a little bit.

Thanks!

Mike

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From: wils@ozemail.com.au
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 21:42:45 +1000

I recommend that you should review the book The Day of the Jackal by Frederick 
Forsyth because I thought it was an exciting book!

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From: Chin-Tung Chen 
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 95 21:46:59 -400
Subject: Books that you should read.

THERE ARE SEVERAL AUTHORS THAT I PERSONALLY
ENJOY AND THAT I THINK YOU WOULD TO. THE FIRST 
BEING DAVID GEMMELL WITH THE "DRENAI SAGAS".
SECOND, TAD WILLIAMS WITH "MEMORY, SORROW, AND THORN".
THIRD, MICHAEL STACKPOLE WITH "ONCE A HERO". HOPE
YOU ENJOY THESE AUTHOR LIKE I DID.

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From: Ryan Phillips 
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 95 20:58:09 -0700
Subject: (no subject)

I highly reccammend Michael Chrichton's The Lost World. It is a 
wonderful book. This is a sequel to Jurrassis Park and is 1000 
times better than the origanal. The plot revolves around Ian 
Malcolm(the only returing character  besides Peter Dodgeson) 
and a couple other scientists who travel to an island to 
investigate rumers of living dinosaurs. Dodgeson goes also to 
steal dinosaur eggs. One of my favorite parts of the book is 
when Malcolm and Sarah Harding are in a trailer and a 
Tyrannosaur comes and trys to knock it over the edge of a 
cliff. Once again this is a wonderful book and is highly 
recommended.

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X-Personal_Name: Louise McGrath
From: lmcg@mail.msen.com

You have a great site. I found a lot of personal favorites.
A recommended list - not listed yet - from me would include

	John Crowley - Little Big
		     - The Deep
	John Gardner - The King's Indian ( a personal favorite )
	Wallace Stegner - Crossing To Safety
	Stanislaw Lem - Return From The Stars ( this reminded me of 
				Phases Of Gravity )
	Samuel Delany - Stars In My Pocket Like Grains Of Sand 
				( where oh where is the second half? )
I'd be interested in knowing what you thought.

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From: Elizabeth_Bogner@harcourtbrace.com
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 15:45:59 EST
Subject: You don't know me but...

     I thought I would let you know that we (Harcourt Brace) will be 
     publishing Umberto Eco's new novel, THE ISLAND OF THE DAY BEFORE, on 
     Friday, October 13th, 1995.  I read the review you did of Foucault's 
     Pendulum and thought you would be interested.  It will be at 
     bookstores everywhere, I am sure.
     
     With hopes you will enjoy,
     Elizabeth

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From: Major5th@aol.com
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 10:12:03 -0400
Subject: William Gibson

I read with interest your review of what you call William Gibson's
"Cyberpunk" series.  While of course literature is a question of taste, it's
hard to believe an obvious fan of hard SF like yourself could consider *any*
Gibson book "not well written."

Gibson is brilliant at painting pictures with words, using metaphors and
similes with a self-assurance and confidence rarely found in any genre of
novel.  His colorful descriptions pull the reader into a world saturated with
neon, rock 'n roll and surreal imagery.  Yeah, it's a bit hard to follow at
first, but ya gotta give it a chance.  Have you actually *read* all of the
books in this series??

I think one of Gibson's techniques is to give away only selected bits of
information, a little bit at a time, in order to keep the reader interested
in finding the next clue to what's going on.  It would be boring if he gave
away too much at once, sorta like those whodunnit shows on TV where they tell
ya who dun it in the first five minutes.

In summary, I feel (as do many of my sci-fi friends) that _Neuromancer_ and
its sequels rank among the top novels in the genre, from *any* era.  From
your list of authors, I infer that you lean a bit more toward the fantasy
side than the hard sf side, but you really should give these most excellent
works another chance.  Just check out the vivid imagery, not to mention the
intricate and involving plot twists.  I feel they're *extremely*
"well-written."

Late.

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From: Michael B Sachs 
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 15:32:13 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Covenant

Doug,

Well, I finished White Gold Wielder last Saturday night while I was 
getting over a cold, and I must say that I enjoyed the six books much 
better this time than ever before.  I read the series twice during high 
school, but I think now I can say that Thomas Covenant is one of my 
favorite fantasy characters ever.

You're right (in your review) about Donaldson's work not being for 
everyone.  When I tell people I'm reading a series about a guy who goes 
to a place called the "Land" and he doesn't want to be a hero and he 
complains a lot and he rapes this girl, and later he falls in love with 
his daughter, and everyone dies for him, and so on, they usually are 
turned off.  But, that's why I like Covenant.  It would be boring if we 
had a terrific guy from our world come to the Land.  It's only because of 
Covenant's different sides and textures that he's able to succeed.

I also appreciated that Donaldson was able to end both trilogies very 
successfully.  At the end of both trilogies, when Covenant has saved the 
Land with or without Avery, we are whisked away without seeing the Land 
rebuilt and without getting a chance to see the good that the Unbeliever 
has done.  I like this, because it's lets our imagination run away.  At 
the end of WGW, what will happen with Cail's search?  With the giants?  
With Sunder and Hollian and the Staff?  Will the Land ever be the same?  
Lately, I've been rereading some fantasy series, and I'm finding that 
these authors spin a terrific tale and then ... they can't end the 
freaking book.  The final confrontation comes 100 pages before the end of 
the book, and then this character has to marry, and that character has to 
marry, and then someone has kids, and that kid is named for the martyred 
hero who died during Book 1, and so on.  Donaldson ends the Covenant 
books with a quick period.  Allow the imagination to flow.

I'd like to talk more and ask some more questions to a fellow Covenant 
fan, so write back when you get a chance.

Mike Sachs

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From: Brian Galasso 
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 95 05:02:29 0600
Subject: Joel Rosenberg's Series

You are one of maybe 3 other people i've come across who've read this 
series. I've been ranting and raving about these books for years but 
nobody's paid any attention.

Your are completely correct in saying that the last few books were 
lacking in the action, intrigue, humor and interest of the others. 

Every time a new book in the series comes out i end up reading the 
entire series over again. That means what--6 or 7 times! Two years after 
his last release, every time i'm in a book store i check the R's just in 
case.The only other author that has ever had this impact on me is Tom 
Clancy.

thaks for your time

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From: Brian Galasso 
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 95 05:29:28 0600
Subject: Rosenberg again + Vampire stuff

Yeah, it's me again. I just browsed all the letters you've enclosed in 
your site. In regards to Jason and Karl Culliane along with Ahira & 
Algernon(sp?) the Dragon, Are we alone in the world??? I saw no mention 
of Rosenberg's books. I think only you and i read them. What a shame.

Also, i saw some mention about novels including vampires. While not 
being a A. Rice expert, I do know my way aroung the Brian Lumley 
Necromancer series. It's up to at least 6 books now and even gets into 
the second generation type a thing like Dragonlance.

It takes place in the present day for the most part. In short, vampires 
have been around for centuries. They come from a parallel univerise 
similar to earth (an entire novel takes place here--the best out of all 
of them!). They are parasites that invade and convert the human body 
into vampires. All the old myths mean nothing and there are some 
fantastic historical scenes. The protaginist can speak with the dead and 
gets roped into becoming a Vampire hunter.

It's character generation and development is great & so is it's dive 
into the history of vampires.

thanks again,
Brian

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From: Daniel Bach 
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 95 20:20:31 -0700
Subject: Books

Excellent Page.  I higkly suggest reading _Quarantine_ by Greg Egan.

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From: Lisa Redwine 
Date: Fri, 29 Sep 95 13:27:42 -0700
Subject: Comments on Doug's Library (with some book recommendations)

Love the Library!  I don't always agree with you (how ANYONE prefer 
Donaldson to Eddings is beyond me), but I still enjoy reading your 
reviews.  

A few authors that you might want to try:

Elizabeth Moon -- The Deed of Paksenarrion (3 book series)

Mercedes Lackey -- Any of the Valdemar books.  The later ones are better 
(in my opinion) such as Arrows of the Queen, Arrows Flight, and Arrows 
Fall.

Anne McCaffrey -- Planet Pirate series.

Enjoy reading!

Lisa Redwine
(redwine@engr.msstate.edu)

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From: eiagm@eznet.net
Date:          Fri, 29 Sep 1995 17:39:04 +0000
Subject:       Donaldson

Hello Doug,
    I just read your web page about Stephen Donaldson's Covenant 
series.  I was impressed with your piece about the series because you 
very clearly pointed out some of the reasons many people have been 
unable to "get into" the books.  I have been a huge fan of 
Donaldson's ever since I read that series back when I was in 7th 
grade, and I too have read the books several times over because of 
their depth.  Unfortunately, I have not met many people who liked the 
books like I did, and I have always been frustrated by people's 
responses to them - "too slow", I hear a lot, "Covenant's such a 
whiner", etc.  
    I have read all of his other books as well, and I enjoy them very 
much, although I think the GAP series is the first one that rivals 
the Covenant books.  Anyway, I just wanted to say I liked your short 
piece there and that there are others out here that agree with you.

Mike Stover
eiagm@eznet.net

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From: Peaty 
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 95 22:44:03 -0400
Subject: (no subject)

If and when you have the time, read the other two Speculative 
History's by Harry Turtledove "In the balance" and "Tilting the 
Balance"  Almost as good as Guns of the South"  and to me a 
that's saying something.  I very much enjoyed them all.

Peat

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From: Chan Yue Kun 
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 95 00:56:54 -0500

Hi Doug,

It's a great pleasure to find your web site. I've just brought Eco's new
book - Island of the Day Before.
Wonder if you've got it. Are there any sites dedicated to Eco?
Hope to read your review soon.

YK

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From: "Peterman, Jim" 
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 95 13:55:00 PDT
Subject: Covenant Review

Hi Doug!

I just read your review of the First and Second Chronicles of Thomas 
Covenant.  I felt you did an excellent job of grasping and communicating 
both the spirit of the story and the author's intent.

The very first fantasy book I ever read was Lord Foul's Bane.  After the 
first chapter, I was hooked.  I like to consider myself one of the world's 
greatest Donaldson fans - an illusion that is easily maintained in the 
literary wasteland of Northern Ontario.  People love to hate him; I just 
can't understand it.

Anyhow, to the point.  I have been purchasing the 'Gap' series.  There has 
been a special offer from the publisher of limited edition, signed, numbered 
copies of these books.  I was able to get the first three, but then Bantam 
closed its Canadian division.  I was unable to get the special edition of 
'Chaos and Order', and fear the value of the collection will really suffer 
unless it is complete.  My local bookstore has been of no help, despite 
their good intentions.  Do you know of a way I could contact SRD directly? 
 Does he have a public email address?

I appreciate any information you could pass my way.

BTW, did you know that he (or should that be He) published a previously 
removed section of 'The Illearth War'?  It is called 'Gilden Fire' and it 
details the doomed mission to succor the Seareach Giants.  If you need 
publishing information on it, email me back and I'll dig it out.

I bet there is another verrry interesting outtake somewhere from the same 
book.  Do you remember when Covenant went to see the Unfettered One who 
interprets dreams?  I would love to find out what happened there...you can 
bet Donaldson wrote it, but took it out because of the length of the book.

Thanks for your time, and 'be true'.

Jim Peterman
petermaj@cdrivea.canadorec.on.ca
jimbo@healthware.on.ca

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From: chip_d_leo@usa.pipeline.com (Edward Moore)
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 06:22:05 -0400

Yet another possibly useless letter to waste you're time... 
 
Although he doesn't go as much into the SF as he does horror, Robert
McCammon is an author I reccommend to everyone who used to like Stephen
King (of SK's last 5 books only 1 may have been worth reading).  But,
here's a list of RM's books for you (all in paperback): 
 
Baal 
Bethany's Sin 
Blue World 
Boy's Life 
Gone South 
Mine 
Mystery Walk 
The Night Boat 
Stinger 
Swan Song 
They Thirst 
Usher's Passing 
and, The Wolf's Hour 
 
I would suggest reading Swan's Song - a post nuclear war drama much in the
same vein as SK's The Stand - first, because if you don't like that one,
it's doubtful you'll like the others. 
 
                                                                - Chip 
 
PS  I love you're page, and will continue to stop by from time to time to
see what's new.

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From: James William Deen 
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 95 11:56:22 -0700
Subject: dropping a line

I wanted to agree, Stephen Donaldson is a god.  His world is 
engrossing and profound.  The main character does not need to be 
affiliated with (although I almost could) but read with an understanding
that he is the catalyst for the action.  I think his latest series is
only going to be enjoyed by a subset of those that could enjoy the 
TC series.  Covenent will give you a warm fuzzy in comparison to his
newest anti-hero.  Good-stuff!

I really only noted two startling absences in your library.
Tad Williams and Robert Jordan.  While Jordan's books are engrossing (I 
can't read his books while in school for fear of flunking) and just plain 
good.  Tad Williams books (Dragon Bone Chair...) is almost on par with 
Donaldson.  William's writing are to be experienced... The different 
characters have their own languages, accents, beliefs, and religions.  The 
complexity is impressive and realistic.  What Donaldson did for The Land, 
Williams has done for the societies and peoples of his trilogy.

 James (MUKTI) Deen                               Programmer Analyst
 Association of Former Students, TAMU

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From: cjvacur@uswc.uswest.com (Craig Vacura)
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 95 10:50:04 MDT
Subject: Comments on some Sci-Fi 

Doug,

I stumbled onto your review page today and enjoyed comparing notes.  I
have a couple quick inputs for you now, but I'd like to come back with a
bigger comparison of our reviews.  Overall you and I (an INTJ) seem to
get the same impressions out of the books we've read.  Our reading lists
are very similar and I believe that is part of the similar psych.
theory.  Shared favorites include:  Brust, Card, Clancy, Tolkien, 
Donaldson (Covenant), Herbert (Dune, yes I read all of it).

Recommendations:

Alvin Maker Series from Orson Scott Card.  This is a very unique fantasy
about what early America would be like if the 'old wives tales', 
superstitions, and such were real.  I think this is one of his best  
creations if not his best work.  The only knock on this series is
that it seemed unfinished.  It is as if I know the characters have more
to do and it bothers me some that Card hasn't returned to them.

Tad Williams: Dragonbone Chair (?) series.  It is classically styled  
epic fantasy with darker shading.  He does a good job of developing and 
changing some of his characters over time particularly the primary hero.
It won't be a classic you'll discuss years later, but it's a great read.

A Classic?  Try Ann Rand's (sp) Atlas Shrugged.  It's inundated with
Intellectual/Conservative philosophy and I don't know how to classify
it.  One of the reasons it is so interesting is the timeframe it was
written and the timeframe it takes place, combined with the fact that it
was written by a woman, and how these factors affect the story, tech,
and logic.  I came away more impressed with the author than the book.

Steven Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle:  Arthurian based series that ties just
about every British mythos into one story and throws in Atlantis to
boot.  This is one series I believe I will read again and that is rare
in the extreme, but I haven't thought through why yet.  It's not partic-
ularly enthralling, just a real good read.

Robert Jordan comment:  The mass of the series sneaks up on you.  It 
seems like he's stretching it for all it's worth and sort of pisses me
off.  But I won't quit because it's still too good.

Craig

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From: John Davis 
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 15:41:39 -0400
Subject: Doug's Library -- The Mail Bag
 
Doug- 
 
I don't even know if you can get a copy of Dennis L. McKiernan's Iron Tower
Trilogy (The Dark Tide, Shadows of Doom and The Darkest Day), and it's
follow up The Silver Call Duo logy (Trek to Kraggen-Cor and The Brega Path)
any more, but if you can, it's a pretty good read.  Strong believable
characters lead the way down a well travelled (and possibly over used)
path.  But, these characters make this trip worth it, even if you do end up
get the feeling you've seen everything along the way before. 
 
                                                -Chip

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From Winbooks@aol.com Wed Oct 18 06:04:33 1995
Subject: McKillip/The Book of Atrix Wolfe

I admit to being a die-hard McKillip fan....and I honestly feel this is her
best book.
Its not a large book but definitly not a quick read. Classic fantasy.
 
Dana
Windy Hill Books

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From: Randall Gann 
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 95 17:56:34 -0700
Subject: Your reviews

I was glad to see someone loved Enders Game.  This is the only book I've 
read twice.  I loved the Covenant series also.
 
Rama has a great ending that makes the whole book.
 
Recommended you may have read it and didn't like but.
"ME by Thomas B. Thomas"
 
I hope I got that right.  It's about an AI entity and his feelings it's 
quick and easy.
 
Thx for your page I enjoyed it.
Randy Gann

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From russellk@tiac.net Thu Oct 19 18:29:00 1995
Subject: Writing Skills
 
HI MY NAME IS RUSSELL AND I AM A YOUNG SCIENCE FICTION WRITER.I AM TRYING TO 
START A COMPANY OF WRITERS.BUT ACTUALLY WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN.BUT WE HAVE 
ONLY 37 WRITERS WHO HAVE WRITTEN ONLY 62 BOOKS. NOW THAT MAY SEEM LIKE ALOT 
BUT ONLY 12 HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED(8 OF WHICH ARE MINE). WE NEED SOME TIPS FROM 
A FRENZIED SF READER LIKE YOURSELF.
 
PLEASE WRITE BACK WITH A FEW IDEAS PLEASE,
-RUSS- 

[Errr...no comment.]

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From: chip_d_leo@usa.pipeline.com (Edward Moore)
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 18:05:35 -0400
Subject: Doug's Library -- The Mail Bag
 
Doug- 
 
I don't even know if you can get a copy of Dennis L. McKiernan's Iron Tower
Trilogy (The Dark Tide, Shadows of Doom and The Darkest Day), and it's
follow up The Silver Call Duo logy (Trek to Kraggen-Cor and The Brega Path)
any more, but if you can, it's a pretty good read.  Strong believable
characters lead the way down a well travelled (and possibly over used)
path.  But, these characters make this trip worth it, even if you do end up
get the feeling you've seen everything along the way before. 
 
                                                -Chip
 
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From bath0011@FH-Karlsruhe.DE Mon Oct 23 18:30:24 1995
Subject: Recommendation: Head Crash, Bruce Bethke
 
Hello Doug,
 
I just found your books page while browsing for similar pages like
my own at http://www.fh-karlsruhe.de/~bath0011/buchtips_en.html
on Webcrawler. Your work is surely impressive! I'll have a better
look when I have more time on my hands :-)
 
Anyways, I thought I'd point out Head Crash by Bruce Bethke for
your reading pleasure. It's a bit in the vein of Snow Crash, but
less serious in it's approach. Still, if you list Asprin or 
Pratchett, you might like Bethke's offbeat humor. Head Crash might
not be the ultimate in funny cyberpunk, but it's a good start :-)
 
Cheers,
Thomas

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From LMHaskins@aol.com Mon Oct 23 19:40:05 1995
Subject: Clarke book
 
Glad you found Childhood's End. BTW, if you want a good selection of Clarke,
esp. his "hard" brand of s/f, try your local library for the out-of-print
stuff.
 
My favorite s/f book, and oddly compelling to a MYST fan, is _The City and
the Stars_.  Definitely something you'll want to read.  Then after that, you
should pick up _Against the Fall of NIght_, which is the book that is not the
prequel, but rather the first generation of TCATS.  He promised in TCATS that
he wouldn't write about the City again, but around  five or so years ago (?)
he did make a sequel to ATFON, which pales to TCATS, but I guess a lot of his
fans are on drugs or something.  And of course, since I have the ATFON sequel
in storage, I can't remember the name.
 
Anyway, please pick up TCATS.  And don't be put off by the first 3 or so
pages since that's not really part of the story (not much of a spoiler).
 There is a slight risk that it's out of print for now; better go to a large
bookstore.
 
Let me know if you get around to it.
 
Lloyd
(haskins@tsd.itg.ti.com)

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From jwc925@cs.usask.ca Wed Oct 25 14:38:21 1995
Subject: Recomendation

Read a seven book series called "The Deat Gate Cycle" by Margeret Weis
and Tracy Hickman. If you enjoy Fanatsy it's a must read!

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From: Dan Cash 
Subject: Excellent Sci Fi page, dude.
 
Hi Doug,I've gotta make this short. It won't be easy.
 
A quick compliment: Very nicely put together, sir! If you don't mind me 
asking, how many hours you got in this thing?
 
And a recomendation: Bone Dance, by Emma Bull. Similarities to Gibson 
(Neuromancer) and Persig (Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance), IMHO. 
I'd love to discuss or debate it, but I think I'm the only one that's 
read it. :-<. I think she's better than Gibson. It's hard core sci fi.
 
I found you through Csurfer. You guys are impressive. Any comments or 
advice about when I finally build my web page would be appreciated, lack 
of reply will cause no problem. I just wanted to say "Cool."
 
Dan

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From: Dave 
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 20:22:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Covenant
 
Hello. I read/appreciated your www note about S.R. Donaldson. I was 
wondering why there's no mention of Mordant's Need, which I found to be 
better, although not near as deep.  I'm not particularly expecting a 
reply, so do so only if you have the time and will.

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From J.MEGEVAND@TLP3CT.boat.bt.com Wed Nov  1 08:08:25 1995
Subject: Book recommendations
 
Doug,
 
If you liked 'Replay' you might also like 'Breakthrough'.  This is another book 
by Ken Grimwood which has as it's theme a type of time travel.
 
I am currently trying to search out a definitive list of his books.  If his 
others are as good as the two I have read then ..... there's some good reading
in store.
 
I saw that Alfred Beester was on your 'read' list.  Search out 'Tiger, Tiger' 
by him, its worth the effort (I think).
 
Also have you read 'The End of Eternity' by Robert Heinlan ?  I did not notice
it in your list (it might be there, I just did not notice it)
 
Regards,
 
John

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From jmr@STARSEND.COM Fri Nov  3 07:26:24 1995
Subject: Star Wars
 
Great Reviews at your site!!  Very entertaining.... and your pages are well
put together.  Since you're such a Star Wars fan, I wondered if you read the
parody of the original Star Wars trilogy.  It's called "The Star Dwarves
Travesty".  Pretty slapstick, funny stuff.  You can check it out at
http://www.starsend.com/authors/djr/creddjr.htm.  Thanks for the fun.
Javana Richardson, President
Optimum Solutions Interprise

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: cgilberg@.ieee.org (Claudio Gilberg)
Date: Fri, 03 Nov 1995 13:42:25 -0500
Subject: sci fi/fantasy books
 
        Doug,
 
        I would definately have to agree with you on the Stephen King books.
I usually buy his books the same day they came out.  However, I noticed you
didn't mention the Dark Tower Series.  Granted, the whole series isn't in
paperback yet but it might never be finished anyway.  Also, the Hyperion
books by Dan Simmons were as you say, Fabulous.
        I was also wondering what your aversion is to hardcover books.  I
personally like to have the hard covers more than paperbacks.  Do you have a
good source of knowing when certain books come out.  I know there are
varying places to look but is there one good link somewhere out there?  
        I'd recommend you read the Coldfire Trilogy by CS Friedman (provided
you like a small number of deep characters)  It raises some interesting
religious ideas as well as a different view of magic.  Tad Williams also has
a very involved series which culminates in TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER.  These
books are a lot deeper than some fantsy out there.
        I did notice you look deeper than face value at the stories.  A good
mix of character development, relationships as well as good detail can make
a book better than if you just look at the story.  I've seen many review by
people who don't bother to look between the lines at the lives of the
characters and what they go through.  
        Lastly, I have read the Wheel of Time books and thouroughly enjoyed
them but I think you are right in chastising the people who want to force
you to read it.  Trust me.  I wish I waited until they were all written.
                                                                Claudio Gilberg

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From random-public-user@deneb.sjca.edu Fri Nov  3 14:38:47 1995
Subject: Your incomplete SW timeline
 
Kind Sir, 
You appear to have quite a good chronology for the post-Return of the 
Jedi Star Wars universe.  However, I see a blaring error in which you 
have ommitted a story arch of great worth:  The Dark Hourse comics "Dark 
Empire" series.  You may not read comics, and while admittedly the 
second series left something to be desired, the first six issue series 
was incredible.  Moreover, it was accepted as fact in the Jedi Achademy 
books.  If you have not read this series, I suggest that you do; it's a 
good read.  If you cannot find it, it is also available on audio 
cassette.
Thank you for your attention, I would not want a fellow fan to be 
deprived of Dark Empire, nor for a timeline to be constructed ommitting 
it.
Corey J. Comstock, 
c-comstock@sjca.edu 

[My timeline really only mentions Bantam Spectra books, but since
 the Dark Empire series seems to be "canon" I'll have to go find it
 sometime and see what it's like.]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Harry Comber 
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 95 01:09:45 -0800
Subject: Hugh Cook
 
I was sorry not to see Hugh Cook appear in your reviews. He has written a 
series "Chronicles of an age of darkness" that is very varied and witty, 
and I think some of the most original fantasy written.
Check it out!
Harry Comber.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From livct01@uwamail.westal.edu Mon Nov  6 17:14:26 1995 (Jennifer Mitchell)
Subject: Recommendation for a book for you to read
 
I would like to recommend that you read the book NIGHT by author Elie Wiesel.
This would help many history students such as myself out to be able to find 
an informative book review about this book.  Thank you for reading my 
suggestion.  Also the book is quite good.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Bruce Martin 
Date: Tue, 07 Nov 1995 23:13:39 -0500
Subject: Piers Anthony

There's a rather hilarious section on P. Anthony at 
the following URL;
 
http://rampages.onramp.net/~scottgl/index.htm
 
Bruce

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Guillaume Jay 
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 95 13:02:02 0100
Subject: Clancy - Debt Of Honour
 
I disagree with what you said of the ending of Debt of Honour. I like this
ending. Why ? Because all others Clancy's ending are nice, too nice, black and
white ones. Good boys are congratulated, bad boys are punished. And they are
really calm.  The ending of Debt of Honour is griping, not calm at all. That's
a good thing. The only bad thing I can see with it is that I will be very
surprised if there are a new Ryan novels. 
        BTW, do you know Barbara Hambly ? I really love her fantasy books, 
and I want to know if she's known in USA. 
-- 
Homepage : http://www.emi.u-bordeaux.fr/~jay/
"Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example".
        - La Rochefoucaud

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Guillaume.Jay@emi.u-bordeaux.fr Tue Nov 14 01:48:57 1995
Subject: Re: Clancy - Debt Of Honour
> 
> The ending of DoH smelled like a contrivance to me, but that's just imho.
        It's sure I agree with you when you say "it lacked the foreshadowing".
Perhaps Clancy was really tired of Ryan, and so he wrote this ending like that, 
not in his classical manner, sure. But I like the thrill it gives. 
> I have read Hambly and reviewed one of her series on my page.
        Yes, I haven't seen it. I agree with you, and so I disagree with your fr
iend. But it's not "another series about a world being invaded by dark, shadowy,
 life-eating creatures". I was fearing it was that, and if the beginning is real
ly classic, the ending is not. That's what I like with Hambly, she doesn't write
 classic stories of good and bad fighting( Like Lord of the Rings ( but it was t
he first, so..), Shannara ( I only like the second one)m, Belgariad and too much
 fantasy books). I like her characters, too. But THe Darkwath trilogy is not the
 best thing she wrote, I believe.
I really must read Covenant by Donaldson. I read Mordaunt's need, and I like it,
 so ..
 I read too his sf series, and it was difficult at the beginning, but now I like
 it too.
        Could you ask some questions about Bio of A Space Tyran ? I've seen them
 for at least one year at my english bookshop, but I don't dare to buy them. Are
 they serious ? (i.e not like Xanth) Does it present Good Plot ? Should  I buy i
t, or rather try Katherine Kerr or Kay ?
        You've got the right attitude for Jordan. I wish I could have had the sa
me. But, hey, I bought the first, I like it, so I bought the five following. But
 I was thinking that the series was composed  only by six books ! Seems enough t
o me, hell, Lord of The rings is only  three. I was beginning the second when I 
learn there will be seven or eight books.. ( And I can't stop reading, because i
t's thrilling, and plots grow bigger at each book. I just hope I won't finish to
o nice.)
        Some comments :
- starship troopers : If Heinlein has no written books like Stranger in a Strang
e land, I would worry about him. The politics in/behind Starship Troopers are, f
or me, kind of disturbing. You can made books on future wars without make your r
eaders thinks you're were in love with your sergent ( I read this kind of commen
ts), by example try, by Joe Haldeman, a book called something like "The endless 
war" ( I'm not sure of the title, I just translated the french one). This book g
ot all the nice military techs I likes to read (and on of my reason to like Clan
cy), but it doesn't look like an army advertisement, IMHO.
- Dune : The first is the best, okay. But I don't think the Dune Messiah is the 
worth. I believe that in the strict Dune serie (Not the Bene Gesserit one) it 's
 the second best. I'm going to try to explain why, but it's going to be difficul
t ( as you already understand, English is not my first language). What I like in
 Dune messiah is the fight of Paul with his future. With his knowledge of the fu
ture, actually. There's the some kind of thing in The Wheel of Time, and I hope 
in the ends it will not disappoint me. Do you see what I mean ? Paul knows its f
uture, at least the possibility of it, and he must fight to find the best way. I
 know, I know, I'm not convincing, and I'm sorry for it. I like the two Bene Ges
serit books too, for the details of the B.G. But I don't like the two "gardeners
" characters.
 
        That's all. Thanks fo reading.
                -Guillaume
Homepage : http://www.emi.u-bordeaux.fr/~jay/
"You should never wear your best trouser when you go out to fight
for liberty and freedom"
        - Henry Ibson

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Naomi Kalmus 
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 95 17:23:57 -800
Subject: Re:robert jordan

Doug, I'm not writing to tell you to read Robert Jordan.  I have been reading
the first book in the Wheel of Time series and find it very frustrating to 
read. In some ways it reminds of reading Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series. 
There were times when I got very impatient with the pace and storyline of that
series. I often said I would read no more because it seemed to be dragging on 
without getting anywhere.  I am more than halfway through the first Robert 
Jordan book and I am experiencing the same feeling.  I'm not sure I'll finish
this book or try any others.  A colleague said the whole series is that way.  
Sounds like you either like this style or not.  I'm not sure yet.  If you did 
like that Donaldson series, you may like this one. I prefer Donaldson's more 
recent stuff, especially The Gap series.  Just my thoughts.   Naomi 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: gerry@nris.msl.mt.gov (Gerry Daumiller)
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 95 19:07:39 MST
Subject: Web Stats Diatribe
 
I never knew that people considered the number of hits on their site to
be equivalent to the number of users, or that anyone really cared.
 
In any event, it turns out that my philosophy on WWW statistics is similar
to yours:  
 
I have always encouraged the html-folk at our site to include the text "icon"
in the path of all inlined images, and I do not count such files in our
statistics.  However, a large part of our service is providing images, which
I DO count as hits if they are not inlined.  For example, our most popular
page is:  http://nris.msl.mt.gov/gis/mtmaps.html,  which gets about 900 hits
per week.  There are 14 images that can be downloaded from this page, and
these generate approximately another 1100 hits per week.  If someone looks
at the main page and does not download anything else, that means they did
not find anything interesting there.  Our statistics page is at
http://nris.msl.mt.gov/stats/stats.html.
 
I really enjoy the stuff you put on the Web.  Your hotlist has been on my
hotlist for nearly a year.  I really wish I was keeping such good track of
which books I had read!!  Of your favorite writers, I frequently read David
Brin, Tom Clancy, Micheal Crichton, and David Bear.  I can't think of any
authors I like that you haven't tried.  I still read every Terry Pratchett
and Ann Rice book that comes out, but I agree that the old stuff is better.
"Cry to Heaven", an older Ann Rice book, is the equal to any of her vampire
novels.  "Impossible Things", an anthology of Connie Willis stories, is much
better than her "Doomsday Book".  "Glory Season", by David Brin, is not quite
as interesting as most of "Earth", but at least it doesn't fall to pieces at
the end.
 
Anyway, thanks for providing a great service!!
 
Gerry Daumiller
Helena, Montana
gerry@nris.msl.mt.gov
http://nris.msl.mt.gov/gis/gerry/gerry.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: rob pace 
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 95 20:13:07 0000
 
Like your reviews.  Thanks.
 
I thought about Piers Anthony's Aprentice Adept when I saw Arnold 
Schawtzeneger's (sp?) "The running man. "  I've always wondered if the 
screen-writer was inspired (if you can call it that) by the trilogy.
 
Anyway, keep up the reading!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert Bimson 
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 18:16:38 -0500
Subject: The Alley by Robert A. Bimson
 
Doug,
         I like your stuff.  I have just finished reading 'The Alley'
 by Robert Bimson.  I really enjoyed it.  It seems that this author 
has found a way back to the times when reading was fun. 
 I think you should check it out.  I'd be very interested in what
 you think about it.  I'll be watching your reviews for this one.
                                                                                
      nuget

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Brian J. Hafner" 
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 01:20:49 -0600
Subject: The Unbeliever
 
Mr. Ingram-
 
I just noticed your article (review) on the net concerning The Chronicles of
Thomas Covenant.  I too am very much a fan of Stephen R. Donaldson, and
would be most interested in finding some chat groups, newsgroups, etc
concerning the subject.  Please forward any if you know of them.
 
I was very pleased by your review of the novels.  Mr. Donaldson has a
singular style, and one I appreciate greatly.  I have read the series about
four or five times now in as many years.  I try, though failing this year,
to read them at least once a year.  As you mentioned, I find a new facet to
the story each time I read them.  If I may, I would offer an opinion.
 
I believe the reason many people dislike these books is because they hate
Covenant.  They hate him, not because they do NOT understand him, but
perhaps that they understand him all too well.  I believe many see
themselves in this 'anti-hero' and find it simply easier to distance
themselves from that.  I find a great deal of myself in Covenant, both good
and not so good.  I believe Mr. Donaldson's greatest acheivement is the
intensity of the emotions that these books produce.  Who out there could not
feel the intensity of Mhoram's demand as he and Tohrm made their way through
fire to quench Trell's desecration?  Who could not Saltheart's rage (and
consuming self-loathing) as he killed at the battle of Revelwood?  I have
never been so moved, nor do I believe I will ever be so again, as I was when
I first encountered the Land.
 
Sorry to take your time, but I wanted to lend my voice...

[This is commonly known as "preaching to the choir"  -Ed]
 
Thanks,
 
Brian Hafner
hafner@okstate.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Christian Clarke <95153179@brookes.ac.uk>
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 95 22:29:16 -0800

Hi Doug...
 
I read with interest youre review of `The Chronicals of the Cheysuli'.  I 
enjoyed all eight books and I believe that Roberson has great potential.  
However, I do have a few comments about the books that did disappoint me.
 
A)    After the sixth book `Daughter Of The Lion', from then on I felt 
that books 7,8 were written in a different style.  It often made me think 
that another person was writing the last two books.
 
B)    Inconsistancy.  Roberson comments throughout all eight of the books 
that the Cheysuli/Ihlini are powerless before one another.  However, I 
have noticed in book seven, when `Aidan, was in Solinde and was joined by 
3 traveling Ihlini.  Yet Aidan was unaware of this fact.  And the Ihlini 
were able to use their magic.
 
Despite these minor snags with the books, I throughly enjoyed them, and 
hope to see Roberson writing again.  The boyhood of Finn and Duncan, the 
exile of Finn and Carillon.
 
Regards
 
Christian Clarke
 
Respect.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: HQFH58A@prodigy.com (MR BENJAMIN M BURACK)
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 1995 10:34:04 EST
Subject: Book Reccomendation

"The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien is the best book I have 
ever read.  In fact, I know 16 people who have read it, and 12 of 
them agree that it is the best book ever written.
 
Ben Burack

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kp6185a@auvm.american.edu Sun Nov 12 17:16:45 1995
 
I'm at college and away from my library, so your reviews rekindled fond 
memories of hours curled up reading many of my distant books.  However, 
I'm surprised that you haven't read W. Michael Gear.  He has written at 
leasttwo science fiction trilogies and to stand alone books.  All of 
them are good, but I highly recomend the stand alone book "The Artifact" 
as a starter point.  This book shows off his skill at intertwining 
exciting new science and its effects on the human psychy.  I find that 
his books read a lot like Brin's Uplift War serries.  I also recommend 
the newest of Joel Rosenberg's Guardian's of the Flame books.  I don't 
remember its title (my copy is 3000+ miles away in Alaska), but it came 
out in the last year.  In it we return to Walter Slovosky and Elgenon 
and all the other old characters, but best of all Andrea has life back 
in her. IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN NUMBERS 5 AND 6. Thanx again for your 
home page, it makes the abscense of my 300 paperbacks easier.
----Krista Park
                                kp6185a@american.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: tropea@ctron.com (Daniel Tropea)
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995 12:31:41 -0500
Subject: A few questions
 
Hi Doug,
 
I enjoy your page but I am wondering if you or anyone else reads the Star Trek
novels. I am looking for some people to communicate with during my lunch hour
about these novels. I mainly read the Star Trek novels because (a) they are 
fun read granted not very supurb although (Peter David, Diane Duane and 
Diane Carey are the best ones) and (b) they are quick reads. With my schedule
I read novels that are quick to get through. I do read other novels in fact
I am halfway through the "Seeress of Kell" by Eddings and I thought that this
was a very fun series although the characters except for Beldin are idiots.
 
Dan Tropea
tropea@ctron.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: KC GUSTAFSON 
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 95 15:20:17 -500
Subject: Good new books!
 
Hey There! Good to see someone with an educated taste in SF!  What a relief. 
        Anyway, I noticed that you lack a certain British SF author that I have 
earned a particular liking for: Iain Bainks.  He also write fiction, under s sli
ghtly different name (I think he adds the initial 'M').  In any case his SF, mos
tly space operas, are genuinely fresh.  He has a fantastic writing style, and I 
have branched off into his 'normal' fiction as well.  A good first book would be
 "Against a Dark Background", or you could start his "Culture" trilogy with the 
book "Consider Phlebas" (a reference to a famous poem whose name eludes me at th
e moment).  The latter novel introduces 'the culture', a intergalactic society w
here humans (a few million) and AI's (a few billion) live together and essential
ly run everything.  It is s rather screwed up, yet very interesting, plot. Both 
are well worth the read.
        If you are in the mood for his 'normal' fiction, be prepared to be distu
rbed.  His first novel, "The Wasp Factory", had me shivering for a month.  All a
re stunning psychological thrillers/mystery type things that keep one riveted to
 the book until completed.  Well worth the while.
        Thank you for your time.  I highly recommend these books! Take a read an
d tell me what you think!
        Yr Fthfl Srvnt;  Kristian Gustafson

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: david jacobs 
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 14:35:33 -0500
Subject: Books
 
Hello, I thought you would like to hear of a couple other 
great books that I have read. The Infinity Concerto by Greg 
Bear and it's sequel...The serpent Mage....if you can find 
these you are lucky they are treasures!
I also enjoy the Thomas Covenant Chronicles and I am glad I 
am not the only one.  Nobody I know likes them very much 
accept me.
   Anyway I hope you read these other books I told you 
about, and email me what you think.
                      Thanks
                            David B. Jacobs

[Actually, the two Bear books are a series I've reviewed and loved
 called "Songs of Earth and Power" -Ed]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: KC GUSTAFSON 
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 95 17:36:33 EST
Subject: Something you have missed....
 
My dear Sir;
 
        I noticed you have a review for Terry Pratchett, and that is fine, for h
e is a good author.  What you have missed, however, is his collaboratoin with Ne
il Gaiman (?) called "Good Omens".  If there is a book that you are reading next
 IT MUST BE THIS ONE.  It is a story of Adam, the anti-christ, who was accidentl
y raised by a all-too normal British family, instead of under the care of the An
gel Aziraphel (a rather shy angel, much too goody-goody for the other angels- on
 duty on earth after screwing up the whole garden of eden thing) and the Demon C
rowley (a real dapper demon, who gets his communications from the devil via the 
Classic Queen tape in his car) [who have, much to their own dismay, spent 13 yea
rs raising an otherwise perfectly normal kid, now somewhat warped]. Other charac
ters include the four horse-people of the apocalypse (on motor-bikes), and sever
al witches and witch hunters.
        The plot develops as Adam slowly figures out that he is the anti-Christ,
 and must referee the apocalypse, a scant week away.  A lot of serious philosoph
ical ground is covered (I imagine coming from Neil Gaiman) yet it is un-put-down
ably funny- a real side splitter.  My brief description may give someone the imp
ression of a lampoon of the fantasy genre, but it is far from it.  Rather, it tr
anscribes human errors of judgement onto angels and demons, and in the ensuing c
omedy of errors, a rather deep plot evolves.  This is one of the top 5 books I h
ave read in recent years.  It is, I believe, widely available (in Canada at leas
t).  I cannot laud this book any more....
        Yr fthfl Srvnt;
        Kristian Gustafson
        Kingston, Ont, Canada
 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Nathan Tabor 
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 95 16:38:51 -0800
Subject: Comments on books (obviously).
 
Doug,
     I just loged on to your review page today for the first time. I was
impressed by the obvious time and effort you put into this page. I saw
that you recieved mail and after reading a few of the letters you have
recieved I decided to do the same.
     First I would like to say that I agree with most of the reviews you
have given. Also, you reviews have helped me decied to risk some books
that I have been debating for a while. I would also like to thank you for
that Star Wars time line. I have not read all of those books so I was
some what confused.
     I would also like to add a couple of recommendations, and second a
few.
 
Seconds:
    Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. You should also try Margaret's Ster
of the Guardians series. I is a very good SF trilogy with lots of
original material.
    Robert Jordan, I won't say anything accept that you will probably
have to wait at least another two or three years. From what I hear he is
working on the seventh book and may go as many as nine or ten.
  
Recommendations:
     R.A.Salvatore: He has an extensive series of nine books published by
TSR in the Forgotten Realms series. The first trilogy(The Ice Wind Dale
Trilogy) starts of a little weak (not much), but he ends up with a very
unique set of characters and a strong plot. If nothing else I have never
seen a writer who could do a better melee scene (not even Jordon, and he
is pretty damn good).
 
     Steven King: I would guess that your adhearing to your principle of
not starting a series until it is all out in paperback, but The Dark
Tower series is well worth reading. The only problem is that the first
three books took around fifteen years (most of that the first) and he has
not put another one out in the last four years.
 
     Orson Scott Card: the Memory of Earth series. I don't know if this
is to be a very long series. He has four out and I have yet to read that
last one. It is almost as good as Ender's Game though it is on a totaly
different wave length.
 
Thankyou for your time. I will write you again if I find anything truely
remarkable.
                                  An addicted reader,
                                  Nathan Tabor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Joel Wachs 
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 95 12:17:41 -0800
 
Thanks for your recommendation about Brust.  I read the six available
Vlad books last weekend and am currently in the middle of "The Phoenix
Guards".
 
I found the environment of the Vlad books to be film noir-ish, where
authority is extremely distant and everyone seems caught up in events
beyond their control.  In addition, the close proximity between the
highest levels of society (the empress, nobles, etc.) and the lowest
(humans, Teckla, theives, assassins, etc.) reminded me of Dashiell
Hammett and Raymond Chandler.  (Since both of these authors works, "The
Maltese Falcon," "The Big Sleep," etc., were the basis for some of the
greatest film noir movies that should not be surprising.)
 
Once again, thanks.  I look forward to your future reviews and
recommendations.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "a.l.valdis" 
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 95 22:50:38 -0800
 
I am afraid I am not able to recommend you some book. The
last I read was Jeffrey Noon=B4s "Pollen" and i was
dissapointed. I am writing to you to ask you a favor. I
need the name of the author who wrote the story "The 1000
names of God". I think it was Arthur C. Clarke, but I am
not sure and need the confirmation to quotate in an article
I am writing about IT and the risks of the information. Do
you thinmk you can help me or suggest another page with an
archive of titles of stories. I can=B4t rememer either in
which antologhy the story was published. Congratulations to
a very good page. Greetings and thanks in advance. Ana L.
Vald=E9s.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jacobsd@achilles.tcsnet.net Mon Nov 20 06:51:07 1995
Subject: Re: Books
 
Thanks for the email.
    Thanks, I couldnt remeber what the original series was called.  I
really enjoyed the Thomas Covenant books, but it seems women dont
like the part where he rapes that girl in the first book.  Me I
understood what he was going through....I think a guy can relate more
to the story.   Anyway, I was wondering if you have any thoughts
about Vampire books.  Everyone seems to love Anne Rice, but I dont
really like her work, because she changed the rules of the Vampire
too much.  I like nthe classic Vampire tales, like Dracula.  Have you
read the Diaries of the Family Dracul series by Jeanne Kalodigris?
It is pretty cool and it seems to fit more into the classical vampire
scene.
 Well, I am at work....back to the grindstone!
                           See ya later.
    DAvid.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Kenneth W. Jennings, Jr." 
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 21:47:52 -0800
Subject: Hello from Singapore
 
Doug:
 
Hello from a fellow Husky residing in Singapore.  I ran across you page
while testing out a Secure Net Key that lets me escape from Oracle
internal network into the Web - at backbone speed and for free.  Net
access is expensive through the Sinagpore carriers.
 
I enjoyed seeing your reviews and found your eclectic tastes to be
similar to mine.  So I picked up some good recommendations for what to
read.  I've been working in Asia since 1980 and, even though I get back
to Seattle once a year, I have lost track of lots of new material. Never
heard of Tigana until I saw it in your list. Then it shows up as #3 on an
all-time hits list voted on by 900+ readers.  I hope I can find it here.
 
If you liked Heinlein's Past Through Tomorrow (Future History Series),
you should read his best works.  Most of the others on your list were
from his "weird" period, caused in part by a long term carotid artery
blockage that affected his brain.  Probably his best work is The Moon is
a Harsh Mistress.  Other works of equal quality to the future history
include Citizen of the Galaxay, Door into Summer, and Double Star.
Puppet Masters is good too, being the prototype for the many
"body-snatcher" type of movies/stories that came much later.  In my view
Heinlein, dispite some shortcomings is the best pure storyteller the
genre has known.  Scott Card is, perhaps, next, but not a pure SF writer
(I know Scott a little and he writes SF because there's a market for it).
 
Also, you MUST read the rest of the Rama series.  Like you, I found
Rendezvous fascinating but without sufficient closure.  In a way, that
first book is the Rama series what The Hobbit is the the Lord of the
Rings.  It introduces the Milieu.  The rest of the books combine high
adventure with some of the most poignant commentary on man's spiritual
self vs. his social self.  A mix of Lord of the Flies and Huck Finn, if
you will.
 
Anyway, I thought you'd get a kick out of knowing that your voice has
been heard way out here.  I look forward to reading some of the books
reviewed on your page.
 
Best regards,
Ken Jennings
(Oracle Asia/Pacific Division Legal Counsel, by the way)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Scott Noot 
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 95 14:53:04 -800
Subject: Books to read
 
I really enjoyed the Drenai series by David Gemmel,a heroic
fantasy writer from Britain.  Waylander was good to.  His books
can be tough to find over here though.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jonas Ramirez <95154906@vax1.dcu.ie>
Date: Fri, 01 Dec 1995 18:48:08 -0800
Subject: Books

  Hi there. Just writing to 'politely suggest' you to read
any book by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman. Maybe you have heard
about the 'Dragonlance' series, but I definitely think that
posterior books are much better: "Darksword" and "Rose of the
Prophet". But what I really recommend you to read if you have
time and you want to is: "The Death Gate Cycle" (7 volumes). All
seven volumes are available on paperback, so you should not have
anything against reading them (I do not like to wait months or
sometimes even more than a year for the sequel, either).
 
*** This is only a SUGGESTION, OK?, so I won't tell you twice.
It is just that you are missing the best authors (in my humble
opinion) since J.R.R. Tolkien ***

[I guess my Robert Jordan page may be a little to shrill?  :)  ]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Crispin Roche 
Date: Sun, 03 Dec 95 21:56:02 -0800
Subject: Reccommended reading?

Hello,

  Just thought I'd give you a couple of my favourite scifi 
authors that don't seem to be in your library.

 Cordwainer Smith - The Instrumentality of Mankind & the 
Rediscovery of Man

 These are two sets of interleaved short stories chronicaling the 
future history of humanity and its relationship with a mutated 
semianimal/semihuman underrace. Although it doesn't sound to 
promising the stories are highly imaginative and, very rare, well 
written.

 Olaf Stapledon - Odd John

 A very dark story of an emerging superrace and their trials and 
experimentations. Stapledon was a philosopher who wrote about his 
philosphies in a series of novels of various genres. Odd John is 
his most "science  fictional".


Apart from these reccomendations I would like to say that I find 
your libarray very interesting and will certainly take the 
opportunity of perusing  it some more.

Best of luck
Crispin Roche

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Todd McMurry" 
Date:          Wed, 6 Dec 1995 10:27:16 +0000

To whom it may cocern, just a short note to recommend a couple of  
authors you might want to check out. First, Dennis L. McKerian(please 
excuse my spelling if incorrect), he wrote the Iron Tower trilogy. 
Second, L.E. Modesset, The Magic of Recluce, and four other books 
which link themselves to Recluce, but can be read seperate from the 
each other.  Last, Robert Jordan, he makes me mad that I have to wait 
so long between books, I almost have to re-read his books to update 
myself when his next one comes out.  I really think he is drawing out 
the Wheel of Time series.  Does he do this to make more money ?
                     Thanks for your Time

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: daz 
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 95 22:15:55 -0800
Subject: Thomas Covenant

I have just finished 'The Second Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant' and decided to 
search on 'him'. This is the first time i've come across this site and i 
have to say 
that i am impressed. I am just starting a new book 'Lyonesse' written by 
Jack Vance. 
It was recommended by a friend and I will drop you review of the book when I 
have finished it.

Thanks, Daz (daz@easynet.co.uk)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Duet 
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 95 23:12:09 0000
Subject: author homepage

I thought you might be interested in this page.

Kevin J. Anderson has a homepage at
http://www.aimnet.com/~wordfire

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Lee Merritt 
Date: Sat, 09 Dec 95 00:46:42 -800
Subject: Library Reviews...

Hello,

I am basically just beginning my Web travels
and have finally gotten access through my Med School.
I have browsed your page and would like to make a humble suggestion
that you read a book by Samuel Shem titled "The House of God".
Briefly, a story about a Medical Intern at Mass. General hospital.
It is not overly burdened with medical terminology and is quite interesting.
I read it in one sitting before I ever went to Med School.  I noticed that
you seem to enjoy fantasy as I do and think that this work of fiction is 
worth your time.  It will be entertaining at any rate and I am curious as to 
what you think about the book.

In regard to Stephen R. Donaldson "Chronicals of Thomas COvenant;the Unbeliver"
I am a great Tolkien fan and found this to be equal in its scope and magnitude
a bit more of a "dark side" here but the strategy of Hile Troy and the 
interesting
characters make this a winner.  I also found the fact that the reader is never 
quite sure if the author is dreaming (post concussion syndrome) or if
these events are truly happening.

J.R.R.Tolkien
Not much to say other than his stuff is GREAT!  Even in the post-cold war era
of today.  I especially like his character developement in selected cases
as well as his overall message of tolerance as all creatues have their purpose
which one cannot always forsee (ie gollum and Gandalf).

ANyway, jsut my two cents on those authors.  Hope you'll try House of God.
Thank's for the great Myst page and Home Page.  Your work is appreciated.

Lee Merritt

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: 71554.204@compuserve.com
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 1995 21:38:44 -0500
Subject: Cool page, but you got your evolution wrong

Excellent page!  We share a lot of common authors and interests.  Found 
my way to your book reviews page via Myst page.  Also excellent material.
My only gripe is your cheap "evolutionary" shot at Limbaugh listeners. 
Generally, generalizations miss a large bulk of the truth.  Besides, those
of us from the conservative end of the spectrum would argue that we ARE
the result of historical natural selection !

Really, though excellent content, organization and presentation.  Proving
graphics do not necessarily make a great page.  Keep up the good work 
from a conservative SF fan.

[Ed. note:  To see what he's talking about, see my Robert Jordan page:
            http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/books/rjordan.html
            That's where the "evolutionary" comment can be found.  I
            thought my comment was both funny and true.  I still do.  ]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert Gasch 
Date: 13 Dec 95 15:12:35 
Subject: WWW Site - Thanks

Hi,

just spent an hour looking through your web site and found it very nice that 
you have a big collection of reviews to offer. I would have a few 
recommandations 
for you:

1) If you like big space operas, check out the "Skyark" and "Lensmen" series 
by E.E. Smith. They're quite old (pre-World War 2) and a bit moralistic at 
times, 
but make a for a good read that gives Clancy a run for his money.

2) If you like dark, mysterious books, see if you can find "The Golem" by 
Gustav Meyrink. It's obscure, it's dark, it's wonderful. I read it a few months 
ago (the original, in German) and was enthralled. It's got a way of visualizing 
things that's hypnotic.

3) If you like big battle series, check out Gerrold's "War against the Chtorr" 
series. It's not complete yet (books 1-4 are out, 5 should be out soon) , but 
it's n excellent read giving a new twist to the theme of alien invasions. Made 
me think differently about ecologies for which I treasure it. 

4) Also, I must warn you not to expect too much of the new Eco novel. I found 
it a bit disappointing. Defeniteley not up to "Focoult's Pendelum" which I 
found 
to be an intellectual Tour de Force. 

Greetings from rainy Holland
--> Robert

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: William Squier 
Date: Sat, 16 Dec 95 11:16:54 0800

Hey there.  Was just cruising through your web site and figured I'd drop 
a note.

I really don't remember how I even got here, all I remember is that I 
started in Yahoo searching for book lists.  Eventually, I saw something 
that you had posted about the book "Replay" by Ken Grimwood.  Thank you, 
I thought I was the only person that had ever read this book.  I was 
lucky enough to find a copy in hardback in a used book store not long 
ago.  I've gone through 3 copies in paperback till I finally found the 
hardback copy.  Should last a few years.

Well, from reading the review you wrote for the sf.written group, looks 
like you feel as strongly about this book as I do.  I'm getting ready to 
send my last paperback copy to my girlfriend in Pennsylvania, she's 
never read it.

BTW, from other things, looks like we've got common interests.  Namely 
Star Wars and Macs.  Well, just thought I'd leave my .02 worth.

Otherwise, the sight looks good, but you might want to spiffy it up a 
bit, looks a bit on the bland site.  Maybe just a colored background...

William

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: YLSM31A@prodigy.com (MR ROY N SMITH)

All these books in this series are available in paperback !!
Author's name:  David Gemmell
Series Name:   The Drenai Saga
Book Names:   Legend
                      The King Beyond the Gate
                      Quest for Lost Heroes
                       Waylander

     The first book-Legend- will hook ya.  Hope you enjoy them as 
much as I did.

                                  Roy

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: cs911417@red.ariel.cs.yorku.ca

Hallo from Canada!  I noticed that you have read Grimwood's "Replay".  I was
just wondering how you felt about the epilogue.  It just about killed me.

It made the entire novel seem cheap.  The novel would have been better off 
without it.
Dasper

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: HoP 
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 95 16:52:21 -0600

Hi,

I came across your page while doing a net search for "Stephen Donaldson",
an author that I had never heard of till I picked up "Lord Foul's bane"
on a whim from the library two weeks ago (I'm on "The power that preserves"
now). I'm really enjoying the books.
Anyway, thanks to your page, I now have added at least twenty more books 
to my ToBeRead list. 
In return, I'd like to recommend one of my favourite series to you. It's 
Philip Jose Farmer's "Riverworld" series. You may have read it already,
but if you haven't, then I suggest that you at least take a look at the
first book "To your scattered bodies go" and then decide if it's worth your
while. 
Imagine a world, the defining characteristic of which is a river that seems 
to be infinitely long and along the banks of which every human being that 
ever died in our earth is reborn. And anyone killed there is instantly 
reborn (as they were) at some other point along the river. Imagine further 
that the famous explorer, Richard Burton decides to find the reason for this,
and goes about to do precisely that, with help, along the way, from Alice
Hargreaves (the model for "Alice" of the wonderland fame), Mark Twain et. al.
That, in brief, is what the series is about.
It's one of those series, where, every once in a  while, you look up from
the books and go "man, this -is- fun". Maybe it's me, but those sort of books 
seem to be harder to come by nowadays (which is why I got such a kick 
out of your lists. Some of them seem to have definite possibilities).

Thanks again.

Regards,
Hari Parameswaran

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Raenar@aol.com
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 18:27:41 -0500
Subject: Re: Book reviews

Doug,

I know what you mean.  I have about 50 books on my list to read, and that's
just the ones I already have in the house.  There's another 40 or 50 I have
written down somewhere that I have yet to buy but want to read.

Ah, well, so many books, so little time.  Maybe when I get my own book
published (and I get that healthy seven figure book contract -- what a
dreamer) I'll be able to read more.

Take it easy.
Brian

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: JLBeaner@aol.com
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 22:48:00 -0500
Subject: Web Page

Hey Doug!

I was just browsing around, killing time at work (shh!!!) and I found your
web page.  Very fun!
I too am an INFJ, but the thing sorta borderline is maybe the J/P thing.
 Otherwise, it's the only personality test that I've found that fits me
pretty well - and I have friends that studied Psychology testing and used me
as a guinea pig! :)
I loved Myst and solved it all by my lonesome (I'm so proud- ha!).  I can't
wait for Myst 2.  I read the book and liked it, though I agree with the
emails you received that complained about it's poor editing/style.  Oh well.
Can't have it all.
I need to look at your library further.  I'm always looking for new things to
read and I agreed with a lot of your reviews (although I avoid anything
resembling horror- I have a way-too-active imagination) :) 
Yup.  I have reading suggestions for ya too.  Let's see... Have you tried
C.S. Lewis's sci-fi trilogy? (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That
Hideous Strength) The last one is my personal favorite.  How about Madeleine
L'Engle's time books?  I thinks she's up to 5 in the series but the first 3
are the best.  You may have read Wrinkle in Time as a kid...
OH!  I'm sure you've never heard of Walter Wangerin, but his Book of the Dun
Cow and Book of Sorrows are absolutely wonderful.  They're sorta like
Watership Down, THE classic in animal fables (and puts Brian Jacques to
shame).  Hey- that wasn't on your list either.  Try Richard Adams' Watership
Down.  It's right up there with Lord of the Rings (trust me!) although it's
not the same sort of epic fantasy.  More like epic bunny quest for the
promised land.  But really- it's great.  I want to write a thesis on it
someday...
I read tons of Arthurian stuff, but I don't know if you're interested in it.
 Also, Judith Tarr writes some pretty darn spiffy historical fantasy.  And
there's Robin McKinley and Patricia McKillip, both of whom have produced some
really wonderful stories.  For McKinley, I'd recommend The Blue Sword and its
sequel as well as Deerskin, a fairy tale re-telling for adults (well, so
fairy tales were originally pretty scary and upsetting anyways- she called it
a fairy tale for adults.)  For McKillip, I'd say The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
is her best one.  
WELL... I could go on and on but I'll try to contain myself and my
meanderings. Perhaps I will bless you with a more in-depth book list later
on... ;)
Keep up the good work on the web page and have a great holiday!

Jean

P.S.  Raising Arizona is one of my favorite movies too!      Would you buy
furniture from a store called unpainted Hufhinds??????  Well, OK then.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: NGrassel@gnn.com (Nick Grassel)
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 1995 21:03:13
Subject: Book Recommendations

As your review of Turtledove's "Guns of the South" indicated he is a 
good writer. I've followed that up with the World at War series and 
"Agent of Byzantium".  Look them up they are as good or better as 
Guns

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Jay W. Samples" 
Date: Thu, 04 Jan 96 22:33:20 -0800

Hello again Mr. Ingram

After a short while of abstaining from the Net, I have once
again come back and looked at your page. I see you have been
able to read some of the books I and others recommended. I have
also begun referring to your page for references when I am 
choosing books to read. I decided, after having the book around
forever, to read Hyperion after you spoke so highly of it. I 
have also checked out other books and enjoyed some you recommended,
even though I like some that you found less than perfect. A note
on Death Gate. You noted the strange anecdotes and such of Zifnab,
and there is an explanation later in the books which I hope you
find reasonable. I think the main purpose of Zifnab in this novel
is of much needed comic relief in an otherwise frightening story
of giants. Just a note from a nit-picker: I recently read the 
Uplift War series and noted that you had listed Sundiver as the 
third book of the series. It is really the first. I would also like
to pre-recommend a series that should be complete shortly. The series
is by a new author David Feintuch. The series is a military like
science fiction premise of a seventeen-year old midshipman thrown
into the position of a Naval captain. He must perservere and along
the way makes a terrible discovery. The books in order are:

Midshipman's Hope
Challenger's Hope
Prisoner's Hope
Fisherman's Hope (I think coming out in Feb.)

The series so far is wonderful and intriguing and is reminiscent in
ways of Ender's Game. I hope you have a chance to try some of the 
other books I recommended earlier. Happy Reading

P.S. Sorry if the column width is too much. I can't get it 
properly adjusted in Netscape

Jay W. Samples
 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jelly@team17.com (Jenny Lomax)
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 10:42:39 GMT
Subject: Book Recommendation

Hi! Glad to see your page coming on. I would like to recommend a few books
all by the contemporary Scottish author Irvine Welsh. The books are all
based on his life and experiences in Edinburgh. They do include a lot of
violence and there are some terrible scenes described. A great deal of it
is based on the smack head drug culture in the poor areas in the high rise
blocks etc. O! And I have to say that the books are written in most with a
Scottish accent so some folk who aren't from the UK or familiar with the
Scottish accent may struggle but after the initial pages one does adjust.
The books are a major topic of discussion amongst the contemporary lit
groups. There has been some out cries as James Kelman (another Scottish
author also writing with the traditional dialect) won the Booker prize for
How Late It Was, How Late. The arguments for and against an author writing
with such a strong style based on gritty reality and the life as they
live/have lived can go on for an age, so all I can say is TRY IT. I don't
know whether you will be able to get copies over there, but if you have
trouble and need publishing details let me know if you are interested. Some
folk suggest reading Trainspotting first, then The Acid House, then Marabou
Stork Nightmares (which is the best, most intense, strange book I have ever
read as of yet, including topics such as drug abuse, rape, etc). I would
always recommend reading Marabou last as the books all have characters
running through that you come to hate, empathise with, turn against etc.
I'll shut up, because I can never do these books justice......
Trainspotting is being made into a film in the UK and wil be released in
Feb. I can't wait. TRY THE BOOKS!! There were interviews and stuff on
Irvine Welsh flying around on the NET so have a peek if you can.
Enjoy........Regards, Jelly   :)

Team 17 homepage:                           http://www.team17.com/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Aaron DaMommio 
Date: Fri,  5 Jan 96 09:28:05 -0600
Subject: Recent reading

I hope you and Najet had a great Christmas. I got more gifts this year than  
many a year as a child -- Tanya's family just gives more gifts than mine does.  
One of my favorite gifts is a book I just finished by Samuel R. Delany,  
called "Triton." It's a striking future society seen through a character who  
can't cope with it. My theory is that the main character represents a 20th  
century personality type, thus allowing us readers to understand this future.  
Overshadowing the tech are the social differences, especially in gender roles.  
The future is consistend and engaging, especially for a book written in 1976.
Unfortunately, I'm not at all sure I understand the climax yet (maybe a few  
days' mulling will help). But the gender issues were presented in ways that  
really made me think. I've taken classes about gender issues, and I thought I  
knew a lot, but this book points out inequalities by creating a society where  
the genders are currently equal -- after a backlash in which women dominated  
men. I guess I never thought much about how our culture simply values men more  
than women.

I asked for Delany books for Christmas because I recently reread Babel-17 and  
read Tales from Neveryon. Babel is a great space opera and Neveryon is a  
bunch of interconnected fantasy stories. Both are distinguished by being  
erudite without losing any sense of action or suspense. In Neveryon, besides  
the swords and sorcery action, you get a view of tribal cultures encountering  
an empire somewhat like Rome, and you get to see what it might have been like  
for a culture that relied on barter as it transforms to a money economy -- and  
how that can affect social roles.

This is all told in terms of how it affects specific characters; 
it's no dry essay.

Delany's been around a while, so you may have already enjoyed his works.   
I've read some Glen Cook in recent months -- I know you like his stuff -- and  
I intend to pick up some more of the Garrett fantasy mysteries.

Take care,
Aaron 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Javier_Gomez_at_NY__Legal@NYCCIP01.lehman.com
Date: Fri, 05 Jan 96 15:48:57 EST
Subject: Stephen R.Donaldson review

     Hello Doug:
     
     I am a new Internet user who just recently read your review 
     of the Chronicles.  Although new to the internet, I am not 
     new to Donaldson. I would not classify myself as a fan but I 
     need to say that his books were a fresh air from the usual 
     white bread good Samaritan that is generally encountered in 
     these types of books.  
     
     Thomas Covenant was a human being put in an incredible 
     situation.  I think it was wonderful to read a book where 
     the main character has some real serious flaws. 
     
     As for this rape scene, who can say what they would do if 
     they woke up tomorrow in a whole new world.  All fantasy 
     aside, I would probably go into shock and freak out.  Under 
     that stress who can say that they would not have done the 
     same.  After all waking up in a whole new world should be 
     classified as one of the most stressful things that can 
     happen to someone ( second only to getting married ).
     
     Overall, I agree with your review. I liked the books and 
     have read them all.  I am responding to your review because 
     if you have made the effort to write it, I think it is only 
     appropriate for me to read it and respond.
     
     adios
     
     Javier 
     jgomez@lehman.com 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
X-Personal_Name: Seth Gunderson
From: sgunder@comp.uark.edu
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 1996 00:40:22 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Zahn series correction.

I recently started to read the Zahn trilogy again, and noticed on your 
web site that you had a rough timeline for post-Jedi time.  You stated
that the first Zahn book started about three years after Jedi, when in fact
it starts at least five years after.  If you have Heir to the Empire, you 
notice that on page 3, in a discussion, the battle of Endor was five years
ago, and that's when the Death Star and the Executioner were destroyed.

that's all.

[Ed. Note:  My timeline source is from Bantam Spectra.  I guess I'm not
            surprised that there are signs of inaccuracy...]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ben Allen 
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 96 21:56:07 -0800

Hey, I'm glad to see that you've finally read 2001, but I must warn you: 
Do not, repeat _NOT_ read the sequels. They are quite frankly the worst 
Clarke has ever written, and, in a way, spoil the great first book.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: mon@pixi.com (Monte Merritt)
Date: Sun, 07 Jan 1996 19:06:35
Subject: Another INFJ

Hello, I'm another INFJ. I've taken the test 4 times in the last 8 years, 
with the same
results, so I'm definitely one. In response to your assumption that type 
has to do with
one's reading preferences, my thought is: maybe a little. 
I do not generally like SF,
as I do not believe they usually achieve any shaping of the soul 
or cause reflection on
one's life. I say generally, because I know there are exceptions; one being Ray
Bradbury, who I do admire. 
My favorites are Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving. I also
like John Steinbeck, Tom Robbins, Douglas Coupland, Paul Theroux, and Richard
Harris. I've also enjoyed Stephen King and Michael Crichton, which you've men-
tioned, but who hasn't, with their ability to weave such incredible tales?
By the way, I'm a 37 year-old computer programmer 
who plans on retiring in 5 years
to write novels, with a lot of luck. Nice to meet ya.
Monte Merritt

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: tt83@uow.edu.au
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 15:45:31 +1100 (EST)

I just want to make my comments about a novel by Margaret Weis &
Tracy Hickman, DeathGate novels. I just finished reading the seventh
volume of the series, The seventh Gate. I think the book is great !!.
It's full of action!!. Two thumbs up for the SEVENTH GATE !!!!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: PMcVC@aol.com
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 14:30:16 -0500
Subject: New recommendation

I just stumbled across your page today and must admit that I was not only
intrigued (I'm an avid reader and book lover myself) but appreciative of some
of your comments as well. I would like to recommend a great sci fi writer
whom I think is worth mentioning. His name is Samuel R. Delany, and he wrote
Dhalgren (which I'm reading now - a long book that defies explanation - but
he's got a very unique writing style), Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of
Sand, The Einstein Intersection, and some others. I haven't come across too
many people who have heard of or read Delany, and I'm pretty surprised. I
found most of his books in used bookstores and that's probably where you
would have to go if you're interested in obtaining them. 
Marlene (my email address is MBS13@aol.com, if you wish to respond)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Alicia L Mowlai-ashtiani 
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 17:33:14 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Donaldson...

I just read your review of the Thomas Covenant series.  It's nice to see 
that I'm not the only one that feels that way about the series.  Those 
are the only books that I've read so many times that I've lost count...

Tell me...have you ever heard of a mailing list dedicated to the 
discussion of the set?  There's a discussion group for d*mned near 
everything else in the world, so there must be one for this.  If not, do 
you know if there are many people that would enjoy discussing it?  I 
already own several successful lists and adding one more (especially one 
that I *really* want myself) wouldn't be much problem...but there's no 
point in a duplication of effort if there's already one...and no point in 
making one if there's no interest.

I could discuss Covenant endlessly, myself.  God knows, Donaldson has 
given people enough to work with...  Let me know about any on-line 
resourses you may happen to know about whenever you get the chance.

Alicia
mowlaial@ucunix.san.uc.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: rells@phoenix.net
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 22:53:34 +0000
Subject: More Simmons Books

Something to keep an eye out for -- You may recall Simmons' "Summer of Night" 
This book, although King-ish, is only the basis of books to follow, each one 
taking the story of one of the children from summer into adulthood.

"Children of the Night" follows one of the children who becomes a priest, and 
battle with vampires in Romania after the fall of communism.  Also, "Fires of 
Eden" follows Cordie Stumpf (another of the kids from "Summer") and her 
adventures in Hawaii fighting the local deities' attempt to take back the 
islands.

The real treat of these books is that they weave in remarkably strong new 
characters, while giving only a glimpse of other characters from the original 
tale.  The first book seems to be a seed from which these other books grow.

Also, the sequel to the "Hyperion" books is out in hardcover -- "Endymion" 
(excuse the incorrect spelling).

I thought you'd like to know of these new Simmons books out there!

Robert H. Ellsworth
Webster, TX

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 09:35:49 -0600
From: Brian Burgner 
Subject: black company as usual

more news from me

i keep telling you about the Black Company page i'm working on so i 
figured i  would send you the address so you could check 
it out if you're interested at all

http://www.cen.uiuc.edu/~burgner/blackco.html

if you have any suggestions or comments, please e-mail me

brian burgner

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kevin Symonds 
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 96 07:07:01 0000
Subject: Mirror Image by Tom Clancy

The web pages are great.

Just one point.  Mirror Image is NOT written by Tom Clancy.
He contributed some ideas towards it but he didn't write it.
But you are right about Clancy's books being better the longer they are

It's now 5 past 7 in the morning and I've been on this computer since 
12.25am.  I'd better get some sleep better I get down to some revision

Kevin Symonds

Personal:  http://www.aber.ac.uk/~kms4
Click Magazine:  http://www.aber.ac.uk/~ednwww/Click/click.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Privalova, Tat'yana" 
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 96 11:13:00 EST
Subject: Robert Sheckley--don't you know him?

Hi

I'd like to recommend to you the science-fiction writer Robert Sheckley.
His short stories are brilliant. He is quite popular in Russia where I am 
from, and I wonder what it is not the same in the U.S.

If you want to reply, then use the address below, because my stupid e-mail 
system often gives the wrong one:

tatyana.privalova@tri-c.cc.oh.us

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: James Park 
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 14:12:12 -0500
Subject: Hello...

I just wanted to comment on how much I enjoyed your page. (I even put a 
link on it from my own home page; I hope you don't mind. If you do, I'll 
take it off.)

I've commented on a lot of the same books that you have, and our 
reactions to some of them are very similar, I think.  I don't know 
if you have time to visit or not, but the url for the books section is 
http://www.amherst.edu/~jhpark/books.html. I don't give as much detail in 
talking about books as you do, which is one reason why I'm including your 
page as a link from mine.

Well, anyway, nice to see you.

				--James

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: smith clayton drew 
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 18:22:06 -0800 (PST)
Subject: BooKs and More BOOKS

Hi my name is Clayton Smith and I was wondering if you could possibly 
sudjest a few series of fantasy books that I would find interesting that you
 really liked. My favrite author is Raymond E Fiest, author of the riftwar
 saga. I read your comment on what you thought of the books and to answer your 
question -------I think the books get better, especially with Janny 
Wurts. So I hope you give them a read and also get back to me. 

Oh ya I have also read Stephen R Donaldson's stuff and I liked it ...so 
since it looks like you like the same stuff I thought you could sudjest 
something.

Good reading 
Clayton Smith

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Catherine Osborne 
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 13:20:44 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Just finished reading your books page...

Or part of it anyway ;)

I wanted to throw in a few comments/recommendations:

First, Robert Jordan (just kidding. Never gotten into his books.)

On a more serious note, some authors you might want to check out are 
Mercedes Lackey (right now) and Janny Wurts (after the series is finished 
;)

Lackey has this thing where she does trilogies which are interlinked, but 
stand alone, so you don't have to wait for the next one unless you read 
the current trilogy ;) The most highly-recommended one is The Last 
Herald-Mage Trilogy (*Magic's Pawn*, *Magic's Promise*, and *Magic's 
Price*). They're pure fantasy (don't involve technology at all, use a lot 
of magic -- I like to tell my friends that I'm into horse books, not 
spaceship ones ;) OTOH, they're *very* well-written.

Janny Wurts is currently writing a very creative series called The Wars 
of Light and Shadow. It begins with *Curse of the Mistwraith*. It and the 
second one are out in paperback, and there are three more projected (she 
has said that after that, she is absolutely not spinning out the series.)

Finally, Pamela Dean's *Tam Lin* has my highest recommendation of all. 
It's a lovely modernist retelling of the Scottish ballad, with 
beautifully (and occasionally scarily) drawn characters and a great plot. 
Enough adjectives? ;)

Hope I haven't been too repetitive; I tried scanning through your mail to 
check on other's comments, but it just got to be too much ;)

Walk in peace,

I\/  Catherine Osborne                    "After great pain,
I\/  Sundancer                            a formal feeling comes."  
I    cosborne@sidwell.edu                       --Emily Dickinson
I    http://www.sidwell.edu/~cosborne/              

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Marc J. Wagoner" 
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 96 00:32:55 -0600
Subject: Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever

Mr. Ingram,

I just thought that I'd drop this line to thank you for your words on the 
internet about The First and Second Chronicles.  They brought back a lot of 
memories of the story I read (at least) seven years ago while in grade school.  
Since reading this story I have tried and tried to recommend it to anyone I have
met who enjoys the fantasy/scifi genre.  Moreover, your words on what we have 
read have aroused in me a strong desire to re-read the series just as you have 
so many times.  I'm quite sure that I'll understand much about it that I 
obviously could not have gotten at such a young age when I first read it.  
Nevertheless, I do think your insights on it are well said. I do particularly 
remember being severly rattled by that early rape scene.  I also remember 
promising myself not to put the book down.  I'm glad I made that promise; this 
series remains in my memory much more clearly than the other "big" series I have
read (e.g. Asimov, Tolkien, Brooks, some by Anthony, etc.)

Let me say, also, that if there is anyone who has influenced my own writing 
(poetry/prose actually) it would have to be Donaldson.  Have you read the 
chapter that was excerpted from the original series and published later in a 
book of short stories?  And how about this new Gap series?  What do you think? 
Or have you already answered that question elsewhere in the Internet, where I 
haven't looked yet?

It's good to know that I'm not the only Donaldson fan out there.  Thanks.

Marc J. Wagoner

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Tyson Vaughan 
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 96 01:25:39 0600
Subject: The Annals of the Black Company

Doug --

I found your page when I ran a search for Glen Cook's Black Company 
series. It was a favorite of mine when I first read it (the first three) 
some 8 years ago or so. I recently finished re-reading it, and I liked 
it even better this time. I thought that having gone through Stanford 
University as an English major might somehow make the shortcomings of 
the series start to glare, but in fact I am even more impressed by 
Cook's work. Absolutely one of my favorites. 

There are works of fantasy which are considered great in that genre 
because they execute the conventions of the genre so well, and maybe 
even stretch the edges of th genre. But I think the Black Company 
doesn't just stretch the genre; it transcends it. It is simply good 
fiction, good literature.

Anyway, I thought I'd say hello to a fellow fan of the Annals.

Can you tell me what the current status of the second trilogy is? And 
whether any of the books (including the firs three) are still in print? 
You indicated that they are, but I haven't been able to find them 
anywhere. Perhaps I should contact Tor? I found their website.

later,
Tyson Vaughan
tv@epsno.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Chuck Collins 
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 03:34:37 -0500

Howdy Doug.

Nice web page.=20

Can I suggest that you add a section about SF artists?  I think there =
are some quite amazing art works done for SF.=20

Have you ever read any of Robert Aspirin's MYTH books? The reason I ask =
is that you have Steven Brust as one of your fav authors and I find a =
lot of simularity between the Myth books and the Taltos books. Same type =
of humour even if not the same theme. Check them out.

I've been reading the Donaldson 'Gap' series as it has been coming out =
in paperback. You are in for a treat. By far the best he has done. =
Donaldson is my fav author.=20

Keep up the good work. I'm adding your page to my hotlist.=20

-Chuck

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: tv@epsno.com (Tyson Vaughan)
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 12:47:04 -0600
Subject: Re: The Annals of the Black Company

Doug,

According to Tor, "Bleak Seasons" -- the first installment of "The
Glittering Stone" -- will be out in a couple months.  Hopefully there's
some substance to that.

Thought I'd pass it along.

______________________________________________________________________
Tyson Vaughan      http://www.epsno.com/tvhome.html       tv@epsno.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ZMNT02A@prodigy.com ( ERIC KNIFFIN)
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 16:45:07 EST
Subject: Lord Mhoram's Victory

Doug,
Hi.  My name is Eric Kniffin, and I'm a fellow fan of The Chronicles. 
I'm pretty new to web-surfing, and was delighted to see mentions of 
The Land.  I'm writing because I'm on a quest.  For years, I've been 
trying to get someone to paint me "Lord Mhoram's Victory" (I won't 
insult you by describing the painting and where it was mentioned, as 
though you wouldn't know what I'm talking about.)  I've never heard 
of anyone having painted it, although it seems like a natural.  I 
mean, they mention a painting, so some painter should paint it, right?
  Personally, I could not paint a stick-figure of a human to save my 
life.  The few people who claim to be able to paint have not read the 
books.  So, I'm stuck.  If you know of anyone who has painted it, or 
could do it, I'd be grateful.  Of course, I'd be willing to pay for 
it.  
Thanks for whatever you can do.
Eric

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: 70004.3055@compuserve.com
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 23:32:57 -0500
Subject: Commendation

Doug,

I would like to commend you on a wonderful page. I have read over 500
science fiction novels and after reading through your reviews I would have
to agree with almost everyone of your reviews. All of your reviews are
very well thought out and informative. The only review I would greatly differ
with is Gregory Benford's series which I thought was absolute garbage.

I just finished Endymion by Dan Simmons and it is my recommendation that
you suspend your practice of waiting till books come out in paperback and
purchase this book at your next earliest convenience. The book is
a more than worthy continuation to my favorite series in science fiction.

Another suggestion is the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove. On par
with the scope and schemes on the Dune or Foundation saga. Set in a
detailed and "foreign" future.

                                   keep up the good work,

                                                               Darren 
                                                         
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: vpasc@nji.com
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 18:25:56 -0800
Subject: covenant

...series, I would be the first to get a copy.  I really don't think he 
matured in his writing, but changed it a little.  If he were to do the 
new Covenant series, I really hope he would change back into his old 
style.
	About him as an author, I think he is a genius.  He thinks of 
things on such a deep level, and so many things, like the feelings of 
everyone in a group, at the same time, I think anyone who would try to 
emulate it would get a headache.  His ideas are very unique.  I think he 
is one of the best authors ever.  However, that is just my biased 
opinion.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: vpasc@nji.com
Subject: Donaldson

I am glad to hear of someone else who likes this Donaldson's work.  I 
agree with you almost one-hundred percent about what you wrote in the 
Covenant revue.  	
	I told my friend that Lord Foul's Bane was the best book I have 
ever read, this is true, and when I lent it to him to read he got the 
same response you described.  He hated it and didn't finsh it.  
Personally, I think even given not everyone would like this, I think my 
friend judged it too harshly, too soon.  He only got up the end of 
Chapter 1 when he decided it wasn't "fantasy" enough.  
	I do, however, disagree with you on a few issues.  I do NOT think 
that Donaldson's writing is at all flowery.  His description of the Land 
is not at all over-extensive, however, you might think that about his 
detail on emotions.  I found the detail given to feelings more important 
than anything else, except the characters.  In fact, that detail is what 
got me hooked on his work.  It is the reason I think the Chronicles are 
the best books I have ever read.  His attention to detail overall, land 
and emotions, are nothing compared to Tolkien's description of the land. 
 I don't hear many critics of Tolkien's work depict it in a bad way, and 
his work, in my opinion, is totally shallow and pointless in comparison 
to Donaldson's.  I read Tolkien's work and liked it very much, but it is 
nothing compared to Donaldson's.
	Second, I disagree with you in that his new work is better than 
his old.  I think he was by far better in the Chronicles.  I must admit, 
I was slightly disappointed in the Second Chronicles, but that was short 
lived.  While it was in no way better, it was about equal with a few more 
"flowery" items.  I have read the first in his Gap series, but didn't 
find it as good as the Chronicles.  If ever he were to do another 
Covenant...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Roy Stanton 
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 96 12:21:38 -0800
Subject: Stephen Donaldson & the "Gap" series

Had 5 minutes to kill so dropped this note.....

How can you bear waiting for the complete series in paperback??!!
Assuming you have yet to read any of the series,.........
..
Inasmuch as The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant introduced a writer
capable of weilding symbols and powerful images like spears, the "Gap"
series shows us Donaldson's astounding ability to blend the best elements
of the psychological thriller with cutting-edge S.F.

Deeply-developed plot, strong and evolutionary characters, exquisitely-
detailed worlds and a flair for the "human condition" underpin this
excellent Sci-Fi Thriller.   A must for all Donaldson or Sci-Fi buffs.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "GRINDSTAFF, KEVIN A." 
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 09:47:51 -0800
Subject: FANTASY BOOKS

It would not be right of me to read and agree with your library welcome 
page and not make a recomendation or two of my own.  Two of my favorite 
authors are ANNE McCAFFREY and RAYMOND E. FEIST.  McCaffrey's stories 
about her world of Pern are captivating in their cross use of sci-fi and 
fantasy.  She also is great at making the characters seem familiar.  This 
trait is shared by Feist in his RIFT WAR, EMPIRE, and SERPANT WAR series. 
 Whenever I find a new book by either of these people that deals with 
these worlds, I usually become worthless to anyone else until I have 
finished reading them.  Try these sometime and if you like JORDON and 
DONELSON you will not be disappointed.

Kevin Grindstaff

P.S.  Try yard sales and flea markets for rare books.  A few years ago I 
picked up limited edition copies of LORD FOULSBANE and THE ILLEARTH WAR, 
both for less than a dollar. 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Neal Myerson 
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 96 19:12:47 -0500
Subject: Death Gate Series

After reading all of the recommendations for this series, I 
also gave it a shot. I have read all of W&H other books, and I 
remembered starting this series when it first came out. I 
thought the first too books a were abominable. I can't believe 
they brought back a character from a previous series 
(Fizban=Zifnab) and then rely on other world humor. I kept 
saying the series would get better and it did. I though the 6th 
book and the 3/4 of the seventh book were good. But otherwise I 
though the series was a letdown. Very little in the series was 
new or shocking.

Overall I though it was a letdown. 

Neal

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rlposs@rand.nidlink.com Wed Jan 31 23:24:20 1996
Subject: comments i.e. Wheel of Time and Timothy Zahn

        I read your comment about not reading a series until the whole thing
is in paperback.  That is a rather wise decision.  In my case the Wheel of
Time is the series that is teaching me the same thing Donaldson?? taught
you.  Robert Jordan's Epic the Wheel of Time promises to be an excellent
series.  Each book I have read so far is *superb*.  However, I agree that
you should wait and read it when it is completed.
        I like stories of Epic proportions, but on the opposite coin,
waiting for them to be completed is a torture to both the pocketbook and the
psyche.

     Another author I would like to mention, that you should mention in your
listings is Timothy Zahn.  Yes, I know you've listed him already for that
Star Wars trilogy...but...  Star Wars is something that can overshadow too
much about an author.
     His most recent work the Conqueror Trilogy promises to be one of the
best Sci-Fi series in a long time.  It is not perfect, but what written work
can be.  Wait a year and give it a try.  It's worth reading, if you like
Sci-Fi that is.

     By the way.  About the Wheel of Time.  I thank you for not reading it
early, and then giving it an opinion it may not deserve.
     Some guy on a Newsgroup was really pissing me off, because he read the
first book (The Eye of The World) and then promptly began complaining about
how unoriginal the characters were.  HE hadn't READ even a TENTH of the
series, but he felt certain he could pass judgement on it.
     I will gladly debate with someone who reads the whole series, when it
is fully written.  Or has at least read as much as I have.

     For good or bad, no one should have too strong of an opinion until they
know what the *hell* they're talking about.  At least I wish my roommate
would follow this advice...
Ryan L. Poss
rlposs@nidlink.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From RFBB@myna.com Sat Feb  3 18:46:32 1996
Subject: re: book reviews.

I've greatly enjoyed your reviews.  Try Tad Williams for
high-fantasy, if you don't mind a long series!
Also good reads; Robert Sawyer-----End of an Era
                 Stewart Gordon----Archon
                 Fred. Pohl--------World at the end of Time

Take Care!!

R.F.Briggs

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Cory_Broadfoot_at_NOTES__DIRECTORY@wadsworth.com Thu Feb  8 08:28:42 1996
Subject: Orson Scott Card

  Have you ever read A Planet Called Treason?  It is aslo quite good,
  though again, not as good as Ender's Game You should give it a shot.
  
  --Cory

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From RFBB@myna.com Fri Feb  9 08:40:48 1996
Subject: New book recommondation.

Just finished "Sideshow" by Sheri S. Tepper, and I highly 
recommend it.  Strong 3-d characters, thrashing about in 
search of identity, love, dragons, gods, and the answer to 
"The Great Question".  Satire, pathos, political parallels, 
everything a fan of speculative sci-fi demands!!!  Prepare 
to lose yourself in this one.

Take Care!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From checkman@du.edu Wed Feb 14 19:50:59 1996
Subject: Books to read

For a really good non-fiction read, try Richard Rhodes. _The Making of 
the Atomic Bomb_.  His newer _Dark Sun, The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb_ 
is ok but the first is the best history I have read on the subject.  Not 
only does it cover the science but also looks at the people.

Keep it up.  Love the reviews.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From al@powergrid.electriciti.com Thu Feb 15 00:11:44 1996
Subject: another author for your collection

I adore your taste in authors.  David Brin, Greg Bear, Ray Feist, are all 
friends of mine and all come from San Diego.  I also admire, follow and 
idolize Richard Feynmann, so you and I seem to see eye to eye (also on 
other authors).  I would like to suggest you read Mark Clements books.  I 
think his best is Children of the END now in paperback.  Its wonderful.  His 
newest is the easiest to find I suppose, its called Land of Nod.  Great stuff.  
He's one of our local heros, too.  I think he's actually a good deal better 
writer than David -- at least at first.  I haven't read his newest stuff.  
Anyway, give Mark a try.  I'm sure he'll join the others.  Don't Panic.  
Alijandra Mogilner

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ifoggo@ibl.bm Thu Feb 15 21:01:45 1996

hello, just got to see your page, sofar it looks good.
thought I would recomend the book Use of Weapons by Iain Banks.
I quite enjoyed it.
any way, good reading and hope you enjoyed it.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dgoldrin@on.bell.ca Fri Feb 16 13:48:10 1996
Subject: Re: Review of _The_Death_Gate_Cycle_ by Weis & Hickman

In article  you wrote:
:                            The Death Gate Cycle
:                      by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
:                  Review copyright (c) 1996 by Doug Ingram
: 
: [Bibliographic information at the end of the article.]
: 
: 	My last experience with the Very Long Fantasy genre, Jennifer
: Roberson's _Chronicles_of_the_Cheysuli_ (see my previous review on the Web
: at the URL http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/books.html), left me
: wondering if any author might be capable of holding a reader's interest over
: 7 or 8 books.  That series, while it had an extremely promising beginning,

You're a braver person than I.  I gave up after book two.
If you're looking for a long (but good) fantasy series, try
Louise Cooper's 'Indigo' series.  (Not her trilogies, rather the
six (?) volume series including Infanta, Troika, Revenant etc.)

Good reading!

Dmitri Goldring
ao199@freenet.carleton.ca

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rasvats@ccnet.com Fri Feb 16 15:19:54 1996
Subject: books

An interesting page, I will be back. rex
You might think about
LeGuin, Lathe of Heaven
Burroughs, 1st three Mars books
Matheson, I am Legend
Abraham Merrett

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From "ELC111::MCWHORTE"@ecc4.ateng.az.honeywell.com Mon Feb 19 08:42:28 1996
Subject: I liked you SF/Fan page! Very Informative

Doug,

Like the subject says, I think your Book Reviews are great.
One author that you don't have listed but I enjoved very much
is Dave Duncan.  Read his triogy starting with the first book,
The Reluctant Swordsman.  You liked Larwence Watt-Evans books
and Duncan's writings are simaliar. Don't expect high fantasy, 
instead expect an easy reading enjoyable story.

Duncan's writing are a cross between Orson Scott Cards great 
storytelling and Watt-Evans light heartedness. 

Enjoy,
Steve McWhorter
MCWHORTE@eccx.ateng.az.Honeywell.COM

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From brassdog2@whidbey.com Mon Feb 19 11:09:18 1996

	I have a reccomendation for you.  There is a series of books which I 
call the "Myth" book series.  This series is written by Robert Asprin 
and includes about 6 books with more on the way.  It's a great series 
and it's very humorous.  The entire series is in paperback, so no 
problems there.  If you do end up reading any of the books, write me to 
let me know what you thought of them.  The address is probably on 
thisdocument already, but I'm at brassdog@whidbey.com. Enjoy!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From TLRW69B@prodigy.com Tue Feb 20 10:03:16 1996
Subject: Steven Brust error

In the Taltos writeup, you stated that "you can't recommend them too 
highly" but then you stated (about the Taltos books) "get them. 
Period.".  I can only assume that what you meant to say in the first 
statement was "I can't recommend them highly enough" or something 
like that.  The other meaning is not a good recommendation.

BTW, I agree with your assessment, even though the newer Taltos books 
aren't as action oriented, the political and societal meanderings are 
fantastic.  Of course, this might drive off the teen reader.  Perhaps 
that is why Turow  sells more, though I've never read him.  

Enjoyed your bios....keep up the good work.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From lundy.13@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Tue Feb 20 17:15:10 1996
Subject: TC's Mirror Image

I just thought that you might like to know that, rest assured, 
Op-Center's Mirror Image is
NOT a real Tom Clancy book.  It only uses his name to sell books.  
It was really written by a 
ghostwriter named Jeff Rovin, who is credited as having 
"invaluable contributions t the 
creation of the manuscript."  If you want the real indepth 
scoop about it, including comments 
for TC himself, look up the FAQ to alt.books.tom-clancy.  
I hope that this sets your mind at 
ease about the future quality of TC books.  
By the way, sometime this summer, he will be 
releasing Executice Orders, apparently another of the Jack Ryan series.  

Deron T. Lundy
lundy.13@osu.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From RFBB@myna.com Wed Feb 21 19:29:44 1996
Subject: Some book comments

Thought I'd send along some brief notes on a couple of 
books I recently finished.

1. Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said --- by Philip K.Dick

   Written in 1974, this is the story of a TV celeb who 
wakes up unknown and ID.-less in a policestate 1988 USA.  
The characters range from hedonistic to down right mentally 
unstable and their futures are as barren as the city scapes 
they're painted against. If you enjoy mind bender, sex and 
drugs stories you'll love this one.

2. The Magic of Recluse --- by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

   Even a different approach can't save this high fantasy 
adventure from it's snail pace.  Too bad, there was lots of 
potential here!!

Take Care!

??? The good reading guide you provide, is it updated 
regularly and if so how can one add comments to it???

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From magsig@acuson.com Thu Feb 22 16:48:08 1996
Subject: Your library

I like your library page very much. Nice terse descriptions and 
recommendations. Since I noticed that our tastes seem to run in
parallel, I'm going to give you a strong recommendation in contradiction
to what many have told you.

  Don't read the Wheel of Time books.

They start out just fine, but by the time you're into the fourth book
it's like eating a meal of pure fiber - no nutritive value whatsoever.
His character development dies off around book three and settles into
a somewhat juvenile approach to human relationships. It's not very often
that I start a series that I don't finish, but I gave up on this one.

Since I don't see them on your list, I am going to recommend the
Julian May books:

  The Many Colored Land
  The Nonborn King
  (some title I can't remember here)
  The Adversary

  Intervention
  Metaconcert

  Jack The Bodiless
  Diamond Mask
  Magnificat

The first and second set of books is in paperback. The last set is
not yet completely available in paperback. All three series are related,
but stand pretty solidly on their own. Wait, I take that back. Set 2
dovetails directly into set 3 - so I suppose they're more like a 5
book series.

I have more than 100 paperbacks. I've given away or traded many hundreds
more. I have only two sets of books in hard bound edition: The Dark Is Rising
sequence by Susan Cooper and the last three Julian May books. That's how
much I've enjoyed these books. I strongly recommend them.

Pete

P.S. I'm writing from work. That's bad. Please reply to magsig@best.com.
(I must now get back to creating medical ultrasound software)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From byrnemi@iprolink.ch Fri Feb 23 01:51:16 1996
Subject: Homepage

Hi Doug,

Just thought I'd let you know that I visited your homepage after seeing the
review of the Death Gate Cycle in RABR and it is excellent.  

We have very similar tastes in books and when I have read all of your
reviews, maybe I can come up with some suggested reading.

We also share a common favourite author ie Steven Donaldson who I think is
the best fantasy and now Sci-fi author around.  I must agree with your
comments on waiting for all of the books in a series to be released before
starting though.  

I am at the moment going mad waiting on book 5 of the gap series.  As a
Donaldson fan I think I can state that you will definitely not be
disappointed with the Gap series when you finally read it.  Its similar to
other Donaldson books in that in my opinion the sci-fi setting is secondary
to the plot and interaction between the characters.  It is similar to
Mordants need in that there are so many sub-plots and double-crosses that
you really dont know what any of the characters underlying motives are.
Even now as I await book 5 I have so many questions that need answering.  

BTW do you have any idea if Donaldson has started book5 yet or when it will
be out.  Please dont say it will be in 1997...........

They are trampling the infidels with hooves of hot iron.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From oneilc96@sequent1.providence.edu Fri Feb 23 08:29:55 1996

Hey there,

I just want to let you know that I appreciate your reviewing Weis and 
Hickman's Death Gate cycle. These two authors have never gotten very much 
critical attention at all, while lesser writers like David Eddings have. 
Even though you had some complaints, its nice to see that the authors who 
got me interested in the fantasy genre are being noticed by someone. I 
disagree with your review on only one point, in that the many minor 
storylines encountered by the protagonist were trivial and useless. While 
they were not related to the main plotline of the series per se, they 
were related thematically. Every book began with a quote, and the 
situations in that book were meant to illustrate that quote, while on a 
larger scale every quote applied to the series as a whole. It's too bad 
you missed that. I'm very big on themes.
I would seriously recommend to you that you take some time to go back and 
read Weis and Hickman's previous (and much better) works, which were 
never published in hardcover. The Rose of the Prophet Trilogy is by far 
their best and most entertaining work. The Darksword Trilogy is slow 
compared to action-adventure books but is good, sophisticated 
stroytelling. Even the old Dragonlance Books from TSR are alot of fun- 
many fans feel that the Dragonlance Chronicles are second only to 
Tolkien (they are very derivative of Tolkien, but updated for a post-Star 
Wars generation).
Meanwhile, the book I just finished was Laura Kalpakian's sequel to Les 
Miserables, Cosette. I would recommend it, though most critics ignored it 
(except for Entertainment Weekly, which ripped it apart). It was much 
better than Ripley's sequel to Gone With the Wind. Kalpakian, unlike 
RIpley, does not try to imitate the style of the original author. It's a 
good historical reading.
Well, that's all. I'll keep in touch. THis is a pretty good web page- 
reviews of both Michael Cricton's Jurassic Park and Susan Faludi's 
Backlash in the same place! 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From magsig@best.com Sat Feb 24 17:34:34 1996
Subject: Re: Your library

Hello once again,

Just thought I'd let you know that a new Glen Cook book is due out
in April. I called my local bookstore and they said it is called "Bleak 
Season". I believe that this is what "Glittering Stone" turned into.
The scuttlebut on the web is that he has signed up to do at least two
more Black Company books. From what I can glean from the interview
I read, it sounds like he's splitting Glittering Stone into two books.

Pete

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From mgenne@merlin.ladue.k12.mo.us Tue Feb 27 13:55:51 1996
Subject: Steven Brust

Doug, I enjoyed your page, and will return.

Some comments about Steven Brust.  Though Brust is my favorite novelist, I
recognize that what fires me up may not do the same for another reader with
an equally valid opinion.  But I hope to persuade you to see Brust not just
as a good storyteller, but as one of the most skilled stylists working
today.

Brust strikes me as a master of syntax, mood, and nuance.  The Khaavren
romances, for example, are a sensational melange of homage and gentle
parody.  His "Paarfi" persona, and the conversation that Brust writes
between "Paarfi" and "Brust" is one of the most subtle self-examinations
I've ever read from an author, a far cry from, for example, the plodding
and sentimental Author's Notes at the end of Piers Anthony novels.

Look at Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" and compare it to any
given conversation between Vlad and Cawti; Billy and Souci; Pel, Tazendra,
Aerich, and Khaavren; or Satan and Michael.  (In fact, this kind of
dialogue-driven plot is the key to appreciating To Reign in Hell.  It took
me a few tries to enjoy it, and I would no more read it every day than read
Milton every day, but it is masterfully done.  Have another look sometime,
if only to appreciate the tragic irony.)  But I digress.  Brust, like
Hemingway, invests in his dialogue a thoroughly modern voice, taking time
to edit the obvious signposts, leaving only the meat of the conversation.
A challenge for the reader, but aah, the reward!

By the way, if you want to read an author who does with setting and mood
what Brust does with dialogue and mood, read Tam Lin by Brust's compatriot
Pamela Dean.

So I must take exception with your review of Cowboy Feng's.  It's got some
of Brust's snappiest dialogue yet-very highly quotable.

I just may write back later.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Matt Genn=E9

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jbrake@umich.edu Mon Mar  4 10:48:52 1996
Subject: Dragonbone Chair

I'm sure you're enjoying that one... I really did.

I just wanted to agree with you about the Jordan thing.  I'm actually 
reading the 6th book right now, because I friend told me the series was 
done and I started reading not knowing it wasn't finished.  I'm sure 
you'll enjoy it once it's out though...  (who knows how many more are 
forthcoming though...)

jbrake@umich.edu

ps -- I'm glad I found your page, I'll
be checking out a couple of those books
for sure... I started reading Chronicles
of the Unbeliever, but got really pissed
off when Covenant raped that girl, is he
an asshole or is the series really worth
reading???

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jenber95@astud.chalmers.se Fri Mar  8 03:54:50 1996
Subject: Just dropping by.

        Hi Doug!
   I just wanted to thank you for the review you did on the Covenant
chronicles. It was good reading, and I just passed it on to some of my
friends who haven't read any of Donaldsons books - yet. (unfortunately, I'm
not very good at persuading) 
        
   Ha en bra dag! (=Have a nice day)

                /Jenny Berggrund.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From barish@eglin.af.mil Fri Mar  8 13:25:15 1996
Subject: Correction about Anvil of Stars

Let me preface my comment by saying I really enjoyed your pages.  
However, I found an inconsistency in the section on Anvil of Stars.  
While the moral question you asked is in fact addressed in the book, you 
must remember the race that the Ship destroyed was not innocent.  At the 
center of their world was found a host of  the world killing machines, 
just after it was destroyed!  

Still, a great book and a great website.

Kudos!
Farstrider

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From catty@magna.com.au Sat Mar  9 07:39:02 1996
Subject: Books..(well, what else?)

Well, what can I say? Nice list you have compiled..I found the link
through Flint, from Ancient Anguish. (http://ancient.anguish.com/flint).

I thought I would send you a few of my recommendations (if you ever get
the time to read them :).

Peter F. Hamilton

A fantastic British SF author. Quite cyberpunk..he has written several books:
Mindstar Rising, A Quantum Murder, The Nano Flower, and has just released
The Reality Dysfunction, which I am yet to obtain. These books are seriously
good, and if you read nothing else from my list, pls. look at one of The Nano 
Flower.

Greg Egan

An Australian SF author. He can get technical enough to make your head spin,
but has plots and ideas to really make you think. Look at Permutation City
and Quarantine. He has recently released 2 more which I am yet to read.
(I wish I made more money *sigh*).

Martin Millar

On a different theme. He is a contemporary English writer. Rather dark humour,
very amusing, and probably best described as "grunge".
Look for 'Lux the Poet' as a start. Short books that you can finish
in one sitting.

Terry Pratchet

Yes, I know you have read some of the Discworld series, but have a look
at the book he wrote with Neil Gaman (apparently better know for his
work with graphic novels) called 'Good Omens'. A satire of the coming
of the anti-christ. His most humorous work so far, and doesn't need a
grounding in english culture to get all the hidden references and jokes.


Well, just my favourites. Hope you can enjoy some of them too. If
you do read any of them, pls. let me know what you think, i love to
hear what others think of the books i enjoy :).

BTW, if you are a mudder and haven't tried it or are already on it,
join us on AA, ancient.anguish.org 2222.

Regards,

Catty (Liam).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From HFSDP@aol.com Sun Mar 10 12:17:15 1996
Subject: Magic of Recluse Novels

Have you read/are you planning to read any of L. E. Modest's Recluse books?
  They look interesting, yet I am about 15 books behind (currently reading
_Ender's Game_ and _Live and Let Die_).  A good word, or a bad one, from you
or some other person who has read these books will tell whether or not to
place them on my list.

Thanks
Scotty

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From stryker@netgate.net Sun Mar 10 17:19:14 1996
Subject: Books you many enjoy, sir

Hi, my name is Krishna Sampath. I enjoy reading, but I am 15, so I have a 
lot of schoolwork, and can only read about a half-hour a day, so it 
usually takes me a week to finish a book...It'll take me a while to get 
through all the books you have reviewed, so I won't be able to thank you 
for recommending the best series I have ever read, or anything...yet.

These are some books I have read, which I think you may enjoy.
I don't know if you have read them or not, but I didn't see any reviews 
on them...so...

If you have time, I hope you will check them out.

A series by Weis and Hickman: The Darksword Trilogy, about a young man 
named Joram, born without magic in a world where magic is Life, and those 
without magic are considered Dead and cast out. I found the ending of the 
series to be surprising. I hadn't expected what actually happened.
I read this recently, and it started me going for the Death Gate cycle.
	1) Forging the Darksword
	2) Doom of the Darksword
	3) Triumph of the Darksword

A series by Robert Asprin: the "Myth" series. This I recommend if you 
want a laugh; it is not intended as heavy fantasy. It cocerns a young 
sorceror's apprentice, Skeeve, who finds himself in trouble time and time 
again, but managing somehow to come out on top. He becomes a court 
magician, mainly through trickery, and eventually founds a magic 
business, in which he and his friends do some heroic deed or another.
Again, this is intended for a few laughs, and most of the books are 
geared towards that, although they are interesting...not as funny as 
Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy, but still pretty good.
	1) Another Fine Myth
	2) Myth Conceptions
	3) Hit or Myth
	4) Myth-ing Persons
	5) Little Myth Marker
	6) M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link
	7) Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections
	8) Myth Directions
	9) M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action

A book by Robert Heinlein: Citizen of the Galaxy. This is about Thorby, 
who travels around the Galaxy aboard a large spaceship, after being a 
beggar's son. This is the best Heinlein book I have read, and the second 
best one is next.

The other one: Tunnel in the Sky. This is about a futuristic survival 
class's final exam gone awry. Stranded on an unknown planet, a group of 
teenagers must survive, using survival skills they have learned in a 
class.

Richard Adams: Waterhship Down. An allegory about society, represented by 
a group of rabbits. I read this first in 4th grade, and I have read this 
more times than any other book I own, because it's simple, yet I still 
like it.

A series David Eddings: the Elenium. This is about Sparhawk, a Pandian 
Knight. Deals with gods, trolls, knights, and all that good stuff. I 
realize you don't like Eddings, but I had to put it down anyways, because 
it's different from the Belgariad and the Mallorian.

Thanks for your time. :)

		-Krishna Sampath

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From hconard@skidmore.EDU Mon Mar 11 18:51:51 1996
Subject: read this book

A book that I think you should read is Lords Of The Sky by Angus Wells.
reply to AllenRulz@aol.com please, not the adress on the top

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From STUSPRAT@ACS.EKU.EDU Thu Mar 14 08:53:38 1996
Subject: Check out this book.

The book is by J.V Jones. It's called "Baker's Boy" It's the first in a trilogy.
It's a very good book.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From sheik@coventry.ac.uk Fri Mar 15 16:29:57 1996
Subject: Greetings Doug,

-- Hi!  I have just found your homepage and read a selection of reviews.
I have to say that I really agree with virtually everything I've read
so far.  I would like to suggest that you read the Drenai saga by David
Gemmell - heroic fantasy at its best in my opinion with heavy emphasis
on honour and courage but in a grim style that I really appreciate after
something like Eddings.
 
  I don't know anything about the reputation of Jordan fans in America but 
have to say that I thoroughly regret the 6Uk pounds that I shelled out on
the first `wheel' book. It is one of the few books that I have never
finished reading - I found it tedious in the extreme. Jordan suffers from
the worst kind of fantasy anal retentiveness in my humble opinion.  

  Thanks to your review I intend to check out Greg Bears `songs' series as
soon as possible - thanks!

  I also found Wyrd Sisters by Pratchet something of a disappointment.
However, if you are still searching for the five best then I would urge
you to read Pyramids.  From the admittedly rough idea I have of your 
tastes I would imagine that you too will dissolve into hysterics when
Teppic attempts his "Assassins Test"

  The only review I disagree with is the cyberpunk series by Gibson. The books
as you say were classics and mould breaking but I found the writing style 
original and daring.  I suppose that by choosing that style he would 
inevitably alienate some of his readers.  I am just gutted that Keanu Reaves
and Dolph Lundgren were cast in Johnny Mnemonic - a class short story but no
doubt ruined in this holywood version.

	Regards for now, I will put a link to your page in my own soon,

		/\rrow

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From lthsad@northstar.k12.ak.us Tue Mar 19 09:36:51 1996

What do you mean terry brooks is a rip off of tolkien?  There are so 
many books with the same kind of sword and sorcery plots. Besides, 
terry brooks kept me more interested in his books than tolkien did in 
the hobbit and the lord of the rings. I don't know why everybody 
thinks he's such a great writer.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ATPLUS@ACCENT.NET Tue Mar 19 14:48:17 1996
Subject: tolkien series

I am a bit dissapointed in the quality of your review of the 
amazing novel "The Lord Of The Rings". I found it to be extremely vague 
and it gave no insight to what the book was about. I am presently doing a 
book review on the series and I wanted some outside input and comments to 
add so thats why I looked your sight up. Too bad it didn't do any good!
any way thats all..
									
			Aline Aharonian

## My response below (you didn't think I would let this pass, did you?)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ingram@u.washington.edu Tue Mar 19 15:03:08 1996
To: ATPLUS@mail.ACCENT.NET
Subject: Re: tolkien series

What can I say?  I can't write a Magnum Opus review on every series.
If I were being paid for this, then I'd sink some more time into it.
As it is, if you don't like it, then PLEASE try to do better!  The
whole point of my book review site is two-fold:

	1) To encourage others to send me their own comments so
		that I have good ideas for new books to explore.

	2) To encourage others to build similar sites so there will
		be more review material out there on the Web.

It is NOT to provide specific source material for people who want to
see reviews about author X or book Y.  Someday, I may expand upon
my Tolkien reviews, but the more comments like yours I see, the less
likely I am to do so.  It's rather discouraging, to be honest.

Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From tesla10@sage.wt.com.au Wed Mar 20 22:35:29 1996
Subject: Hambly and McCaffrey

Hambly's "SunWolf and StarHawk" series is a lot better than her Darwath 
trilogy

		SunWolf and StarHawk series

		Ladies of Mandrigyn
		Witches of Wenshar
		The Dark Hand of Magic

I also liked her Vampire Series
		Those Who Hunt the Night
		Travelling with the Dead

While I liked her Windrose series the mistakes she made about computer 
science and physcics in the first two books where jarring

Her SunCross series was a disappointment it covered to much ground her 
already covered in her previous books and the books wandered and lacked a 
clear focus

a lot of Hambly's books have a strong Mystery/WhoDunIt element and she 
has a has habit of taking a story concept that seems unoriginial or even 
down right idiotic and adding twists that make it fresh.  Case in point 
her "startrek/here comes the brides" crossover novel _Ishmael_ I would be 
hard pressed to think of a more moronic concept yet she spun a reasonable 
yarn out of it.

McCaffrey's HarperHall trilogy is a lot better than her Dragon Rider trilogy

		Harper Hall trilogy

		DragonSong
		DragonSinger
		DragonDrums

These cover the same time period as DragonQuest and White Dragon but 
followed a "ugly duckling/cinderella" type story line rather than the "save 
the world" type story line of the Dragon Rider books.

after the first 6 books the Pern series went down hill.

McCaffrey's "Restoree" was a very enjoyable old fashioned 1950's type 
pulp sf.  Better characterisation than 50's sf though.  I think it was her 
first book. It lacked polish but was a very charming "feel good" story. 
Similar in style to her "Ship that Sang" stories.  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From fo156@mail.erols.com Thu Mar 21 06:38:00 1996
Subject: Book Suggestion

I'm pretty sure that you get a lot of these but I just couldn't resist the 
chance. 

There is one novel by David Brin called Glory Season, which I think was 
better than his others, although it felt more like fantasy than science 
fiction. It really is a good book to read, though.

Also, you seem to not have read Angus Wells, and although some of his 
books  are annoying, I think that they're worth reading. The Godwars 
Trilogy is the annoying series, but Lords of the Sky is a VERY well 
written and good book. His latest book, Exile's Children, looks  promising 
also, but I haven't finished it yet and won't give a definitive 
recomendation. 

Some suggestions,
Alaya Dawn Johnson

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From shanna_swendson@mccom.com Thu Mar 21 16:02:18 1996
Subject: Hi!

Hi, Doug!

A former 11th floor person here (and I think we had a Spanish class 
together once, too).  Just ran across your books page, and it's great.  
When I get a chance to read (when I'm not writing), now I have a good 
"to read" list.

A few comments:  the Jordan books are pretty good, but be careful about 
reading them all in a row.  They'll melt your brain.  I got hooked on 
the first, then started checking them out of the library.  Midway 
through the third (or maybe the fourth), I suffered complete meltdown 
and had to take a break.  Eventually, I plan to go back and finish them.

I've been reading the "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy, too.  Just 
started the first part of the third installment, but I'm taking a break 
to avoid the aforementioned brain meltdown.

You were relatively kind to the Kevin J. Anderson Star Wars books.  I 
loved the Zahn series, eagerly bought the first Anderson book, but never 
got beyond the first chapter.  His writing is amateurish, to say the 
least, and his characterizations were weak.  I haven't read any of the 
rest of his, and I even avoided his recent attempt at an X-Files novel 
(and it doesn't help matters that he really pissed me off in a newsgroup 
discussion).  Supposedly there's a new Star Wars book coming up in April 
by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.  He's got some decent credentials behind 
him.

Shanna Swendson
another INFJ

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From fo156@mail.erols.com Sat Mar 23 14:41:58 1996
Subject: Yet another book suggestion

I know I already sent you one the other day, but after reading your review 
of Terry Pratchet's Discworld series I had to recomend some others to you.

So, the top five in the series are (in no particular order):

--Small Gods

--Lords and Ladies(part of a mini trilogy which you should read in order)

--Mort(but you've already read that)

--Guards!Guards!

--Pyramids

Just thought you might want to know,

Alaya Dawn Johnson

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From parkerr@serv2.fwi.com Sat Mar 23 22:05:01 1996
Subject: non-fiction review

I am wondering if you would be interested in reviewing a book written
by the President of my firm which is about a different approach to
selling. I don't feel it's your average "yawn", "sell at any cost" type
sales book which seems to dominate the shelves of the average book 
store.
In reading your personality description (very intersting!)I think 
perhaps you would be someone who might want to look at it, except that I
haven't seen any of your reviews that are in the same category as the 
book I am asking about, and I don't want to waste your time if you 
wouldn't be interested. I would be glad to send you a review copy if you 
would.  

Julie Parker  (parkerr@mail.fwi.com-technically my husband's address)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From victord@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us Sun Mar 24 17:48:39 1996
Subject: the library

Hey man, that's a lot of books, did you really read all of them ?
very good page by the way, I tryed to make my own page but I  couldn't 
come up with a title or a purpose... so far I have a worthless bunch of 
electrons sitting on the web :)

Well, the reason I am writing is that I was searching Heinlein and got 
to your page. You should try Double Star (by heinlein) or even more: 
Orphans of the Sky, Orphans was my first sci-fi book, and it is great, 
its about a big ship... well try reading it, it's really cool.

Well, take care

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From peeblesm@email.spjc.cc.fl.us Mon Mar 25 10:34:09 1996
Subject: Recommendation

 Doug,
  
  I have been reading your library list for month's and I wholeheartedly agree
  with most of your recommendations.  I took the personality sorter test and
  scored as an ENFP, maybe this explains why you like Stephen R. Donaldson so
  much and I do not. (however,I enjoy both Brust and Simmons).
  
  I have recently finished two books by Nancy Kress and thought that you might
  also enjoy them.  I do not know if there is a third book planned, but both
of
  the books stand alone well, that is, she does not leave you hanging at the
end
  of either book.
  
  BEGGERS IN SPAIN describes a future of widespread genetic manipulation and
  cheap energy.  The main subject of the book is a new type of genetic
  manipulation that removes the human requirement for sleep.  Even though many
  parents did not specify high intellegence, most of the Sleepless are
brighter
  than the normal population.  As they grow older it is also discovered that
  they do not age, which leads to widespread resentment and the eventual
  migration of most of the Sleepless to outer space.   
  
  The second novel, BEGGERS AND CHOOSERS takes place several decades after the
  first novel.  New laws have made it illegal to genetically manipulate humans
  in such a way as to allow inheritance (the Sleepless have Sleepless
children).
   The much stricter laws about genetic manipulation were prompted by the
  advanced genetic research of the Sleepless and by the "invention" of another
  catagory called the Supersleepless which are essentially no longer human and
  think in ways no one can imagine or understand.  This novel looks at a
society
  that has drastically changed (and is about to collapse) from that of the
first
  novel.
  
  I hope you get a chance to read these books, Nancy Kress makes very
believable
  characters and technology and is a superb writer.  I would place her on the
  same level as Dan Simmons and Steven Brust, whom I think are two of the best
  writers today.
  
  Keep on reading, and reviewing :),
  
  Mark Peebles

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jim_dwyer@macgate.csuchico.edu Wed Mar 27 17:21:10 1996
Subject: Vonda S. McIntyre and Earth Works

I'm trying to find an e-mail address, address, or phone number for 
Vonda S. McIntyre, one of the fine authors included at your site. Do 
you have any leads?
I talked to her in Seattle once and she had some good ideas for my 
book, Earth Works, so IO acknowledged her in the book and would like 
to send her a copy of the acknowledgement.
In case you're interested, Earth Works is a guide to 2600 books about 
nature and the environment and includes including 132 science fiction 
or fantasy novels.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From cracredolo@ucdavis.edu Wed Mar 27 22:58:18 1996

Check out Pellegrino and Zebrowski.
_The Killing Star_
So so as a novel, but concepts!!!!!!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From chae@kristie.wcis.com Thu Mar 28 17:42:25 1996
Subject: Asimov

You know what?  The Robot series by Asimov are really good.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From chae@kristie.wcis.com Thu Mar 28 18:13:54 1996
Subject: Terry Brooks

Did you ever read the Heritage of Shannara series?  Or how about the 
"Magic Kingdom For Sale" series.  They're pretty good.  He wrote another 
Shannara book called "The First King of Shannara" but I didn't read it 
yet.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From swift@netaxis.com Fri Mar 29 03:43:34 1996
Subject: Dennis Schmidt

Dear Doug,
Dennis Schmidt is my favorite sci-fi writer.
Not prolific and of late not to be found.
The only Zen + SF writer I know of...do you know others ?
I recommend all of his books...two series.
Also, can you help me find his books...they are out of print...
I want to buy all of them...I've lent out my copies and they've 
disappeared .
Julio Valdes Ramos.
Thank you.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From fischer@dynanet.com Sun Mar 31 07:24:54 1996
Subject: Short Stories

I'm looking for an anthology of short stories entitled "Science Fiction
Machines," or something like that. One of the stories was about a package
from the future which contained a machine that drew art masterpieces.
Another was about a a machine installed on Earth by aliens, which would
eventually destroy the planet unless someone figured out a way to stop
it; a million people died trying as the story begins.

If you have any idea who the authors of these stories are, please let me
know. Thanks.

A.S.Fischer

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From JoraJorel@aol.com Sun Mar 31 23:15:19 1996
Subject: Splinter of the Mind's Eye

Found an original hardback copy in local Sal. Army.  I agree with your
review!  As good as any of the new Star Wars novels... I think I'll keep
this copy for my grandkids!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From range@inlink.com Mon Apr  1 08:37:42 1996
Subject: Enjoyed your page!

I've been visiting your page for some time, and find it a great resource.

Two years ago, I chaired the Nebula jury, and read better than 
300 SF books during the year.  Since then, I've 
hated the idea of biting down on something less than tasty.  A good 
source of honest reviews was just what 
I needed.  Your site, and some others around the net, have been a 
great help in cutting down on the dross.

I'd like to encourage you to take a peek at the sample chapter of 
DEVIL'S TOWER available from my page.  If it 
looks like something you might enjoy, I'll talk to Del Rey 
about getting you an advance copy.

Thanks again,
Mark Sumner

DEVIL'S TOWER Preview page -- http://www.inlink.com/~range

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From denino@arcadia.cs.rmit.EDU.AU Tue Apr  2 22:37:06 1996
Subject: hyperion Part III

On the net address
  http://www.bdd.com/athwk/bddathwk.cgi/12-15-95/newbook
is a small and tantalizing taste of simmons latest - 
a continuation of the hyperion story, allmost.

I enjoyed going through your libary and found a number of my
favorite authors, but was dissapointed to find that THE author
was not included.  IAIN BANKS - or IAIN M. BANKS is simply the
best thing to happen to modern liturature and SF EVER.  If your
unfamiliar with his increadible work, two good books of his
for an introduction are

	SF - The use of weapons
and 
	The bridge

His first book The Wasp factory is a brillient book as much as
it is disturbing. Definetely not for the faint at heart. You have
been warned.

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From mhhs33@mail.albany.net Thu Apr  4 05:57:06 1996
Subject: "The Postman" by Brin

I have to dissagree about you're review about that book.  I found it to be 
one of the most enjoyable post-apoc books I've ever read.  I'm rather glad 
that it's being made into a movie.  Any information on that would be 
greatly appreciated.  Thanks.
                                           -Tim VanDeWal,
                                     Maple Hill High School, Catleton, NY

## Hmmm...I write "a little depressing (how could it not be?) but some good
## ideas and believeable characters", and that comes off as a BAD review??

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From humming@microweb.com Thu Apr  4 20:04:06 1996
Subject: Request for review in 'Doug's Library'

Hello Doug Ingram, I enjoy your library page a lot.

We are an extremely small press specializing in feminist/women's mysteries
and we have a new mystery out titled "Time Will Tell" by Jamina Marcus, a
new writer. May I send you a copy for your review?  It's set in the San
Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley) featuring the detective talents of a
struggling martial artist and single mom. It's definitely not a
conventional mystery - it's quirky, at times tongue-in-cheek & at times
hard-edged - a feminist mystery that explores the psychic impact of
violence.

If you think you might be interested in reviewing it just send your mailing
address to: humming@microweb.com - and I'll post it to you.

Pam Satterwhite
humming@microweb.com

## The offer is certainly nice, but this letter seems to miss the point
## of why I created this page.  I read books that are recommended to me
## (usually by readers of my page) for fun, then I review them.  I suppose
## if someone PAID me to review a book, I'd do it, and, in a sense, providing
## me with a free copy is payment, but I don't want to encourage this.

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From CHCBOOKS@aol.com Fri Apr  5 12:21:06 1996
Subject: Banished Dreams

Searching for a FIRST printing of Banished Dreams, Dan Simmons, Roadkill
Press, 1990.
If you have or know someone with a copy then I would dearly love to know.

Many thanks,
Chris    
chcbooks@aol.com

## Unfortunately, in the last few months, a lot of people have written to
## me requesting knowledge about finding old, used books.  The simple
## answer:  You probably know more about finding them that I do, since
## my only method is to just scour used bookstores.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kcd@ece.uc.edu Sat Apr  6 09:52:35 1996
Subject: cool web pages

I just found your web pages - I was hunting for book reviews of Katherine
Kurtz's Deryni books.  I just wanted to commend you on a nice job, and let
you know that the last cycle is worth reading (The Bishop's Heir, King
Javan's Year, and The Bastard Prince.)  Our reading taste overlaps a little,
but I have strong biases for O.S.Card, William Gibson, and Katherine Kurtz,
so you might take my recommendation with a grain of salt.  I also didn't
like Donaldson (a little too vocabulary intensive for me, and I the rape
scene in the first Thomas Covenant book really turned me off.)  Although
I now know what "crenelated" means, and I'll never forget it! :)

Good luck on your job search.  Academic jobs are pretty precious right now.

Karen Davis
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From gscott@wchat.on.ca Sun Apr  7 07:03:22 1996

Hello.  I was just looking around your site when I stumbled onto the 
Terry Brooks section, and well, I see that you have put that his books, 
(The Shannara Collection), are a rip off of the J.R.R Tolkien series, 
(Lord of the Rings, The Hobit), well, I have read these two series, (all 
Shanara except for The Sword of Shanara), and I found that they have 
nothing the same, you can't even compare the two series because they just 
seem totally different to me.  Well, that was my comment, and well, I am 
not causing a fight, I just wanted to put in my opinion.  And I also 
wanted to say that is looks like you have a great site, and that I also 
wish you a Happy Easter.  Well, thank you for your time.  

Signed,
=-)

## I responded that while I try to give "enjoyment" a lot more weight than
## some more nebulous concept like "literary merit", there comes a time that
## "merit" must drag down a book, and Brooks is a fine example.  I couldn't
## really enjoy the book that much because I was so often struck by how
## many plot lines and other ideas were very, very similar to Tolkien.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From gscott@wchat.on.ca Sun Apr  7 12:52:50 1996

Hello.  Thank you for returning my email.  I am sorry about that little 
opinion earlier.  I'm sure they are alike in many ways.  But in my view, I 
look at them as totally different.  Now, if you don't mind, there was 
something I wanted to ask you.  I know we haven't met, but this is not a 
personal question.  Anyway, what I wanted to ask is, Do you like to write?  
And if so, do you submit it anywhere, and if so to that too, where do you 
submit it?  I would love to submit some of my writing, and I do, but most of 
the time, they never get back to me.  Well, thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Kevin..

## No need to apologize!  My opinion is no more valid than anyone else's!

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From nskinsella@shsl.com Mon Apr  8 13:05:06 1996
Subject: Covenant/Comics

     Doug, I just found your page on the web and am reading your Covenant 
     review--I have long been a fan of Donaldson.  I am trying to get 
     through the Gap now.  I am a patent lawyer here in PHiladelphia, and 
     am 30 years old, married, etc.  I don't do too much sci-fi/fantasy 
     reading any more, and don't have much time for comics anymore, which I 
     used to read.  I just picked up a couple of recent issues of Spiderman 
     and Thor and Captain America, and am lost, not having read them in a a 
     few years.  I wonder if I could ask you a few questions, in case you 
     know the answer and don't mind emailing me back.
     
     First, I would love to find summaries of comic book issues or plot 
     lines, to catch up and keep up.  Or at least someone who is very into 
     these that I could email with a few questions occasionally, like how 
     did Spiderman get cloned etc.  Do you know of any source, person on 
     email, web site, etc., that I might take a look at for this?
     
     Also, I would love more commentary on Covenant, as well as other 
     writers I like (like Zelazny).  Anythin you could piont me to would be 
     appreciated (but then I have not looked at your web page too much 
     other than your review, perhaps there is some info on there).
     
     Finally, I have read the first 3 Gap books; but I got so lost in the 
     3rd that I didn't even try the 4th yet; I plan to wait till the 5th 
     one comes out then read them all in a row.  Unfortunatley there is no 
     summary at the beggining of the 2d, 3d, 4th books that summarizes what 
     has gone before, as Covenant did.  Do you know where I could find such 
     a thing, or if there is somone I could ask a few question to clarify 
     things; or find reviews of Gap series etc.?
     
     Any info along these lines would be appreciated.  Thanks, Stephan
     
     N. Stephan Kinsella

## All of these are questions for which I have no answers.  Of course, I
## WILL READ the Gap series...when [all together now] it is all out in paperback.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From nskinsella@shsl.com Tue Apr  9 10:01:36 1996
Subject: Re[2]: Covenant/Comics

     Thanks--
     
     BTW I just browsed your home page.  Let me recommend to you some of my 
     favorites--  other than Amber, Zelazny's Creatures of Light & 
     Darkness; and Lords of Light; Isle of the Dead (no, it's not horror); 
     and others are wonderful.  My favorite short story of all time is his 
     "For a Breath I Tarry," and I think it's in his collection The Last 
     Defenders of Camelot.
     
     BTW my favorite authors are Donaldson; C.S. Lewis; and Zelazny, among 
     others.
     
     You might also try one of my newest favorites, Nelson DeMille--if you 
     like anything by Clancy you'll love this guy, he is one of the best 
     modern writers I've read--try his The Gold Coast first.
     
     Also, there is a neat fantasy trilogy by Patricia McKillip (Harpist in 
     the Wind, The Riddle-Master of Hed, etc.).  All Covenant fans must 
     read it.  Note this:  it is similar in a way to the second Chronicles 
     of Thomas Covenant, in the "sense" the character has for the 
     "land"--similar to Linden Avery's connection with the Land.  Also, 
     interestingly, one of the books by McKillip is dedicated to Donaldson; 
     and if you note one of the Covenant books (one of the Second 
     Chronicles, the One Tree, I think) is dedicated to "Pat", who I think 
     must be Patricia McKillip.  Interesting...
     
     Finally, Ayn Rand--you should read her books Atlas Shrugged and The 
     Fountainhead if you never have.  Totally awesome...
     
     Stephan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rodpenn@sage.net Wed Apr 10 20:26:35 1996
Subject: Ingram genealogy

Doug, great homepage!  I've recently done two things, rekindled my interest 
in SF (after a layoff of many years) and obtained full internet access at 
home.  So, I've scoured the net for reviews, hoping to find books that would 
get me up to date on SF since I quit reading it 10 or more years ago. I've 
really enjoyed your reviews and my reading list and yours overlap 
substantially.  And, you given me at least one suggested read (others you 
recommend were already on my list).  (genealogy comment at the end)

Recent reads:
Enders Game (O. S. Card): Pretty slow (ie, dull) at first, but with one of 
the most powerful wrap-ups I've ever read.  I see why it is a classic.

Speaker for the Dead: More "hard Sci Fi" than Enders Game, which I like, but 
not nearly as powerfull as Enders Game.  Based on your reviews, I need to 
read Xenocide.

Beggars and Choosers (Nancy Kress): First book by female SF writer I've ever 
read.  Her technological characterizations (including quite a bit of biochem 
which I have a PhD in) were very convincing.  Deals heavily with genetic 
engineering and "nanotechnology".  The nanotech was fascinating.  Fairly 
realistic picture of what US could be like 100+ years from now.

Hyperion (Dan Simmons): Reading it right now.  25% through it is obvious that 
I will end up considering this one of the best SF epics ever written.  I love 
the epics and I was deeply impressed by your appreciation of books such as 
James Blish's "Cities in Flight".

Now, I've got a major recommendation for you.  You need to read "Timescape" 
by Gregory Benford.  The most convincing treatment of a time travel theme I 
have ever read (in this case, a message sent into the past -1963- via tachyon 
transmissions by scientists in the year 1998, their purpose being to pass 
along enough info to avert an inexorable ecological catastrophe in the 
future).  The description of the physics prof and his PhD student dealing 
with bizzare messages (static in their NMR readings with the static coming 
through in obvious, straight forward morris code) is utterly convincing.  As 
a former (or current?) PhD student yourself, you'll no doubt appreciate eat 
it up.

Now-GENEALOGY: One of my gr.gr. grandmothers was an Ingram, a descendant of a 
huge Ingram line originating in Johnston Co., NC.  Any idea where your 
Ingrams come from??

Regards,

Rod Pennington  (PhD Biochemistry, Oklahoma State University, 1991)
Temple, TX

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rodpenn@sage.net Wed Apr 10 21:22:44 1996
Subject: Re: Ingram genealogy

>Thanks for all the comments and the recommendations.  I imagine I'll go
>looking for the Kress and Benford books you mentioned. 

The Benford Book I especially recommend.  Another recent (ie, post-1990)
book I read recently, but forgot to mention, was Greg Eggan's (Egan's?)
"Quarantine" which delves deeply into quantum mechanics and some of the
implications thereof (ie, the observer-dependent nature of reality,
collapsing alternative realities into "eigenstates", etc.  Schroedinger's
cat-type speculations, on a huge scale).  Pretty interesting book, but in no
way a future classic.

I also read the "Guns of the South".  It is an extremely enjoyable book,
particularly so to me since I've been a Civil War buff for some time.  It's
hard for me to think of a flaw in it.  The best Civil War history ever
written, IMHO, is Shelby Footes "The Civil War-A Narrative".  I have these
three huge tomes in hard back and they are among my most treasured
possessions.  These volumes brought tears to my eyes in many places.  He
tilts towards the South (he's from Mississippi), but his obvious admiration
for Lincoln is extremely touching.  

>As for my family
>tree, I can only trace it back as for as my grandfather, who lived in
>Kingfisher and Oklahoma City all his life.  I never knew any of his
>relatives (other than my own dad, of course).  James Ingram was his name.

Well, if you ever get a few names farther back (and are curious about it),
feel free to drop me an email, and I'll check out my data base for you
and/or post a query to Roots-L (a genealogy discussion list which I have
found most interesting).

Kingfisher, OK.  I remember making a Sunday drive down there about 4 years
ago to visit the Governor Seay Museum.  Oklahoma is sort of bleak, but I
like the wide open country side.  I grew up in Tulsa.

Again, really enjoyed your page (just added it to my bookmarks) and thanks a
million for all the effort I'm sure you put into it.  I'm working on a
homepage now for our research unit (I work at the Grassland, Soil and Water
Research Laboratory here in Temple.  It's a USDA-ARS facility) and I can see
it will take a bit of doing.

Regards,
Rod Pennington 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From sunnym@aladdin.co.il Thu Apr 11 08:50:13 1996
Subject: Heinlein

If you haven't read it yet, read 
"The moon is a harse mistress"

it's arguably the best SF book _ever_
[ won the "Super Hugos" ]
----------------
Sunny Marueli             

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From orvillel@psln.com Fri Apr 12 15:41:25 1996
Subject: other books

have you read any of barbara hambly's other books ther quite 
good you all most live right ther with the peaple in the book.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rvalle@NMH.ORG Sat Apr 13 09:57:19 1996
Subject: books....

Hello there,

I just read your review on Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant books and 
found
myself agreeing with what you say. The funny thing is, I am just finishing 
re-reading
the books (I just ended *The One Tree not 20 min. ago) AND I have 
recommended the
first book to a friend. I don*t think she is going to take to the books 
since she is
having a hard time slogging through the first part of book one. I have tried 
to
convince her that the book does get better.
I sent along some of your comments on the serirs hoping that will help 
things along.
Anything to get another convert!

I just wanted to say that in your review you were able to put into words 
things that
I had vague thoughts about. When I gave my friend the book, I never said it 
was a
good book or that I though she would like it. I said it was a dark and 
powerful story
and I wanted to know what she though of it.

I have added your home page to my bookmarks. I read far too many books than 
I have
time for and I am always looking for another good one.

Thanks

Richard
     Valle

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rvalle@NMH.ORG Sat Apr 13 11:09:43 1996
Subject: Re: books....

Hmmm... we seem to have a lot of the same taste in books. I have read and 
enjoyed all of your '10's with the exception of Disclosure.

## When I first gave that a "10", there was a lot of hesitancy on my
## part, but this is one case where I decided "to hell with merit...I
## could NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN."  YMMV, I suppose.

A couple of questions if I may:

Have you read the sequel to 'Legacy of Herot'? I think it is called 
'Children of Beowulf'.  Well, actually you are probable waiting for it to 
come out in paper back like me.

Have you read the Vividoss Cycle series by Harry Turtledove? Or the spin off 
series to the Rift War 'Daughter of the Empire'? I found both of these to be 
good.

Do you tend to get a lot of e-mail to slog though? To tell the truth, now 
that I finished by book I am sitting here at work letting time pass. It 
seems to me if someone puts out a web page they would enjoy getting email 
about it. But, it also seems that after a while that email could get 
annoying.

## No way!  The mail bag is the whole reason I keep this page going!

Enjoy your weekend
rv

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rvalle@NMH.ORG Sat Apr 13 11:50:00 1996
Subject: Re: books....

About 'Daughter of the Empire':

One of the things that is nice about the series is that it is different. For 
one, it is a collaboration with Feist and.... someone else who's name 
escapes me.

It takes place on the 'other' world from the Rift War books and there is 
very little cross over between the series. You see some of the big events 
from the first books take place here, like Pugs destruction of the games.

The story is about one lady's (Mara) fight to keep her family/clan alive. 
The first book starts with her finding out that both her father and brother 
have been killed in the war, leaving her in charge. Their deaths were caused 
by a rival family giving the story the bad guys.

The story is told from Mara's point of view. It is full of political 
manipulations, intrigue, and battles. From what I remember I found the first 
book to be very good, the second to be ok, and the third to be very good 
again.

I am looking forward to see what you think of the 'roman' books. I have a 
hunch you will like them.

rv

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Bshrimp@together.net Sat Apr 13 20:18:56 1996

..I noticed.. that in your on review you mentioned.. Red Dwarf.. You might be 
intrested to know there are three books written for Red Dwarf  (the first two 
are written by grant naylor and the third is written by either Rob Grant or 
Douglas Naylor.. who did it I forget...)   The first book is called 
Red Dwarf:Infinity welcomes careful drivers.. the next is Red Dwarf:Better 
than Life.. the next I think is called Red Dwarf :The Last human....

Well.. those are my suggested books that you read...

## I'm usually VERY reluctant to read adaptations of TV shows I've seen.
## I mean, I LOVE "Red Dwarf", but I'm not sure I want to spoil the experience
## by reading a mediocre book or two that tries to live up to the TV show.

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From mannd@zemu.candw.com.ai Sun Apr 14 17:41:22 1996
Subject: Glen Cook

Greetings Doug,

Some time ago a friend of mine sent me a review you had written on "The
Black Company" by Glen Cook.  I have seince read it and loved the book.
Everything you said in your review reflects my reading, and I certainly
appreciate you taking the time to write about the Trilogy.

I now have heard via a friend on ham radio that there are several more Black
Company books in print and in preparation and I am hoping Mr. Cook leads the
characters into yet more interesting tours of duty.

Many thanks again for your review.

Most Sincerely,

Dave Mann
Little Harbour
Anguilla, BWI

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From myron@map.com Sun Apr 14 17:55:09 1996
Subject: Enya

Doug,

Yahoo had you cross-referenced with Enya.
Yet I found no sign of Enya on your page.
I trust you still enjoy her music.

Myron

## In the dust of ancient history (on the Web, that's 20 months ago), I first
## put up this site with links to Enya music I had recorded off CD.  A few
## months later, at the advice of some of the people who have been writing
## me, I decided to take them off the page to avoid copyright troubles.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rmoyer@premier1.net Sun Apr 14 19:21:37 1996
Subject: Feedback and Recommendations

Doug,
  Just want to drop you a note and let you know I enjoyed your page and 
reviews greatly.  Mostly because of the few I've read, you agreed with 
me.  :)  The Thomas Covenent series is one of my favorites (to me it 
explore belief systems, how if you believe something, you close your 
mind), Dan Simmons is pretty good, and I didn't like Doomsday Book at all 
(the author made the same points over and over).  Plus, I read the first 
Robert Jordon book and didn't like it.  I've heard they get better, but 
why not read something I'm sure I'll like.  Like Tad Williams.  The Green 
Tower trilogy was very good.

Now, two recommendations for you.  "Wizards First Rule", by Terry 
Goodkind.  Some reviewers thought the characters were wooden and the plot 
predictable.  I didn't, and enjoyed it a lot.  The next is "Assassin's 
Apprentice", by Robin Hobb.  This is excellent!  A kings-and-castles type 
of fantasy with characters that are really interesting.  The best fantasy 
I've read in years.  But I rarely see a review for it anywhere.  All I 
know is that I loved it, and the two people I could get to read it, also 
loved it.

Doug, I'll keep reading your reviews.   Thanks.
 
By the way, do you have any elves-and-forests type fantasy to recommend? 
They are few and far between, good ones at least.  Any help you can give 
will be greatly appreciated.
Rex Moyer

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jeffr@bnr.ca Tue Apr 16 14:12:13 1996
Subject:  Comments on Niven 

Hi:

Found your WWW page while looking for references to the Dream Park
novels.

It seems your exposure to Niven is solely through his collaborations.
You ought to read some of his solo work.  The classic novel is
Ringworld.  (I'm amazed you don't list it...)

Also, the Man-Kzin War series of books are *editted* by Niven, not
written by him.  The stories are set in "Known Space", the setting
of many of his best works, including (loosely) Ringworld.  You
appear not to have read any of them, which is a pity.  Most are
short stories.  Try to find the collection "Tales of Known Space".

Anyway, for MKW, Niven admitts no real interest in writting war
stories -- mostly because he doesn't know enough about war/combat
to be convincing.  (That's why he teams up with Barnes.)  But
since fans were curious, he opened this particular corner of KS
up to other authors.

My point: If you don't like the MKW books, don't blame Niven.
At least not entirely.  Try reading his short story of "Man Meets
Kzin" (called "The Weapon" IIRC) to judge his treatment of the
subject more fairly.

Cheers,
Jeffrey Robertson                    |  jeffr@bnr.ca  |      BNR, Ottawa

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From mars@diku.dk Wed Apr 17 05:37:22 1996
Subject: Book-review

Hi there...

I believe you would like Tim Powers' "The Anubis Gates". With your nice
web-pages, maybe, the book would get it's deserved attention.

thanx for some great reviews...

					Martin Schalck (mars@diku.dk)

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From biancaj@cais.com Wed Apr 17 11:13:53 1996
Subject: Multi-cultural Sci-Fi books

-- I enjoyed seeing your Web Site.  What authors write Science Fiction 
book with African-American characters protrayed in a positive light???

Thanks

## Good question.  None come to mind off-hand.  At least, no books come to
## mind where a character's minority status was really central to the story
## or explored in depth.  "Bio of a Space Tyrant" by Piers Anthony (of all
## people) is about a minority (hispanic, I believe) and his rise to power.
## Turtledove's "Guns of the South" explores the Civil War and has several
## minor African-American characters portrayed in a positive light.  Brust's
## "Vlad Taltos" series is about a human who is a member of the underclass
## race in a society ruled by humanoids twice his size, so he certainly
## explores the "repressed minority" character to some extent (see esp.
## "Teckla" for an example, though that's more about class conflict than
## race conflict).  Hope this helps.  It's just a few ideas off the top
## of my head.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From 95154906@vax1.dcu.ie Thu Apr 18 07:57:15 1996
Subject: Books recommendations

   I suggest you to try Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's
trilogy "Rose of the Prophet". I don't remember quite well the
name in English of each of the three books (I read the Spanish
translation, you know), but I think the first one is called
"Will of the Wanderer", and the third one something like 
"Akhran's Prophet"; sorry for not being more precise. 
   I think the three books are already available in paperback, 
since I read them in hardback some years ago. I like them in
particular because they do not present the typical plot in
fantasy books and because are very well developed. The action
takes place in some sort of imaginary Arabian-style place, and
is about the struggles of the Gods and their djinns (immortal
servants) for obtaining power. But it is better if you read
them yourself. Regards,

   Jonas Ramirez

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From chaser@beast.Trenton.EDU Thu Apr 18 12:53:52 1996
Subject: Susan Faludi

Hello, 
	I am a junior at Trenton State College, and I happened upon your 
"library" on the World Wide Web.
	This is not meant as an attach of any sort, but I read you 
critique of Susan Faludi's Backlash:  The Undeclared War against American 
Women.  You said you disagreed with a substantial portion of it.  Could 
you please explain your opinion.  I am doing a research project and using 
that as my key book.  I am interested to know you opinion.
	Thank you, 
	   Becky Chase

## Well, you'd probably do better by posting to a newsgroup like
## rec.arts.books if you want to find a lot of opinions opposing
## Faludi's.  I, for one, agreed with most of her conclusions, but
## I didn't like some of her journalistic practices.  For example,
## I was really troubled by her portrayal of Randall Terry (the
## adamant Right-to-Lifer) and his wife.  I got the feeling she
## was REALLY painting her impressions on what was really going on
## in that household.  I say that not because I disagree with her
## but rather because her portrayals rang "too true".
## 
## There were a few other things that I felt troubled by when I read
## it, which is why I felt safe saying that I disagreed with a
## "substantial portion of it" (substantial here does not imply
## majority but rather more like 20-25% if I'm forced to put a 
## number on it).  To be honest, though, two years passed between
## the time I read the book and the time I created my page, and another
## 18 months have passed since then, so it is hardly fresh in my mind.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From spitfire@ix.netcom.com Thu Apr 18 13:04:21 1996
Subject: Suggestion

Hello,
As a reader of fantasy I was suprised when your homepage gave no 
mention of Mercedes Lackey. She is one of my favorite authors and 
defintely worth reading. I really liked the valdemar series which can 
be read in any order as you read the first book of a trilogy. I 
particularly recommend the Last Herald mage Trilogy, the frist book in 
it is Magic's Pawn.
                                 John Barraco
                                 (Fantasy Reader)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From MaNaa7@aol.com Thu Apr 18 19:40:37 1996
Subject: Andrew M. Greeley

My wife has been trying to locate several of Greeley's  books withouy
success.Can you offer any ideas as to how to obtain these? It seems they may
be out of print.
Just found your page tonight and found it to be interesting and very
informative.
Thanks for any help you can offer. 

## Yikes.  Don't know how to find books better than anyone else, and
## I'm fairly certain I wouldn't WANT to look for anything else by Greeley.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From biancaj@cais.com Fri Apr 19 05:40:24 1996
 
Doug:
Thank you so much for your quick response to my question. What did you 
mean about Piers Anthony???   It is too bad that these books don't have 
 more multi-cultural characters.  Sometimes it is difficult for me to 
find interesting books to read because my world is not monochrome and it 
is boring to read books that don't include the diversity of this world.

I really enjoyed the Tolkien's books, the Hobbit ect... Do you know of 
any books like his??

Thanks again 
MZ�

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From wileyace@sun.tir.com Fri Apr 19 18:29:31 1996
Subject: Robert Jordan

Couldn't resist after reading your RJ page: my husband feels exactly as 
you do about starting a series before it's completed. I have no such 
willpower and began the new Willow "trilogy" from Lucas/Clairmont. Now 
I'm left panting for more. When it came to the Wheel of Time series, he 
got stuck waiting for the next one, too. At least he has a friend who 
buys them all in hardcover. Nice stuff, keep up the good work. Sue

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jmers1sc@sprynet.com Sat Apr 20 18:28:16 1996
Subject: book recommendation...

Hi,

I was reading through your lists and decided to write you.  
Someone i know has just completed a new soft, horror novel, and it is published 
and just coming out into the bookstores.

He's a young novelist (23) this is his first book, and was actually 
published on first submission w/o editing (except for typos or things like 
that).  I don't know if you would be interested in 
reading it, however, I read it and liked it, and I don't read too many books.  
I'm just a 
friend of his, and he didn't put me up to this.

Thanx for listening in any case,
James

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jbschroeder@micron.com Mon Apr 22 13:39:30 1996
Subject: FWD: Glen Cook "The Black Company"

Doug:

I have read your review and praise on the "Black Company" series, and it is nice
to know that someone has taken the time to give these books the credit they 
deserve.  

I read the first three books in hardback about 10 years ago (is that possible?).
and in the years since I have read them about 4 times. I have tried to get my 
friends to read them too.  We are all interested in fantasy (roleplaying, MTG, 
Middle Earth, etc.) but none seemed to appreciate the works as I have.  

Keep up the good reviews.  I look forward to seeing whats new on your page.

                                        James Schroeder 
                                        Facilities Engineer, Micron Tech.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From sliburd@soleil.acomp.usf.edu Tue Apr 23 12:49:07 1996
Subject: Full length book reviews

Hi Doug, I was just browrsing your home page looking for a full length review 
on two books:          1. Two Nations   by  Andrew Hacker                    
                              revised edition Feb.1995
                            Ballantine books  New York


                       2. Globalization, Communications and Caribbean        
                                        Identity
                                           by                    
                                      Hopeton S. Dunn
                                St. Martin's Press New York

If you have any information on these books I would be more than greatful to 
receive it.

Thanking you in advance.
SELWYN

## What you see is what you get!  :)   [I've always been a Mac fan.  Sue me.]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jdcurley@ix.netcom.com Wed Apr 24 15:14:39 1996
Subject: Nemesis

Hey brother, 

I enjoyed your site a lot, but I would like to clarify something.  "Nemesis" was a book 
written by Robert Silvererg, based on a short story by Asimov.  I agree the book wasn't 
that good, but s.s. was groundbreaking.  

[He later wrote back and noted that he was wrong here, thinking about "Nightfall".]

I also wanted to recommend the "Known Space" novels and stories written by Larry Niven. 
 They are some of Niven's most creative works and they can be engrossing. 

Final Note.  A sequel to "The Legacy of Herot" is now out, "Beowolf's Children", and I 
recommend it.  It's not as good as the first, but it is nice to see the characters 
again.

john

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Professor@intele.net Thu Apr 25 13:18:31 1996
Subject: Re: Robin Cook vs. Michael Crichton

I quite agree that Michael Crichton beats Robin Cook when it comes to 
Medical or Scientific novels.  However they have each dabbled in another 
genre: Historical.  Apparently you didn't review Sphinx by Cook or Eaters 
of the Dead by Crichton.  (Egypt/Norse respectively).  Cook wins hands 
down.  Give Sphinx a try.  Its fun.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From WMCKAY@ACC.ROANOKE.EDU Sun Apr 28 12:40:29 1996
Subject: author index

Dear Doug Ingram,

    I greatly enjoyed the author index; I was pleased to see that erudition
still had a home, even in science fiction. You asked for suggestions (sort of),
and I would like to go ahead and make four. Brian Aldiss and Stanislaw Lem
deserve a look; Aldiss is thought-provoking and enjoyable (primarily a sci-fi
author and critic, his hilarious WWII memoir of service in India and Burma, "A 
Soldier Erect", is one of my favorite books), and Lem is hilarious, profound, 
and often bitter (one critic took up the position that Lem thought human beings
were a plague). Harry Turtledove is DEFINITELY worth a look; I read most of his
stuff before "Guns of the South" came out (which, of course, I bought 
immediately). He has a great series vaguely along the medieval culture warp 
lines of Katherine Kurtz (who I love and whose fourth series actually wasn't 
that bad; I can understand your disappointment, though; the technical magic 
jargon gets a little annoying), except that, instead of focusing on the British
Isles and Celtic culture, he specializes in the Byzantine Empire. Some 
historical events are easily identifiable as real life Earth occurrences 
(overrunning of Persia and Mesopotamia by the Seljuk Turks, the Battle of 
Manzikert in 1071, Basil I's accesssion to the throne in 867), but the element 
of magic is still in play, as wielded by the priestly class. The first series
has a Roman legion from Caesar's conquest of Gaul magically transported along
with an enemy Gallic chieftain and the legion's Greek surgeon (the latter two
make a great comic pair in the third and fourth books) into this semi-Byzantine
world and trying to survive there. It's well-written, frequently funny, and 
rather mature (I don't know if you've ever read any Robert Adams, but 
Turtledove's stuff is on the opposite end of the maturity spectrum) and I 
recommend it strongly, along with all of Turtledove's other stuff.
    Well, hope I didn't get too annoying. Just thought I'd offer some
suggestions in between studying for exams.

                                                     Pleasant evening, 
                                                        Wendell McKay
                                                        Roanoke College
                                                        Salem, Virginia

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From curlp@hampton.bmd.saic.com Tue Apr 30 13:49:31 1996
Subject: Steven Brust

Doug,
 I just stumbled on your home page while avoiding work, and had to drop   
you a quick line.  Your tastes in books agree with mine (I don't remember   
what my personality type is, so if I run across it I'll see if I can   
confirm your theory), and I have hardcover Donaldsons from the second   
series as well, and remember the waiting vividly.
 I'm also a huge Brust fan, and he probably passes Donaldson on my list   
(unlike you, I went ahead and read the first "Gap" book, found it   
intolerable, and haven't read any more of them).  You didn't mention one   
of Brust's books in your summary, and if you haven't read The Sun, the   
Moon and the Stars, you need to--it's arguably my favorite of his novels.   
 I think it was the first of an experimental set of fairy tails by   
popular authors, which didn't get off the ground, or something.  Anyway,   
I highly recommend it--as always, there are great characters, skillful   
writing, and a real twist on perspective.
      Enjoy!
      Phil Curl

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kathy@rapidramp.com Tue Apr 30 19:39:04 1996
Subject: Comments on your list

Hi, interesting list.
I agree with you totally about waiting until the books are out in 
paperback.  Hardcovers are far too inconvenient.  They weigh too much to 
read comfortably while on line at the bank or at a red light and they're 
expensive and you need many more bookshelves.  One of the comic book 
stores I own has a SF/F department.  I won't even order hardcovers for 
the store.  Now they're sticking a trade size between the hardcover and 
mass market editions so it can take well over two years to get the next 
volume in any given series.
I'm more into fantasy than SF.  Although I haven't looked at Donaldson 
(probably because someone recommended him to me as a must read), I'm 
reconsidering on the basis of your pages' and mail bag suggestions.  I'm 
apparently an ENTJ which was news to me until I found your page, but it 
certainly has me pegged.
I agree with your assessment of Willis' Doomsday.  A nice book, but 
meriting top awards???  I wasn't impressed.
One of my absolute favorites is Patricia McKillip's Quest of the 
Riddlemaster trilogy: Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and, 
Harpist in the Wind.  It's wonderful.  Also, her Forgotten Beasts of Eld 
is good although I think it's out of print.
Last week, I happened to reread the Belgariad and the Malloreon.  I think 
Eddings is an exceptional storyteller and I love his characters.  I 
prefer everyone to be neatly married off and all the ends wrapped up.  
I'm living reality--in fantasy I want happy endings.
Although you didn't follow-up the books after the Riftwar Saga, Raymond 
Feist and Janny Wurts created a much more complex and interesting story 
in the Empire trilogy: Daughter of Empire, Servant of Empire, Mistress of 
Empire.  The trilogy is set in the "other world" in a very structured and 
political pseudo-oriental society.
Another good series, about a nomadic culture on an interdicted planet, is 
the Novels of the Jaran by Kate Elliott.  The first book, Jaran, is a 
stand-alone.  The next two are Books 1 & 2 in His Conquering Sword.
William Gear's Spider Trilogy: Warriors of the Spider, Way of Spider and 
Web of Spider are about a lost colony getting dragged into the wars of 
the empire.  It's great!
I found Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game to be phenomenal.
I prefer Snow Crash to Neuromancer.
On a lighter note, I recommend Anne McCaffrey's Crystal Singer trilogy: 
Crystal Singer, Killashandra, and Crystal Line, as well as all the 
collaborations that follow The Ship Who Sang.  For those who can't get 
enough Pern, there's a trilogy on Menolly's early life: Dragonsinger, 
Dragonsong, Dragondrums.  It is in print but usually hard to find at the 
chain bookstores.  Barbara Hambly's Sun-Wolf trilogy is as good as the 
Darwath trilogy, and Mercedes Lackey's various series, particularly 
Heralds of Valdemar are good stories also.
I usually recommend Mary Stewart's Merlin novels, beginning with The 
Crystal Cave, to people looking for more Arthur, although I haven't 
reread them in years.
Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds is great fun!
There's more I'd recommend but these are certainly enough for now.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kathy@rapidramp.com Tue Apr 30 20:21:19 1996
Subject: postscript to my previous recommendations

I could not get into Hyperion.
You must, must, must, read earlier works of the big name SF authors.  
What about Larry Niven's Ringworld or Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream 
Electric Sheep (Bladerunner), or any Bradbury, or Hogan's Giants novels.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From liclim@alapaap.upm.edu.ph Thu May  2 02:04:02 1996
Subject: You stupid ignorant slob!

    I can't believe you'd just dismiss such great works as
Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Mouser series and the books of William
Gibson. I didn't stick around long to see how you probably 
blasted everyone else as well, like Asimov and Heinlein. If 
you're so critical, why don't you try writing books and see
if you can do it, asshole? It's obvious you don't have the
brains to appreciate these books, all you do is flip, flip,
flip, and say, "Nah." Get a life, geek!

## Not that I really need to defend myself against the likes of this creature,
## but I will say that my review of Leiber and Gibson contain comments such as
## "They're not bad, but they're not exceptionally good either" and "Pretty
## good story and characters".  Why are people so hypersensitive?  It's just
## an opinion, fer cryin' out loud!  Of course, he also wrote from a fake
## address, typical of people who abuse others through email.  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kji5@leicester.ac.uk Thu May  2 03:32:23 1996
Subject: recommendations

I've browsed your pages several times, and thought I'd send in a few
recommendations of my own.   Julian May has to be one of my all-time
favourites, alongside G.G. Kay, Stephen Donaldson and David Brin (and Robert
Jordan if the Wheel of Time finishes as well as it started). Her books are all
well worth reading, although "The Many Coloured Land" isn't the easiest book to
get into.
	I was scanning through the letters you'd received, and noticed a
recommendation for Louise Cooper's Indigo Saga.  I liked it, even if it did
seem a little 2-d in places. The series definately improves as you go along,
unlike some of her earlier books, which I wouldn't recommend.   
	The Indigo saga in order is: Nemesis
				     Inferno
				     Infanta
				     Nocturne
				     Troika	
				     Avatar
				     Revenant
     				     Aisling.
	Another author who appears to be missing from your list is Janny Wurts. She
collaborated with R. E. Feist on the "Empire" Series, and has written several
good books of her own.   The Cycle of Fire (Stormwarden, Keeper of the Keys,
Shadowfane) is fairly good.  At the moment, she's working on a new series
called "The Wars of Light and Shadow".  As you can probably guess from the
title, it's an epic that may end up going the way of Jordan's WoT regarding
length.   The first three books are now out in paperback and I loved them! They
are: Curse of the Mistwraith
     The Ships of Merior
     Warhost of Vastmark
	I know and agree with your opinion about not buying a book until the whole
series is in paperback. I've no idea how many more books there are going to be
in this series, but when they're all out I strongly recommend reading them.
	Another recommendation is "The Lions of Al-Rassan" by Guy Gavriel Kay. I
bought it second hand in hardback a month ago, and it's equally as good as
"Tigana", and probably better than "A Song for Arbonne" in my opinion.
	I agree with you about the personality types. It's an interesting theory
you've got there.  I'm borderline between INTJ and INFJ.
	Anyway, thanks for your time.
		Happy reading!
			Katherine Inskip

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From peaty@pennet.net Sat May  4 21:23:16 1996
Subject: Book recommendation

Doug,

If you enjoyed "The Guns of the South" by HT you may like the other two 
that he did called "In the Balance" and the sequal "Tilting the 
Balance".  It has more SF than "Guns of ..." and I really enjoyed them.

Just a thought
-- 
Peaty,

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From clubkern@new-ls.lightspeed.net Sat May  4 23:34:44 1996
Subject: Congratulations and Recommendations

Thoroughly enjoyed your book selection.  I intend to check out many of =
your recomendations.  May I be so presumptuous as to offer a couple of =
personal favorites I did not see on your list:

		Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet
			If any one had told me that a book about architects=20
			and monks in 12th century England would be one of=20
			the most exciting epics I have ever read, I would have
			surely dismissed the notion.

		Hawksbill Station - Jerry Pournelle
			Short story/Novella?  You've probably read it.  I=20
			thought it worthy of mention.
	=09
		Millenium - John Varley
			Simple-minded, but a good little piece of work.

		The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
			An anthem for my life.

		The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum
			I was surprised not to see this on your list.  It is the=20
			best of his formula writing, Imho, since it was the=20
			first of the series.=09

		Salem's Lot, Christine - Stephen King
			If you're going to talk King, these are worthy.  Ditto=20
			the Bachman books.

		Savages - Author name escapes me=09
			My wife read it about ten years ago.  When I asked
			her what it was about she told me it was about a=20
			bunch women and their interactions.  Convinced I was
			wasting my time, I nonetheless picked it up.  It turned=20
			out to be a rivetting action read.

Thank you again for your contributions to my bookquest.  I intend to =
expand my SF/F horizons with many of your recommended selections.  Since =
you and I share a favorite author in Dan Simmons, I am sure I am in for =
some pleasant new reading experiences.

				Ray

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From turbote@aol.com Tue May  7 12:54:43 1996
Subject: books

Here are two books that you must read: The Way Things Ought 
to Be and See, I Told You So both by Rush Limbaugh.  Read 
them!  You my be enlightened and may realize just how much 
your democratic ideals have failed within the past 40 
years. Also, the Robert Jordan books are top notch.  You 
may die tommorrow!  Why not read good books today.  Hey, 
you could do with some talk radio!
GO RUSH AND MIKE REAGAN AND BOB DOLE!!!

-Nkululeko Osayande

## Hmmm...I think I'm over my quota of idiots/week now.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ttownes@epix.net Thu May  9 19:14:50 1996
Subject: crichton reviews

I have just read all of you reviews of most of Crichton's novels.  I 
noticed that some of his novels, such as THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY and 
EATER'S OF THE DEAD, are missing.  I would highly recommend THE GREAT 
TRAIN ROBBERY, as it gave great detail of the Victorian Age, and kept 
your intrest with a exciting plot.  If you have ever read BEOWULF then I 
would recommend EATERS OF THE DEAD.  He takes actual manuscripts of some 
mid-eastern and combines them with the story of Beowulf, which in my 
opinion makes for a much better story.  If you have any questions or ever 
decide to read them please write back, I would like to know what you 
think, especially after your critic on Travels.
			
MST

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jstu@engin.umich.edu Fri May 10 23:36:52 1996
Subject: Crichton

You wrote this:
> Congo
> One of Crichton's less exciting books, this one involves a team of 
> archaeologists exploring the deep jungles of Africa and finding an 
> intelligent tribe of *nasty* primates. Has its moments, and there was a 
> halfway decent movie version. I'd put this down on my list fairly 
> deep. If you like Crichton's other stuff, this is definitely readable. 

I guess alot of things are subjective...

I think Congo is probably Michael Crichton's second best book, possibly 
#1, and I thought the movie was pretty pathetic. 

I remember it being very exciting and interesting. 

For Disclosure... I had pretty much the same reaction. I bought it, but 
didn't feel compelled to read it, but when I did, I couldn't put it down.

jls

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From "sculwell@flash.net"@flash.net Sat May 11 09:59:53 1996
Subject: Book recomendations

"The Crystal Cave" by Mary Stewart is EXCELLENT!!  It's about Merlin and 
how he grew up.  I've read it twice.  Write me back if you received this 
message and agree.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From fdowning@rouge.net Sat May 11 15:44:39 1996
Subject: Julian May: Galactic Milieu

After reviewing your authors list I noticed that Julian May is 
missing.  Since the list included most of my favorite authors with only 
a few of their works not being mentioned, I thought that I might make 
mention of her.  
     She has published three series following a central theme.  The
first, "Intervention", is comprised of two books "Surveillance" and 
"Metaconcert".  The second, "The Galactic Milieu", expands on the first
with "Jack the Bodiless", "Diamond Mask" and the just published 
"Magnificat".  The third, "Saga of Pliocene Exile", takes the series in 
a totally new direction and also details a great deal of the aftermath
of "Magnificat".  "Saga of Pliocene Exile" is comprised of four books
"The Many Colored Land", "The Golden Torc", "The Nonborn King" and 
"The Adversary".  
        The series were not published in the sequence I've presented 
them so the order that I've placed them in is not necessarily the 
"right" order.  However, I believe that this is the most enjoyable 
sequence in which they can be read.
        Her stories are what I call "light" science fiction in that they 
are not as firmly based in current scientific theory as say, Greg Bear's 
"Anvil of Stars".  Instead, she concentrates on the telling of the story
and the development of the characters.
	In addition to the omission of Julian May, I also noticed that 
Anne McCaffrey's "Crystal Singer" trilogy was not mentioned.  Though I 
enjoyed the "Pern" series, I was much more impressed with the "Crystal
Singer" series and believe that it has been overlooked by many readers
due to the popularity of the "Pern" series.  Also, if you find that you 
enjoyed Julian May's books, you may find McCaffrey's "Rowan" series 
interesting. 
	I hope that you'll give some of these works a try if you haven't 
already done so, and thanks for a splendidly done page.  I applaud
you in refraining from incorporating a morass of bandwith hogging 
graphics.  As they say, "More is often less."

## Boy, lotsa Julian May fans in the past few months!  Well, you'll be
## happy to know that I want out and got a few of her books and intend
## to read them within the next few months.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From aellis@gippstafe.vic.edu.au Sun May 12 05:42:20 1996
Subject: Reviews and reading suggestions

Doug

I've been browsing through your reviews and find myself agreeing with 
most of them, however I feel that you have been too hard on some of the 
series by stopping immediately you find one that's not quite up to 
scratch.

I would suggest that you persevere with Terry Pratchett's Discworld 
series.  Some of the later  ones like "Guards, Guards", or "Men at Arms" 
are among the better ones, as is "Moving Pictures" (Hollywood comes to 
Ankh-Morpork!).

You were a little hard on Larry Niven's "Man-Kzin Wars".  This is not 
relly a Niven book, but does tie in to his "Known Space" series which 
includes the Ringworld novels - try and read the Known Space novels in 
as close to chronological order as you can.  If you can't, read 
"Protector" and "Neutron Star" before Ringworld.  The sequel "Ringworld 
Engineers" is OK but not quite up to its predecessor - he has the same 
characters acting in a quite out of character fashion for some of the 
book.

The titles I've given are the ones they were released by in Australia - 
sometimes they can be different.  The sequel to "The Mote in God's Eye", 
released over there as "The Gripping Hand" was released here as "The 
Moat Around Murcheson's Star" for some reason known only to the 
publishers.

If you like alternate history series, Harry Turtledove's "World War II" 
series is good if a little lengthy.  The basic plot concerns an alien 
invasion just as WWII is at its height.  By and large, good (if 
sometimes predictable) and, as always for Turtledove, nice history.

Anyway, hope these are of interest to you...

Tony Ellis

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From VickiHF@aol.com Tue May 14 09:57:20 1996
Subject: Patricia Keneally-Morrison

Try her Keltiad series,it is well-written and gorgeously readable!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From tmnw@compumedia.com Wed May 15 17:19:05 1996
Subject: Robert Silverberg

Hi there.
I've read some of your reviews, and while I don't always agree, I like 
what you're doing. Silverberg happens to be probably number one on my 
short list of always-reads (along with CJ Cherryhn, Sheri Tepper, Gene 
Wolfe, and a few others).
I've started a set of pages devoted to Silverberg's work, if you're 
interested either in visiting or linking. I'm starting with a base of a 
list of his work (novels, shorter stuff, non-fiction), and I'm filling 
in publishing info and reviews as I can.
Your review of the Majipoor books struck me as a little odd because I 
never thought of them as fantasy but pretty much far-future SF. There's 
a lot of high-tech stuff in the books, though in typical Silverberg 
fashion, it's not emphasized much.
Keep up your reading!
Jon Davis
jon@compumedia.com

My pages are at:
http://www.compumedia.com/~jon/silvhome.htm

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From chrisrap@ix.netcom.com Thu May 16 20:37:52 1996
Subject: Greg Egan

Doug,

From your reviews, I share many of your opinions.

I enjoyed Greg Egan's books, "Permutations City" & "Quarantine".  In the 
cyberpunk style.  Also strong recomendation for "Queen City Jazz" by 
Kathelln Ann Goonan, excellent nanotech approach with chracter 
development.

In a different style is Nicole Griffin.  Great stories.

To great reading.....				Chris

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From allenfam@infocom.com Sat May 18 11:04:02 1996

I like your page!! I recommend Mercedes Lackey's Herald Mage books and 
Andre Norton's Witch World books (classic work) I do wish you had more 
info on Terry Brooks though. Thanks,

Ann
Vanylashke@aol.com
Allenfam@infocom.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kkierans@tnrdlib.bc.ca Tue May 21 21:57:55 1996
Subject: Reader's Robot

The Reader's Robot is an automated reader's advisor.
You select your favorites from 10 groups of award winning
novels and, based on your selections,  the computer recommends 
other novels you might enjoy.

You are also asked to contribute novels you've enjoyed.
That way, the Robot's database grows and your recommendations 
are passed on to other readers.

The robot now only deals with Mystery and Science Fiction
novels, but other genres are planned (Horror, Popular Science).  
The database is presently quite small, but it is
growing.  You can help it grow!

Check out the site at http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca/rr.html

Send comments and suggestions to me at
kkierans@tnrdlib.bc.ca  (my skin is thick, constructive
criticism is welcomed!)

Kevin Kierans
Manager of Library and Support Services
Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library System
Kamloops, B.C. Canada
kkierans@tnrdlib.bc.ca

## My only problem with offers like this is that I'm really reluctant
## to invest a whole lot of my time creating content over which I have
## no control of how (or whether) it will be used.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kcottle@hopi.dtcc.edu Thu May 23 13:05:59 1996
Subject: books

Hi!

	I am an infj, too, interestingly enough.  I wanted to see if you 
had ever read any Charles DeLint.  If you haven't, I highly recommend 
him--he's one of the best fantasy writers I have read in a long time.  
The two best to start with would be "the little country" or "moonheart."
	Enjoy!

Kate

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From PTiet51494@aol.com Thu May 23 13:40:53 1996
Subject: Harry Turtledove

If you liked "Guns of the South" try his alternative history of WWII which is
going along "normally" until an alien invasion occurs in about 1943.  The
books are called World at War Tilting the Balance, Shifting the Balance etc.
 Three of four are out although I've only read the first two.  It is
interesting to see how the Nazi, Soviets, Jewish partisans, Japanese, British
and Americans all respond to an invasion of earth from outer space.

I was interested in youre review of Viedeoss Cycle as that is the next series
of his I want to try.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From shihan@comteck.com Thu May 23 22:13:27 1996
Subject: bOOKS AND TYPE

HI, FOUND YOUR PAGE BROWSING, JUST CAME ONLINE TODAY
I'VE READ AND RE-READ JORDAN, THE BOOKS ARE WELL WORTH
WAITING FOR THE WHOLE TALE AT ONCE.  HAVE YOU READ ANY 
L.E.MODESITT, JR.? THE NOVELS OF RECLUSE MAKE A GOOD
READ AND ARE IN PAPERBACK.  ALSO, MAGGIE FUREY, THE SAGA 
OF AURIAN.  ANGUS WELLS HAS A COUPLE OF VERY GOOD 
SERIES, AND MELANIE RAWN WROTE 6 "SUN RUNNER" NOVELS
WHICH HAVE GOOD CHARACTER AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
ALL IN PAPERBACK.
IF YOU READ ABOUT TYPE MUCH I WOULD RECOMMEND "OWNING 
YOUR OWN SHADOW", BY ROBERT A JOHNSON. FASCINATING
READING ABOUT THE "INFERIOR"ASPECTS OF THE PERSONALITY.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE GRAD SCHOOL AND ALL THIS TOO?

JAN NORDTVEDT-CHAMBERS, INTP

## Modesitt frightens me.  Why?  Well, I'm suspicious of any author whose
## publisher feels can only be sold by having covers that look VERY
## suspiciously like those of Jordan's Wheel of Time series.  I'll read
## Jordan first (eventually) and then try Modesitt if I like Jordan.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Pangea1013@aol.com Sat May 25 04:17:58 1996
Subject: Author: O.P. Williams

Doug
Long ago I read a SF series, about seven books, from O.P. Williams that delt
with life in the USA  ... post world war III.  Do you know if this author is
still alive and writting? I look for his books (new) at the stores ... but
never asked anyone.  They were injoyable.  I gave my collection away to
someone interested in them.
Like your page.
H.Mike  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kodiac@destin.gulfnet.com Sat May 25 09:42:44 1996
Subject: Stephen R. Donaldson's the Gap Series

Howdy,

	I stumbled across your page while looking for info on Donaldson. 
I read your reviews, and all I can say is wait until you get your hands 
on all of the Gap Series.  Once again Donaldson continues his 
exploration and refinement of the antihero but this time in the scifi 
genre.  His evolution as a writer has been incredible.  The Gap Series 
is even darker than the Thomas Covenant series but a hundred times more 
intense and incredibly well written by comparison.  After Mordant's 
Need, I did not have the self control to wait for the series to be 
completed.  I have sweated blood waiting for the final installment which 
is a current scifi book club book of the month.  I should have my hands 
on the last installment in a couple of days.  I can hardly wait.  I hope 
you enjoy the series as much as I.  I just hope that with future 
endevors, he can pick up the pace a little.  Waiting on average a year 
and a half between volumes is unbearable.  Just thought I would pass on 
my own little review.

Troy

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From gcox@oneworld.owt.com Mon May 27 14:44:03 1996
Subject: Book Review Resource

Doug,

Your "Doug's Library" has been included in my index "The
Internet Book Review Resource List" which can be found at:

http://www.owt.com/users/gcox/bookrvws.html

Along with your name and the name of your site are two ratings and a selection
of icons that represent the type of books reviewed at your site.  I invite you
to examine your listing and to send me mail if you find something that you
disagree with.

"The Internet Book Review Resource List" is meant to be a service to the 
community.  There is no charge to be included on the list or to access it.

In closing, let me thank you on behalf of the larger community for making 
your material available on the 'net.

Sincerely,
Glen Engel-Cox
Glen Engel-Cox              write@oneworld.owt.com
Columnist,                  http://www.owt.com/users/gcox/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From lathan@pixel.convex.com Tue May 28 11:47:36 1996
Subject: Recommendation : Joan D Vinge

Great page.  Lots of good books, but here are two I did not see:

Psion and Catspaw by Joan D Vinge.  They are futuristic books about
a reluctant telepath.

jeff

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Professor@intele.net Wed May 29 09:20:44 1996

If you enjoy star trek novels, try the ones written by Peter David or 
Daffyd Ab Hugh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From fmaddin@io.com Wed May 29 13:38:09 1996
Subject: Good Reviews

I think your reviews are quite excellent.  I'm tired of book reviews 
where you get the idea that the reviewer is trying to impress you with 
their insights.  They seem, well for lack of a better word, "snooty".

I seem to agree with most of your reviews of the books I've read, so 
that bodes well for ones I've yet to read.  Keep up the good work!

Frank Maddin
3D Realms

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From msumm@easynet.co.uk Sat Jun  1 00:17:26 1996
Subject: Book Recomendations

Hello there Doug

After quickley scanning your list of books I see that there is
no Philip K Dick Books. I've read some of the books you have 
commented on e.g. Douglas Adams, Raymond Fiest, Stephen King and
I do recommend Philip K Dick work. You probably know about him
already I suppose looking at the books you have read already.
Have you ever tried him?

Mark

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From EPerdue@gnn.com Sat Jun  1 19:41:27 1996
Subject: Chalker et al

I can't believe you only list Chalker's simplest series (Rings).  
The first 5 books in the Well World series (1,2-3,4-5 are complete 
stories on their own) are MUCH better.  Also, he finally decided to 
continue this series and has published another trilogy to complete 
it(not quite as good, but a great ending).  I'd also have to say 
that the DANCING GOD'S series (a trilogy of 4 books, which he 
finally decided to expand into another trilogy, not out yet) has 
got to be the most fun.  If you haven't read these and you like 
RINGS at all, you should...........Chalker has a trademark, at 
least one character changes physical form in each of his books.  In 
the Well World series (probably his best known), everyone does.  
I've always wished I could find an EMAIL address for Chalker.

I noted you loved Donaldson but only liked the Fionavar Tapestry.  
I always rated the Covenant series as great but soul wrenching and 
considered Fionavar a PG13 version of the same kind of writing.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From oabousa@emory.edu Mon Jun  3 17:00:16 1996
Subject: Stephen Brust

I really enjoyed your page, I came across it while looking up 
information about upcoming novels about Stephen Brust.  I have two 
questions for you.  Where did you find To Reign in Hell?  I have been 
passively looking for that novel for a couple years now.  Also, do you 
know when the new Stephen Brust Novel will be released, or what it is?  
Brust is also one of my favorite authors... and i am anxious to read 
more from him.
Thanks,
Omar Abou-Samra

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From bmorrell@avana.net Mon Jun  3 20:04:37 1996
Subject: Stephen R. Donaldson

Hi Doug,

You don't know me but I just finished reading your review of the 
Thomas Covenant books.  Thank you for your interesting insite into the 
story.  I also share your enthusiasm for the books!  No matter what 
else I read it continues to be my all time favorite (Chalker's books 
come a close second).  A reviewer said of the series that he felt 
fortunate this book was written in his lifetime.  He felt that one is 
lucky to come across a series like this even once in a life time.  I 
couldn't agree more.  I've even read a short book Donaldson wrote 
containing parts of the Covenant story that were axed by the editors.  
The main reason I'm writing is because you mentioned  people having 
discussed critisism of the books.  Could you tell me where I could 
find these discussions.  I would very much like to know what other 
people have thought of the books and of Donaldson's writing in 
general.
Thanks again,
Bill

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From bketcham@netropolis.net Mon Jun  3 20:19:04 1996
Subject: -Redwall-

Hi!
I am 12.5 years old and I really enjoyed your site.  I agree with some 
of your comments on series such as Xanth, by Peirs Anthony.  But you 
shouldn't be so critical.  Enjoy books for what they are and don't 
criticize them so much.  If you really enjoyed a book, come out and say 
so.I would like to recomend you to a series of books that I am currently 
reading: -Redwall-, by Brian Jacques.  They are a little action packed, 
but so far the first three books are wonderful.  Try them when you get a 
chance!
					Katie Ketcham c/o 
                                     bketcham@netropolis.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rebecca@crc33.mclean.org Tue Jun  4 09:03:35 1996
Subject: book recommendation

Hi. I stumbled upon your web page the other day and was 
pleased to see great reviews of some books I really 
like as well as suggestions for a few new ones that I 
hadn't heard of before. I looked at a couple of 
similar web pages and was very suprised that no one has 
reviewed one of my favorite SF/Fantasy authors - Jack Chalker.
Maybe it's just that you've read his stuff and hate it, but
if that's not the case, I would definitely recommend either
the Well World series or the Flux and Anchor series. They're
each 4 or 5 books, and they are all out in paperback.

Hope you enjoy.

Rebecca Bloom
rebecca@crc33.mclean.org

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From lib3@vaniercollege.qc.ca Tue Jun  4 19:44:42 1996
Subject: book reviews

Hi!  I really enjoyed your web page.  I thought you might like to take =
look at Terry Goodkind, William Horwood and Merceds Lackey.  I also 
think that you would like Melanie Rawn's Ambrai books more that the 
Dragon Prince, etc.  I assume that you've had many people mention 
Robert Jordan...:)  Anyways, it was a really interesting web page, which =

I will definately visit may more times.  Thank-you.

Anna Pag=E9		              "Where the wandering water gushes
e-mail: lib3@vanier.qc.ca		From the hills above Glen-Car,

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From labuser@comp.uark.edu Wed Jun  5 13:36:33 1996
Subject: Your Web Page 

I just randomly stumbled into your Library, and found it just about as 
addictive as a RL one is to me.  I write a spec-fic  & gaming 
newsletter, and I try to write my reviews the same way you do--that 
is, while you give your opinion, you also give enough details that I 
can tell if I'm interested in the book.
	I was relieved to find somebody else who feels the same way I do 
about super-long epics like Robert Jordan (actually, I made the 
mistake of starting the first few, and decided to just wait for the 
complete series after the eternal bause between 4 & 5).
	Your review of one of my favorite books, _Snow Crash_, was in line 
with my feelings about it (it didn't become a favorite until the 
second time I read it).  Have you read _Diamond_ yet?  It's an 
entirely different kind of novel.
	One note on the _Deathgate Cycle_ that most people seem not to have 
noticed--the basic blueprint of the world(s) is strikingly similiar, 
in parts identical, to a book called _The Shattered World_, which is 
much shorter and more serious.  I don't know if it was an unconscious 
acquiring of the material by Weis & Hickman or what, but I found it 
pretty annoying.
	I plan to come back and pick up some new reading ideas from your page 
soon.  In the meantime, let me add to your undoubtedly swamped reading 
list--with all the "Twister" talk, Bruce Sterling's _Heavy Weather_ is 
especially interesting.  And while I don't like Steve Brust much, two 
books that seem to be favored by his fans & that I enjoyed are P. C. 
Hodgell's _Godstalk_, one of the few non-derivative fantasy books I've 
ever read, and _Gypsy_, by Emma Bull, a sort of weird low-tech 
futuristic thing.
	Anyway, nice work, and if I ever get my web page running, I'd 
certainly like to link yours to it.
	Thanks,
	Claris Smith

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From derek_maclean.dola@notes.dola.wa.gov.au Wed Jun  5 21:55:43 1996
Subject: 2061 

Hmmm.

Arthur C Clake wrote a third space odyssey book 
called 2061: odyessey three. Perhaps you could 
consider entering this title against his name.

Derek Maclean.

## Again, I'd like to note that my list of books is not meant to
## be comprehensive.  It only reflects what I own and have read.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Derek_MacLean.DOLA@notes.dola.wa.gov.au Thu Jun  6 14:39:37 1996
Subject: Re: 2061

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I certainly did not expect one, i was merely surfing a bit during work time and 
came across you site.

In reguards to your avoidance of Genrty Lee. Do you have something against his 
work/co work? I thought the Rama series was quite good, if not a little drawn 
out.

Perhaps you have a different opinion?

Derek MacLean

## Yeah, I pretty much abhor what little I've read of Gentry Lee, and I'm
## willing to believe what the Good Reading Guide says about the rest of
## his work.  It'll take some convincing to get me to spend time and money
## on any more books that Lee is involved with.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From LMarley@aol.com Thu Jun  6 22:33:46 1996
Subject: SING THE LIGHT by Louise Marley

Hi, Doug-

Having found you online and read your authors' index, I thought I might be
able to interest you in my own novel, SING THE LIGHT, out from Ace in
November.  It is the first in a trilogy called THE SINGERS OF NEVYA (yes,
sorry, a series--but the story takes that many books to tell!)  I'm a
classical concert and opera singer in Seattle, and my books are about Singers
who are essential to their people's survival--illustrating the role of art in
keeping the darkness at bay.

If I can send you any information, do let me know.  Thanks.

LMarley@aol.com

## Always nice to get offers of free review copies, but unless and until
## I start doing this for money (which is unlikely to occur), I will
## continue to read what I like rather than what I must.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From mikeyt@nucleus.com Fri Jun  7 10:13:11 1996
Subject: Excellent/Books/Reviews.

I've been using your list for awhile now, and I just felt that I should at 
least comment on how much I like using your page for book reviews.
 
So, in return, I thought you might like to know a couple of authors that I 
recommend.  By no means, dont feel obligated or what not, but, I thought I 
tell you bout them anyways.
 
Michael Scott - Magician's Law, Death's Law, and Demon's Law.  Very good 
series about a Bard named Paedur.  Though, it's not typical.  A race of 
Old Gods chose Paedur to be there champion against the New Gods.  Really 
good series, though, very hard to find.
 
Christopher Hinz - Paratawa Sage (3 Books, Liege Killer, Ash Ock, 
Paratawa).. By far, I wont say much bout this series, but it is incredible 
Science Fiction, and if you havent read it, your missing out.
 
Finally, I would like to thank you for your reviews.  Many moons ago, I 
had read Thomas Convenant (The First 3).  Well, back then, I loved them.  
(Though, it took me 3 times to get through the first books, the rape 
scene.. Icky)   Anyhoo, I was reading your review, and alot of the things 
 in the review you said were true, so, I grabbed the Second Chronicles, 
and reading them currently.  I am enjoying them quite a bit.   I plan to 
look at Mirror of Her Dreams, and Mordant's Need in the near future. 
 
Thanks for the great reviews! :)

## Actually, I faintly recall reading Liege Killer a long time ago,
## but I wasn't all that impressed.  Readable, yes, but I wasn't
## inspired enough to go buy the rest.  If I ever get a chance to
## read it again, I'll include it in my list.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From gforster@deakin.edu.au Sun Jun  9 22:05:14 1996
Subject: book reviews

I realise that books are a personal thing, so therefore I won't lambast 
your views on The Shannara trilogy. I suggest however that you at least 
give a cursertory glance to the follow up Heritage of Shannara. Whlst 
they are not as sophisticated as some of the other books you have no 
doubt read, they are enjoyable and in depth. I rate the Talismans of 
Shannara (the last of the Shannara series) as the finest book I have 
read. I also recommend a series of 3 books (one of which is yet to be 
released) by an Australian author by the name of Sara Douglass. They are 
he books of the Axis trilogy, Battleaxe and Enchanter. Once the third 
book is released i will write a review of the series for you if you would 
like. Also try the Alan Cole/Chris Bunch series of books, The Far 
Kingdoms. A Warriors tale and Kingdoms of the Night, they are excellent. 
Conngratulations on your WWW commendation and keep up the good work.
                                    Yours Sincerely, Glen (alias Kai Hansen)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From "rkn463@rkn463"@airmail.net Thu Jun 13 17:42:43 1996
Subject: David Gemmell

David Gemmell is "Britan's King of Heroic Fiction".
I recommend the Drenai Series highly! He has several
other good books as well.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From felan@netcom.com Fri Jun 14 15:58:30 1996
Subject: Your Author Index Pages...

Your name and email address are familiar to me, but I cannot for the
life of me think why.  Maybe it's just your posts on rec.arts.sf.*
that I've seen.  (I write a FAQ for the rec.arts.sf.* hierarchy, and
the alt.books.deryni one, but I don't seem to have credited you in
either of those, so it can't be those that you're familiar to me from...
I think.)

Anyway, I liked your pages an awful lot, although I didn't look at all
or even most of them.  I mostly looked at the authors you had in there
that I liked or had read already.  I agree on some of the books and
serieses, disagree on others, which I thought was sort of interesting.
I especially agreed on Split Heirs, although I haven't read other
Watt-Evans stuff.

On the Pern books, if you wanted to read more of those I would recommend
some of them but definitely _not_ all of them, though I've read them
myself.

On the Rawn books, I wondered what you thought in particular of the
Star Scroll (or whatever the second book of the first trilogy was).
I personally disliked it, although I like all the other five.

Given some of the way your reviews tended, I would suggest you keep an eye
out for Janny Wurts' Wars of Light and Darkness if you aren't already.
It's coming out far too slowly for me, alas, and thus (given what you
said in your introduction) you probably wouldn't buy it for some time;
it's definitely all out yet.  (On the other hand, she has some other stuff
that I recommend avoiding, as it seemed slow, or just uninspired.  I would
call it 'workmanlike' - it's not _bad_, I guess, but uninspired is a good
word for it.)

I disagreed on your opinion of Kerr's books, by the way (the Deverry
series).  _I_ happen to like them. :)

The whole point to my rambling on (there is a point) was to mention that
I'm an INTJ, and our tastes seem to run relatively similar in that we
choose the same books to read (in many cases; I tend to avoid most
science fiction proper), with no tremendous differences of the ones I
did read.  Even with, say, Kerr, I didn't like them _entirely_ much.

I wonder, have you read Julian May?

Do you get an awful lot of mail from random strangers telling you what
kinds of books they like?

## Yes, and I LIKE it!  :)

Leanne/Felan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From klingler@Rt66.com Fri Jun 14 16:53:05 1996
Subject: Doug's library

Hi Doug.  I just thought I'd send you a few tips on books you might like to
read, based on the ones I saw in your library.

Certainly try out the more well-known books by Larry Niven; his best books
are the ones he wrote alone.  My favorite is a collection of short stories
called "Neutron Star", the book that began "Known Space".  There are lots of 
others by Niven before he began writing with Pournelle.  Try World of Ptavvs
or Protector (another favorite), or Ringworld (quite a famous book).  His 
first published short story, "The Warriors", inspired a long line of authors
to contribute to the "Man-Kzin Wars" series, which are a lot of fun.

I didn't see any books by Julian May, who's been winning Hugos and Nebulas
for quite a while.  I first got her books "The Many Colored Land" and "The
Golden Torc" from the Science Fiction Book Club in the early eighties.  
They're arguably some of the most well-researched books I've ever read, and
certainly well written.  She has a wonderful writing style.

For early works you might include Henry Kuttner, Mildred Clingerman or 
A. E. Van Vogt in your reading list.  Ray Bradbury fits in early lists or
later lists, too.  I was happy to see Alfred Bester in there.  "If This Goes
On" by Robert Heinlein is a seminal work, as is "Waldo."  There's also John
Wyndham's "Re-birth" (what a great book!) and "Gomez" by C. M. Kornbluth.
These can be found in lots of golden age anthologies.  Don't forget Theodore
Sturgeon.  

For later works don't forget Simak's "Code of the Lifemakers" or James P.
Hogan's "Inherit the Stars" series.  There're also Piers Anthony's early 
works, like "Macroscope", and Frederick Pohl's wonderful Heechee books, 
which made me go into Astrophysics in college.  I guess I can poke Harlan 
Ellison and Ursula K. Le Guin ("The Dispossessed"!)in here as well.

This list is just a small sampling, and I still had no idea it would be so
long!  I hope you get time to read all of these books; I'm sure you'll enjoy
them all.

Dave Klingler

...and of course, as soon as I'd sent off that last note, I noticed that
Harry Harrison is in your list after all.  You might enjoy the "Deathworld"
series, though.  I think he wrote them in the late seventies.

Don't forget to pick up "R is for Rocket" and "S is for Space", by Ray 
Bradbury.

Hoboy.  I'd better stop now, before I really get started.  :)

Dave

Have fun!  I noticed that I had missed a few things on your page the first
time I read it, particularly about Niven's Kzinti.  There's a reason they
seem too dumb to have ever evolved into a spacefaring race:  they didn't.
The Kzinti were a slave race that overthrew their masters, who had in
turn purchased their drive technology from another race.  The human race
won their first war against the Kzinti because the Kzinti had been gifted,
as it were, with the reactionless drive and had never heard of anything 
else.  Niven's history of Known Space is really entertaining, and it's 
filled with plenty of idiosyncratic races like the Kzinti (or the puppet-
masters, two-headed herbivores that are notoriously cowardly and whose 
heads tend to look alarmedly at one another whenever they're surprised).

Anyway, I can't think of a more entertaining task than trying to fill out
one's web page of sci-fi book reviews.  Take your time, though, or you'll
take all the fun out of it and miss some of the subtleties.  People can 
wait for you to enjoy the books!

Dave

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From pohill@cmu.edu Sun Jun 16 00:05:35 1996
Subject: Liked your page and...

Doug,
I thought your page was pretty nice. We've read many of the same things 
and I'm always interested in other people's opinions of books I've read. 
I am also a big fan of Lawrence Watt-Envans, but I noticed that you 
hadn't listed "The Rebirth of Wonder". It's a short book set in our times 
about a troupe of performers renting a small theater to do some unusual 
shows. If I remeber correctly, it's told from the point of view of the 
theater owner. It's light hearted, but entertaining like his Ethshar 
novels and I think you'd like it. I also noticed that you had listed 
'Taking Flight' with LWE's Ethshar series. For some reason I missed this 
book when it came out and haven't ever seen it! Is it like the other 
novels? shorter or longer or about the same? Maybe I'll have to order it 
one of these days.
I've also read "The Guns of the South" and found it entertaining as well. 
The most fascinating part, for me at least, are the completely different 
paths the two nations take at the end of the war. I think you may also 
like Tutrledove's World War series. They are set during World War II. The 
twist here is that aliens end up invading the earth about half way 
through Germany's invasion of Russia. I've just read the first one, but 
I'm planning on picking up book II ASAP. The final book came out in hard 
cover a few months ago and should be in paper back soon.
Thanks for the page! Take care.

Pete Hill
pohill@cmu.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From JLWHill@aol.com Tue Jun 18 09:56:08 1996
Subject: author Julian May

Hi again, After going further looking at all the info you provide all us avid
SF fans (this is great-wish I'd discovered this long ago), I noticed that
Julian May's Galactic Milieu series ( now complete, but final book is not in
paperback)) and her Pliocene books (all in paperback for several years I
believe) are conspicuously missing from your list. I will take the advice you
proffered in your letter about Robert Jordan fans and merely point this out
to you rather than vehemently insisting that you run immediately to your
nearest bookstore and library and read them (if you have not already done
so). However, I will be looking forward to your reply and/or comments about
May on your page.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From PLadd36932@aol.com Tue Jun 18 14:21:10 1996
Subject: library

My first look at your reviews.
Congrats on a wide ranging list.
I really envy you having read so little Arthur Clarke. You have so many
treats in store, including a little known short called `The Sentinel` (I
Believe) which was the basis for the monolith which featured at the beginning
of 2001.
Try to get hold of a fairly old paperback called `Tales from the White
Hart`.The stories must be pretty dated by now but I remember it with a great
deal of affection.
The White Hart incidentally was ,I believe, the pub where space
buffs,including the Committee of the British Interplanetary Society, used to
foregather just after the war.
Clarke was of couse the President of the BIS for a time.
I started reading SF in 1948 and was lucky enough to get hold of most of the
issues of Astounding, later to become Analog when J W Campbell Jnr was the
editor. He was responsible for leading and shaping many of the major writers
of what has now become known as the TheGolden Age of science fiction.
I wish Golden Ages wouldn`t sneak past before they are recognised as such.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From bongo@hargray.com Tue Jun 18 14:53:55 1996
Subject: simon hawke fan seeks help

hey, I am a big simon Hawke fan, and your site was one of the first 
that i came across that gave him the time of day. I am looking for 
more information on Simon Hawke, and am wondering if you know of any 
web site that he, or fans, maintain. I really enjoyed reading your 
review of his books, it was right on the money. also, i am wondering 
if you know of any ways in which i could get my hands on a couple of 
the Time Wars series books that i am missing. inquiring minds need to 
know. please respond if you have any relevant information or good 
leads to help me in my search. thanks

## Well, I'm not any better at finding books than anyone else.  I don't
## know if Simon Hawke has any other pages out there devoted to him, but
## it wouldn't surprise me greatly.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From JeffSeglem@aol.com Thu Jun 20 09:56:02 1996
Subject: SF Site

I'm glad I found your web site. I'm going on vacation soon and now rather
then select a book by who won the Hugo or Nebula I have a few good leads. I'm
just finishing Willis' DoomsDay Book and have the exact same opinion of it
your review described. 

When I looked at your list of authors (and I know it is not a complete list)
two authors were, to my mind, conspicuously absent. The first is Philip K.
Dick. I've read much of his work, including his short stories and view him as
a must read across the board. His writing style may not work for everyone,
but the ideas which populate his works are among the most inventive I've ever
read. They have, as you are most likely aware, made several of his books into
movies (Bladerunner being the best.) 

The second author I was surprised to not see is Theodore Sturgeon. I myself
have only read a novella of his called Some of Your Blood. A very disturbing
but powerful story. He wrote another book called "Godbody" which was very
popular with some friends of mine in college. I didn't read it then and
haven't been able to find it now, but all accounts I've heard make Sturgeon
out to be a bit of a pioneer in the SF genre. 

Anyway thanks for taking the time to read this. I'll be back for reading
ideas soon. Thanks.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From 101774.1674@compuserve.com Thu Jun 20 14:24:39 1996
Subject: Brooks Terry

Could you please send me some background information regarding the author
Terry Brooks. My son needs it for his studie.
Thank you very much.

## An alt.fan.warlord phrase seems fitting here.  YHGMTPO Doug's Library.
## Translation:  You Have Greatly Misunderstood The Purpose Of...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From FelixVK@aol.com Fri Jun 21 21:55:21 1996
Subject: John Steakley

My best friend and I love Steakley and both of his books. In fact, on one of
the BBSs here in Houston, my pseudonym is Felix and his is Jack Crow. We are
wondering what happened to Steakley. Is he still writing? Is he still alive?
I'm not lying when I say that every time we go to book stores we check to see
if he's come out with a new book. Also, thanks for the glowing review of
Vampire$. Ever since Dark Shadows gave me nightmares, vampires have always
been my favorite monster, and Vampire$ is the vampire book I, too, have
always wanted to read. Anyway, any info, and I mean any at all, you could
give me on John Steakley would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

##  Ya got me.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From eteel@mosquitonet.com Sat Jun 22 19:29:56 1996
Subject: xanth

Obviously you have NOT read "Color of her Panties" and you must also not 
be able to appreciate the novels for what they are: FANTASY STORIES.

## I responded:
## 
## Right on the first count.  Wrong on the second.  As my review indicates,
## I appreciate exactly what Anthony's stories are, and I enjoyed them when
## I was younger.  I also think the first few books of the Xanth series
## were entertaining, and I stated as much.  
## 
## Anyway, it's just my opinion.  If you have a *thoughtful* reply
## to my book reviews, I'd be happy to hear it and put it in my mailbag
## (which, by the way, is the *point* of my page).  As it is, I'm
## wondering why my opinion was so threatening that you felt the need
## to write such a strongly worded (and, I dare say, insulting, given
## my sincere appreciation and love for the fantasy genre) letter.
## 
## Or are you just trying to reinforce the stereotype of Anthony fans?
## 
## :)
## Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From eteel@mosquitonet.com Sat Jun 22 20:18:44 1996
Subject: Re: xanth

No, I have just read so much negative about Piers and I just wanted 
people to know that there are adults out here who do appreciate the way 
he writes. It is, to me, a release from the everyday, mundane world. It 
just seems to me that people are trying to take Mr. Anthony's works to 
literally. Sometimes I feel people are jealous because he is successful 
at what he does. Please forgive me for seeming insulting, it's just that 
I love his novels and his "punnish" sense of humor. I mean, if there 
weren't puns, then there just wouldn't be Xanth. I appreciate your time.

Crystal R. Teel faithful fan to Piers Anthony

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From @juts.ccc.amdahl.com:nrk00@amail.amdahl.com Wed Jun 26 12:56:00 1996
Subject: Guy Gavriel Kay

   Just finished the latest book by Kay called Al-Rassan.  I enjoyed 
every bit as much as Tiganna and Song of Arbonne.  However there is no 
magic or sorcery in the plot lines.  As I've come to expect from Kay, the 
characters are all intelligent and interesting and I care about what 
happens to them. 
   The story takes place in a fictional time and place that strongly 
resembles medieval Spain from two time periods, when the Moors occupied 
lower Spain and the hints of the Inquisition. The religions represented 
were also fictional; however, I kept thinking of them as Islam, Judaism 
and Christianity, although none were truly close to these religions.
   The story revolves around a conflict for control of the continent by 
different rulers and religious groups.
   If you liked other books by Guy Gavriel Kay, I'm sure you'll like this 
one as well. 
    Naomi Kalmus, California

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From gdehaan@cybercomm.nl Thu Jun 27 15:29:27 1996
Subject: Jack Vance

Thanks for sharing your book reviews, I'm certainly going to folow some of your
recommendations.

I found it hard to believe that a great SF-writer like Jack Vance 
didn't showed up in your
Library. Maybe his books aren't paperbacked,  in that case I understand. 
If this is not the
case, well... what are you waiting for.
Vance likes to write detective storys placed in an exotic 
world (on a far unknow planet), with
all kinds of good and evil creatures in an mixture of mystic and technology
There are some good reviews of his books on this URL:

http://julmara.ce.chalmers.se/SF_archive/SFguide/VANCE%2CJACK

If you have time, maybe you should take a look at them.

Also I'd noticed that there were only a few King books on your list.
of cause "It" is a great book (one of his best) and "The Stand"...
well I find it a good
book, but by far not his best.
So here are a few other Kingbooks that are worth reading:

        - Dead zone (very recommendable)
        - Firestarter
        - Cujo
        - Christine
        - Missery (a must read)
Just ignore The "Dark Tower" serie. King is not a true SF/F writer, IMHO.

I'm also a big Dan Simmons fan. "Hyperion", 
"Carrion comfort" and "Summer of Night"
probable belong to the best 10 books I've red. 
So when I red "Children of the night" and
"Song of Kali" it was a bit of a disappointment. 
Although they were not bad, they never
reached the level of "Summer of Night" and "Carion Comfort". 
So I can not highly
recommend "Children of the night", 
but if you think "Song of Kali"is "still damned good" your
not going to dislike this one.

Thats all from me, keep up the good work.
Bye!

Gert de Haan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From riche@flash.net Thu Jun 27 17:11:51 1996
Subject: A Frank Herbert quote
Status: R

The quote is: "The one impossibility that makes everything possible is 
nothing matters.", or something like that.

I read this in Dune Messiah or Children of Dune and am pretty sure it 
wasn't in Dune, but wouldn't swear to it.  Was wondering if you recall 
the quote and could give me the book and page number or if you know 
someone that might.  This is going to sound dumb, but I read the Dune 
Trilogy about twenty years ago.  That quote stuck with me and took three 
years to understand.  Another seven and I realized totally what it ment. 
 Recently I had occasion to use the quote and wanted to make sure I got 
it right. 

## Well, I liked Dune, but not enough to know that quote.

The quote really isn't that obscure, it simply means that NOTHING is what makes
everything possible. Without the concept of NOTHING you and I wouldn't and
couldn't exist as separate, free-thinking, etc, individuals. NOTHING makes
individuals possible. Somewhere between us there is a separation, somewhere
between us there is nothing, it is this nothing that makes the separation
possible, making all things possible.

I was just thinking about Albert Einstein's quest to find the one thing upon
which the COSMOS is built. It's interesting to note that it's not a thing but a
NO-THING. 

Anyway, I was just wanting to make sure I repeated Frank Herbert's quote
correctly.

Thanks for the reply. 

from: Richard S. Emerson
email:riche@flash.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From not_set@unr.edu Fri Jun 28 10:47:43 1996
Subject: Jordan

Yes, I agree with you, hardback books are very expensive.  I don't buy 
any hardbacks, EXCEPT for this series.  However, since you dislike 
spending the money for a series which is definitely worth it, I would 
reccommend walking down to the nearest library, where it is actually 
possible to check out a book and read it without buying!  Yes, I know 
the series isn't complete yet, but I would highly recommend starting 
now, because the intricacy of the books requires repeated readings to 
fully understand what is going on.

					Rob Moser
					moser@cs.unr.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From cl2lryd@cling.gu.se Sat Jun 29 13:03:16 1996
Subject: Book review page

Hello.=20

You've got a lovely book review page there. I've myself just finished,
after long laboring, an interactive book review page, which I'm now trying
to advertise. Take a look at it and, if you like it,  I would very much=20
appreciate if you could add a link to it. URL:

http://www.cling.gu.se/~cl2lryd/rev/engine.html

My link page is under construction, you'll be added to it when it's
finished.=20

Best Regards,

-Fisk
=20

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From PeterLind@aol.com Sun Jun 30 10:29:49 1996
Subject: Jack Vance

Hello Fellow SciFi/Fan enthusiast:

There is an author named "Jack Vance" who has been around for eons, but who
has not received the recognition he has long deserved.  I recommend his works
to you as very enjoyable and somewhat offbeat reads.  His books seem to be
hard to find these days, but haunting used book stores should turn them up.

Vance Books To Check Out:

Dying Earth Stories:

The Dying Earth
The Eyes of the Overworld
Cugel's Saga
Rhialto the Marvelous

Lyonesse Series:

Lyonesse
The Green Pearl
Madouc

Cadwal Chronicles (SciFi):

Araminta Station
Ecce:  Old Earth
Throy

Enjoy!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From DVict@aol.com Sun Jun 30 17:43:13 1996
Subject: Vonda McIntyre's Crystal Star

Hi,
I have to say your review was right on target. Usually I like Vonda
McIntyre's work but The Crystal Star I didn't.  I was wondering if I was the
only one.  Also, it is beginning to get a little tedious with Luke always
getting in some physical dire straights & having to be rescued/healed by
someone else. Or at least it is to me.
Dawn

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From svenska@erols.com Sun Jun 30 20:34:40 1996
Subject: Jordan and Serials

I understand exactly what you mean about the serial books.  Although I=20
read each Jordan book as it comes to the library, then buy it in=20
paperback, I had a similar experience with Andre Norton.

I read her Witch World series, up to about #8.  However; unlike Jordon,=20
Norton's series became progressively worse.  She should have quit after=20
#3.  I also had trouble finding each book, even though most had been=20
published.  Worse yet, years after I thought I had read the last one,=20
another would come out.=20

I did not become as enthusiastic about Donaldson.  Once I began the=20
series, though, I had to finish it.

I will say, about Jordon, it is the ONLY SF/Fantasy series I would=20
consider buying in hardcover.  I will, eventually, order the entire set=20
(once it is all out).  I think it is that good.

Chalker's Well of Souls series is pretty good, but never ending.  I=20
thought I had read the last of Nathan Brazil in 1978, when I finished=20
the first several books.  Then I found more while I was sationed in=20
Germany.  I had read the series so long ago, I had to re-read the set=20
before I could go on with the new ones.

Got to go.  Thanks for the opportunity to send this note.  I hope you do=20
eventually get to read Jordan's set.  It is quite good.  I have heard=20
there will be eight or so, but I'm not sure.  I don't belong to any=20
Jordan support group or anything.  I just enjoy reading.

Sincerely,

Philip Esteban
svenska@erols.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From firewing@flash.net Mon Jul  1 14:30:07 1996
Subject: Patricia McKillip

You might want to try reading McKillip's books. 
All of 'em. From "The Riddle-Master of Hed" trilogy 
(TRMoH, Heir of Sea and Fire, Harpist in the Wind), 
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (this is oop, you might be able 
to find it if you're real lucky), "The Changeling Sea". 
There're a couple new books that she's written, but I 
haven't read them (Sorceress and the Cygnet, and another one)
	TRMoH is about a young Prince of Hed and how he faces 
up to his destiny... I know, kinda old, but the 
way McKillip treats it is really great... 
more so if you listen to the language she does it with...beautiful stuff.
	TFBoE is about this sorceress who collects all the 
fabled beasts of legend in a zoo...
	TCS is about a young girl named Peri who hexes the sea, 
a prince drawn to her by some weird compulsion, 
a wizard named Lyo, and a sea-dragon... 

	These are all bald statements of what the books're about, 
leaving out a great deal...  Take a 
look at them..you'll be missing out on something really great if you don't, IMO. 
Later, 
Mandy

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From TRHickman@aol.com Tue Jul  2 07:46:24 1996
Subject: Your Book Pages

Enjoyed your web site -- and was relieved to find myself on your top twenty
list!

If you ever have time, take a moment and visit mine:
http://www.TRHickman.com

Thanks again for your work on your site.

Tracy Hickman
(Deathgate Cycle; et al)

## Err, whoops!  That wasn't my top 20 list...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From svenska@erols.com Tue Jul  2 17:54:59 1996

Dear Doug,
I hope Jordan stays healthy.  It would drive me crazy to be left hanging at
this point!  I went to B.Dalton Books yesterday to inquire about buying the
whole series in hard cover, an honour I usually reserve only for histories
and "classics."  The store manager said her distributor has all in hard
cover except The Great Hunt.  She had one on the shelf in "college bound,"
but I already have them in paperback.  She's conducting a search of other
stores and warehouse inventory for me.  I expect to hear from her no later
than to-morrow.

Anyway, it was very nice to hear from you.  I am in the first of the
television generation and this internet stuff still amazes me.

Take care.

Philip

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Rkent13@aol.com Wed Jul  3 07:36:21 1996
Subject: Anne McCaffrey

You really need to try to get past the begining of the series (Pern) as many
of the characters, and situations are explained in detail in seperate books.
 Also She has a new  series 'Freedom's Landing' just starting.  With over  40
books to her credit, you should go beyond 8% to make a judgement.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From DanV11@aol.com Wed Jul  3 09:30:34 1996
Subject: your author page

I looked under Dave Wolverton, and you forgot his to BEST BOOKS!!!-sorry I
love the guy:)

His first book in his series in called The Golden Queen, his second is called
Beyond the Gate...they two great books must be reconized:)

Your library is pretty cool, lots of info....

thanx,

Dan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From susanne.goldmann@stud.uni-rostock.de Thu Jul  4 03:45:32 1996
Subject: Wow...

hi Doug,
most excellent page!!!have a big question for
you and hope, you can help me....
as i'm german i don't seem to be getting the chance
of reading D.Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy in English...but i want to!
have you got any idea whatsoever,
where to find complete books in the net??or does
this not exist at all???if you know of anything
and it's not too much trouble for you,please let
me know,you have no idea how grateful i'd be.
loadsaluv,
Susanne

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kretzp@amglogistics.com Thu Jul  4 05:26:15 1996
Subject:  Harry Harrison

I'm suprised that you have not read more Harry Harrison.  The Deathworld   
Trilogy and the West of Eden series are both great reads.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From mcclanah@fas.harvard.edu Fri Jul  5 09:45:36 1996
Subject: comment 

Suggestion: Read David Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr series 
(admittedly only 4 of 5 are out but they're all in paperback)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Richard York 
Subject: David Zindell

I thought you might know of the "neverness" series by David Zindell.  
While it has not gained the notoriey of other recent books, I found both 
"Neverness" and the "Broken God" immensely stimulating and entertaining. 
The reason I am writing is that I hope you may have some information 
or, may know where I can get information on what I believe should be a 
third book in the series.

If you do, could you email me;

Thanks,
Richard F. York

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From charles.burgess@mci2000.com Fri Jul  5 18:52:54 1996
Subject: Recommended Reading

Doug,

I am amazed at how close our reading list is.  
I would highly recommend reading the 
"Recluce" Series by L.E. Modesitt.  
Each of the books stand alone,  but it helps to read 
them in order.  

Another good read was "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind.

I read your note on Robert Jordan.  
I too was burnt by Donaldson and still managed to 
fall into the trap with Jordan.  

I hope you find these enjoyable,  I did.

Regards,
Jeff Burgess  -  charles.burgess@mci2000.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From mlkozlow@students.wisc.edu Fri Jul  5 23:59:34 1996
Subject: Book Reviews

I've been reading your site regularly for a while now, and I have to say 
that I've been very impressed by the quality of your reviews.

Keep it up.

And on the recommendations front:

 o  Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts:  The Empire Trilogy
This is a kinda-sorta sequel to the Riftwar books.  It's also a much 
better series than Riftwar.  It deals with an Oriental-type world, and 
the plot is very politically-oriented.  If you thought _Riftwar_ was 
good, but formulaic, you'll undoubtedly prefer these.

 o  Robert J. Sawyer:  The Terminal Experiment
SF in the classic mold, this combines the best "what-if" extrapolations 
of Asimov and Clarke with great characterization.  It recently won a 
Nebula, and is Hugo-nominated.  Worth a read.

 o  Robert Asprin:  The "Myth" Books, and Phule's Company
Light, humorous works.  Not great Literature by any means, and not 
classics of the genre, but enjoyable.

 o  David Brin:  Anything you haven't read yet
His short story collections (_Otherness_ and _The River of Time_) are 
great; and I don't like short stories that much.  _The Practice Effect_ 
is a fun, light book.  _Glory Season_ is a great exploration of gender 
roles.  Read 'em.

 o  Julian May:  Pliocene Exile series
I haven't read the rest of her stuff yet (except for the atrocious 
_Trillium_ books), but these are quite enjoyable.

 o  Larry Niven:  Known Space series, and Smoke Ring series
The Smoke Ring books are very good.  Known Space is hit and miss, but at 
least read _Ringworld_ and _Protector_.  They're classics of the genre, 
and rightfully so.

 o  Dave Duncan:  A Man of His Word series, A Handful of Men series,
                  The Seventh Sword series, _The Cursed_
If you ignore everything else I've recommended, read Duncan.  He is one 
of the most original fantasy writers around today.  These books are 
great.  AMoHW and AHoM are related fantasy series; read them in that 
order.  Remarkably enough, the second series is every bit as fresh and 
inventive as the first.  TSS is a "cross-over" type novel, where a 
modern man goes into a fantasy world.  The first novel is about what 
you'd expect; the second two are great.  Much better than Rosenberg at 
this sub-genre.  _The Cursed_ is a stand-alone fantasy novel.  Again, 
it's ridiculously inventive, though it is darker than most of Duncan's 
works.  

 o  Weis and Hickman:  The Rose of the Prophet trilogy
Takes place in a desert environment, and draws heavily from Arabic 
mythology and culture.  At times hilarious, at times bleak.  Great 
books; the best Weis and Hickman have written, IMHO.  (And BTW, I'll 
anti-recommend their Darksword Trilogy.  Awful.)

 o  Parke Godwin:  _Firelord_, _Sherwood_
These books deal with, respectively, King Arthur and Robin Hood.  Very 
detailed and authentic.  _Firelord_ is the best treatment of the Arthur 
legend I've read (I'm putting it ahead of Lawhead's very good Pendragon 
Cycle, and Nikolai Tolstoy's awful book).

That's about all I can think of off-hand.  Hope that helps!

-- 
Mike Kozlowski, who managed not to mention Jordan at all
mlkozlow@students.wisc.edu
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~kozlowsk

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Emchale@aol.com Sat Jul  6 16:20:05 1996
Subject: Cowboy Feng's Country Bar and Grill

Hi:
A steven Brust book that I did not see on your web page is the above title.
 The book is terrific - funny, poignant and entertaining.
My personality type is ENTP, but I still agreed with most  of your reviews.
Thanks,
Ed McHale

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From LashYerFez@aol.com Sun Jul  7 09:44:31 1996
Subject: Dan Simmons

I noticed you haven't reviewed the newest boko in the Hyperion series... Its
called "Endymion" and its actually not bad, per se. Check it out.  :)

I, myself, could not wait. I head about it online (from a guy with the screen
name Silenus2). I was really really coincidental, too, cuz Hyperion has been
one of my top favorite books of all times, and I was finally rereading it. I
was 3 chapters shy of finished with it, when I saw this guy online, asked him
about the origin of his name, and, of course, it was Hyperion inspired, and
he told me about Endymion. Weird, huh? 

The book is fairly good, but could be retitled "Catholics in Space" (like the
Mel Brooks joke from History of The World: Jews in Space)...

Anyway, when it comes out I hope you enjoy it.  :)

Jeff

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From fer@theory6.chem.pitt.edu Mon Jul  8 16:23:46 1996

Hi!,
    I was looking at your page and got some good ideas. Thanks!
But I think you are lacking of some classics: Vance, Stapledon and Sturgeon.
In my humble opinion Vance is the best alternative societies creator in 
the history of SF. Most people consifer him as "just epic SF", but he is 
"the best epic SF". And he has some of the best fantasy besides Tolkien.
Sturgeon and Stapledon are very, very good for philosophical SF.

Regards, Fernando.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rkkonikoff@worldnet.att.com Mon Jul  8 18:54:10 1996
Subject: Jobs in the Real World and Your Book Review

Hey dude.... I saw your book list when I searching for something to do 
with John Steakley (Armor).  I was a little disappointed that you would 
rate Vampires over Armor, but I guess I'm more of a, "why do soldiers do 
what soldiers do?" kind of guy.  I spent 12 years on active duty in the 
army and am still in the reserves.

Anyway.... I know that Boeing is always looking for math gurus and star 
gazers for the sattelite division working out of George Marshall Space 
Center (Huntsville, AL).  I'm a safety engineer by trade, not a rocket 
scientist by any stretch of the imagination.  You might also consider 
one of the math labs for the Air Force or Navy.  I know the Math Lab and 
the "Systems Command" at Eglin Air Force Base (Ft. Walton Beach, FL) 
usually post jobs for that sort of stuff.

Oh... Nice home page.  I love the graphics.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From MRSHRUB@aol.com Tue Jul  9 05:05:30 1996
Subject: The Lost World

The Lost World , by Micheal Crichton, is by far the best book he has written
besides Jurassic Park.  If you enjoyed Jurassic Park I would definately read
this.  Unfortunately it is still out in hardcover but if you want to read it
get it from the library ( it's a lot cheaper).
I would write more about it but I must go now.
Goodbye,
              From MR SHRUB (not my choice of name)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From scottz@itmm.com Wed Jul 10 12:14:48 1996
Subject: Zelazny

Doug,

Don't know if you're interested in any links to Roger Zelazny's 
stuff, but here are two just in case:

http://faraday.clas.virginia.edu/~npt4g/zelazny/zelazny.html

and 

http://www.itmm.com/scott/zelazny

Enjoy!

Later,
Scott

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Squiff@aol.com Thu Jul 11 09:56:50 1996
Subject: pratchett&others

I am writing in response to your requests regarding Terry Pratchett novels.
 I must admit to having a similar experience with the early books - the first
few were good, the next few okay.  But after a brief slump, Mr. Pratchett
came back with a vengeance.  Not only have the books gotten better, but some
of them rate among the best I have ever read.  He has gone from merely being
funny to using the fantasy setting to satirize modern society.  The results
can be astounding.  Here follows a list of the better ones.
   Pyramids- All the assassins' guild homour you can take, as a young pharoah
takes assassanation as his chosen proffesion.  He returns home, still naive
and clueless, only to have the fate of the kingdom thrust upon him as all the
gods his people have ever worshipped manifest at the same time. ( Plus: Camel
mathematicians )
  Moving Pictures- A marvelous send-up of movies and how they can change
people.  An intangible force is released upon Discworld after thousands of
years and drives the people to create a mecca in the wilderness, for the
creation of moving pictures.  It's called Holy Wood and may just mean the end
of the world.
  Reaper Man - This is one of my favorite books ever.  Death is fired for
having a personality, and finds out that life can be lot more complicated
than death ever was-especially when he falls in love with his landlady.   But
things get complicated when he tries to reclaim his mantle from the NEW
death, whos has some new-fangled ideas of his own.  A book about professional
pride, self sacrifice, life, death, and love.  Laugh out loud funny and
almost to tears touching.
  Small Gods - This and RM are the best books Pratchett has written.  What
happens when a mighty god finds out he has only one true follower, and can
only manifest as a small turtle?  And what if that god's worst enemy is the
church devoted to him? Goofy philosophers, newt gods, guys who live on top of
poles, funny cults, and a really creepy bad guy all add up to make this
biting satire about religon a very funny book.
  Soul Music - The latest paperback release, this book is about ( to misquote
the book ) Sex, Dwarfs, and Music With Rocks In It.  While Death goes on
vacation to try to discover the meaning of life, his odd grand-daughter must
fill in.  At the same time, a young bard finds a magic guitar and sets the
world on fire with Music With Rocks In It.  The problem is, as the young lady
Death finds out, the price of fame may be his soul....
  I highly recommend all of them - Small Gods and Reaper Man most of all.
 Enjoy!
  P.S.Have you ever read Harlan Ellison?  He is quite possibly the best SF
short story writer around.  If you can find a book of his, read it.  If not,
he has a story or two in just a bout every Hugo collection book.
( For the record this is the first E-mail I have ever sent.)
                                        Squiff (Gregory Peters) 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From thearn@cnd.mcgill.ca Sun Jul 14 15:14:05 1996
Subject: comment and recommendation

I'm quite impressed with your web site. I've read so much that it's
been getting difficult to find new authors to try. Since our views are
similar on most books, I'll accept your recommendations.
	One author that I would suggest (who, as far as I can tell, is
mentioned nowhere in the mail-bag or the site) is Joan D. Vinge. All her
work is of high quality, but I mainly recommend Catspaw. It's a part of
a series of novels on the life of the main character, but it (and Psion,
the one before it), stands alone. I rank her with Dan Simmons for pure
writing ability. 
							Taryn Hearn

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Naomi Kalmus 
Subject: David Duncan 

I noticed that you don't list Dave Duncan in your author list. His books 
are light-hearted fantasy that I very much enjoy.  The series "A man of 
His word" (4 books) and its sequel 4 books are all in print and fun light 
reading.  I'm currently reading the Seventh Sword series which is also 
all out.  If you like a touch of humor or tongue in cheek in your sci fi 
fantasy, check these out.    Naomi Kalmus

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: eddie <"1sted@concentric.net"@cris.com>
Subject: first ballantine ringworld

hello;

I'm new to on-line so bear w/me. This isn't meant to sound so 
commercially crass, but...  
I remember first reading R.W. Engineers & in the intro, Larry wrote 
about tech errors in the first printing of Ballantine's pub.  Also, 
something about holding on to any first printings as they would be 
worth something. I have a good library of SF (paperbacks, some HB) and, 
while I would sell other SF, not this particular book (the hunt, not the 
kill). Still, does this edition have additional intrinsic value besides 
a great read?	Thanks for any info you can give me.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dburgess@mail.wincom.net Tue Jul 16 19:37:42 1996
Subject: Pretty Cool Page!! :)

Just wanted to tell you that I think you're idea for this web site is 
fantastic.  You're tastes in fantasy and science fiction seem to run 
pretty square with my tastes and I thought you might try a few of these 
authors out.
The Dragon Knight series - Gordon R. Dickson
The Sword Of Truth series - Terry Goodkind <- very new author with only 
			the two books of the series out.  Very talented 
	      		though.  The first book is over 800 pages and I 
			couldn't put it down until it was finished.
Into The Out Of - Alan Dean Foster	
The Dig - Alan Dean Foster
Watchers - Dean Koontz

Have a hole pile of other favourites but the list would be to long for 
you to have time to read... :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From redwards@cwv.net Tue Jul 16 20:16:14 1996
Subject: Robert Ludlum

I just scanned over your page again, to see what you have been reading,
and I stumbled across your opinion on Robert Ludlum's last two Borne
books.

First of all, I have not read these last two, but I have read the first,
which you seemed to have missed.  _The Bourne Identity_ was an excellent
book, and I think that you should give it a look.  My best friend has
read all of the books, and his opinion is that only the first is
actually worth reading.

Thank you for your time.

Devin Edwards

redwards@cwv.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rlejeun@tiger.lsuiss.ocs.lsu.edu Thu Jul 18 05:36:46 1996
Subject: Reading

Try Colin Wilson's "The Mind Parasites." You'll love it.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From s006bel@wirght.edu Thu Jul 18 08:30:10 1996

	If you are interested in Moorcock, you should try the rest of the 
Eternal Champion series.  Although I do not know if you have read them 
or not as of yet, they have recently been compressed according to their 
respective subjects as of late.  These large omnibus volumes also 
include new introductions by Moorcock and interesting new insights into 
each of the acpects of the Eternal Champion.  
	While I cannot personally say that one of the Champions is the better, 
Elric does seem to be the most developed of the group.
	Send me something back.  Science-Fiction and Fantasy are my 
speciality, I've got a collection numbering in the thousands.

Benjamin Lusk.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From knox.42@osu.edu Thu Jul 18 10:42:26 1996
Subject: PERSONALITY AND BOOKS

I don't know whether your theory on personality and book choices is more
frequently right or wrong but I'm also an INFJ and I wouldn't touch most
(any) of the books you like.  I read constantly and have a huge library
noticably and purposely lacking any sci-fi, horror, or pulp (Clancy and
King).  Those particular genres leave me quite cold.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kathy.attrill@UAlberta.CA Fri Jul 19 06:51:11 1996
Subject: a good book

Hi Doug.  My name is Kathy and I read your 
home-page yesterday and I thought that it was quite 
good.  I wish you would give the Pern books 
another go - I have not read one for about 3 years 
but I still want a dragon of my own!  
I have another book for you to read.  I first found the 
title when I was about 15 then I found 
my own copy in a second-hand store and I read it about 
every 18-24 months I enjoy it so much.  
The name is "Sleeping Planet" by William R. Burkett, 
Jr.  I guess you could say that it is written at a 
junior level but it is the story that I 
enjoy so much.  I have thought that it would 
make a good Lucas or Spielberg movie.  But anyway 
give it a go.  Thanks. Kathy.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From KShaw12163@aol.com Fri Jul 19 11:11:54 1996
Subject: StarWars

Hi Doug,

I was just wondering, in your top one hundred book list I saw a Star Wars
book by Gene Wolfe.  I cannot remember the title but I have never heard of
this book before.  Could you please tell me where you read this.  Thanks a
lot.  I really enjoy your page.  I was also wondering if you ever read any
Clive Barker books, because I didn't see any in your top 100 list.  Thanks

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ygyank@iway1.iw.net Fri Jul 19 11:45:51 1996
Subject: ludlum

"The Bourne Identity" was the first "Bourne" novel. Reading 
it will tell you why the other two sold well. "The Matarese 
Circle" is my favorite Ludlum book.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dwillett@erols.com Sun Jul 21 20:27:09 1996
Subject: Philip K. Dick

Haven't you ever read a Philip K. Dick novel?  If not, why haven't you? 
 He seems to be a tremendous favorite amoung cyberpunk fans (why he is 
considered cyberpunk I don't know). I have not read any of his books, 
but plan to.  The movie Bladerunner was great.

Johann

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From pglasser@tiac.net Sun Jul 21 21:19:38 1996
Subject: Alfred Bester's The Star's My Destination

Dear Doug: You really must read more carefully. Bester's The Stars My 
Destination is a classic SF novel, in classic form. The device you seem 
to be unclear about is that Foyle has the ability to teleport in free 
space, enabling interstellar travel, while all others can only teleport 
within a gravitational field. The problem is, he doesn't know it. And the 
standard revenge motif is complicated by the fact that the uneducated 
Foyle (he can teleport, but can barely read) wishes to take revenge on an 
spaceship which passed him by while he was marooned in space. It is only 
as he becomes more sophisticated that he realizes he should take revenge 
upon the captain of the ship instead. 

It's nice to see a young person dealing in classic SF. Please don't 
take this as discouragement.
David Bradley

## I responded (being in a bad mood since I was writing my dissertation):
## 
## Well, I must say your letter was interesting.  It reminded me, in fact,
## of a few of my most-hated English teachers from high school.  As a
## real book fan and one who often finds himself recommending favorite
## works to others, allow me to offer you a bit of advice (see also my
## Robert Jordan page):  Let others decide for themselves what is "classic".
## 
## The first, best way to turn someone off of great literature is to go
## on and on about how "great" it is.  Even worse is to tell them that
## their opinion of a book is somehow "wrong" if they don't like it.  
## In short, don't be pretentious.  If you have to be pretentious, make
## it clear that you are aware of it and either explain why or have some
## fun with it or both.
## 
## "The Stars My Destination" will remain a classic to countless readers,
## regardless of my opinion of it.  The fact that I remain more or less
## indifferent about it will only change with time and perhaps with my
## tastes in literature.  My opinion certainly will not change because
## of your letter.  If anything, I have a stubborn streak and so am now
## unlikely to visit the book again in the forseeable future.  Please do
## me a favor and do NOT recommend any books to me, for I am afraid that
## you will recommend something I am already looking forward to reading
## and so will spoil the experience!  :)
## 
## > It's nice to see a young person dealing in classic SF. Please don't 
## > take this as discouragement.
## 
## I certainly do not wish to be rude because I am sure you mean well, but
## perhaps you can more clearly see how you sound to me by trying this
## statement on for size:
## 
## It's nice to see an old person using a computer to express an opinion.
## Please don't take this as a discouragement.
## 
## PS.  I do understand Foyle's power, but I try to be as vague as possible
##      in my reviews.  Spoiling the concepts upon which the speculative
##      fiction novel is based is often worse than spoiling the plot, imho.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From b1bohx46@pop1.sympatico.ca Wed Jul 24 09:49:54 1996
Subject: The Shannara Trilogy review

    I was just recently cruising the 'net to find some reviews and 
opinions on the first King Of Shannara, which I have just finished 
reading.  I have read the whole Shannara series including his new one, 
and I must say your review is somewhere close to the mark.  I'm only 
fifteen, and I am starting to realize some of the subtle nuances in books 
and fantasy in particular that Terry Brooks lacks. His writing is good to 
be sure, and I certainly enjoy reading them, but your point about Lord of 
the Rings plagerism is totallly correct.  Still, it adds a modern day 
twist to some of Tolkien's better works that can become cluttered at 
times.
    I have always enjoyed Brooks' works, and think that this will 
continue into the foreseeable future.  What I have realized though, is 
that he is not the ultimate best fantasy writer.  His works lack the fine 
detail and character development, and in some cases even the suspense 
factor, that other great fantasy authors have employed in their works.  A 
modern day example being Robert Jordan.  He is an excellent writer with a 
writing ability that counters Tolkien's.  His books are deep, thought 
provoking and just all round amazing.  Robert Jordan (not his real name 
of course) has the added detail and richness to his novels that Brooks' 
novels lack, but nonetheless, I believe anyone who is an avid fantasy 
reader would at least enjoy these books, as a modern day alternative to 
Tolkien's works.  As all true fantasy readers know, there is not a lot of 
good fantasy out their to read, but I believe Brooks does not fall into 
that category.  Anyways, its better than reading Piers Anthony by a 
country mile.  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From bitbend@ibm.net Thu Jul 25 14:15:09 1996
Subject: Joel Rosenberg

Doug,
	I looked over your review of Joel's Gaurdians of the Flame books, 
and I think his newest series: D'Shai, Hour of the Octopus, Is one of the 
most well written books I have read.  (I've read a fair amount, being an 
English Major)  If you Like Joel's writtings, try his new ones.  On 
another note, If you like Margaret Weis + Tarcy Hickman's series, They 
both have new books on their own.  Tracy Hickman's is "Songs of the 
Stellar Wind: Requiem of Stars"  Margaret's Series (which I think is much 
better than "D'Shai" or "Songs...") is called the Star of the Gaurdians 
Series; The Lost King, King's Test, and King's Sacrifice.  These three 
seem to be written as one story and cleverly divided into three books.  
The fourth book, Ghost King, is not as good as the first three as it 
seems tacked on at the end.  Happy reading, It has been good sharing 
authors with you.
						Mark Armbruster
						marmbruster@oz.manc.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From REDAX@aol.com Thu Jul 25 18:17:47 1996
Subject: Thanks

Personally I like just the text.  Just a word from the other perspective.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dwillett@erols.com Thu Jul 25 18:50:50 1996
Subject: Philip Dick, Bob Heinlien, Orson Card

Doug Ingram wrote:
> Thanks for the note.  Actually, I've been keeping an eye out for his stuff
> at used bookstores, but it is hard to find. 
I know, it is ashame that they are hard to find...in used bookstores.  I have 
All of his novels have just been reprinted but as a large 
paperback, which consequently costs 
between 9 and 12 dollars.  I just bought 
THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE and DO ANDROIDS 
DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? for $11 each, the 
first because it won the Hugo, the second 
because of the excellent movie adaption (Bladerunner).  
UBIK and A SCANNER DARKLY are 
the only ones on your top 100 poll strangly enough.

## Well, it certinaly isn't _MY_ top 100 poll, but anyway...

My favorite author is Robert A. Heinlein.  
Despite him being my favorite author, I did 
not like FRIDAY and THE CAT WHO WALKS THROUGH WALLS either.  
I hope you don't read TO 
SAIL BEYOND THE SUNSET and THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST---
they are pretty awful if you are 
not a Heinlein fan.   Have you read THE MOON IS A HARSH 
MISTRESS or I WILL FEAR NO 
EVIL?--they are terrific, the former is apparently the most popular.  

I am halfway through ENDER'S GAME and THE LORD OF THE RINGS.  
Orson Card is a terrific 
writer.  I started his book yesterday and am already 
more than halfway through it.  
Contrarywise, I find Tolkien to be a very slow pacing writer.  
TLOTR is good but really 
really boring.  THE HOBBIT was great, but I probably won't 
read other Tolkien stories.

I have already bought SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD and XENOCIDE.  
I plan to buy the fourth 
novel (CHILDREN OF THE MIND) which was just released. 
Right now it is around $20 
hardcover, i'll buy it when it drops to $13.  
You said that you don't like to read a 
novel until it comes out in paperback---why don't you go to the library?  

## Because I collect books.  And I know a good book can wait.

I also see that you like Dan Simmon's HYPERION.  
Have you read the third novels in the 
series, ENDYMION?

Don't reply if you wish, I'm just bored.

Johann Willett

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Vochis@eci.com Fri Jul 26 19:52:56 1996
Subject: books

I think that your ratings are very good.  One author I'm not sure if you 
are familiar with is Robert Jordan.  His Wheel Of Time Series is the 
greatest in Fantsay.  You should give him a try.

					Greg Vochis

## GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ElsPappy@gnn.com Sun Jul 28 07:20:33 1996
Subject: The Gap Series

You won't be dissapointed with this one.  It far surpasses anything 
he's ever written, and I like his previous works alot!  Start 
reading them, and don't let "The Real Story" sour you, it gets much 
better.  If the paper back's not out by the time you get to the 
last book, I'll mail you my hard back.  Later!

Den

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From JSteph2448@aol.com Sun Jul 28 11:36:15 1996
Subject: Robert Holdstock

Dear Doug,

I can't tell you how glad I am to have found your web page!  I can't tell you
how many times I've spent over an hour in the bookstore searching for the
next "really good book" only to end up leaving empty handed.  It's really
nice to hear another readers opinion.

Looking through your list of authors, I did not see anything on Robert
Holdstock.  His series on Ryhope Wood are completely different than anything
I've read before. Mythago Wood was my favorite.  It is based on seemingly
small old-growth forest in England.  Those that venture too close for too
long start to experience strange encounters with beings in the forest.  The
deeper they go and the longer they stay, the more real and usually dangerous
the encounters become.

Holdstock's stories have a feel all their own that stayed with me for
sometime after reading them. They make great reading on cold, rainy nights!

Sincerely

John Stephens

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From kdheath@tir.com Sun Jul 28 19:07:20 1996
Subject: HELP!!

Hello,

   My name is David Heath. I have seen your page, and I find it to be 
very useful, thank you. I have also read Ken Grimwood's-Replay. I was 
wondering if you had the time, if you could give me a list of Time-Travel 
books that you would reccomend. I am a very big fan of all time-travel 
related stories.  Your time would be very apprieciated.  Thank you.

                      David Heath

## Surely such a list has been compiled from discussions in the various
## newsgroups.  Unfortunately, I don't know where to look.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From croaker@richmond.infi.net Mon Jul 29 17:46:51 1996
Subject: Black Company by Glen Cook

After many years of searching for others who have at least heard of this 
series, I now find I am not alone.  As you can see from my mail address, 
I am a fan of Croaker and all the other members of the brotherhood.  

Has the third book of the second trilogy been published yet?  None of the 
local bookstores can give me any information.

Thanks in advance for any info...

croaker@richmond.infi.net

Paul J. Falbee

p.s.  Most people think croaker stands for a very popular east coast 
fish.  Who am I to set them straight.  Actually, I gave up after 
explaining it for about the 50TH time!!!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ken@yoyo.com (Ken)
Subject: FYI - Death Gate

FYI - Death Gate
I read a few of the Death Gate Books, and I think you're review is a pretty 
good description.

About Zifnab -- I think it was thrown in for Weis-Hickman fans. See, Zifnab is
(based on?) a character they created when they wrote the DRAGONLANCE stories
which made them so popular among the fantasy circuit. The character, whose name
was Fizban, played an important role there and was a fan favorite.

Maybe you knew that already, but just in case...

Ken

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Wilkie 
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 03:56:15 -0700
Subject: Other Great Books by Micheal Crichton

I, like you am a big Micheal Crichton fan.I have read most of his
books and was almost equally impressed with every one of them, except
for Sphere, I HATED IT!!!! 

     1. If you liked Jurassic Park, you'll love The Lost World!!! It is
the sequel, but it only has one of the same characters (Ian Malcolm, the
rebel scientist.) It has a great plot and is very suspenseful. Like
Disclosure, it is extremely difficult to put down. Every time you think
the story is going to settle down, something exciting happens. I read it
from cover to cover without stopping. I am not sure if ti is out in
pareback yet, so I would recommend going to your local library and
checking it out.

       2. Five Patients, one of his very first books, is also another
must read. Although extremely outdated, it stands as a reference to what
medical care was like in the 1970's. In the book, he follows 5 patients
around in the hospital. It is extremely intense at times, well at other
times almost comical.

 	Well, that was my two cents. I love your web pages and keep up the
good work

        deanna

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: imagine8@ix.netcom.com (James E DILLARD)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 10:07:02 -0700
Subject: Robert Jordan

         I've read all of the WoT books. One through seven. I read alot 
and no writer that I have ever seen compares to the WoT. Let me be one 
more person to tell you to read that series.

                 -Imagine8@Netcom.com

## Now hear this, Robert Jordan fans:  I am a stubborn, stubborn person!
## The more email I receive urging me to do something, the less likely
## I am to do it.  Take the advice on my Robert Jordan page if you want
## to see me read these books!  :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Airny Huynh 
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 12:06:57 -0700

Hi Doug,

I just wanted to write to you because I'm that 16 year-old in the 
bookstore. I'm not THE 16 year-old, but I too never have any idea what 
to get when I go into a bookstore, so I generally end up hanging around 
reading the little blurbs on the backs of books (that all sound the same 
to me no matter how good or bad they end up being) not knowing what to 
get.

Thank you for your wonderful web site: I'm writing stuff down. The only 
problem is that you have SO MANY recommendations that I'm kind of dazed. 
I might end up reading most of your library eventually, but I have quite 
a ways to go. From your author's list I've read some Orson Scott Card, 
Michael Crichton, Steven King, Anne McCaffrey, Larry Niven, Melanie 
Rawn, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein, Terry Brooks, Douglas Adams, Piers 
Anthony, Isaac Asimov, David Eddings, and Alan Dean Foster. Oh, wow. I 
guess I have read quite a bit--never realized until I actually wrote it 
down. Still, I'm lost. Even discounting the books I've already read, 
there are many more authors and books left. What is your absolute, 
have-to-read favorite fiction book that I just have to check out? So 
many people tell me to read Ender's Game, which I have already read. I'm 
going to the book store and library today, and I just don't know what to 
get.

By the way, in case no one has recommended it, you should try Terry 
Goodkind's Sword of Truth Series. I know the entire series isn't out in 
paperback yet, but each book can be read individually--unlike David 
Edding's books that leave you hanging. The only problem you might 
have--as with any single-novel novelist--is that he is such a great 
writer that you would really want to read his next book once it came 
out. Octavia Butler is also a good writer, though not as good as 
Goodkind who is a must-read author whose books are in my opinion as good 
as Ender's Game (and unlike Ender's Game, the sequel is better than the 
first novel). In one of her series (the books are in order: Dawn, 
Adulthood Rites, and Imago) the earth is bombed out (suprise, suprise) 
and destroyed; aliens come and save some earthlings. The aliens are 
"traders": they traverse the universe trading the DNA of other beings 
with their own. Along the way are some great issues of acceptance, 
survival, and discrimination. Octavia Butler writes very fluidly, and 
she is a very modern writer. In fact, she has won awards for her 
writings. Well, happy reading!

Airny

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: clemay 
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 1996 23:59:55 -0400

Hi there...I was suitably impressed with your web page.  You are 
obviously a dedicated reader.  I'm addicted to book reviews, so I will 
visit your site often.  The only problem I had with your reviews was the 
general selection.  You seem to read very well-known authors.  Also, 
most of the authors you read (as well as your favorites) are male.  I'm 
not a crazed feminist, but I do believe you need to branch out a bit.  

Here are a few of my current recommendations:
 
  Resurrection Man by Sean Stewart
  City of Bones by Martha Wells
  Grass by Sheri Tepper (also Raising the Stones)
  Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress (also Beggars & Choosers)
  Becoming Human by Valerie Freirich
  Bone Dance by Emma Bull
  College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer
  Lethe by Tricia Sullivan
  Winterlong by Elizabeth Hand
  In the Mother's Land by Elisabeth Vonarbutg
  Memory & Dream by Charles DeLint
  The Bohr Maker by Linda Nagata

These are by no means the best books you'll ever read, but they are 
pretty darn good.  I know you probably have piles of books you haven't 
been able to read yet, but perhaps you can spare a few hours for one of 
these.  I am in the middle of The Phoenix Guards (Brust, of course).  I 
seem to be reading his books backwards.  I started with Agyar, then I 
read a few Vlad titles, then I read 500 Years After, now I'm finally 
reading this one.  I agree...he is one of the best writers around (in 
any field). Did my comment about branching out sound harsh?  I didn't 
intend to criticize unfairly.  You write concise reviews which are a joy 
to read.  Thank you for all the effort and time you've invested.  Your 
work is quite a find.
                        I look forward to your updates.
                                               Michelle

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From veen@loop.com Mon Aug 19 00:48:46 1996
Subject: It's Gone...

Doug,

Thank you for the nice review of my book and your kind comments about my 
broadcasting.  As convenient as San Diego is for me I miss Seattle, Dave 
Niehaus, and the Mariners quite a bit.  I was dying last year when they 
finally got into the playoffs.  How's that for my timing, huh?  Anyway, 
maybe this year a San Diego/Seattle world series.  A boy can dream, 
can't he?   Thanks again,

Ken Levine

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: GS Johl 
Subject: DAVID GEMMELL
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 96 14:33:06 BST

Dear Mr Ingram,

I was browsing through SF/Fantasy book reviews and luckily happened upon your 
page.  After reading your review of Thomas Covenant (which seems like a series 
I might enjoy) I thought you might be interested to hear of one of my 
favourite authors: David Gemmell.

He is one of Britain's leading authors of heroic fantasy, and has written 
series based upon the exploits of Alexander the Great, the Mongul Empire, and 
a parallel existence of past present and future earth.

For me, the overwhelming appeal of Gemmell's style is that he creates 
characters and heroes that are often flawed and hence cannot be 
compartmentalised into the restrictive 'Knight in shining armour' and
'Evil Tyrant' categories that proliferate in so much of modern fantasy - in 
particular that of David Eddings.  I don't mean to say that I am not 
entertained by Edding's books, but I don't think he generates characters 
that have the natural shortcomings and  endearing qualities needed to overcome 
those shortcomings nearly as well as Gemmell does.

As a plug! I would heartily recommend that you try the LION OF MACEDON or 
DRENAI series to start with as they illustrate perfectly the muscular, pacey, 
complex, twisting and daringly imaginative plots that epitomise Gemmells work

Here is a description of one of his series

1) LION OF MACEDON and DARK PRINCE
   
Gemmell's fantasised telling of the rise and deeds of Alexander the Great.  
The story concentrates on the general Parmenion who as a mixed-race outcast 
rises to the envied position as King Philip II's  leading general, advisor and 
friend before guiding his successor Alexander onto even greater and darker 
things.  The plot is thick with betrayal, close friendships, love, lust,
honour, self interest, duty and greed

Gemmel's unique style brings the life, loves, politics and dark magic of 
Ancient Greece alive in the reader's mind.  Extensive reasearch into the 
military confrontations of the day, coupled with Gemmells knack of describing 
vividly the mechanisms of battle, makes this THE best series I have ever 
read...

Hope you enjoy it

Yours sincerely

Guru Johl

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Joe Pusateri 
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 10:10:20 -0500

Doug,

	I browsed thru the Author index, looking for common authors 
with which to compare my opinions to yours and found a fairly solid 
intersection of opinions.

Your Covenant reviews are right on the head!  

Pretty much so with Adams, Anthony, Asimov, Brooks (I never got past 
the first chapters of Shannara because Bilbo kept yelling in my head
"been there, done that"), Brust, deCamp, Heinlein, Herbert and Tolkien.

I did think, though, that Zelazny's Amber was a little better than all
that because of Merlin's computer aspect that I kind of got into.

I also thought Eddings' books weren't that re-hashed, but I see your
point.  Try Belarath the Sorcerer for size.  It covers the history of
the (Lazarus Long-type) old bastard up until the start of the
Belgariad.

My personal "cross to bear" is Stasheff's The Warlock in Spite of Himself
I know, I know, none of the other books is as rich as this one, but I 
like Rod Gallowglass and the later books that deal with his kids (late
teens) fill out the picture but can't, of course, stand too well on their own.
The first book, though, is my reread "reward" when I need to recharge on
a good SciFi/Fantasy mix story.  Also, his "Her Majesty's Wizard" I really got
a kick out of, but, true to form, the story sagged after a book or two.

I find that my interest is aroused when you get a good mix of "current,
real-earth (or at least "practical and sensible") Joe Schmo meets
world-where-magic-really-works" or something of that type.
Thus my interest in Stasheff, Donaldson, Zelazny, Eddings, Anthony (Man
from Mundania) and Adams.  Any other suggestions???

Lastly, all hail to the great J.R.R. Tolkien for his misplaced hobbit
and the rich history that surrounds him.  BTW, Unfinished Tales is exactly 
what you were told.  
I've gotten so much more from them than the Silmarillion.

Great Thanks for putting finger to keyboard and letting me listen in!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Johann Willett 
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 14:01:34 -0400
Subject: The Unread

Are you posting reviews for every book you read?  
For instance, you talk as if you read most of Stephen Kings novels, 
yet you only review 
four of them.  
Do you ever plan on reading anymore Robert Heinlein or some of 
Kim Stanley Robinson's 
Mars novels???

Later.

## To be honest with you, I have several King novels sitting on my wife's
## shelf waiting to be read.  I've enjoyed everything I've read by him, 
## but I've been very slow to read new stuff because I have to be in a certain
## state of mind to read King, I guess.  Rest assured that the King section
## in my reviews library will slowly fill to completion, but it may take 
## another couple of years.  Yeah, I'll read Robinson (altogether now)
## when it all comes out in paperback...at which time it goes to the end of
## a rather lengthy "to read" queue (moving has really slowed my pace, though
## I'm starting to read more again).  I don't know about more Heinlein.  I
## really liked Past Through Tomorrow, but I hated his other novels that I
## read.  I have heard wonderful things about a few of his first novels and
## I do intend to follow up those recommendations eventually.  You will note
## that my mailbag has about 360K worth of recommendations of varying quality
## (usually good to great and believeable).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: John Leavitt 
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 15:03:52 -0400
Subject: Speculative Fiction Clearing House

Hi.

I'm glad to see you like my site "The Speculative Fiction Clearing
House", but it has moved recently (and will be moving again shortly).

It currently lives at http://polarbear.eng.lycos.com/sf-clearing-house/

It will shortly be moving for the last time to:

     http://www.steampunk.com/

At that time, it will also finally undergo the massive facelift it
needs and will contain 2-3 (4? 5? haven't counted) times as many links
as the current version. 

-John.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: BHodges000@aol.com
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 18:33:11 -0400

Thanks for creating this interesting web site.  I'm an avid SF reader, first
edition collector and I had fun browsing through some of your pages.  I agree
with you about Dan Simmons - an incredible writer.  I think I'll read Phases
of Gravity next.  I didn't see mention of any books by Iain Banks on your
list.  For me he's an equal to Simmons and a real up and coming star.  I also
like authors like Tim Powers and Neal Stephenson - for the sheer audacity of
their imaginations, and for possessing a refreshing sense of humor.
Anyway thanks, I'll be back.
Cheers, Brett

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: kyrilson@juno.com (Paul L Spencer)
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 05:54:53 PST

	Hi!   I stumbled across your Library Page the other day, as I was
looking for some reviews of SF and Fantasy books.  I'm a very avid
reader, but, unfortunately, I've been away from the SF and Fantasy genre
for about 10 years (since I was about 15 or so), when I used to read
Piers Anthony, and other ah, how should I say it, "pulpy" SF/Fantasy
writers.  In the time between, I have stuck to mainly thrillers and
other "so called real world" books.  Every now and then I'd pick up a
SF/Fantasy book as well, but not often enough.  I tried to read the
Covenant series when I was about 14, but, after reading the rape scene,
I was so ashamed of the leading protagonist's actions, I couldn't
continue reading the book.  After reading your review of the series, I'm
considering giving it another try.  
 	After I went through your reviews, I went out and picked up a
copy of Jhereg by Brust, and I LOVED it!!  :)   Just today, I went out
and picked up Yendi, and Hyperion by Simmons, I'm currently reading
Hyperion, and so far, it's a terrific book!!  I can't thank you enough
for pointing me in the right direction!! :)  
	My tastes are something of an anomaly (btw, I also am an INFJ
personality), in that, I must be the only person in the world that
hasn't read Tolkein.  Yes, I know, everyone tells me he's the
_penultimate_ fantasy writer, etc.  However, I've tried to read The
Hobbit 3 or 4 times, and I've never been able to get through it.  I'm
not really sure why.  *shrug*  
	Keep up the good work, your page is by far, the best SF/Fantasy
book review page on  the internet that I've found so far.  Right now, I
don't have any recommendations for you for reading material, but,
hopefully, I will soon, as I expand my SF/Fantasy readings.  I have a
lot of ground to cover, since I have never read any of the classics,
like Asimov's Foundation Series, Heinlein, Herbert, or any of the
others.  I think I'm gonna have fun reading them though!! :)  
	Thanks again for awakening the SF/Fantasy nut that's lurked
inside me all these years.  :)

Rob Hall

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Michael Waite 
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 08:09:35 -0700
Subject: Lonely Hearts of the Universe

Greetings from Ypsilanti MI,

I just read your review of Dennis Overbye's, Lonely Hearts of the 
Cosmos. I, too, enjoyed the book and do not regret paying full price 
for it when it first came out. 

Andrew Franknoi, in Sky and Telescope, lists Lonely Hearts of the 
Cosmos as one of the astronomy books he would take with him, if 
stranded on a desert island.  Check out the article, "The Stranded 
Astronomer's Library", it’s worth reading.  (Sky and Telescope, 
September, 1996, p. 52)

You also mentioned that Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos was one of the 
dumbest titles for a book.  I agree, and would like to add another 
title to the "dumbest title" list -- Have Spacesuit Will Travel by 
Robert A. Heinlein.  I think the book is great, perhaps Heinlein's 
best (along with Citizen of Galaxy), but the title . . .

Pax,
Michael (sosadmin@tir.com)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Williams, Joe" 
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 96 14:40:04 -700

I am looking for a review of Greg Bears latest novel, a sequal
to Eon and Eternity. The book is called Legacy. I dont expect
you to read this book just to give me a review (unless it's
available in paperback and then you could afford to) but maybe 
you could turn me on to another site that would have one.

                                              Thanx

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Casey Stratton 
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 1996 00:51:50 -0700

Doug,
  I like fantasy tales and tend to stay on the traditional side. (JRRT,
Brooks, etc)
  I did however pick up a little paperback book produced under the
Dungeons and Dragons TSR folks.  Usually I stay away from anything
having to do with the D&D stroy tell, but this caught my eye.  
  There are currently 9 books in this series (I think that is right
anyway), and I have read 6.  I first read book 1 in the late 80's while
unemployed and not having anyone to do anything with.  It was called the
crystal shard by R.A. Salvator.  It was a captivating little book, and a
bit too violent at times, but I enjoyed it.  So, I decided to read the
next in the series, and so on.  I enjoyed them also. 
  The 2nd set of books, however, really captivated me.  These are no
great literary works of art mind you, they do however have a way of
getting your attention.
  Check them out if you would.  Not a bad bedside book.
Casey

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "W. Bradbury" 
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 00:16:01 -0700

  Dude, stop whatever you are doing right now and go out and get either
Labyrinths or Ficciones by Borges. (Labyrinths has all the stories in
Ficciones, and then some.. so get it if you can.)  If you like Eco, you will
love this guy.  Trust me.  It's tough reading, but great stuff.

 Also, Eco has a new book out.
 And you might try some Harlan Ellison too.

 Will

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Johann Willett 
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 21:27:18 -0400

Why are Robert Jordan fans so put down?
What about Terry Brooks fans?

Which one is supposed to be better?

(Sorry, I know those aren't Comments.  
 I won't break down in tears if you don't reply.)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: kamchar@ibm.cl.msu.edu (SunCat)
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 19:18:50 -0400
Subject: Sommers

## Ed. Note:  This is in reply to a previous mailbag letter + response.
##
## Some excerpts from the past letter:
##
## -------------------------------------------------------------
## >> From: sam@peta.ee.cornell.edu (Samuel Lin)
## >> Date: Fri, 25 Aug 95 18:19:40 EDT"
##
## >> I'was browsing through your book reviews and saw your Backlash /
## >> The Beauty Myth reviews.
## >> I haven't read these books, but I would like to recommend another
## >> feminist book I recently read:
## >> _Who Stole Feminism?_  by Christina Hoff Sommers.
## >> ...
## >> Sommers' book is a sharp, incisive criticism of the Faludi, MacKinnon,
## >> style feminism.  Sommers' accounts of some of their behaviors and 
## >> tactics are absolutely appalling.  Sommers has been criticised as being
## >> "a radical right winger", but as a strong anti-fundamentalist, I found
## >> Sommers' criticisms to be extremely penetrating and on-target.
## >> ...
## >> I  would certainly be in terested in your thoughts/reviews
## -------------------------------------------------------------

## I had responded that I had found a couple of silly and obviously
## untrue statements on Sommers part, stating "NOBODY but NOBODY
## speaks like this" and that Sommers doesn't strike me as credible.
##
## And so the issue was put to rest, until...

>OPEN LETTER TO AAUW MEMBERS FROM
>CHRISTINA HOFF SOMMERS
>
>In December of 1993 I debated AAUW Executive Director Anne Bryant on
>ABC's Lifetime Magazine." When I said I had found the AAUW studies on 
>gender bias to be tendentious and
>unconvincing, Ms. Bryant shook her finger at me and issued a warning:
>"Christina, stop it!
>Do you want to know something? This is the last time you'll criticize
>the incredibly prestigious and well- run organization the American 
>Association of University Women."

"NOBODY but NOBODY speaks like this" except on planet earth.  I have
seen this kind of behavior myself.  Goodtime and hightime that someone has
finally written about it.  Do you think it's even possible for a woman
to call herself feminsit and have a flaw?  Is there *any* amount of
corruption you will not excuse?

We can always check the videotape and see.

SunCat

## Yes, it is possible for a woman to call herself a feminist and have a flaw.
## Take Christina Hoff Sommers, for example.  :)  
## 
## It is also possible for someone to disagree with someone else's political
## philosophy and then get so wrapped up in it that he/she goes off on some
## weird tangent or generalizes the other person's position to such an extent
## that what is being debated turns into a useless straw man.
## 
## Here's an example of just that:
## 
## >Is there *any* amount of corruption
## >you will not excuse?
## 
## If you can point me to a good counter-feminism book that I have reason to
## believe is good, I'll stick it on my "watch for" list.  I will no more
## read a political book off the shelf on the basis of a "I saw it in the
## bookstore" recommendation than I would any other book...not when I get
## so many thoughtful recommendations every day.
## 
## The other problem is, I'm having a problem believing that your opinion
## of a good book and mine will have any kind of significant intersection.
## That's because you're recommending books to me based upon what they
## say (which you, generally, agree with) while I like to read books based
## upon HOW THEY SAY IT (and I don't, in general, agree with much of what
## they're saying, as with Naomi Wolf).  With that said, here are a few
## recommendations of books that I'll bet you'll like:
## 
## "The Things That Matter Most" by Cal Thomas
## "The Real Anita Hill" by David Brock
## "Unlimited Access" by Gary Aldrich
## Any book by Rush Limbaugh
## 
## See...knowing absolutely nothing about the quality of writing in these
## books or their plausibility, I'm fairly certain you'll enjoy them, based
## upon what I know about your literary tastes (which is very little).
## On the other hand, you have puh-lenty of evidence about my tastes in
## literature and yet you're recommending books to me that you haven't
## even read based upon what you feel is their subject matter.  So if you're
## insulted that I am being assumptive about your tastes in reading,
## consider it a little quid pro quo.
## 
## I still stand by my statement that NOBODY on EARTH speaks like that
## quotation.  But a WHOLE LOT of people who don't know how to write
## believeable dialogue (I am one of them) often write words that sound
## good on the printed page but sound silly if spoken aloud.  Find me
## that videotape, and I'll be happy to print a prominent retraction
## of my statement in the mail bag.
## 
## Doug
## 
## PS.  Just so we're completely clear, if I were to read "Between Hope
##      and Destiny" by Bill Clinton, I'm sure I would barf.  I'm an
##      equal-opportunity, non-partisan basher of bad books.

## ------------------------------------------------------------

## Ed. Note:
##
## I eventually received another response from that same person, but
## since it failed to say anything new, I exercised my editorial
## privilege and now return you to your regularly scheduled mailbag
## fare regarding speculative fiction books.
##
## PS. As expected, no videotape was produced.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Chuck Collins" 
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 01:49:19 -0600
Subject: Steakley

Hi Doug.

I just read your review of Vampire$ and I agree with you 100%. It was a
very enjoyable read. You mentioned another book in the review by Steakley,
_Armor_. I hadn't known about this one before so it's off to the used book
store tommorow to hunt it down. As if my pile of books to read wasn't big
enough yet... sigh! :)

I also came across a book by David Gerrold and Larry Niven called 'The
flying sorcerers'. It was published in 1971. I am a big Niven fan and
thought I had everthing he had written until I came across this. I'm about
half wat through it now and it is also a good book with a lot of tongue in
cheek humour. If you get a chance and can find a copy I recomend it. 

-Chuck

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From morin@agate.net Sun Sep  1 01:05:14 1996
Subject: william gibson

I can understand your lukeworm review of Gibson. The first time I tried 
to read Neuromancer back in 1986 I barely made it through half the book.  
But a few years later (with a few english lit.courses under my belt), I 
picked him up again.  Neuromancer blew me away. After that I read all 
his stuff. I think the reason he get's so much attention from the 
mainstream press is because of how well he writes. His prose is so 
polished it shines.(excuse the cliche) 
I admit he can be tough to read, but just take it as it goes.Well worth 
it.  In my opinion,Neuromancer is his best work,Virtual Light his weakest.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ppowers@bkbank.com
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 11:04:39 -0700

I enjoyed your page, and read a number of your reviews.  I found myself 
agreeing with you about half the time, which probably average.  I read much
more non-fiction than fiction (part of my job as a history/theology teacher)
but when I do read for pleasure, it is usually scifi/fantasy.  

I was interested in your comments about personality type.  I am a qualified
examiner for the Myers-Briggs, and I use the Kiersey in my 12th grade class
as part of a unit on influences on decision making.  My own type is XSTJ, 
which as you probably know shows that my score on the Introvert/Extrovert
scale were exactly balanced.  I function as an Extrovert most of the time, but
must have the "down-time" of the Introvert to preserve my sanity.

Keep up the good work.

Ruth Powers
Natchez, MS

## Thanks for the comments.  From my own informal survey of responses, I'd
## say that personality type isn't correlated to a significant extent
## with reading tastes.  The sample size is small, though.  :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Yvette Montoya 
Date: Mon, 02 Sep 1996 08:20:27 -0700
Subject: Rama II & II

Nice web page It will be one of my book marks.  

I just wanted to comment on the Rama trilogy.  
If you have not read books two and three I strongly suggest you 
do.  Although they tend to stray from Clarkes usual hard core scifi 
writing and start to delve in to some 
mysticism the stories are very good.  I agree with you in that the 
first story ended in a somewhat lacking way 
by not fulfilling my expectations.  He hinted at an incredible climax 
only for us to discover that the thing 
totally ignored us.  Made me feel like we(the human race) are very 
irrelevant. In book two it pretty much 
happens again.  In book three guess what it happens again, 
but he does explain everything and I do mean 
everything.  I really enjoyed the series and every time I 
reread them I find some new nuance I did not see 
before.  This story is very well thought out and the 
message that it gives is very humbling.  These books 
reflect are society very well and they depict human 
arrogance(which I believe was the goal of the first story 
and ultimately the trilogy) in a subtle way which is true to classic scifi. 

I hope you found my thoughts on this subject 
interesting(at least entertaining) 

I look forward to visiting you site again.

Thanks 
Lawrence

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Aquino Colaiacomo 
Subject: other books to reae

Have you tried Larry Niven/Pournelle's Lucifer's Hammer ?

Also Gibsons Virtual Light (pretty bizzare)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Randy Tatum 
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 23:07:22 +-1000
Subject: Good Books

Doug,
	I would recommend several authors to your automatic buy list: 
S. M. Sterling and Daniel Keys Moran.  I have never been disappointed 
by one of Sterling's books.  His Draka series and the General series were
first rate.  Daniel Keys Moran's Continuing Time Saga's are also well written.  
What I like about his writing is that the books in this 
series all stand alone even 
though they are related.  This is a good page 
and I'll add it to my ist of favorites.

Randy D. Tatum
Lieutenant Colonel, Armor
US Army
Canberra, Australia

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: MIKE 
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 1995 10:22:50 +0200
Subject: Philip Kindred Dick

Why didn't you even mention the mad Philip? He's brilliant.
Have a look at "The Man In The High Castle" or "Do Androids Dream Of
Electric Sheep".

By the way, congratulations for the marvellous site.

Bye.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From NolanB4495@aol.com Thu Sep  5 22:05:34 1996
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 22:04:58 -0400

I was looking through your Author's Index and couldn't find any listing for
David Drake.  Is there a reason?

Nolan Bond

## Again, this site is not meant to be comprehensive.  I simply haven't
## read anything by Drake yet.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Barbara Wagner 
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 20:12:21 -0400
Subject: Comment's on Your Library Page(s)

Just a short e-mail to let you know how much I enjoy your Library 
and book reviews.  I don't see how you have time to read all those 
books and keep up such  great commentaries.  Ifind your book reviews 
some of the best I've seen since I started cruising the Net.   
You're one of the few people who reads as much as I do. 

I especially like your science fiction reviews.  I enjoy science fiction 
on a selective basis. (My taste in books is eclectic)  Most of my 
interests in sci fi lie in time travel, alternate histories & 
what if, and the Star Trek books.  I never developed a taste for 
the fantasy side of science fiction.  I prefer science fiction 
where there's a possibility (even if it's a very remote) of happening 
some day.  As you probable already, many scientists are rethinking 
the possibility of time travel.  This is a roundabout way to get to 
my point which is I've used your reviews to find a whole new group 
of sci fi authors to read.

I have a few book choices you might enjoy.  (I haven't gone 
through your entire list yet so you may have already read them)

    -    I normally don't like Piers Anthony, but two books 
I really enjoyed were "Isle of Woman" and "Shame of Man", 
the first two books of the Geodyssey series.  
Each book follows the same basic  format  --  tracing a group 
of characters who represent the evolution of mankind.  He 
selects different key periods in history and  tells the story 
of the characters based on what was effecting  mankind during 
that time period. 

 One period may be set in China, another in Egypt, and so on. 
( The time periods covered are different in each book.)  As a 
background, there is a continuing storyline that ties all the 
different time periods together.  

Piers did a great deal of research on each time period which adds  
to the fabric of books.  Not only are the books entertaining, 
but they're very thought provoking.

I know you don't like to buy books until the series is complete, 
but each of these books can be read as a "stand along".  

If you like Robin Cook, you'll like "The Select" by F. Paul Wilson 
(another doctor turned author.)  The subject deals with one  
healthcare group's "answer to the rising costs of  health care".  
I won't tell you more because it might ruin some of the suspense.  
This was one book that kept you on you toes with a whole "medicine 
cabinet" full of plot twists.  I had a really hard time putting 
it down for things like sleeping, eating, etc.  

I read "Final Diagnose" by Robin Cook (another of my favorite authors) 
about the same time as "The Select".  It too was about another 
healthcare group's solution to cutting health care costs.  Their 
approach is not quite as novel as the group in "The Select", 
but still good enough to keep you tied to the pages.  

If you have health care insurance, belong to an HMO, plan to go to the 
hospital, etc., reading these books will really think twice about going 
to the doctor.  In some ways these books are the "scariest" I've read -- 
from a person who loves Stephen King, Dean Koontz...  because never 
group's solution are outside the realm of the "impossible."  
I'm sure that some real healthcare group or radical right-winger 
somewhere has thought of some similar solutions.

I've just started reading Tom Clancy's new book, "Executive Order."  
If you like, I can give you my review when I'm done.

Again, thanks for some great reviews.

Barbara Wagner
major_babs@wow.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jacquelyn M Griffin 
Date: Sat, 7 Sep 1996 14:30:34 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: review of "Black Like Me"

Mr Ingram:
I appreciated finding your review of my uncle's book on the Internet, and
jsut wanted to point out that "Black Like Me" was published in 1961,
although it became popular as high school reading material inthe '70's.
In any case, thanks for including it on your reading list! 
 
                                           Sincerely, 
                                           Jacquelyn M. Griffin
                                           jgriffi2@ bayou.uh.edu


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Sean Miller 
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 18:57:21 -0500

Dear sir,

	You did a pretty good job of criticizing the stuff you had read but
there are a few more books I would recommend.  
	There is one very  large book by John Myers Myers entitled Silverlock. 
If you have ever read any amount of classic literature, you will love
it.  It has great drinking songs and has just come back into print and
is one of the most fun books I have ever read.  
	As for Glen Cook:  you should read more of the Garrett series,
especially the first one, Sweet Silver Blues.  This one should be fairly
easy to find.  Now, for your Ludlum reading:  the reason the two books
you posted commentary on were just so-so is that those are the second
two in the trilogy.  The first one is similar in style to the others but
it is much better and keeps you pulled into it and is one of the best
thriller novels I have ever read.  
	Now to Jennifer Roberson:  she has also written another excellent
series called the Novels of Tiger and Del.  The books are (in order): 
Sword Dancer, Sword Singer, Sword Maker, and Sword Breaker.  The novels
are very good and are probably my favorite set of books to read (I can't
tell you how many times I've read the series.  I try to do it at least
twice a year).  I highly recommend them.  
	Joel Rosenburg has written a couple of other books about two other
worlds.  One of them is calle D'Shai and it has a sequel that I don't
remember the name to.  They are about a world where everyone has a power
that is special to them and what they do.  It is an interesting novel. 
He wrote another one about a group of people that reminded me a lot of
the Dorsai:  the Metzada.  They are confined to a planet with a hostile
environment and can only get money by being mercs.  It is an interesting
novel that I think was written primarily as a money-making exercise.
	Roger Zelazny:  one of my favorite authors who had a knack for leaving
the reader hanging.  A prime example of this is Jack of Shadows.  This
one is an ok novel, but one of his best ones (and one of his own
favorites) is one called This Immortal.  Set in post-nuclear war earth
that has been rescued by a powerful foreign race, the protagonist is
someone who reached about age 30 and quit aging and has become a very
powerful man.  This was Zelazny's first full novel and was extremely
good.  He had also written a few more short stories that got published
in Phlogistan magazine I believe.  I've only read one of them that was
put in an anthology that he edited about Chance and luck. 
	That's all.  Thanks for listening.

					Sincerely,
			                  Sean Miller (kanan@flash.net)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Kristian André Gallis" 
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 15:42:45 +0200

http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/books/mweis.html
She has also written a series alone (I recommend it). It is called "The
star of the Guardians". 4 books, named(from 1-4): The lost King
                                                  King's test
                                                  King's sacriface (sp?)
                                                  Ghost legion
Nice pages!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Eric Neuman 
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 22:45:43 -0700
Subject: Tad Williiams

This is to let you know that the Official Tad Williams Fan Page will be
launching on October 1st.  If interested, you can place a link to the
site at:

http://www.halcyon.com/eneuman/tad.htm

Go ahead and check it out, but please refrain from posting messages on
the Message Board section until the 1st, since I'll be cleaning some
things up there before that time and messages would get deleted.  If you
have any suggestions or contributions, please let me know.  :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
X-Sender: randy@mach10.tsearch.com
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 11:41:37 PDT (-0700)
Subject: Just read your review of..

REPLAY!

Last night I finished reading the book for the third time.  I first read it
on my mothers recommendation in 1989, then again while in college in 1992,
and then just recently.  All three times were at very different stages of
my own life and I think that makes a difference each time I read it.  I
liked what you said about it being a time travel book without all sorts of
science-fictiony stuff thrown in.  A similar theme was used in the film
Groundhog Day, I am not comparing the content mind you, where no
explanation for the phenomenon is ever given.

Anyway, I might check out some of your other choices after I finish the
last 2 Clancy books, Debt of Honor and the most recent one.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Tanj99@aol.com Fri Sep 20 18:21:19 1996
Subject: books books books

Doug,
We don't see absolutely eye to eye on books but I highly (!!!!!!!!!) suggest
that you try C.J. Cherryh's Cyteen series.  I see you didn't enjoy Downbelow
Station but the Cyteen books are everything you want them to be and more.

Just FYI, my favorite authors are Ann McCaffery, C.J. Cherryh, Robert
Heinlein and Jo Clayton.  But since I have over 500 hundred paperbacks
sitting in my spare room I don't limit myself to them.  I just finished 2
series of David Weber's (Mutineers Moon and Honor Harrington) and enjoyed
them throughly.  

Also, please take the time to read Orson Scott Card's Alvin Journeyman
series.

In terms of classics - I hope you've read Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld
series.

Thanks for the page!!!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Rod Pennington 
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 19:34:54 -0700
Subject: Benford's IN THE OCEAN OF NIGHT

Doug,
I was sorry to read that you didn't enjoy Benford's TIMESCAPE as much
as I did or as much as I expected you would.  I just finished my 3rd
Benford book, IN THE OCEAN OF NIGHT (I read ARTIFACT a couple of months
ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it) and I have a couple of comments to
make.  

What I'm having a hard time understanding is how you could view 
OCEAN so much more favorably than TIMESCAPE.  I found OCEAN nearly
impossible to finish.  It certainly had a couple of interesting ideas, 
but,...well, I'll let your description of TIMESCAPE illustrate my 
opinion of it..

	" Fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, while these ideas would be 
	enough to make a magnificent 80-page short story, they have been     
    	stretched out to the limit in this behemoth of a novel, diluted
	by countless pages of pure boredom...."

OK, OCEAN wasn't a behemoth (the paperback I have is 321 pages), but 
there's really only 4 or 5 actual events in the entire novel.  The rest
of it is Benford's endless descriptions of every blade of grass, the 
trajectory of every clod of dirt flying out from under his foot, the
marbling of the beef his female companion brings home for dinner, etc.,
etc., etc.  And then two thirds into the book, he introduces Bigfoot
for God's sake, right out of the blue!  And then there's the phrase "the 
place where all her lines/parts came together/converged..." which he
trots out in every awkward love scene (a friend of mine up at work has
read a lot of Benford and she told me about getting tired of reading
this phrase in just about every Benford book she's read).

Well, despite my griping, I still found it to be worthwhile.  I might 
even read the next in the series, just to see what becomes of old
Nigel.  It occurs to me that if you had read TIMESCAPE before OCEAN
and I had read OCEAN before TIMESCAPE, our views might have been 
reversed.  Maybe the excessive minutia is bearable, even interesting,
the first time around, but unbearable thereafter. 

Despite the poor success of my last recommendation (ie, TIMESCAPE), 
I'll recommend two more novels for you.  One is Benford's ARTIFACT
(lot's more action than TIMESCAPE or OCEAN, plus a fascinating physics 
premise set in a present day millieu).  The other is Greg Egan's 
PERMUTATION CITY.  Best artificial intelligence/virtual reality story 
I've ever read.  Plus, includes a couple of "big ideas", the main 
thing I look for in SF these days.

Best regards,

Rod Pennington
Temple, TX
rodpenn@sage.net

## Thanks for the note about Benford.  I may have been too
## harsh on Timescape, but I'll be the first to admit that my liking
## of a book depends a lot on my mood at the time I read it.  With
## that said, let me warn you about Benford's "Galactic Center" series...
## I, too, felt as you did after Ocean...I wanted to continue reading
## to see what happened to Nigel.  But he apparently doesn't appear
## again until at least the 6th book!!!
## 
## If you didn't like Ocean that much, take my advice and desist.
## It only gets worse.  I'll keep an eye out for those other two.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Miller, Andrew" 
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 21:44:19 GMT-5

In the Op-Center series of short novels, Tom Clancy is NOT the 
author.  He is merely the creator of the premise.  A guy by the name 
of Jeff Rovin takes the ideas Mr. Clancy gives him and writes the 
manuscript.  His name is barely listed on the "Acknoweledgments (is my 
speeling correct)" page.  I didn't check the time of your last update so I 
may be a little off.  The important thing is that TC will probably keep up 
with writing quality novels with the addition of these little action 
for when the brain needs an occasional break.

Andy Miller
Indiana State University

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert Sankner 
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 10:58:42 -0400

I enjoyed your book list and find your critiques entertaining and
useful.  I guess I'll just have to go back and read Donaldson again.  By
the way, don't rush on the Jordan thing. It can wait.  I had to skim the
ending of volume 3 because it was too draggy and with too much s&m.  It
seems like he was thinking "yeah- I can stretch this out for another 100
pages or so."  The man needs a good editor with power.  Thanks for a
very nice site.  I got here through the Myst page, by the way.  I'm
working my way through that game slowly.  I am a Brust fan and enjoyed
Kay.  Right now I have too much to read and not enough time.  Since we
got this computer last year most of my reading has been computer
related.  Right now I'm trying to decide what book to start.  Jordan vol
4 feels me with dread,  Terry Brooks Shannara series, or just re-read
Tolkien and remind myself how it should be done.  Thanks for a great
site.  I've bookmarked it and will be back.
Bob Sankner

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Guido Roessling 
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 10:27:21 +0200

Hi Doug,

thanks again for such a splendid WWW Page!

I found that our tastes are somewhat similar, and that your
recommendations applied quite well to my own likes (mostly, at least).

Since you mention that you also like to read books by Guy Gavriel Kay,
but don't mention his newest book, I thought I'd tell you that his
latest book is out in paperback.

It's called "The Lions of Al-Rassan" and is set in Spain (at least as
much as A Song For Arbonne can be argued to be set in a region of
France).  It deals, among other things, with people of different
religions (the similarity to Jewish, Christian and Moslem Faith comes to
mind quite distinctly), and is well worth reading IMO.

Guido

## That's actually on my "to read" shelf as I type this.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: RSchraag@symantec.com (Rik Schraag)
Subject: Foucault's Pendulum

     Dear Ingram,
     
     Nice library!
     
     Since you mention Eco's Foucault's Pendulum: I am itching to tell you 
     a story that will turn even Zen Buddhists into nervous wrecks.
     
     Rememeber Eco is on about famous people, alive or dead, carrying the 
     initials R.C. (Rosicrucian)? And the chapter on the Middle East cult 
     of the Assassins?
     
     Now, the book I read immediately after Pendulum was the book that 
     inspired the fifties movie The Manchurian Candidate, starring Frank 
     Sinatra, about G.I.'s being brainwashed by evil eastern communists.
     
     The author of the book happened to be the recently diseased Richard 
     Condon - yes, R.C. A minor coincidence, but if you turn the cover 
     page, there follows a quotation on the cult of the Assassins! And this 
     is a fifties book!
     
     Mind-boggling, eh?
     
     What do you make of this?
     
     Keep up the good work!
     
     Rik Schraag
     Leiden, the Netherlands
     
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kyle R Braget 
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 1996 11:58:29 -0700
Subject: Katherine Kerr

I am amazed that you founf the book series on Deverrey 
so long and tedious.  Just for your info the series is 
still under way and numbers around eight or nine total 
books.  I think if you spent more time examining the 
character, or even soul, developement in the series you 
might find it that much more enjoyable.  The books are 
not necessarily action based but rather person and event 
based.  The depth and breadth of the novels compares 
to such works as Tolkien's, and include a vast array 
of characters to latch upon and find intriguing.  Look to 
the newer series after DAYS OF BLOOD AND FIRE if 
your looking for more action.  Nevyn is by this time dead and
the story centers around Rhodry.  There's alot of action, 
and even a very intelligently written dragon.  Happy 
reading.   -Kyle

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Helser Lab User 
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 1996 23:59:11 -0500

Hello,

This is the first time I have visited this page, but I really enjoyed it. 
 I am sure I will be back often.  As an avid reader of SF and fantasy, I 
need all the help I can get to find those great books.  I strongly agree 
with you on Stephen Brust.  I have not read all of his books yet because 
they are hard to find in Iowa(very frustrating), but I throughly love the 
 ones I have.  I have one recomendation for you.  It is a series by 
Raymond Fiest and Jenny Wurts(I think I spelled the names right).  It 
tells the story of the opposite side, Kelewan, in the Riftwars.  I 
thought these books were much better than the Riftwar Saga series.  As 
proof of this, I gave them to my Mom.  She usually looks down on 
SF/fantasy writing, but she loved these books.  They are:

	Daughter of the Empire
	Servant of the Empire
	and one more but I can't remember the title at the moment

The books are complete stories in themselves, but there might be more in 
the works.  I'm not sure.  Keep up the good work.

				Tiffany Byrne

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Virginia Rodriguez-Wintz 
Date: Thu, 03 Oct 1996 14:11:27 +0000
Subject: Science Fiction and the like

First off, my e-mail address is "cmullins@nexus.chapman.edu."

Saw your sci-fi page. Thank you thank you thank you. Someone who 
shares my opinion of Dan Simmons' brilliance. 

I have a few recommendations here. Maybe a couple of books to read or 
add to the page or what have you.

Neal Stephenson - Snow Crash

	Fantastic book, if a bit esoteric. Very witty (kept me laughing all 
the way through), and extremely absurb. Phillip K. Dick on acid and 
nitrous. In a nutshell, the world in the beginning of the 21st century 
is divied up into thousands of corporate franchaises....oh, this book 
defies description. If you appreciated what William Gibson did you 
cyberpunk in the last decade, this book does Gibson one better on many 
levels. 

Dan Simmons - Endymion
	You have probably already read this, as it came out last January. I 
was kind of concerned about Mr. Simmons when he concentrated on 
writing horror. Children of the Night and Fires of Eden where both 
poor novels in my opinion. (Carrion Comfort was fantastic, as was 
Summer of Night, but both stories' motif both seemed ripped off from 
Stephen King - It and The Stand).
	Endymion takes place 250 years after The Fall of Hyperion, but many 
of our favorites still do pop up, so ignore the warning at the 
beginning of the book - several of the characters present in the 
Hyperion Cantos are still around. The Catholic Church, now headed by 
Pope Lenar Hoyt, is annexing all of the old Web Worlds, now that the 
farcaster network no longer operates (for humans, that is). And they 
are anticipating the arrival of a little girl, The One Who Teaches, 
sending thousands of troops to the Valley of the Time Tombs, to 
intercept her arrivals from the Sphynx. 
	Guess who shows up?
	Shrike maybe?
	Definately.
	The title refers to an ex-soldier Paul Endymion. A bored apathetic 
looser type recruited by M. Silenus (vile and dirty-mouthed as ever in 
his extremely old age)....
	I'll stop there. 
	Suffice it to say, Endymion is more than worthy succeeding the 
Hyperion Cantos.

Charles Oberndorf - Sheltered Lives
	This one takes place in the near future. Society has changed a bit, 
mostly in light of the presence of a new sexually transmitted disease 
called hives. Prostitution is a state-run business now. The main 
character is a male prostitute named Roderick Lawrence. His client is 
a wealthy ex-political activist named Anna Baxter. 
	This is an extremely depressing title, a little like 1984, where 
every action is being monitored by the state. Individuals testing 
positive for the hives virus is shipped off to a colony in the middle 
of the desert in California....etc But, despite being depressing, it's 
still a fantastic experience. Oberndorf's writing is extremely honest, 
and we get to know the main character like a best friend.
	However, this book is no longer in print. Might be able to find it at 
a local used book shop, providing they have an extensive sci-fi 
section.

Anyway, love your page. If I think of anything, I guess I will include 
them in future e-mails.

Thanks,
	Chris Mullins

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From JPGIB@aol.com Mon Oct  7 17:03:55 1996
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 17:03:22 -0400

Doug,
      I don't want to take up too much of your time but I would like to
suggest that you try reading another of Orson Scott Card's books called
"Songmaster".  I believe that  Mr. Card wrote this novel shortly after
Ender's Game. I found it to be a wonderful story with full of the solid
characters that Card is known for. It is a stand alone book and not part of
any series.  I think you will find it reading and recommending on your
web page. Let me know what you think.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Jeffrey A. Miller, Ph.D." 
Date: Tue, 08 Oct 1996 22:42:45 -0700
Subject: A.C. Clarke

Doug,

Shrubbery.com -- interesting!  Anyway, you have a very interesting web site
and I will bookmark it. As for Clarke, the Rama series is second only to
John Varley's Gaia, Wizard, Demon trilogy.  Where did he (Varley) disappear
to?  I read his Millennium novel and saw the movie, but it was pretty lame
compared to the trilogy.  Clarke is a consummate visionary and as he
continues to breathe he will not be satisfied with the revelations and
incarnations of his prophesies.  He has moved to what I agree are the real
premonitions for our society which are social and global-relations
prophesies.

I would argue that if you compared Nostradamus to Clarke in terms of
ability to predict the future in his writings, Clarke would make
Nostradamus look like the an Inquirer lackey.

Nice page, interesting ideas, and I love the intellectual bent of your
interpretations.  Take care, and keep it up.

Jeff Miller
jamiller@asu.edu
http://www.public.asu.edu/~jamiller

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Knowle 
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 14:21:21 +0100

I Think that that you were wrong with your review of Robin Cooks
MUTATION , What, did you just read the back cover, or did you get your
dog to write the review

## Hmmm...which is the proper reply:
##
## a) I don't have a dog, but if I did, HE WOULD HATE IT, TOO!!!
##
## or
##
## b) Just because we disagree on a book doesn't mean you have
##    to be insulting...does it?
##
## I wimped out and chose (b).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Mike Ingram 
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 23:08:53 -0700

Anyways, I saw your reading page.  Might I suggest the following
authors:   Edward Abbey ( you gotta read MonkeyWrench Gang,
the Brave Cowboy and some of his others ), and Ivan Doig 
( lots of sheep, but good strong people stories written by a 
modern western (Montana) author ).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Sam 
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 23:16:13 -0700
Subject: Comments on Clancy's Debt of Honor

"Doug"
You might rind that if you were to read Clancy's new book Executive 
Orders then the last 20 pages of Debt of Honor are important.

Sam

## Yes, but that doesn't mean I have to LIKE it!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Cristine K. Longacre" 
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 20:48:20 -0600
Subject: Coincidence

Doug,

I ended up in your Library tonight...I like it!  In the late seventies I 
had a major fit right there in the bookstore when they told me that "The 
Power That Preserves" wasn't published yet.  The YEARS I waited through 
those series!  But you know, some series I need a break from.  
Personally, I don't see how you'll ever make it through The Wheel of 
Time all at once.  I will be extremely interested to read your comments! 
 
I read through quite a few of your comments and full length reviews.  
You love all the ones I love, but hate some I loved.  I say that could 
mostly be attributed to the fact that I'm a chick and well...you know!  
In fact, I found you by hunting up stuff on Katharine Kerr.  I happen to 
really love the Deverry series, and yet, it's one I needed a break from. 
       
Well, thanks for providing such a cool service.  You recommended some 
books I'm anxious to try.  I'll be back! :)

Cris

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: pospy@gnn.com (Tim Pospeshil)
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 21:06:22

GREAT PAGE. I just breezed through while looking for some 
information on another subject (funny how the web does that, isn't 
it?) and read a couple of your reviews. I'll definitely be coming 
back here for more in-depth browsing later. By the way, I read your 
page dealing with Tom Clancy (my favorite author) and thoroughly 
enjoyed it. I agree with your assessment of Clancy's style and 
strengths, except I thought the last 20 pages of Debt of Honor were 
very good. I think he set the stage adequately, it was just a shock 
because most books are about the hero thwarting some diabolical 
plot to blow up the White House/U.S./World etc... In Clancy's books 
(Sum & Debt) Ryan prevails, but the unthinkable sometimes still 
happens.

I thoroughly agree with your assessment of the Clear and Present 
Danger movie. I tell anyone who will listen not to even watch the 
movie--it ruined a perfectly good book.

Perhaps by now you've read Executive Orders, the follow-up to Debt 
of Honor. If not I highly recommend it. It takes up the night of 
the plane crash and things don't get any easier for everyone's 
favorite Irish-American ex-spook.

The book with Mirror in the title... was that an Op-Center book? I 
don't even remember seeing that title anywhere.

Anyway, keep up the good work, I'll be back, and I'll let you know 
if I find any books I think you'd like (it sounds like we have 
similar tastes).

Tim Pospeshil
Pospy@gnn.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From SheilaghR@aol.com Wed Oct 16 22:02:09 1996
Subject: Another G.G.Kay book

Hi!
   I'm in the midst of reading The Lions of Al-Rassan  by Guy Gavriel Kay for
the second time.  I loved his other books, but this one stands head and
shoulders above even A Song for Arbonne.  I can't believe this guy, he just
gets better and better!  The Lions is set against the backdrop of Moorish
Spain, in the waning days of Arab influence.  As with Song, he has changed
placenames and God-names, but for the most part has left the cultures intact.
 
    What I consider to be the best example of the power of his writing is
contained about 100 pages into the book, where the two male main characters
meet for the first time.  The foreshadowing here is exquisite.  His
characters are powerful and multifaceted, truely the stuff of epic.
     If you haven't read this one yet, and you liked his other stuff, you'll
LOVE this...
Sheilagh R
sheilaghr@aol.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From samad@nexus.edu.au Fri Oct 18 07:07:04 1996
Subject: Tom Clancy

I agree with you, why did he do it?, I think it is because he may have
run out of plots.

I was dissapointed that some good people died.

I suppose he did what he did.
Sam

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dkg1@primenet.com Fri Oct 25 20:27:07 1996
Subject: Did you move yet???

Saw on one of your pages a comment that you were going to move to Texas.
I was curious if you had gotten there yet; so sending you this note is a 
good way of finding out if this address is still current.

I very much enjoyed the reviews that you posted on your library pages, 
especially about books by Gregory Benford (That's how I found your web 
site), and I was delighted to discover Greg Bear as well!

If you have the time, I would be honored to correspond with you on 
occasion about some of these books and authors.

In any case, thank you for the refreshing comments on many of my favorite 
books....

				Regards,
					
				David Gill

## Yep, I've moved and I am now living in Fort Worth, Texas, teaching
## Physics and Astronomy at Texas Christian University.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From chasrich@netins.net Sat Oct 26 21:41:49 1996
Subject: Don't write off L. Ron Hubbard because of Mission Earth

Doug,

I agree with you in many of your opinions, including your rating of The 
Invaders Plan.  This serries was found on Hubbard's word processor after 
his death unedited, but was published despite being unfinished.  As hard 
as I tried, I couldn't finnish the series, despite driving myself through 
three of the ten books.

The reason I didn't stop after the first is another book by Hubbard, 
Battlefield Earth.  This book is one of my favorites.  The diference 
between the two is unbelievable; Hubbard wasn't on his deathbed while 
writing Battlefield Earth.  I'd suggest it to anyone.

Benjamin Jackson

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From JLWHill@aol.com Mon Oct 28 18:25:27 1996
Subject: sci-fiction

Hi, this is the second time I've contacted you and I have read your site a
couple of different times in between. I really appreciate the input, I was in
the same boat as you were as far as recomendations for good books. I have put
your advice as well as your other readers to good use-I've read Dan Simmons'
HYPERION books (they were both great) and also some Orson Scott Card
(HOMECOMING-not quite as good as Simmons, but entertaining). Planning to
check out Jordan in the future. I have not seen you mention any of Frank
Herbert's books (oops, you do have WHITE PLAQUE listed). Practically everyone
has read DUNE  series, but have you tried any of his others, some of which
approach the magic generated by DUNE?  THE DOSADI EXPERIMENT  comes to mind,
as does the trilogy starting with THE JESUS INCIDENT. He writes all three
with Bill Ransom, but this does not detract from the books until possibly the
last one which I believe Ransom finished up after Herbert died. I also wait
impatiently for anything written by Julian May, U.K. Leguinn and Sheri S.
Tepper (GRASS and RAISING THE STONES are mesmerizing).
    Enough, Enough!!  Just wanted to share and say thanks again for the good
advice!
                                                                Jackie

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From becky@aloha.net Wed Oct 30 00:50:12 1996
Subject: star wars books

Doug -- thanks for the Star Wars books chronology.  I'm trying to read 
them in chron. order, & just found some references in "Jedi Search" to 
events which don't seem to have turned up in 'earlier' books.  There is 
reference to the birth of Leia's third child, Anakin, and also to Luke 
having gone to the dark side to serve the Emperor.  Do you know if this 
is covered in some book somewhere?  I can't find it.  FYI, Bantam is 
publishing the following chronology in the back of its new paperbacks:
Immediately after Jedi: Truce at Bakura
3 years after: X-Wing stories (there are three)
4 years after: Courtship of Princess Leia
5 years after: Timothy Zahn's trilogy (Heir to Empire, etc.)
7 years after: Jedi Academy Trilogy
8 years after: Children of the Jedi, also Darksaber
10 years after: Crystal Star
14 years after: Corellian Trilogy
and sometime later (the twins must be young teenagers): Young Jedi 
Knights (their are three of these, too, incl. Heirs of the Force, etc)
Thanks for your info & I hope you can answer my question.  
Becky@aloha.net

## It may be in one of the graphic novels?  Not sure.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From PerezArthur@msn.com Wed Oct 30 03:44:48 1996
Subject: Author Suggestion

Dear Sir,	
I just ran across your web site.  I have to recommend Ken Follett as a must 
read author.  This one author is responsible for me going to work without a 
wink of sleep on several occasions.  You stated you enjoy good long books.  
The Pillars of the Earth is an excellent read as is A Place Called Freedom 
(although this book isn't as long).  I have read every book this author has 
written and he has always been one of my favorites.  He has just put out a new 
book called The Third Twin which I have not yet read.  I have fallen behind in 
my reading, so it may be a while before I read it.  I tend to read more in the 
winter months so hopefully I'll work my way through all my unread purchases.  
Back to K. Follett.  One book I really can't recommend is On Wings of Eagles.  
This book is not fiction so you can't judge his story-telling by this one.  If 
you read any of his other works, especially his later works, you are in for a 
sleepless night. 
Happy Reading,
Arthur Perez
PerezArthur@MSN.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Becky Sims" 
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 08:35:28 -1000
Subject: Re:  star wars books

> Hmmm...I haven't yet read any of the X-Wing stories, but I wouldn't
> take much of the references in Anderson's books seriously.
> He name-drops so much that it just isn't worth the trouble.  Spoils
> many of the other books in the series for absolutely no reason.
> 
Doug -- I found the book that the Anderson books kept referring to -- 
it's a graphic novel by T. Veitch!  I think the title is Dark Side 
Rising, or something like that.  No wonder I couldn't find it!  I 
guess I'll check Borders to see if I can get it, I know they carry 
graphic novels.  I'm still reading the series, & I think you're 
right, it is annoying to have him "fill in the blanks" all the time
when you already know what's happened, but I guess for those who pick 
one up for the first time the editors probably said it was necessary. 
 It just doesn't seem to be done very gracefully ... 

Thanks for writing back, Becky

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Angela Moore 
Subject: shrubbery? ni?

Anyhow.  Have you ever read anything by Josepha Sherman? The Shattered
Oath and Forging the Runes, I think there's probably going to be another
book, but I thought you might like to keep it in mind.  It's good
stuff.  Mercedes Lackey is also pretty good, but I liked it a lot better
when I was a few years younger.  The Fire Rose is really good, so is
Lammas Night and the Diana Tregarde Investigations (Burning Water,
Children of the Night, and Jinx High.  It's a kind of independant
series, no particular order)  I'll probably use your page as a kind of
checklist, even though my opinion on the works of David Eddings is much
more positive. :)   Angela Moore

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From hall54@blyonline.com Tue Nov 19 14:14:24 1996
Subject: Sphere

Hey. I just read your little page on Michael Crichton's books. I thought 
it was pretty good.However  I have one question. Why did you put "Sphere" 
at the bottom of the list? I thought it was an excellent book. I'vr read 
almost all of Crichton's books, and I don't think "Sphere" is the best, 
but I definately don't think its the worst either. Anyway, I was just 
wondering why you didn't like it.
~Will

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From dferber@reedexpo.com Tue Nov 19 18:26:47 1996
Subject: Book Suggestions, and general banter

I fell from the web into your site today on a search for Zelazny, 
 in anticipation of any recent stuff.  I was so intrigued, that I've come 
back to make two book suggestions.

Our book lists/ranking were similar, with some interesting differences 
and strong correlations, but enough of a sense of kindred spirit overlap 
for me to confidently offer some suggested reading.  (I am an INTJ, with 
a low I  [I process thoughts and ideas as an "I," but tend to be "E" 
-like in passion for projects, and leading the charge]  and will 
definitely test out the predictive nature of personality type on book 
preferences.  I've pretty well exhausted the analysis of personality 
types and work styles)

Two books I read in the past year that made strong impressions:

1.  Angle of Repose, William Stegner.  In short, a man facing somewhat of 
the same impotence issues in life as Thomas Covenant face his 
disibilities through the life of an ancestor.  Wonderfully written, great 
characters, Weighty book needing a commitment of time.  His Crossing to 
Safety is a lighter, less lush book, but still good.  Angle was GREAT.

2.  The Stone Diaries. I put this here because it was truly a great 
experience and I read it after One True Thing by Quinlin and you gave 
that a 9. The Stone Diaries is very much about how human beings alway 
MISS eachother, and fail to truly understand eachother;  it is frequently 
very funny.

Neither of these are Sci/Fi,  however, with the inclusion of One True 
Thing and the commonalities in our Sci-fi appreciation  - methinks you 
will like them.  They are different from eachother but both 
extraordinary in their way.  

Have fun!!!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jdines@cent-tech.com Fri Nov 22 11:20:16 1996
Subject: William Gibson

His writing is terrible ?

That would explain why he is considered THE cyberpunk author, and why I
have read Nueromancer 5 times, and Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive 3
times.

P.S.

The "Cyberpunk series" is not.

Nueromancer, Count Zero, and Mona Lisa Overdrive is a three part trilogy
known as "The Freeside Trilogy".

Burning Chrome is a collection of short stories.

If your going to give people advice, please make it GOOD advice :)

HAND

M0n|k3R

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ingram Sat Nov 23 11:34:13 1996
Subject: Re: William Gibson

What can I say?  Your mileage may vary.  If you think my reviews have
done some gross injustice to William Gibson or other authors, the
appropriate response is (multiple choice test):

a)  Complain to me that my opinion is somehow not valid.
b)  Write your own review and post it either to news or the Web.
c)  Set up your own page of book reviews with your own (presumably
	more correct) opinions about books.

It would seem clear to me that the correct response is (b) or (c).
I mean, writing a letter to me basically affirming that "I am wrong"
is pretty damned unlikely to get me to change my mind.  Furthermore,
I absolutely do not consider my opinion on a given book to be the
definitive viewpoint.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It
is simply my opinion.  Take it or leave it.

Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jdines@cent-tech.com Mon Nov 25 15:43:11 1996
Subject: Re: William Gibson

Do you always answer your own questions ?

Actually, if you post an opinion you should expect it to be criticized.  =
What you have done, effectively, is run into a room full of a million =
people and blurt out your opinions.  If you didn't expect to receive =
some critical responses as a result of such an action ....  What can I =
say ?=20

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ingram Tue Nov 26 13:18:14 1996
Subject: RE: William Gibson

Sorry, you mistook my advice as criticism.  Let me try to restate:
I happily accept all responses and critiques of my own reviews.
Heck, I even PUBLISH them on my own site in the mailbag.  However,
in your case, where you seem to be particularly enamoured of a
certain author, I can sympathize completely, even if you disagree
with me (i.e my review of Gibson or my review of, say, Donaldson,
which many disagree with).

What I'm trying to get across to you is this:  The most effective
way to express your opinion is to create a suitable vehicle for it.
Something that people will read.  Someday soon, I hope there are
a lot of review pages on the Web that are similar in purpose to my
own.  That way, it would be easier to get ideas for good new books.
You get a diversity of opinions as well as a larger sample size.

Another minor point is this:  If your goal is to get me to change
my mind about William Gibson, you shouldn't just say "You're wrong."
You should give me some kind of thoughtful reason, listing some of
the positives I may have overlooked.  Same is true if you want to
present a counterpoint to my review in the mailbag.  If you really
care about it, be my guest.  If you don't, then from my end, it
looks like you're just spouting off for the sole purpose of venting
anger at me.  Hey, it's a free country, but don't expect me to
show you a lot of respect in return.

Regards,
Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From jdines@cent-tech.com Tue Nov 26 13:24:03 1996
Subject: RE: William Gibson

You are of course correct that I could have gone about "offering my =
criticism" more politely, and I apologize.  I just couldn't believe =
someone could read those books and come out with the coverage you gave =
it.  Who would of thought you need to think before you E-MAIL, too ....  =
 :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From GJCorsair@aol.com Fri Nov 22 22:50:26 1996
Subject: web page

Just a quick note as I don't have much time.

First, I really enjoyed your web page, and though I don't agree with all your
opinions, hey that fine.
 
Some of the books I would recommend are:

The Honor Harrington and Mutineers Moon series by David Weber. Both are
strictly science fiction but are a good read anyway.  Although the books are
all 'stand alone' story lines, the HH series is not complete, the latest just
came out in hardback.

Anne McCafferys later Pern books were fairly booring although I like her
harper hall trilogy best. (Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums)

Christopher Stasheffs newer books, The warlocks heirs series are better than
his last   books in the original warlock series although there was a really
good prequel, escape velocity.  Also "Her majestys wizard" series was pretty
good.

Well thats all I can think of right now.  Keep up the good work.

Greg J

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Joe Mashinski 
Date: 	 Mon, 25 Nov 1996 09:51:30 -0500
Subject: books & personality types

Hello-- I may have just accidentally sent you the beginning of this
note, I'm not sure (I accidentally closed the screen mid message.) 
Anyway, I haven't had time to go through your list in too much detail,
but we seem to have at least some overlap in authours.  I suspect the
obvious differences may be as much gender based as personality based.  I
am an INFP, which is fairly close to your type (especially since I have
strong T and J leanings-  up to a year or so ago I used to test out as a
n INTJ, now I have definitely switched, and I must say the NF
descriptons suit me much better--I am not sure if I was biasing my
questions in the past or if I have really changed over the years- a bit
of both I think, I first took the test in high scool(some dozen years
ago), and may have assumed that I wasn't ever supposed to change in the
years that follow.  Perhaps this is over enthusiasm, but I think the
Myers-=riggs test give a remarkably good explanation of different
people, so I find the topic interesting).  I have never read (or heard
of) Stephen Brust or Dan Simmons-- as for as Stephen R. Fonaldson, I
loved Mordant's Need, but have never really been able to get through the
Thomas Covenant books.  I've enjoyed what I've read of them, but they
are just a little too pessemistic for me, so I tend to put them down for
months and then have to start over again.  But I love the idea, and do
intend to finish them sometime. 
	It is a bit difficult for me to narrow down favorite authors, but one
who would definitely be in my top 3 and who is not in your author index
is P. C. Hodgell.  She is not too well knownm, but really really good. 
She has written 3 books, thus far.  _God Stalk_, the first, is probably
the best.  This and the sequel, _Dark of the Moon_, are in most
libraries (unless they've been stolen).  They are out of print and the
only place to buy a copy is from the Hypatia Press in Oregon (look under
blue moon books on the internet if interested.)  Her third book,
_Seeker's Mask_, finally came out last year; due to publisher
difficulties it is only available from the above publisher.  Of course,
I loved the first two so much that I was willing to shell out $35. to
read it (and I read 3 times in the 6 weeks after it arrived. Definitely
money well spent.)  
	I won't mention any other writers, as I haven't been through your list
completely, but a reccomended book list which I found very useful and in
complete accord with my taste (I like everything on it I've read) can be
found on Beth Hilgartner's homepage, if you are looking for
reccomndations and or what to know in more detail what this INFP at
least likes.
						Ellen A. Blackburn

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From rtg1@ra.msstate.edu Tue Nov 26 20:21:19 1996
Subject: other authors

Try reading some of the books by Mercedes Lackey and Robert Jordan. The 
characters are really likable in Lackey's.  The characters in Jordan's 
are very deep.  Thanks.

Belrex

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jeffrey Lathan 
Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 18:07:04 -0600
Subject: Author suggestion

Doug,

First of all: great web site.  Definitely keep it up!

Secondly, I am not sure if I have recommended this author to you before.
If so, sorry.  If not, I hope you get a chance to check her out.

Joan D Vinge is her name.  The books I have really enjoyed are Psion and 
Catspaw.  

Just my two cents...

jeff

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Megan Humpherys 
Date: Thu, 05 Dec 1996 18:13:16 -0700
Subject: Snow Crash

Hi

I just wanted to clarify and be clarified on a couple of things about
your review of Snow Crash which happens to be one of my favorite books
of all time.  First of all Hiro Protagonist is a Hacker/ Pizza Delivery
man for your clarification and for my clarification why the heck do you
compare him to michael j. fox in back to the future - I see absolutely
no similarity at all.  Also i quite agree that the weird sex scene was
unessacary and disturbing:)

Michael

# Well, the image of latching onto passing vehicles in order to 
# travel was reminiscent of M. J. Fox's skateboarding exploits
# in "Back to the Future".  At least, that was the first image
# that popped into MY head.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert Tyrrell 
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 21:49:16 -0500

Hello Doug

I was just looking around for sites similar to my own and I stumbled on
yours.  It looks good, I like what your doing.  I just started a page
where I solicit reviews.  Please feel free to check us out at
http://www.cyberus.ca/~ddrt

Would you like to swap links?

Talk later
David Roberts

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Peter R. Jones" 
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 02:50:36 -1000

Hi Doug,

Just had a look at your web site, and I've got a few comments.  First
though, I'll say that my policy when it comes to reading series is
*almost* the same as yours.  I will generally read the first book of a
series (and with some continuing series, it is not always clear that
there is a second book in the wings until you finish the first book and
say "And then what...?")  Having read the first book, if it is good I'll
wait until I have the full series before reading the rest (I'll buy them
as soon as I see them, but won't read them), unless it seems that they
do not necessarily follow directly from each other.

Also, my approach to reading books is pretty much the same as my
approach to watching movies: I wanna enjoy myself, so the ol'
"Suspension of disbelief" goes into overdrive.  If some truly glaring
error smacks me around the head I'll be critical about it, but otherwise
I do my best to not notice.  Sometimes it ain't easy.

Stephen Donaldson:  Like you I am a fan of Thomas Covenant - the series,
not necessarily the person! :-)  You mention somewhere that you are
eagerly awaiting The Gap series - this is one of the few that I've
broken my own rule, and I've read the first four books - can't wait for
the fifth to show up (in paperback, of course!)  I'll say only that he
excels himself with this series - it is hard to know whom to detest
more, and it makes the Thomas Covenant Chronicles seem positively light
and jolly in comparison.  People who didn't like the Chronicles *won't*
like these books!

Jennifer Roberson: One of my favourites, although for some reason it is
currently impossible to get her books in this country (Australia).  I've
got five of the Cheysuli Chronicles, in no particular order, and then
they were removed from the shelves, so I haven't read them yet.  I
recommend the Sword-Dancer series (four books: Sword-Dancer,
Sword-Singer, Sword-Maker, Sword-Breaker), and her Lady of the Forest is
one of the best retellings of the Robin/Marian tale that I've ever read
- and so feasible...  (IMHO)

Weis & Hickman: I haven't read the Death Gate Cycle yet, (and I'll still
read it despite what you say :-))  I did spot the name of the wizard
Zifnab and thought "Groan - that's Fizban" (another of their characters,
I believe, from the Dragonlance series.)

Tad Williams: I've read the first book only, and somehow got sidetracked
and haven't got any further.  If I leave it much longer I'll have to
read the first book again.

Robert Jordan: So just how many books are in the Wheel of Time series,
anyway?  I've got six, and the seventh is almost out - true to form,
I've read the first.

I can also heartily recommend Terry Goodkind's "Wizard's First Rule" - a
bit predictable in places, perhaps, and it gets rather heavy at one
point, but it kept me up one night, finishing it.  The sequel has been
released recently as well - I'll read it soon...

FYI, I'm reading the Rama books at the moment, prompted by Sierra's
adventure game, would you believe?

Bye,
Pete.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: desmei@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 16:15:57 -0800
Subject: Some Suggestions

I'm sure you get lots of suggestions for your reading list, but I guess
i'll add a few more. I was quite impressed with your reading list
(which, by the way somewhat resembles mine)and your reviews seemed quite
reasonable. Just to know where I am coming from, among my favorite SF
authors are Greg Bear, Guy Gavriel Kay, and J.R.R. Tolkein. On to
suggestions... Perhaps you would like to read something by Charles de
Lint or John Crowley. Charles de Lint writes fanatasy books generally
set in a fictional Canadian city called Newford. HIs novels "Memories
and Dreams" and "The Little Country" are the best in my opinion, though
his short story colletions are also quite good. He is a bit new-agey
though, so be careful with that. Oh, and also the books tend to deal
with very female protagonists. John Crowley wrote, "Little, Big" and
"Aegypt" and both are very good books with a lots of, hmmmm, atmosphere,
i guess. Most people love him or condemn him for being boring. Take him
as you will... Also another good book, though I have only read this one
of hers is Pamela Dean's "Tam Lin". And a word of warning- DO NOT READ
ROBERT JORDAN. he really really sucks. it is basically a rip-off of
every epic boy-meets-destiny story. Dragonbone chair minus interesting
characters. I cannot condemn it enough. Well, after that I guess I have
nothing to say. I hope these suggestions dont disappoint. I really
enjoyed browsing your library, and will take some your suggestions.

My personality type is INFP, buit i do agree with A LOT of your reviews.
Also another author worth reading is Jack Vance, especially the series
Lyonesse (Suldren's Garden, THe Green Pearl, Madouc). 
Another favorite author is Steven Brust ( I cant believe I forgot to
mention him!) and I love Ender's Game, and Hyperion, though I have not
yet read enough of Card or Simmons to truly name them as favorites.
Actually I inherit my reading taste from my father who is INFJ...

-Suzanne

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Christine Chong 
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 14:01:52 +0800

CJ CHERRYH : Have to disagree with you. Have read RUSALKA,FAERY IN SHADOW,
The FOREIGNER series (FOREIGNER & INTRUDER awaiting the 3rd book -
INHERITOR) and the latest TOWER IN THE EYE OF TIME.

FOREIGNER & INTRUDER - Engrossing read.Basically a story of the differences
and similarities between the humans and the Atevi. It relates the story of
Bren Cameron - go between and dispenser of human technology to the less
scientifically advanced Atevi. He is the only human allowed on the Atevi
mainland, other humans live on the Island of Mospeira as part of the truce
between Human and Atevi after a war between the two. (The humans lost). She
draws a rather good portrait of an alien culture - a culture where assasination
is a legal option in settling disputes, provided it is publicly declared
first. The politics and culture are well described, especially the Atevi's
obsession with numerology.There are no clear cut villains - each has their
dark side. I've yet to read the 3rd book. (Boy! Do I agree with you
regarding series :()Found out from the web that it was released in May, but
yet to surface at my local bookstore.

TOWER IN THE EYE OF TIME : Sword & sorcery story of Kings and wizards,
ghosts and revenants. Detailed look at the manners and life in a medieval
court, with all the accompanying intrigue.You may feel like bopping the hero
on the head sometimes, he's so naive! 

FAERY IN SHADOW : Confusing, bombastic tale of a cursed hero and his pet
faery, twins born of human and a sea god.

RUSALKA : Russian fairytale of ghosts and wizards.

CS FRIEDMAN : recommended by one of your contributors. Have read and
recommend the COLDFIRE Trilogy. A complex tale of religion, self discovery
and friendship; with a novel twist to the idea of magic and its origin. A
priest meets the founder of his religion, who has sold his soul to the
demons in exchange for immortality. They team up to combat a greater evil
and forge an unlikely friendship. Good read.

TOM HOLT : For those who enjoy the writings of Douglas Adams & Terry
Pratchett. Manic and mangled retellings of King Arthur, Faust, The Last
Supper. May offend the ultra religious and those without a sense of humour.

PG WODEHOUSE : The antics of Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves. Classic
British humour.

KEVIN ANDERSON - DARKSABER : Promising start which soon fizzles out. Good
introduction with some insight into the lives of the Tusken Raiders. He
seems to run out of ideas after the first two chapters. A big waste of the
character Callista introduced in Barbara Hambly's CHILDREN OF THE JEDI =
which is recommended. 

TIMOTHY ZAHN - STAR WARS TRILOGY (Ditto with your opinion). CONQUEROR'S
PRIDE & CONQUEROR'S LEGACY are his latest. It's about one family's effort to
rescue their brother/son from the clutches of an alien invasion force. He is
the sole survivor of a scouting expedition's meeting with the invader's
party. Both sides claim the other started the attack, and it turns out to be
the result of a terrible misunderstanding. The book is full of action -
watch out for his descriptions of the Copperheads - human pilots who can
innterface directly with their fighters.

That's some of my humble views and recommendations. Appreciate your comments
as & when you read them. 

Happy reading!

Christine Chong @ Malaysia
chongls@pc.jaring.my

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: EricX W Myers 
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 96 12:54:00 PST
Subject: books, personality types

     Hi Doug,
     
     I generally agreed with most of your reviews of books we have both read 
     and was looking forward to checking the personality type in your link, but 
     the link is no longer valid....of course I only tried it during 1 day....
     
     I thought I would point out that the whole Homecoming series by Orson Scott
     Card is now out in PB....the first three were classic Card storytelling, 
     the fourth petered out a bit, the fifth was good, but centuries after the 
     other four, so not completely related.
     
     Speaking of Card, If you liked Turtledove's "Guns of the South" (I haven't 
     read it yet) you may also like Card's Alvin Maker series, as an alternative
     history.  I'm not sure the fourth book is out in PB yet, but when I 
     finished the first three I was happy enough with no clue that there might 
     be a fourth book.
     
     You may also enjoy Zelazny's "Doorways in the Sand."  I loved the first 5 
     Amber books, but after several other of his books I have limited myself to 
     just reading the stories he tells in the 1st person--generally more 
     engrossing and less obtuse.
     
     Thanks for the great resource, I am definitely looking forward to my next 
     trip to the bookstore!
     
     Eric Myers
     emyers@mother.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: todd@ftp.com (Todd Prior)
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 19:15:33 -0500
Subject: saw your page

     when searching for David Brin.  He is continuing his uplift story in a new
 trilogy, the first of which, _Brightness Reef_ is already out.  Chances
are, you
 already know this...
     You might want to read some of James P. Hogan's work.  Good SF, sometimes
 gets too much into the theory of why xxxx device could really work, but good
 story wrapped around it.

todd

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Gary D Haynes 
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 13:01:04 -0600
Subject: Terry Brooks review

I am writing concerning your review of Terry Brooks Shanarra Serries. I
have to disagree with you concerning your statement that people who have
read Tolkein would not find this series interesting. I have read all of 
Tolkein's work and I loved it but i would rather read Brooks. Another
thing is there are four or five(can't remember exactly and am too lazy
to go to the bookshelf and look)more books in that series. If you have
not read them you are missing some great reading. One last thing what
about Brooks' Landover series???? It is more sci fi than fantasy but if
 you have not read them you are definitley not getting the true Brooks 
expierience. Why don't you finish the shanarra series and try the
landover series too. Then you will be in a posistion to give an
objective review. Otherwise I think you are missing out on a great
writer.

Sincerly
Chris Haynes

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: firefly27 
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 21:36:27 -0800
Subject: comments

I just wrote to tell you that you have a great page and to 
recommend one of my favorite books.  It's by Christopher Pike and it's 
called THE SEASON OF PASSAGE.  Hope you take the time to read it because 
you probably won't be disappointed.  Thanks.  Bye-bye.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Marysville Public Library 
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 1996 11:32:27 -0800

One thing, the Warlock in his series didn't crash land.  He simply landed 
(though with Fess piloting there may be little difference.)  The warlock 
could have left at any time.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: THE DOELL FAMILY 
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 15:46:37 -0600
Subject: comment on list

As a comment on your list, I would point out that, the way you think 
about an author not nessecarily means that it is the correct one. Like 
colors and fashion etc. it depends on the person who reads the book. A 
book is a meaning to relax. So many critics find the way they think 
about a play, a book, a movie etc, is the correct one. I do not share 
that meaning. I think that no two persons are the same, and that each 
one is entitled to have his or hers opinion. Many critics do not respect 
 an other person. They are the centre of the universe. Hopefully they 
wake up on time, before somebody starts to question the critics.

I hope I didn't offend you. I only want to point out that critics are 
human too, and humans are entitled to make mistakes. Everybody who reads 
the critics should know that, and it's not nessecarily shared by 
everybody.

I tried to make no mistakes. writing this letter. I know I made some, 
but I gave my best.

Pieter Geraedts
The Netherlands

# If you've read much of the mail bag, you know that "my opinion is
# no more valid than anyone else's" is repeated frequently by me.
# You're preaching to the choir.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Truman and Clarice Dalton 
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 16:46:51 -0600
Subject: C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia

Doug,
	I just wanted to make the quick comment that if you have read the
entire Chronicles of Narnia series, one that is not on your list is "The
Horse and His Boy."  I don't know if that is because you haven't read
it, or merely oversight, but I thought I'd bring that to your attention
either way.  Thanks.

					Matthew Dalton

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Steve Yarger 
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 16:04:42 -0600
Subject: The Truth Machine

Doug,
	I have often considered making a web site of reviews similar to your
own.  I seem to have similar tastes in fiction as you since I agree with
most of your reviews.  I just finished The Truth Machine by James L.
Halperin and I recomend you give it a try.  By the way I would be
interested in seeing a list of your favorite books of all time (maybe a
top ten) so if you get a chance try putting it on your website.

Sincerely,
Steve Yarger

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: SMasonX@aol.com
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 01:56:16 -0500
Subject: what about pkd?

why no mention of him in your review of many authors?

you have many mentions of *shutter* micheal chriton....and yet not a single
utterance of phil k dick, the most brilliant and prophetic wirter ever?

im shocked.

# He's on my "to buy" list, but the reprints that are out are too
# expensive and used bookstores usually don't have it.  Nevertheless,
# I continue to look and will find them eventually or break down 
# and pay full price.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Monica Jersler 
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 1996 00:23:56 -0800
Subject: kerr

I think you are wrong about the Nevyn-books, Mr Ingram. They are the best 
books ever written.
					Sophia Alfvag

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "DEANE RINK" 
Date:          Tue, 31 Dec 1996 05:46:39 -0500
Subject:       books list

You have the nub of a good idea, even if I don't agree with many of 
your reading choices.

Suggest you go to http://www.samizdat.com/rink.html
                  http://www.samizdat.com/rink2.html
                  http://www.samizdat.com/encount1.html
                  http://www.samizdat.com/encount2.html for how I 
have developed this idea, and just to
                  http://www.samizdat.com        to see how my idea 
fits into a larger scheme of things run by one Richard Seltzer.

>From your list, it's clear you like fantasy; you might want to try 
BLUEFEATHER FELLINI INTHE SACRED REALM by Max Evans (Bantam pb)

Deane Rink

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert Hagen 
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 1996 01:52:43 -0800

I stumbled onto your site in the course of a casual search for sf
reading  recommendations.  Based on your views of works that I've
previously read, I'm looking forward to trying some new authors.  So
many books, so little time.... 
A David Brin novel that i did not notice among your reviews is Glory
Season. It is one of the niftiest explorations of evolutionary biology
(my field) that I've encountered: what if humans could reproduce
clonally?  The novel gets top marks for the society that he creates from
the science and for the characters he populates it with, more than
enough to compensate for a weak ending. I  very much like Brin's work,
to the extent that I've foolishly chosen to read the first volume in his
unfinished Uplift trilogy over the holidays.  I know I will regret this,
but some things cannot be helped.
	So, thanks for your efforts on behalf of all of us. I hope you will be
able to maintain it!
			--bob hagen
			rhagen@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From hattie@sage.net Thu Jan  2 14:22:57 1997
Subject: Robert Jordan

Hello,
	I do this not to complain about your decision to wait and read the
entire Jordan series when it is through, but to point something out....
i.e. that when you wait, the chances of sitting down and reading the
10,000 plus pages will be a little overwhelming, don't you think. 
	I mean, in paper back, the man already has about 8,000 pages of written
text and it is interesting. 
	Of course, I read some of you reviews and personally I owuldn't agree,
but that is the joy of being alive, the freedom to be an individual

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Aaron Butler 
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 97 00:57:12 -0800

Mr. Ingram,

I also came upon your book review page while checking our your 
MYST page.  I just thought that I would throw a few books out 
there for you to peruse.

First, I see that you have read and reviewed C.S. Lewis' 
Chronicles of Narnia.  However, have you ever read his Space 
Trilogy?  Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous 
Strength?  They are well worth the reading.  Lewis considered 
Perelandra his best work until he wrote Till We Have Faces(also 
worth reading!).

My second recommendation is Stephen R. Lawhead.  A great writer. 
 I have read tons of stuff in the fantasy/sci-fi genre, and I 
think he is right on up there.  Reading through your bio and some 
of your reviews, it seems sort of ironic.  I live in Tyler, TX, 
and I will be 28 in February, and cut my literary teeth on many 
of the same works that you did as a teen:  Narnia, Xanth, etc.  I 
have also read a lot of Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke, etc.  I checked 
out the Thieve's World stuff as well as Alan Dean Foster.  I 
think Lawhead could stand toe to toe with any of them.  

No real reason to give you my bio, except to say Howdy to a 
fellow Texan.  You don't happen to know Conan Burnes do you?  He 
is also our age and went to UT and lived in Jester Hall.  With a 
name like Conan, I figure that if you met him, you would 
remember him.

Back to Lawhead.  I will give a quick list of his works(the best 
I can from memory) with a lit jot off to the side.

Byzantium
His newest work. A good work, but not my favorite.

The Pendragon Cycle
     Taliesin
     Merlin
     Arthur
     Pendragon

I think this is his best stuff.  A great epic story with 
fantastic characters.  A retelling of the myths of Atlantis and 
ancient Enland like you have never read.  Like Lord Foul's Bane, 
you have to get into it just a little, because there is so much 
background.  However, I never found it tedious.  I would 
recommend these to anyone with hesitation.

Dream Thief
A really neat idea with not too little suspense.

The Albion Chronicles
     ???????
     Silver Hand
     The Endless Knot

My second favorite.  This might be what you would want to read 
first.  Somewhat similiar to the Thomas Covenant series, but 
there is no anti-hero, and it definitely not a rip-off.  A 
complete story in its own right.

The Empyrion Saga
     Search for Fierra
     Siege of Dome

Rereading this right now.  Neat sci-fi stuff with a lot of 
socio-psychology mixed in.

The Dragon King Trilogy
     ?????
     ?????
     ?????

It has been a while since I have read these.  These are probably 
my least favorite of his, but they are still excellent.  More 
along the lines of "fairy tale".

I hope you take the time to read some of these, and to give me a 
little feedback.  Lawhead is a Christian, but you can find his 
works in secular and Christian bookstores.  Some of his stories 
have no Christian references, some have a few, and some several. 
 It depends on the story and if it will add of detract.

Thanks for your time.
-- 
Aaron
Check out my homepage at:  http://www.gower.net/abutler
Jesus Is!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ACroft 
Date: Sun, 05 Jan 1997 00:23:30 -0800
Subject: Book Reviews!

Hi Doug!

I read many of your book reviews, and I enjoyed and agreed with most.
(For your "research purposes, I am ENFP)

I absolutely agree with your statement about never buying a series until
it is all out in paper back!  It is beyond frustrating to be stuck
without a good read!  At the moment I have been left stranded by none
other than Robert Jordan!!!  I won't suggest that you read it.  However
I will tell you that it was really difficult to get through parts of the
first book, but it gets much better after that.  It is too bad that I
did not come up with your motto until too late in life to be of use.  I
am, well was, stuck for nothing new and interesting to read at the
moment.  I will have to check out some of the books you have on your
site.  

At the moment however, I am reading parts of an anthology by David Adams
Leeming called "The World of Myth."  It is very intersting, and
something to pick up and read when I am inbetween books.  If you are
into seeing how similar many mythologies are, I recommended it.  The
other book I am reading, just to refresh my memory for school, is "A
Genetic Switch" by Mark Ptashne.  I am extremely impressed with the
research that has been done in molecular biology, but as for
recommending it as a good read.....I will have to suggest that you pass
on it!  A real sleeper!

I love Stephen Brust. I cannot count how many times I have read the
Taltos series.
They are all wonderful!  Did you read "A Broke Down Palace?"  It was
slow, but had its moments.

The only real recommendation that I have is the series by Jeanne
Kalogridis, The Diaries of Family Dracul.  I am not usually interested
in the trendy horror stories, but I found her first two books easy
moving and well written.  I found the characters to be defined well and
very appealing.  I am looking forward to the third, and I think final,
novel. 

Finally, as an ex-Magic the Gathering player/collecter....it is an awful
terrible addiction that has cost me toooooo much money!!  I enjoyed the
game, and making decks, and getting the cards.   Unfortunately, it is
the players that I did not enjoy!!  It seems they were all,
hmm...indescribable, maybe you know what I mean.  I have a wonderful
collection, and about the only time I play is with my brothers.  That
makes it worth the money spent though.

Good luck with your teaching!
Sincerly,
Amy

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: debra rose 
Date: Sun, 05 Jan 1997 11:14:47 -0500
Subject: personality test theory

I read many books throughout a year, probably on average 4 a week.
My twin brother reads more, at least 6 a week.
I am a ENTJ
my brother is a INTJ

My brother has similar book interests to you.
I do not.  What I find interesting is that you are a Feeling rather
than Thinking, and I think your taste in books would reflect other than
that.
And I am a Thinking rather than Feeling, and yet my taste in books
differs from you.. Mystery, police procedural, history, autobiographies
only for nonfamous people.  My twin brother also likes mysteries and
police procedurals but enjoys a faster paced don't talk about feelings
type of book, where as I enjoy a deep character study.

It is interesting though how I am a social worker and yet I am a
thinker rather than Feeling.

A book I will reccommend to you though, because my brother throughly
enjoyed it is Bill Bryson, Notes from a small island  Bill is a writer
for National Geographic and this book is a humourous travelogue of 
Britain.  It is done with great taste and it is a joy to read.
Debra Rose    rose@iaw.on.ca

PS  I have greatly enjoyed your book reviews and have made several notes
as to what I might want to read. Good luck in 1997

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: poitras@ibm.net
Date: Sun, 05 Jan 1997 18:15:30 -0500
Subject: Not!!!

You are the only person I've seen who did not like Miss Degeneres
book. You obviously do not know how to read. Now Fran Dresher book
sucks. Ellens book is hilarious! And every moment your either smiling or
cracking up , and if you want proof that most people stand up behind me
, why don't you look at the bestsellers list?

# How many times must I say about my reviews "Your Mileage May Vary"?
# Besides, isn't it a dangerous assumption to assume that a book is
# good because it is a best-seller?  Come now, you know better than that.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Andrew Edwin Ketcham 
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 01:57:28 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Book reviews

I don't tend to get fanatical or overly excited about much of anything 
but Heinlein is an exception.  I suggest you reread some of the stories 
and re-evaluate them.  And by the way, Friday was not a sentient robot 
she was an in vitro born human being.  And before you knock The Cat Who 
Walks Through Walls You should read several other stories that are 
directly linked to it.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Eleonora Budden 
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 22:30:47 -0000
Subject: books to read

Hi,
I just thought that you should try reading some more Terry Pratchet.

These are the ones I found hilarious:
*Gaurds! Gaurds!  ( probably the best )
*Equal Rites
*Reaper Man
*Masquerade

Bye, Bye
Fidel Budden

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: paul Betters 
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 18:35:25 -0800
Subject: Your reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed your short reviews, and I have just recently 
become a fan of the fantasy genre.  I have read all of Tolkien, Eddings, 
Jordan, Goodkind.  I have read some of Brooks, Pratchett, and Feist.  I 
aggree with the reviews youo made, but am disappointed that you have yet 
to read Jordan or Goodkind because they're unfinished.  I have one 
question for you.  How do you have enough time to read all these books?

# Thanks for the comments.  How do I have time to read all these books?
# Well, remember that this is a compilation of roughly my last 15 years
# of reading, and I tend to read a lot when travelling (if you follow
# the page at all, you'll notice that the pace of new reviews is
# staggeringly slow during the school year, when I teach).  Besides,
# I love to read.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: John Klar 
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 23:42:00 -0500
Subject: Re: Nailed

...I got nailed several years ago by Donaldson, who made me wait about a
year between all the books of the Second Chronicles, which I had to buy in
hardback 'cause I couldn't wait!

Read that also, just as I started the last book, my sister tells me the
ending (Thomas dies).  Not a pretty sight...

Although I'm sure several people have pointed this out, if you want
"nailed" have I got a series for you: J.Pournelle and R.Green's Janissaries
series.  All us lucky ones have been waiting, (looking for copyright
date...wow 1987) 10 years for the _final_ book in the series.  Sad, sad, sad.

Not to be completely negative, I share your admiration for Dan Simmons'
Hyperion Books and Endymion.  I was doing an Excite search, hoping to catch
a hint on when The Rise of Endymion -- or whatever title it'll be -- is
planned for release.  

Being prone to bad nightmares (well, used to, now they're just weird), I
stay away from horror, but I must say that Hyperion had -just- the right
blend of horror and some other elements.  This series is on my "must read"
list.

All for now, (I had intended on taking in more of the site before I
emailed, but that "nailed" comment just begged for a response :)

John Klar

# Glen Cook's "Black Company" series will stand with Janissaries any day
# in terms of reader frustration.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Michael Stoddart 
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 01:24:28 +0000
Subject: Terry Pratchett reviews

>Unfortunately, I thought Wyrd Sisters was thoroughly
>plodding, so I stopped reading after that, hoping someday
>to have someone tell me what the top five or so in the
>series are so I can just read those rather than buy them all

Well, no guarantees but http://www-pp.kdt.net/tati.ryberg/results.html
has a 'readers poll' of the most liked DiscWorld books...

1.Men at Arms      125 votes 13,6%
2. Small Gods       124 votes 13,4%
3. Mort             113 votes 12,3%
4. Guards! Guards!   90 votes  9,8%
5. Reaper Man        81 votes  8,8%
6. Interesting Times 61 votes  6,6%
...
11. Wyrd Sisters 31 votes 3,4%

~950 people voted, and I think that the results are skewed by the
release dates of the books.  I.e. newer books often got higher
scores than older books... as witnessed by The Colour of Magic's
undeservedly low rating.

I wouldn't, personally, recommend any of the 'Witches' books unless
you were a real hardcore fan.

Hope this was what you were looking for,
Mike.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Doug Rigby" 
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 20:06:20 -0600
Subject: suggestion

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. A must.
Doug Rigby

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "DarkStar" 
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 21:26:23 -0700
Subject: RE: Donaldson's "The Gap"  series.

	Waiting to read your review on this series, as the final book just came
out in paperback. I have to admit that I'm not one to give an honest review
of the series, as I've been an ardent Donaldson since the first Covenant
series was published. (I have all of his works in hardback, including the
"Reed Stephens" mysteries, and not a few of them autographed.).

	I have bore the cross of Covenant for many years (terrible pun, that),
defending his works in various quarters to all comers. However, I do feel
he is a bit of an "acquired" taste: not for the masses who are easily
pleased with the works of such hacks as those who grind out "D&D"
fantasies!

	Ah well, such is life. Now back to reading Frost's "Six Messiah's"

	Regards, Dave Beers
	aka DarkStar

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Juliebug 

Finally, ANOTHER person who's actually *read* The Guardians of the
Flame! I was reading your review, and I have just *one* small nit. :)

It's not Lord Lund who spears Jason. It's Lordling. :)

But, basically, I agree with you. It's a fantastic series (the first
four, in particular), but I have a feeling there's going to be an
eighth, don't you? Assuming, of course, you've *read* the 7th -- "The
Road Home".

As for non-RPGers still enjoying the series, heck, I was 8 or 9 when I
picked up The Sleeping Dragon (the picture on the cover got me!) and the
other 3, and had basically no idea what an RPG was. I have re-read the
series every summer since then (and I am turning 20 in May). I still
haven't RPGed. I don't know why. Maybe I have a subconcious fear that
Arthur Simpson Deighton will cross ME over to the Other Side.


:)
Take care!

Julie "Juliebug" Martin
http://www.total.net/~juliebug (being revised)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: IACULLOG@aol.com
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 01:47:21 -0500 (EST)
Subject: brooks review

i completely agree with your review of  the Terry Brooks novels.  i can put
up with the fact that he has good trolls and evil gnomes.  however, his
blatant plagiarism at the expense of the good professor Tolkien is
unforgiveable.  

-greg

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Marcus Webb" 
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 11:32:39 +0
Subject: Excellent site!! How about linking to ...

I came across your  site whilst browsing around, 
and just thought you might be interested in linking to our site.

I work for Bookpages, a new Internet bookstore which has all 
850,000 British Books in Print, and also offers great customer 
service. I was wondering if you would like to link to us,
Webmaster.

Bookpages is constantly updated with new content daily, so please 
take a look and see what you think - http://www.bookpages.co.uk
as we have a number of Michael Crichton and other titles that may be of 
interest, which you may like to make available to your visitors.

If you look at the Link To Us section in our site (the link's on the 
bottom left of the home page) there are a number of banners and icons that
you may like to choose from, and also further details of the Bookpages
Sponsorship Program.

Please let me know what you think, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks!

Marcus Webb                E-mail: marcusw@bookpages.co.uk

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Corey Stark 
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 19:15:26 -0800
Subject: Ron Luciano

Luciano, Ron

     The Umpire Strikes Back 
     Strike Two 

          Very funny and interesting series of baseball stories as told 
by a former Major League umpire. If you're a baseball fan, you should 
read this. I think
          there is one more book in this series, but I could be mistaken. 
Sadly, in 1995, Luciano committed suicide. It was a tragedy, but I think 
it is a statement
          of how much he loved the game. 

Above is a quote from on of your book reviews, I was just wondering what 
you meant by 'I think it is a statement of how much he loved the game.'.

	Corey

# I have since clarified and reworded the review.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Keisha J. Gray" 
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 09:04:59 -0600
Subject: Books

Hi there, Doug!  I like your page--this is a really cool place.  I 
thought I would take the liberty of throwing a few of my own 
recommendations into the book bag.  Most of them are old books, so you
may well have received these suggestions from other letters, but I'll 
go ahead anyway.

Poul Anderson -- Time Patrol (It might be a series, I forget.  It's 
been a while.)

Ray Bradbury -- Something Wicked this Way Comes
		              The October Country
										Farenheit 451 (I avoided this for a long time because 
it was one pushed by the high-school English teacher, but it's great.  
Written 40 years ago but it holds up a mirror to 1990s society almost 
flawlessly.)

Larry Niven -- The Ringworld Series (It's where the Man-Kzin wars got 
their first mention.  I think it also has the original lightsaber.)

Robert Heinlein -- The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (His best, imho.)

Robert E. Howard -- The Conan stories  (OK, not very sophisticated, 
but Howard was kind of crazy and these stories are written with a mad 
zest it's hard to find elsewhere.)

JRR Tolkien -- Farmer Giles of Ham.  (Get an old illustrated copy from 
a library if you can.  Gorgeous book with a fun story.)

Tim Powers -- The Anubis Gates (I read this book 3 times in a row when 
I was 15.  Maybe it has held up since then...)

Fritz Leiber -- The Big Time (Also, any collection of his old short 
stories.)

Robert Aspirin -- The Myth-adventure series.  (Cheesy, seemingly 
inspired by Xanth, but fun and they end more quickly than the Xanth 
books.)

Off the vein of SF/Fantasy I can recommend:

Carl Bernstein/Marco Politi -- His Holiness.  (A political bio of John 
Paul II.  I'm still reading it, but it's really fascinating.)

Winston Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples, the 
uncondensed version  (Churchill is a great writer, he doesn't draw his 
material out interminably, and he gives you a great view of the gory 
spectacle of British history.)

War and Peace, by Tolstoy  (This book is so long it has become a joke, 
but it is truly a great story.  It will zip by once you get started.)

Wm. Somerset Maugham -- The Razor's Edge
Of Human Bondage (Somerset's reputation is 
borderline between "Great" and "good".  These two books testify to his 
greatness, and they're good to read, too.)

Hamlet -- (And not because Branagh has a new movie out.  When you have 
trouble locating exactly what it is you want to read, pull this one 
out of your box of old Lit. course books and settle down somewhere 
quiet with your favorite beverage close at hand. You don't even need 
to read it in a straight line, since after all you know the plot 
already.  Just intone passages to yourself quietly and let the 
language intoxicate you.....)

Happy Reading!
Marvin
marvin@fc.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: rika kadonaga 
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 21:43:19 -0800
Subject: I'm impressed.

This is by far the best sci-fi web-site I've had the honour of visiting! 

I'm beyond impressed.  Stunned.  

Please keep up the great work!

Something new to try?  Try out the Child Garden by Geoff Ryman.  He's a
British sci-fi writer.  The story is sort of Camus-esque, but he's a
great writer.  

While perusing your list, I found many that I've also enjoyed reading,
as well as some that I haven't had the courage to try (can you believe I
actually had to be bullied into reading Orson Scott Card?).  

Anyways, enough babble.  Keep up the excellent work!

Rika

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Richard Hanna 
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 20:04:20 -0500
Subject: Fantasy Books

First of all, I loved your web page.  It was simply bursting with reviews, I
was pretty startled that one could actually have that much time to read, I
envy you.  I have a similar page, but because Im new to it its not nearly as
large as yours, I only include the reviews of a few of my favorites.  My
page is more graphically inclined though....
    But to my point.  You seem pretty knowledgeable about the subject of
fantasy fiction and here's my question.  In your opinion, who is the ONE
must read author for a fantasy fan (this does not include those authors
which every fantasy fan has already read eg Tolkien).  I'm always looking
for suggestions from knowledgeable people so I can sort out the trash.
Thanks for your help.
-"Sometimes nothing is a real cool hand"
  -Erchamion

## I responded with "Brust", who seems to be universally liked.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Mike Trevors 
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1997 20:31:39 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Glen Cook's Glittering Stone.

It's out.  It appears that it will be a series of novels, at least two.
The first book in the 'Glittering Stone' series is called 'Bleak Seasons'
and the second is called ' She is the Darkness.'
 
Cheerful titles huh? :)  I thought you might want to know, if you didnt
already know about this.  I am currently reading the third book in the
series.  
 
Thought you might want to know. :)

Mikey

## Wake me up when it is all out in paperback.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Cyr Center Lab4 
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 1997 11:19:24 -0500
Subject: Xanth

I sincerely think you should read some more of Pier's books on Xanth. 
I began these books at 9. I have loved reading them for as long as I 
can remember from starting them. I think That Pier's Author's Notes 
are funny and to the point. If Mr. Anthony likes his books on Xanth, 
PLEASE by all means tell him to keep writing them. I am currently 
waiting ( And asking all the time ) for his latest Xanth novel, Faun & 
Games. I think you ought to read the following books.

1.Harpy thyme

2. Roc and a hard place

3. Yon Ill Wind

4. Demons don't dream

5. Geis of the Gragoyle

## What else can I say but "Gah!"

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: dmyers@terra.MSRC.Sunysb.EDU (David S. Myers)
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 15:43:44 -0500
Subject: you books page

Hi
I enjoyed finding your web page with book reviews, and your tastes seem
very similar to mine. (I am an INFP).
Even your choices of material in the nonfiction end seem similar to my
own: Stephen J. Gould, Deborah Tannen, Gleick, etc.
I agreed with most all of the reviews I read, including the
Clancy/Creighton/Turow types. My taste in SF is toward older stuff, and
I am not into it as heavily as you (but agree on things like Childhood's End,
Tolkein, Stranger in a Strange Land, Neuromancer, Differenc Engine, etc).

Just a few suggestions of good reads of my own:

Looking through the mailbag, I see that others have suggested Philip K. Dick
a few times. If you haven't already, go seek out Eye in the Sky, Time out
of Joint, Dr. Bloodmoney, just to name a few.
Also, I enjoyed Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose. Just finished his most recent
one: Island of the Day Before, and it is good too. On your review, I will
be seeking out Foucault's Pendulum.

-david myers
(ps - Philip K. Dick's short stories are also excellent, and there is an
anthology of ones about robots

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Subject: serendipity

I am an avid reader who has hit the "what shall I read next?" wall.

I chanced upon your page while surfin' for a site on Steven Brust to see if
he has any forthcoming books (I've read 11 of his 15 novels - I haven't been
able to locate the rest).  I whole-heartedly agree with your rule about not
picking up a book until the series is complete in paperback - I don't know
how people can bear to read that way.  I also try to read what I can of a
particular author.  I like to get a feel for the scope and breadth of their
work but usually it's just pure enthusiasm for the author after a satisfying
read.  Steven Brust, Orson Scott Card and Douglas Adams have not failed me
yet -  I've enjoyed everything of theirs that I've been able to get a hold
of.  I try to read a variety of books (I've just finished reading through
Jane Austen's repertoire) but the SF/Fantasy genre holds a special place due
to the influence of Star Wars and Tolkien.

I was shocked to have read so much of your list (everyone except King - I
can't read Horror) and will have to test your personality theory when I get
the chance.  I wholeheartedly agree with your review of Tad William's Memory,
Sorrow and Thorn series (right down to your observation regarding the final
30 pages) and am looking forwarding to his completing his next mammoth series
soon.

Thank you for the recommendations - I am looking forward to discovering
Donaldson and Simmons.

In turn, I would like to recommend CS Lewis' Perelandra trilogy - I read it
ages ago but it's still poignant (be forewarned that it has even more
Christian influences then The Chronicles of Narnia)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert Jones 
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 16:45:11 -0800
Subject: thoughts on Piers Anthony and (Stephen King)

Hello. I cant say that I have read many of the authors you recommend, I
visited because I was doing a Piers Anthony search.Im from Australia and
recently grabbed part of his Virtual Mode series and the first book of 
the Infinity series to help get me through the heat-wave.Liked both his 
stories and his style.He reminds me of STtephen King in the way he uses
realism(ie. the ordinary)in a fantastic story. I wonder who you assume
his target audience to be, in respect to his preoccupation with nice 
naked chicks.Im Female, and I didnt find it too much yet(few more 
Infinity books to go thru though.) To me, its appealing the way Piers 
notices and appreciates the female characters, and their form.Also the 
nakedness of the serfs on Proton (the mechanical world)creates an 
important tension between it, and the fantasy world of Phaze. Concidering
that the main character is male(hetro),it makes sense that nude females 
are noted.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Naomi Kalmus 
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 11:48:24 -0800
Subject: Stephen Donaldson and Christopher Hinz

Doug, the scifi series, The Gap into Madness, by Donaldson is finally
complete and out in all paperback.  In writing style and tone it is
quite different from fantasy work.  I really enjoyed it - its full of
twists in turns in how you feel about the characters and in the plot.		

Just finishing a book by Christopher Hinz called Liege-killer.  It has a
copywright of 1987 but a more recent publishing date.  Its pure scifi,
about a group of genetically engineered assassins.  It started a little
slow and then picked up.  I recommend it.

Naomi Kalmus

## I'll be reading the gap series this summer sometime.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Martha Walls" 
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 22:45:19 -0600
Subject: The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

	I noticed you like Steven King, and Grisham(sp?) and a few others that
make Heinlein's stuff seem weird.  Personally, I like the book, and it's
not about a spy\hero (books aren't always about their main characters, for
instance "Press Enter" by John Varley), it's RAH's Comedy of Manners, and
if you look at it, it's hilarious.  I will admit, RAH can get a little
'dirty-old-man' seeming in his books, but that happens at the end (which is
a little dissapointing, but so is _Job_).  If you want to read some great
stories, try to find his earlier stuff (That was my uncle's
recommendation).  
	N-E-Wayz, _The Cat..._ is actually one of his better books thinks I, and
that's really disputed.  I guess it's one of those books you either Love or
Hate, but it's hard to be neutral about...*sigh* oh well, thanx for
listening\reading...

		-Thale

PS. Sorry to disturb you again, but i REALLY reccomend you read _The Eyes of
The Dragon_, by Steven King.  I have heard no one say it wasn't at least
worth the money, and I 'COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN' (as you say)...

PPS. Yer probably tired of me by now, so I'll make it breif,
You can't review Niven without hitting his two series (BTW: He wrote these
himself), _Series: Ringworld_ and _Series: Smoke Ring_  A good book of his
short stuff that includes the much heard about story: "Superman: Man of
Steel, Woman of Kleenex"(sp?) is _Dyson Sphere(?)_

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Steve Swanson 
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 17:16:31 -0500
Subject: The Death Gate Cycle

I was just recently reading your review of the Death Gate Cycle and I 
think you've taken a slightly shallow reading of it.  For instance, your 
comments about Zifnab, if you were a reading of Weis and Hickman, you'd 
know that that charecter (if you spell his name sorta backwards (Fizban)) 
appears in the highly acclaim series, The Dragonlance Chronicles.  
Fizban, is extremely excentric here and Zifnab is, as you thought, comic 
relief not only for a reader who has no idea that Chronicles exist, but 
for people who do too.  I believe they are mainly catering to those who 
are familiar.  Those who are, I believe, find the jokes and puns much 
more interesting an entertaining.

Also, I believe the plot to be well drawn out and specific.  The Keg, er, 
Dwarf, Limbeck, was a necessary part to the plot and deserved the 
expansions that he got to his story.  This not only explained the inner 
workings of the entire "world" but also added a little "humanity" and 
brought the story a little closer to Earth instead of the realm of 
fantasy.

I'm not bashing you, don't get that idea, but I do suggest that you read 
the Dragonlance Chronicles, get a feel for their writing a little more 
(Weis and Hickman's) and then come back to the Cycle.  You might be 
pleasantly suprised.

Steve Swanson
csswan0@sac.uky.edu

## Now this kind of disagreement I can respect.  Letters like this
## are nice, because I occasionally find that the first work I read
## by an author is not necessarily indicative of their best work.
## I saw promise in Weis and Hickman's work, and I particularly went
## to great pains to note the strength of their world-building in
## my review.  So I will probably pursue DragonLance at some point
## in the future.  I doubt my opinion on DGC will change, however.
##
## For another, much different letter from a Weis/Hickman fan, read on...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Sphere Membership Editor
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 11:53:06 -0500 (EST)
Subject:  SF/Fantasy Media 

We have added to our site a section that will be dealing 
with upcoming fantasy fiction book releases. At the 
moment Tor books is using Sphere to market some of their 
upcoming books, and we are hoping to have several 
other publishers sign on with us in the near future.

Please, if you are interested in knowing any more 
information about this service or Sphere in general for your 
publication, feel free to contact us at 
master@fantasylink.com 

Thank You.

The page mentioned is at: 
http://www.fantasylink.com/upcoming.htm
Pesach CV Lattin
Sphere Fantasy Resources
http://www.fantasylink.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jennifer 
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 23:12:48 -0400
Subject: Link?

HI.  My David Eddings page is just getting off the ground.  Can I link your
page to mine.  You can visit me at the address below.

Thank You.

Bye,
Jennifer
jeni@mail-me.com
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/8745/

## I try to avoid doing a lot of joint links, because I find I can
## never keep current on all the good links out there.  When someone
## sends me a URL, I'm happy to publish it in the mailbag, but that's
## about all I can promise.  Links are not what my site is about.  If
## you want links, go to the central sites mentioned on my book links
## page and you'll find everything you could possibly want.  No need
## for duplication of effort.
 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Marcia Shindler 
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 1997 02:17:15 +0000
Subject: Dan Simmons

Here is a review of Endymion, which ran in the "Des Moines Register" last
year.  If you would like to use all (or part) of it on your site, feel free
to do so (I own the copyright).  Also, if you are interested, I wrote a
profile of Mr Simmons (after conducting an interview) which ran in the
"Bloomsbury Review," July/August '96 (a shorter version of this profile ran
in the "Des Moines Register," along with the book review, and in the "Denver
Post," Dec. 3, 1995).  What follows, is the complete review, plus my
standard byline.  If you don't use the byline, please mention that this
review ran in "the Register," because my editor there is a terrific woman
who is doing SF a good deed by making space (three times a year: Dec/Jan;
Apr/May; Aug/Sept) to run an entire SF review column.  Thanks!  ---- DTS (by
way of my wife's email address).   

Review by Dorman T. Shindler (from "Des Moines Register," Jan. 28, 1996)

Endymion by Dan Simmons (Bantam Spectra/480 pages) $22.95

Although the type above the title on the jacket cover declares this book is
the sequel to Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, it is nothing of the sort.
As Raul Endymion, the narrator of Dan Simmons' new novel, so aptly puts it:
"You are reading this for the wrong reason...If you are reading this because
you are a fan of the old poet's Cantos and are obsessed with curiosity about
what happened next in the lives of the Hyperion pilgrims, you will be
disappointed. I do not know what happened to most of them. They lived and
died almost three centuries before I was born."
	True to this beginning, Endymion does not take up where the "Hyperion
books" left off. This is the story of Raul Endymion and a young girl, who
may or may not be the messiah, named Aenea. The events which took place in
Hyperion serve only as history: a prologue to the political and social tenor
of Raul Endymion's world.
Having survived a rebellion by Artificial Intelligence computers, humans of
this far future have rejected all the lessons, structures, and ideas of
their past (a societal structure far more tolerant and liberal). Religion
and politics have become familiar bedfellows, and the dominant religion is
Catholicism. The Catholics have enlisted new members by gaining the secret
to controlling a symbiotic organism from the planet of Hyperion: shaped like
a cross, it provides its host with eternal life.
 The Pax, a military and religious alliance which allows priests and nuns
to become soldiers, is run by Pope Julius XIV. A man with ties to the events
on Hyperion some three hundred years ago, he has many secrets of his own.
	It was Pope Julius who introduced the majority of humans to the
crucifix-shaped symbiote. And it is the Pope who helps engineer an attempt
to obliterate the Ousters (highly evolved humans who live in zero gravity),
and orchestrates a hunt for the child, Aenea. Those pursuing her -- Father
Captain Desoya, Sergeant Gregorius, and Corporal Kee -- are told only that
Aenea represents a danger to the Pax, and to humankind. She must be
apprehended at all costs. They are given "Papal" authority to do and act as
they please, as long as the child is captured.
	An elderly man claiming to be the poet who wrote the "Hyperion Cantos,"
talks Raul Endymion (saved from wrongful execution on his home world of
Hyperion) into helping Aenea escape the clutches of the Pax. Though she
literally does most of the thinking and planning, and is the true
protagonist of this novel, Raul is her designated hero/disciple/protector.
He is something more than a Jay Gatsby, and less than a David Copperfield.
This unlikely pair is joined by a blue-skinned Android, named A.Bettik, as
they affect their escape. Just to keep things off balance, Simmons brings
back the Shrike (a multi-armed, razor sharp metal machine, which is part
monster, part avatar). There are other surprises in store for the reader as
well.
Like everything Simmons writes, Endymion is filled with concerns faced by
the entire human race: bigotry, religious intolerance, ecological
destruction. It is also, like the "Hyperion books," written around the
themes in the poem of the same title by John Keats. And Simmons is always at
his best (as in "The Great Lover" and The Hollow Man) when using the themes
and images of classic poetry as the foundation for thoughts about the fate
of mankind. His singular talent allows him to take the metal of poetry,
science, and philosophy,  temper them into suspense-filled plots, and polish
the entire package with memorable characters and beautiful prose. The result
is always a novel (or short story) both highly entertaining and profoundly
moving. Endymion is just that. In fact, this book is one of his most tightly
plotted and fast-paced, allowing only short periods of time for the reader
to catch his proverbial breath. After reading it, I found myself recalling a
comment about Charles Dickens, by writer John Irving: 
 "He never pretended to be an explorer, discovering neglected evils. Nor
was he so vain as to imagine that his love or his use of the language was
particularly special; he could write very prettily when he wanted to but he
never had so little to say that he thought the object of writing was pretty
language...The broadest novelists never cared for that kind of original
language...The larger, plainer things -- the things they are preoccupied
with, their obsessions -- these will last: the story, the characters, the
laughter and the tears."
	With Endymion, Dan Simmons has written yet another book which is
thought-provoking, moving, and unrelenting in its desire to entertain. Like
the readers of Charles Dickens, I hungrily await the next installment from
this modern master of narrative.

-End-
Byline: Dorman T. Shindler is the Science Fiction columnist for the "Des
Moines Sunday Register," and a contributing writer/reviewer for the "Dallas
Morning News," the "Denver Post," the "Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel," the "San
Antonio Express-News," the "St. Petersburg Times," the "Bloomsbury Review,"
and "The Armchair Detective." 

## The only reason I forego publishing this as a separate letter is
## because it doesn't recommend other books, but I thought it was
## a nice review, so it goes in the mailbag as an alternate opinion.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Joshua Hyde Library 
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 18:34:51 -0800
Subject: Re: Lions of Al-Rassan

In your review of The Lions of Al-Rassan you describe Jehane as a 
kindath/*gypsy* doctor.  I was quite sure that the Kindath were a version 
of the Jews.  Do you think maybe?  
I am sending this from my local library and we cannot receive replies 
here.  But I absolutely agree with you that Lions was Kay's best so far, 
which is saying a lot.  (I liked Tigana the least.)  When is the next due 
out??? Not soon enough.  (He *is* writing another one, isn't he?

--mjb

## I added a little note to my Al-Rassan review regarding this
## letter.  Basically, while it may be true that Kindath parallel
## Jews more than gypsies, it seems rather irrelevant to try to
## make the distinction.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Glen Engel-Cox 
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 11:53:17 -0800
Subject: Recommendations

Hey, Doug --

I was updated the book review resource list and got to your pages. 
Rereading your introduction, I was struck by the fact that you might
enjoy Alexandria Digital Library (that is, if you hadn't already heard
about it) at http://www.alexlit.com/.

glen

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jasonsimp1@aol.com
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 21:52:11 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Great books

     Hi there.  I am glad you like to read, uh, reading is pretty much my
life.  I have read lots of books, by alot of authors, but I like Fantasy
best.  If you ARE interested in fantasy, I have a book or two to recommend.
 I just finished to books that are some of my very favorites.  and I have
read Lots of books :-).  So, have you ever heard of Mercedes Lackey or Andre
Norton?  well, they are two of my favorite authors, and they recently went to
together on two books, in a series.  They are Elvenbane and Elvenblood.  They
are NOT the ordinary, everyday fantasy type book!  Thet are great!  It has
dragons, halfbloods, elves, humans, Iron People (different race of humans),
and lots of other stuff. GREAT action, GREAT plot.  These two books have the
complexity and plot of a much longer series, truly great.  even if you don't
like fantasy that much, and you haven't read Lackey or Norton, these books
will make you.  I just finished Elvenblood today, it was just as great as the
first!  It is very important though that you read Elvenbane first, then
Elvenblood, if you decide to read them, or you will be really confused! :-)  
                          Thanks for your time,
                                Jason Simpson

P.S. While I'm here, do you know the adresses of where I can get some
different stuff to do with HTML?  I have read all the beginner's guides, I am
pretty good with it by now, but some of the complex pages I see you couldn't
have done with just what these guides tell you, and these are all I can seem
to find.  Thanks again.  No need to reply, I just felt like writing an e-mail
to someone who liked books, hoping I can get yet another unsuspecting person
hooked on Lackey and Norton! 

PS. By the way, 5 is too low a rating for Dune Messiah! :-) see ya later!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: GSills100@aol.com
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 09:46:38 -0500 (EST)
Subject: RE:  To New Address

Hi Doug !

I'm new to your page ( I wrote you for the first time earlier this week re:
your Minority Engioneering program).  Anyway, I just did a fast scan through
your fiction/N-F book reviews and found it enjoyable.  I plan to go back at a
slower pace.
    Since there is so much material there; I kinda did a sampling based on
authors/books I too had read; though actually I'm more interested in reviews
of books I have not read since I have an extrardinary backlog of "must-read"
books on my own list.  I am also curious about the man behind the reviews and
based on my sampling, I think I caught a few glimpses and snapshots (maybe)
of Doug Ingram.
    I'm debating about picking up Samuel Delaney's book, so I'm looking
forward to your review.
   Below I have just a few comments, mainly about Greg Bear.
    RE:  Greg Bear  "So you were depressed after "The Forge of God" too!
 Man, I was so surprised it made me feel down for 3 days....after all, it's
not like I've never read an 'end-of-the-world" book before.  Perhaps the idea
that there would be an entity so indifferent that it would invoke orchestrate
events to demonstrate our utter helplessness -- and then toy around with
humanity's hopes -- that made the book so depressing (not too mentioin the
graphic visulization of earth's de-evolution to a mass of molten fragments
from whence it came).  
        I was blown away by the hard sci-fi and technology and alien races of
"The Anvil of the Stars", so much so I reread it.  I too, did not like the
characters but it was not because of their homosexuality (i was surprised to
see Bear addressed that); they were just too annoying for the most part and I
had no empathy for Martin.
        "Blood  did you read the novel or the short story?  I thought the
novel was extraordinary, though I again struggled with tolerating characters
I neither liked nor had empathy for.

   Have you read books by David Darling?  I am trying to find "Deep Time" ;
simply extraordinary writing prose about an extraordinary topic.  I've also
read "The Equations of Time" and am working on "Zen Physics". 
    I need to finish Francis Crick's "The Astonishing Hypothesis", Michio
Kaku's "Hyperspace", Stephen Barnes "Blood Brothers" which was just released
 (I've e-mailed him on this story),  Terry McMillan's "Dissapearing Acts",
and newcomer Mary Kay Zaraslav's "The Frequency of Souls".   I juggle a lot
of science books, sci-fi, and fiction all at once.
      If you like speculative fiction, try marrying it with socio-politics
and take a stab at Derrick Bell's "And We Are Not Saved" and "Faces At the
Bottom of the Well".
*****
   By the way, are the minority outreach programs successful?  I am a product
of one from the 1970s and it made a big difference in my life.
Peace
Greg Sills
    
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Brett D Bochner 
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 1997 02:19:51 -0500
Subject: a rec

You should read "Gateway", by Frederik Pohl. It is one of the best.
The (3) sequels are okay, but not on the same level.

B.B.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: AliceShea@aol.com
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 1997 18:01:49 -0500 (EST)
Subject: favorite authors: )

I really like to read, and although I do it all the time, I  am slow due to a
learning disability. I also don't spell very well, so forgive me please: )
Judith Merkle Riley   "The Oracle Glass"
just finished it for the second time.... I like it
also I knnow that I tend to read books about women,
I've also recently finished "Lady of the forrest" BY Jennifer Robinson (?)
not sure on the auther
I'm started on "the Strange Case of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde"
: )
I love Anne Rice, and I really like Paula Volski
"the Gate to Woman's country, as well as "A Plague of Angels", and "Beauty"
I don't remember the authors but they were all good books
"The Crystal Cave"
by Mary Stewart
"The Mists of Avalon"
those are the onlyones that I can remember right off the top of my head right
now: )
I hope to hear from you about your favorites

PS.  I like the classics too
Jane Eyre
The Good Earth
Necter in A Seive
Anything By Shakespere
Anything by Poe 
Dracula
Frankenstein
...... almost anything that is dark and of the Gothic nature: )

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Mark J. Levad" 
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 1997 13:15:45 -0800
Subject: Brust ommision

I noticed a large ommision in your list of Brust books.   The Sun, 
the Moon, and the Stars.

   This is a fascinating story and worth checking out.

   Although it seems as though you only read paperbacks I would like 
to recomend Brust's new book Freedom and Neccisity.

Mark Levad

## I intend to read both eventually, I promise!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Mel DeKraker 
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 1997 21:40:41 -0500
Subject: Thanks

Thanks 
 For your insightful review of Harry Turtledove The Guns of the South!!
 I will buy it for sure.I just discovered Turtldove with the World
 in the Balance book .It's funny I like history and I asked my wife
 to pick up any book for me.Wow I couldn't put it down!  Mel :-)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Fred Fenimore 
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 21:27:31 -0500
Subject: Random feedback...

Just a quick note to say I very much enjoyed your site.  Got there from
alta-vista searching on "replay +grimwood".  Been a fav of mine for some
time now.  Especially liked the comedic treatment in Groundhog Day (the
movie).  

Thought I would suggest one for you if you can find it.  Journey of the
Oceanauts by Louis Wolfe. Interesting juvenile I picked up at a great
used book store in Florida some years ago. 

The other suggestion is Belgarath the Sorcerer.  I know, I know...  The
prospect of getting burned by Eddings tendency to rehash things looms; I
hated the Mallorean about as much as you can for the constant rehash
(and read it for the same reason you did).  But I have to hand it to
him.  He actually made retelling the original story make sense in a
larger scheme of things. 

Fred

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Thomas Gellhaus 
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 16:54:58 -0800
Subject: your home page

Dear Doug:

I greatly enjoy checking your web page out - you have the best-written
reviews I have seen for books.  You have given me some good
recommendations to look for and read (I am a prolific reader).
    
I see (March 13) that you are reading Grass, by Sheri S. Tepper.  She
is one of my favorite writers.  I strongly recommend reading her book
Raising the Stones afterwards.  It is (not quite) a sequel - one
character in Grass appears near the end of Raising the Stones.  She also
wrote Sideshow as a (not quite) sequel to the first two, but I did not
enjoy it nearly as much as the others.
   
The only other recommendation I would make right now is to suggest you
take a look at the Recluce series of fantasy novels by L.E. Modesitt,
Jr.
Although I have no idea how good he is at science fiction, these novels
are impressive (imho).
	The Recluce Series:  THE MAGIC OF RECLUCE, THE TOWERS OF THE SUNSET,
THE MAGIC ENGINEER, THE ORDER WAR, THE DEATH OF CHAOS, FALL OF
ANGELS.
	All except FALL OF ANGELS are in paperback, and I did not like 
FALL anywhere near as much as the first five (which are fine by
themselves.) 
	                       Sincerely yours	
				Thomas Gellhaus 
				tg265769@hvcc.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: jason a marhshall 
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 01:52:06 -0800
Subject: Books

I would like to humbly suggest some other books you may enjoy.

Patricia Mckillup: The RiddleMaster of Hed series

Diane Duane:  My Enemy, My Ally; Spock's World. The other's are also
good, but you can see for yourself.  Highly recommended

John Ford:  The Final Reflection.  Highly recommended

Alan Dean Foster:  you might like the Spellsinger series....  Look for
them in used book stores.

Charles DeLint:  Svaha, the Jack the Giant Killer series

Orson Scott Card:  Children of the Mind (Ender's Saga); The Alvin
Journeyman series is excellent (but not yet complete); the Harmony books
are good.... 

Raymond Feist:  The new Midkemia books are okay, but not as good as the
original series.  This series is also still not yet complete.  You might
try the Kelewan books written with Wurst, those are fairly good....

	Anyway, just thought I would send my two cents.  I know there is more I
would recommend, but I will not bore you with a lengthy list of books
that I enjoyed.  I hope you are not offended by this; if you are, I
apologize in advance, and hope you are not TOO angry.

	If you want to reply, my e-mail address is:
	rannis-h@eecs.wsu.edu

Sincerely yours,
Richard C. Annis-Hilliard

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: JLWHill@aol.com
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 23:29:38 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Grass

Doug,  Can't wait to read your opinion of Grass. I, and probably many others,
recommended it to you a few months ago. Since then, I have taken your advice
and read 3 Simmons books (H, TFoH, Endymion). Enjoyed them a great deal! Hope
you enjoy Grass and go on to read more of Tepper (she only has a couple of
misses).
Thanks for keeping up the website!     Jackie. 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Steve  Breakfield  
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 10:28:09 -0600
Subject: A book suggestion

     I discovered your home page while searching for reviews of William
Greider's books.  I enjoyed it.   I haven't thought about some of those old
SF books like Cities In Flight or The Mote in God's Eye in many years. 
I've gotten away from the genre in recent years and now read more
history, economics, health and a little philosophy.
     I just finished a good book you might want to try:  How the Irish
Saved Civilization by xxx Cahill (don't recall his first name).  Cahill is a
real scholar who has a flair for writing and tells his story well.  The Irish
monks fell in love with writing and copied eyerything they could get their
hands on at the time when Rome fell to invading barbarians.  Their busy
coping was the source of just about everything we know of Roman and
Greek civilzations.  bye for now, SteveB.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: mdmoore@mailhost.capecod.net
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 12:21:37 +0000
Subject: a link for your book list

Here is a good link I found.  They have a ton of good links.

Bookzone
http://www.bookzone.com/index.html

Mark D. Moore
mdmoore@capecod.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kent Shambaugh 
Subject: Robert Asprin, Jimmy Buffett

Dear Doug,

I would first like to say that I think your library is a wonderful idea and
that as long as it keeps being updated I will be certain to check it out
whenever I finish my latest book.

While I was browsing through yur reccomendations, I notice that while you
mentioned Robert Asprin in regard to the "Theives World" books, you did not
mention the Myth series, "Phule's Company" or "Phule's Paradise".  While I
understand that you might not want to get involved in a series that is still
producing books, the Phule's books really are separate books and can be
easily read without having to wait for the entire series, if there will even
be another book out I don't know.

Also, I didn't see Jimmy Buffett in the list of author's.  I know he is more
popular as a singer, but he can also write books and has several out.  They
are very humorous and I highly reccommend them.

Once again, I think you library is an exceptional source for finding
something to read and I am certain that many will and have found enjoyment
from your reccommendations.

Sincerely,
Kent Shambaugh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: coolfunk@bellatlantic.net
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 23:10:32 -0800
Subject: Great Library!

While searching for information on Robert Ludlum, I came upon your site.
I love mysteries, thrillers, and true crime.  And, although I am not a
fan of SF, I found your site to be well written, informative, enjoyable,
interesting, and entertaining.  It's a library worth mentioning to my
friends.  Thanks!

					Katie

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Floydtopia@aol.com
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 22:13:41 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Hello

Hello, my name is Floyd Fox.  I am 16 and a great fan of Science Fiction and
Fantasy books.  I am really impressed with your booklist.  It covers a wide
range of authors, styles, and ideas.  I have read many of the ones you
listed.  My favorites include The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, all the Star
Wars books (especially Zahn), The Paratwa trilogy by Hinz,  and the whole 10
book Mission Earth series by Hubbard.  The Paratwa was by far my most
favorite!!!  I would really enjoy hearing some of you thoughts and
suggestions for books if you have a chance.

Thank you for your time.

Floyd Fox,
Floydtopia@aol.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ingram Wed Mar 19 13:04:08 1997
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 13:04:02 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re:  Hello

Thanks for the note; I've actually read the first Paratwa book in the
distant past, but I forgot to include it on my page because I don't
own it now.  I probably won't read and review the series for some time
to come, but I will eventually get back to it.  As for Hubbard, I
basically gave up after book 1 and haven't regretted it.  If you want
a concise list of my book recommendations, check out my poll votes,
linked to the welcome page.

Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kent Shambaugh 
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 14:34:37 -0700
Subject: Jennifer Roberson

Dear Doug,

While browsing through your library, I came across a section of Jennifer
Roberson's works.  I noticed that you haven't yet reviewed the Sword series.
It consists of four book titled in order:  Sword-Dancer, Sword-Singer,
Sword-Maker, and Sword-Breaker.

I highly reccommend reading the series, and would try to describe them for
you, if I didn't think my writing style and descriptions would pale in
comparision to what others might be able to put into words.

Sincerely,
Kent Shambaugh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Benjamin Cook 
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 13:36:44 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Terry Brooks

Salutations.  I was recently browsing through your page(the list of 
authors) and found that under Terry Brooks you didn't have the Magic 
Kingdom for Sale series.  I assume that is because you didn't read them. 
Yes, they sound very idiotic, but they are good, light reading. Thus, I 
recomend them.  So why did I take the time to write this useless e-mail?  
I'm bored, what else am I going to do?  oh, wait, perhaps read......

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Shadow 
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 17:34:58 -0400
Subject: Time Travel Genre

Dear Doug:
Do you have a recommended list of good time travel fiction genre?  I
have read Anderson's "There Will Be Time" and Grimwood's variation on
the theme "Replay."     Your insights would be appreciated.
Shadow

## Nothing leaps to mind except Replay and Hawke's "Time Wars" series.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Lupus Yonderboy 
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 21:05:58 -0500
Subject: nice site

Hey - nice site. Must have taken a lot of work. I seem to be interested
in many of the same authors so I skimmed through your reviews. I agree
with many of them, but I must strongly disagree with you review of
Eddings' work. Of course it's only my opinion, but I find him to be one
of the most entertaining authors in the fantasy/swords&sorcery genre. I
especially like the way he handles the way magic works in his universe.
Not many authors make it as "real" feeling.

I noticed you haven't read all of the Julian May books yet. I highly
recommend them. She ties everything up quite nicely - including the tie
in with her other series _The Saga of the Pliocene Exile_.

Anyway, as I read more of your reviews I may comment more and pick up
some of the stuff I haven't read too.

Regards

Scott

p.s. I found your site through an Alta Vista search for Umberto Eco. In
case you were wondering.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Sylvia Reinhart 
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 17:12:25 -0800
Subject: bookreviews

Hi,
I just finished glancing through your page and thought I'd send you a 
short letter.
I found it quite fascinating to see how much you've already read. I 
recognized about a third of the authors you wrote about. 
I've read one book of David Brin (Sternenflut in German) and enjoyed it 
very much. I liked Orson Scott Card's Ender-series and Timothy Zahn's 
sequel to Star Wars. I'm waiting to borrow Tad Williams series from my 
cousin, who is also a great science-fiction fan. It's sure a lot cheaper 
if you can swap books and you don't need as much room.
I got started on Science Fiction/Fantasy by Alan Dean Foster and Anne 
McCaffrey. I try to buy any of their books on paperback, that come out.
Recently I bought the sword-singer series by Jennifer Roberson, which I 
enjoyed a lot and have now started on the Cheysuli-series which I'm 
keeping for my holiday.
Have you read Michael Scott Rohan/Rowan(?)? He wrote a series of three 
books which I enjoyed very much but of which I only know the German 
name(Pfortenwelt). It reminds me a bit of Foster, but is different again.
Have a good time reading.
Sylvia

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Rgal@aol.com
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 19:08:59 -0500 (EST)
Subject: OUR UNIVERSE

Dear Doug,
Just to let you know that my National Geographic book is now in its third
edition and is very much alive and well and up to date. Thanks for your nice
comments the book. It's in Japanese and Hebrew also.  Cheers. How many of my
other 80 some books have you listed?   --Roy Gallant

## Since receiving this letter, I've updated my review comments.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Uhyon Chung 
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 08:53:35 -0500
Subject: comments

Hi there,

Since your mailbox seem to be overflowing with e-mail about
recommendations, you probably didn't want any more (I'm just
supposing... but i don't see how one can read all those recommended
books in one lifetime!). So I decided to write some comments on what you
put on your page.

Anthony, Piers... I always enjoyed his writings... Sometimes they can be
really silly, but so far, it's been fun.

Brooks... Your comments were rather amusing. Mainly because you seem to
be reconciling all the "hate-mail" you've received from Brooks fans! :)
Sort of scary if you ask me. Personally, I thought his books were pretty
good, and enjoyable, except for the occasional slow parts I skipped
over. The one really annoying part was when he switched perspective at
the critical moment, like the way they place commercials between movies.
It's so very annoying! I sometimes just skip the next perspective
sometimes and read back. (Robert Jordan does that a lot too.) BTW, the
next series (Scions of Shannar) is pretty good too, in some ways better.

deCamp, L.Sprague... I haven't read "Incompleat Enchanter", but I've
read his second book, (whose title I forgot). I loved the light humour
of the story, and found it "fun" to read, which is what I care about
most about in a book.

Donaldson... I guess we really have different tastes. I liked most of
the series, and thought it was great. However, towards the end,
especially The One Tree and the White Gold Wielder, I had to chug along
and grind through the books... It was just too much inner thoughts and
other nonsense.

Feist... His books were pretty good, as you've said. Prince of Blood
(the fifth) was the only one I'd not recommend. You've really got to
read the Empire serious though. It's one of those books I've spent the
whole night reading (and so has my sister.)

Hubbard... I think his writings are "fun" (which means I've read the
whole thing.) but very cynical. I'm also anti-Hubbard in general after I
found out about his scientology thingy.

Watt-Evans... My favorite author! Favorite book is With a Single
Spell... loved it!!!

Williams, Tad... Like Donaldson, I liked his beginning... The third book
was Slow... I kept wishing that magic existed in this world. The
references were too vague...

Weis, Margaret... Love her series. In the Dragonlance books, her book
stand out among the others who write for it. Her books are also "fun" to
read and one those that I spent the whole night for. I thought Zifnab
was a really funny/silly reference back to Dragonlance. :) Comic relief,
you might say...

I guess what we look for in these books are totally different. What I
look for are book that are "fun" to read, and I can read through without
having to start think of it as a philosophy book. I think some of that
philosophical nonsense is good in a novel, but when the whole thing is
like that, it bores me half to death. Reminds me of my Philosophy class
I took last year. I could BS well enough to get As on tests, but I never
found reading other people's BS very exciting.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "usaf" 
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 14:29:39 -0500
Subject: Death Gate 

I've just finished reading your rather dull review of one of my favorite
fantasy series, The Death Gate Cycle. I must admit, I had to laugh at how
ignorant you were of what the character of Zifnab really was. Obviously,
you either haven't read the authors' Dragonlance series (The only D&D books
I've EVER recomended to anyone), or you are completely clueless. Zifnab,
aka Fizban, is a character from this trilogy who is carried over. If you
would take the time to do a little research, you wouldn't need me to tell
you these things.
In parting, I leave you this one piece of advice, those with imagination,
write. Those without, critique. What a waste........

## Well, this deserves a reply only because it hit a nerve.
## Those of you who have read other letters similar to this in my
## mail bag along with my replies may see some similar comments.
## In fact, I did a little cutting and pasting.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ingram Sun Mar 30 12:58:42 1997
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 12:58:42 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Death Gate

> I've just finished reading your rather dull review of one of my favorite
> fantasy series, The Death Gate Cycle. I must admit, I had to laugh at how
> ignorant you were of what the character of Zifnab really was. 

	Actually, though it doesn't say so in my review, I had guessed
that Zifnab was a character from another series by one or both authors
because he was introduced on the assumption that the reader was already
familiar with his personality in some sense.  This may work well for
readers of Weis/Hickman, but regardless of Zifnab's origins, I personally
felt his presence detracted from the series.

> Obviously,
> you either haven't read the authors' Dragonlance series (The only D&D books
> I've EVER recomended to anyone), or you are completely clueless. Zifnab,
> aka Fizban, is a character from this trilogy who is carried over. If you
> would take the time to do a little research, you wouldn't need me to tell
> you these things.

	I don't understand the rudeness and condescension here.  Are you
really that personally threatened by a simple book review that you feel
the need to act this way toward someone you haven't met?

	To be clear, it is *you* who need to do a little research.  First
of all, my book reviews are simply opinions, and I invite disagreement
and/or agreement and/or further recommendations.  That's the *point* of
the page.  Your letter, just like all the other letters I've received,
will be published in my mail bag.  Your attitude doesn't speak well for
fans of Weis and Hickman (from whom I've received several emails over
the past year) and is more likely to drive away potential fans than
get them to agree with you.

	Which brings me to my main point:  What was the purpose of your
letter?  If your goal is to get me to change my mind about the series,
you shouldn't just say "You're wrong" in an insulting way.  You should
give me some kind of thoughtful reason, listing some of the positives
I may have overlooked (though in retrospect, I think my review was
unusually kind).  Same is true if your goal is simply to present a
counterpoint to my review in the mailbag.  If you really care about it,
be my guest.  If you don't, then from my end, it looks like you're
just spouting off for the sole purpose of venting anger at me.  Hey,
it's a free country, but don't expect me to show you a lot of respect 
in return.

	Believe me, I sympathize with the plight of someone whose
favorite author is critically lambasted.  I mean, come on, I'm a
Donaldson fan, for crying out loud!  But you should really consider
your words more carefully.

> In parting, I leave you this one piece of advice, those with imagination,
> write. Those without, critique. What a waste........

	How ironic that you should write this, given that it is *you*
who are criticizing something that *I* wrote.  

Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Mark Travaglia 
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 20:49:43 +1200
Subject: Books to read

 After looking at your page my to read list, already far too large, swelled
to tremendous proportions.  I agreed with most of your reviews, all the ones
I like you like too, but you like some ones that I don't like. My
personality type is INTJ, if thats any help. I haven't read very many decent
books, but I thought I should return the favour and recommend some.

 My favorite Discworld books are Witches Abroad, Interesting Times, and
Reaper Man. And seeing as you like Pratchett and Adams you'll probably like
Robert Rankin, although if you're in the states you might have trouble
finding his books. Another obscure author that just popped into my head is
Jack Yeovil, (I might have spelt that wrong) he's written Drachenfels,
Genevieve Undead, and Beasts in Velvet that I'm aware of, there are probably
some more. Don't be put off by the Warhammer setting, they are good.

 Despite the overwhelming urge to do so I have refrained from mentioning
that Robert Jordan is my favorite author, and you should read the Wheel of
Time as soon as possible (Sorry, I shouldn't have said that.) But I would
like to tell you the other side of the 'Why Jordanites have a bad name in
rasfw' story. Apparantly rasfw was at one time nearly overrun by Jordan
posts, and the Jordanites were subjected to unreasonable abuse by irate
rasfwians. Eventually they got kicked into a new newsgroup and everyone was
happy. Of course thats completely biased account by an ardent Jordanite, but
it offsets the biased account by an ardent anti-Jordanite(s?) you seem to
have gotten. Anyway, if the regulars in rasfw are anything like the regulars
in rasfwrj then I can easily imagine both sides being at fault.

Jon Travaglia

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Richard Winters and Tienchin Ho 
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 10:20:31 -0800
Subject: more books

Some books you may wish to glance at if you have time:

Waking the Moon (Elizabeth Hand) 
Well written as far as literature goes with some well-developed themes
of the female archetypes - and an excellent story besides
my favorite book this year (possibly in part because I read it sitting
in some nice parks in Washington DC where the story takes place) -
achieves what other authors (Mists of Avalon) have tried to accomplish
for the female archetype - not for the easily injured male ego

China Mountain Zhang (Maureen McHugh)
Her first book and still her best (Half the Day is Night is the newer
one) - more sci fi than fantasy - excellent literature and
psychoanalysis

The Diamond Age (Neal Stephenson)
Not anything like Snow Crash - has some themes in common with Williams'
Otherland - this book has much more substance and is less of an Indiana
Jones type of adventure movie - and has more literary merit as well

Zodiac (Neal Stephenson)
Not anything like The Diamond Age - back to the adventure movie but now
one with a "moral" standard - mediocre literature

Pastwatch (Orson Scott Card)
only in hardback I think
Fun and quick read - interesting ideas - mediocre literature

Some info to temper my recommendations -
I am an INTP
I loved Grass (Tepper), the Ender series, all LeGuin books, The
Dragonbone Chair/The Stone of Farewell/Otherland, Madelaine L'Engle,
Robert Jordan, and Tolkein of course.
I liked Hyperion (more than TfofH), Shannara Elfstones/Wishsong (not so
much the later ones), To Green Angel Tower (I agree that it was
anticlimactic - I think Williams got tired), Zelazney's stuff.
I sort of liked Donaldson's Covenant series (read during my banishment
from the world while I had the chickenpox).
I do not like Piers Anthony (boring), Katherine Kurtz (predictable),
Heinlein (VERY dated and somewhat homophobic), Hickman/May/etc (all the
same).

If you post this please post without my e-mail address. Hope this adds
some good reading for you.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Julio Septien 
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 11:22:27 +0200

I think you should update your comments on Julian May's saga. 
You shouldn't wait too
much for the Pliocene Exile series. It was a great success ten (or so)
years ago, specially
The Many-Colored Land. Along with the other three books of the series, it
is a wonderful
retelling of all the myths of human past (including the celtic Tuatha de
Danan people, or 
the Christian Devil himself, one of the Remillards gone the the remote
past). It even explains
in a curious way how Gibraltar strait was formed in an epic battle,
separing Europe from Africa.
I enjoyed it very much, even if I read it in a quite bad Spanish
translation. Just after I finished
the first book I had to go for the rest of them, and had to wait one more
month for the last 
of them to be published.
I agree many other comments. Specially those on the Shannara or Pern
Dragons books, 
that have been largely overvlued.
Also agree on the great books and writers. Tolkien, Simmons, Donaldson,
Brin, Silverberg, or Le Guin...
I read years ago the first three books from Glen Cook's Black Company
series, so injustely
forgotten, and also found them astoundly good. I had no news of the other
books until I read your pages, and will try to find them.
Thank you for your effort.
Julio Septien

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: guest 

Your homepage is very interesting. I didn't have time to read more 
than a couple of reviews, though. Just an oponion, but I disagree with
your summary of John Grisham's book, The Client. That book, because it 
centers around a young boy, is different from the rest of his books. I
think it is a great piece of writing, to show a yound child's reaction
to fear. The movie was weak, but as a whoel I think The Client was the
same quality as Grisham's other books.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: jcolpit@minot.com
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 00:44:37 -0600
Subject: Cave's of Steel

There are a few more book which tie into the foundation series.  They
fall under the Robot Novels:  The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun and The
Robots of Dawn.  A well written series, which any Asimov or Sci/Fi fan
would love.  Though I read them all over 10 years ago, I beleive The
Naked Sun was the best.

Jeff Colpitts

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: epf2@netdot.com (Eugene Frizzell)
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 20:16:05 -0800
Subject: Book review

Dear Doug,

I think your page is very interesting, although I can argue with you on
some points. 'The Hobbit' was the first fantasy book I ever read and
I've been reading them ever since. I love all of Tolkien's books because
they have so much depth that they seem real. The next book I read was
one reccomended by my dad- 'The Sword of Shannarra.' Although it was
obvious immediately where he got his ideas from, I still liked it a lot.
I also liked Brook's series beginning with 'Magic Kingdom for
Sale-Sold.' I also dissagree with you about David Edding's books. I
loved his characters! Silk was a trip! (You can probably tell I'm in
high school now) I really don't like science fiction usually, but I did
really like 'Dune.' We have the computer game,(it has great
graphics!)which my brother just beat the other day. I do agree with you
all the way on one subject- Stephen Donaldson! At first I was having
serious doubts about whether I was going to like the book (Lord Foul's
Bane) because of the extensity that Donaldson described Covenant.
Especially when he raped Lena, I expected him to have a little bit of
concious and be sorry for what he did. He seemed less than human at
first. Also I kept wondering when he was suddenly going to become a
great hero and use his ring and blast down Drool Rockworm and Lord Foul.
I also got stuck on the Mordant's Needs series. I suppose Terisa is the
Covenant in that series. Maybe this is weird, but I also liked Castellan
Lebbick. I kind of felt sorry for him, but kind of admired him even
after he beat up Saddith (I think that's the right name) It kind of made
me sick that the King could do that to Lebbick but I guess it was for
the 'greater need.' I also have an author to reccomend- Terry Goodkind.
He's a pretty new author but I loved his books. The third of his series
just came out in hardback around 2 or 3 months ago (I think around) so I
think you should read them when you get a chance. My brother and I both
really enjoyed them. Goodbye and thank you!

							-Erin Frizzell
							 or Kheldar
epf2@netdot.com
(I told you I liked Eddings if you caught that-Kheldar)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Dirk J. Karrenbauer" 
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 00:37:40 -0500
Subject: Site Review

Doug, just thought you would like some feedback on your site. I don't know
what knid of feedback you are used to (it seems you get more criticism and
corrections than anything) but I for one am impressed. I am impressed with
the variety and depth or your review list, as well as your succinct and at
times witty style. Not that our views and reviews are always parallel. But
we are of like mind on the major SF/F works, esp. Donaldson. 

By the way, although "Raising Arizona" was not always on my list of top 5
favorite movies, my wife LOVES it. She still goes into hysterical laughter
in that funny opening sequence. She has forced me to watch it a number of
times. I will admit it has grown on me considerably. So in turn I forced
her to read "Mordant's Need", which in turn grew on her (although alas not
enough to get her interested in any other SF/F works. Any suggestions of
works with this same "flavor"?)

Anyway, good site and thanks for sharing your insights.

Dirk Karrenbauer

FYI: Jordan's series is good, but can be daunting and exasperating. You can
choose to wait for it to be 100% out on paperback, but even if you start
now, you may get to the final book just as it is released!   

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: sehret@sqli.fr (Stephane Ehret)
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 11:01:28 +0200
Subject: Foundation

So you haven't bothered with the recently released series
preludes...didn't want to spoil a good experience. Then, I may say
you've make a big mistake. Prelude to Foundation is a great book, almost
it explains the whole plot from the begining. So, what sounded sometimes
superficial and unexplained in foundation becomes quickly as bright as
brilliant.
However, the best still to start with the Trantor and the Fall of
the Empire series. And then, you've got a whole serie with about 20 
books !!!

Bye,
Stephane EHRET
France

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Deanna M. Stephens" 
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 05:01:18 -0500

If you like fantasy, you should try Mercedes Lackey and Sharon Green.  
Each have several series.  I liked all of them that I've read.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Rdgbks@aol.com
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 10:16:52 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Replay

This is one of my all time favorite books...since getting connected to AOl,
I've looked for other Replay fans...always trying to find other stories in
that genre...unfortunately I haven't heard of any yet...you mentioned being a
King fan...not my usual taste but...recently purchased The Stand....an AOL
friend recommended Earth Abides by George Stewart(1949)...I read it and it
truly is a timeless classic...I was told that it was King's inspiration when
writing The Stand...it certainly was written before King's book...in any case
I recommend it if you never read it....and I plan on reading The Stand...I
enjoyed your web site and plan on returning for some browsing...hope you like
Earth Abides.....

Rdgbks@AOl    

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Brett 
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 00:35:55 -0500
Subject: You've got a new fan

I just wanted to let you know that I thought that your reviews were dead
on!  I felt as if I had written many of them myself.  I didn't find even
ONE with which I disagreed! Your page has led me to discover some
outstanding books. Thanks!
Have you thought about listing some of your favourite books into a top
ten list (or top 25 list)? Just a thought.
Thanks again,
Brett in Nashville

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Bryan R Read 
Subject: Starship Troopers by Heinlein

    I found your webpage through a search on Robert Heinlein.  I just
wanted to give you some info on the background of Starship Troopers,
which is my favorite book.  If you read Expanded Universe, Heinlein
talks about his loyalty and pride in the United States.  
    In 1958, Heinlein took a break from writing Stranger because he
wanted to make people see the Communist propaganda that was so rife in
this country.  So he wrote a newspaper ad that was widely circulated in
many sources for several months.  This ad pleaded with people to
recognize the truth about Russia's pleas for nuclear disarmament.  He
recieved lots of criticism for this and was dismayed when Eisenhower
cancelled nuclear testing.
	   Heinlein then began writing Starship Troopers.  He says "The
'Patrick Henry' ad shocked 'em; Starship Troopers outraged 'em.  I still
can't see how that book got a Hugo."  Heinlein attributes much of this
to the fact that most people don't understand the terminology in the
book.  For example, the term veteran does not necessarily mean a
military veteran.  But for more information, you should read Expanded
Universe yourself.

                    					A fellow Heinlein fan
				                        	Bryan Read 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Gerry Daumiller 
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 22:45:44 -0600
Subject: Book Reviews

Doug,

I was interested to see that the only Star Trek non-fiction books you
have read are the ones by William Shatner.  He is the poorest writer of
the bunch.  I highly recommend "I am Spock" by Leonard Nimoy and the
book by George Takei (I forget the title).

Someone gave me four of Shatner's Tek War books as a gift.  I was barely
able to make it through the first two -- they were not too bad, but all of
the science fiction elements were forced.  They would have worked better
as straight detective stories.  I finally gave up while reading the third
book, when the term "artificial gravel" was thrown into a sentence, just
to remind us that we are reading science fiction.

I've read the first two installments of the new Uplift trilogy by Dave Brin:
_Brightness Reef_ and _Infinity's Shore_.  They are both outstanding, but
they do not stand alone like the previous books, and the outcome is still hanging
in the balance.  If the ending isn't botched up, as it was in _Earth_, this
trilogy should be a classic.

Gerry Daumiller 
http://www.initco.net/~geraldda

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Phil McDown" 
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 97 09:36:15 PST

     Hi Doug:
     
     Since I'm sending this to you any way, another suggestion:  If you 
     ever come across The Harvard Lampoon's parody of LotR - Bored of the 
     Rings, grab it!  The main story is predictable undergrad parody, but 
     the send-up of Tolkein's introduction: ON HOBBITS  is an 
     absolute howl.
     
     TTFN
     
     Phil

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: MAC TONNIES <0212104@ACAD.NWMISSOURI.EDU>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 16:08:28 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Please take a look at my review website

Hi!  Great page.  I enjoyed finding where our tastes diverged and 
where we interpreted things the same way.  I have an SF boom review 
website at http://www.nwmissouri.edu/~0212104/apu.html you might want 
to look at (and possibly add to your page of links).
--Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Employee 
Subject: My 2 cents

Found your page while I was browsing the web and I have to say that I 
probably enjoyed your page better then any other I have ever gone to.  So 
smile, enjoy the compliment and keep up the good work.  OK I'll say it 
again I loved your web page.

I tend to love all of the fantasy epics - things like Tolkien, Brooks, 
Eddings, Tad Williams, Terry Goodkind, Raymond Fiest (and no I don't like 
Robert Jordan, I made it through 5 of the books and kept waiting for 
something to happen - IMHO he is an embarrasement.  anyway...)

Two things.
On your recommendation I have just started to read The Black Company - 
it's great so far and I hope it gets better.

The 1 author that seems to be missing from your web page is the 1 true 
master of fantasy (living that is) - Tom Dietz.  I can't recommend to you 
 highly enough to read him.  He has a couple of different series.  They 
tend to deal with college age kids in Georgia.  He mixes our world with 
ALOT of celtic history, Irish magic, Indian magic etc. - the thing I 
liked the best is that although he is writing a fantasy book he displays 
it in such a way that makes the fantasy all too plausible (kinda like how 
Crichton did Jurassic Park - making you believe with all your heart that 
it could happen).

Anyway
Read Dietz NOW!!
keep the web page going - its great
keep smiling
Scott

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ripkill@aol.com
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 09:08:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: BOOK SUGGESTIONS AND QUESTION?

  althought I really just wnated to ask a question, 
there are also two series I would
highly reccomend. Anyone who enjoyed the political intrigue and plotting
involved in the Melanie Rawn  Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogy will have
to read J. V. Jone's Book of Words Trilogy, which contains the books The
Baker's Boy, A Man Betrayed, and Master and Fool. In my opinion when it comes
to political plotting and secretive war these are the best. Also, Robin
Hobb's Trilogy, The Farseer, has just been completed. It follows a bastard
from childhood through the most powerful bloodline in the kingdom. It has an
excellent plpot ixed in with different forms of sorcery, called the Skill and
the Wit, and it is also a very excellent story line, although I found it a
little strange at times, but not in a bad way, just a confusing one. Finally,
back to my question. I noticed one of the reviews on a series was for
Jennifer Roberson. I have heard of an author of fantasy who is named Jennifer
Robertson, are they the same person and you just mispelled it are are they
seperate authors?

# I spelled Roberson's name correctly, I promise.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Jeff D. Jensen" 
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 12:04:46 -0700
Subject: Tom Clancy and the Op-Center Books

Hi Doug

I was checking out your homepage, and found a little error. Tom Clancy
didn't write the op-center books. He and Steve Whatshisname only wrote a
synopsis for them. A young author named Jeff Rovin wrote them. 

Without Remorse and CaPD:
Clark's real name is John Kelly (If you didn't know :o) ) 

Dept of Honor:
The book continues in the 'Excutive Orders'. Read it!!!

- Jeff :o)
World of Tom Clancy: http://home3.inet.tele.dk/jdj

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: DAVDECRANE@aol.com
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 14:35:45 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: where's the dick?

Surely, you've read PK Dick and his science fiction.  Where are your reviews.
 Thanks for the others, though. D

# I have since added a special "Jordan-like" page to my review list
# to address the PKD issue.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: AGurvey@aol.com
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 09:09:18 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Donaldson

I just stumbled across your site... informative and interesting.  Anyway, I
 thought I would pass on some information that you may not know, that I didnt
find here, and is kind of interesting.  First, let me say that one of my
hobbies is collecting first edition books --- which contradicts your method
of waiting until the whole series is out in paperback.  In anycase, I learned
a while back that Lord Foul's Bane was first available through a book club.
 It is this usually worthless type of edition (book club publications) that
is the TRUE first edition in print.  The dustjacket arwork is COMPLETELY
different than any of the other books published.  Secondly, I have spoken to
several bookdealers and collectors over the years.  One of which met
Donaldson at some show/convention.  He relayed to me that Donaldson told him
he had purposely left a plethera of "options" open throughout his six books
that would allow him to bring back the character of Thomas Covenant.  In
fact, there is supposedly is a THIRD Chronicle in the works.  However, I must
say that I heard this a couple of years ago and I have nothing in writing to
verify this.   Also, I dont know how long it takes Donaldson to write a book,
if he was writing the whole series, or if he had just begun to sketch out the
story.  Perhaps you or someone you know may have some connection to find out
what the story is.  Actually what I would love to see, IF it were done
correctly, is an epic movie.  Who knows, perhaps someone has already turned
the series into a screenplay. 

--Andrew Gurvey

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: c rehm 
Date: Thu, 01 May 1997 22:35:16 -0400
Subject: Piers Anthony

Salutations,
	I also have read the chronicles of Immortality.  And I found the first
couple and the last two the best of the series.  The middle seemed to
drag on.  FOR LOVE OF EVIL and AND ETERNITY were interesting.
	Just my 2 cents.
Chris

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ong Shih Lin 
Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 15:20:35 +0800
Subject: Web

well Baq, 
 I am one of those RJ fans, and I am not fervent. Never knew Rj fans
were just below trekkies...
 well i appreciate your sincere advice on that webpage to all those
fervent fans,out there.
As for why we dont like advice, maybe its cause we go through childhood
being told what to do

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: mwagner 
Date: Sat, 03 May 1997 08:01:38 -0400

If you like Heinlein, you should check out my website:
http://homepage.usr.com/w/willers/

There's this little project I have in mind...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Adrijana Radovif <"no adress"@snea'ker.ddd>
Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 23:04:56 +0200
Subject: web-page

Oi!Come on!You should try to read Tolkien instead of G.G.Kay!Cool your
jets and read some of real fantasy adventures,not Guy's sexual violence
over the reader!

Witch-king.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "R.F.Briggs" 
Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 22:06:51 -0700
Subject: Stuff

Hi I have commented in awhile.

I'd like to thank you for some great suggestions for reading.  I now
count Brust, Simmons, Hawke and now Cook among my favs.

I'd like to return the favor by recommending P.K. Dick.  Not all are
great but some are classics.  I'm surprised to see you've never reviewed
one.

## See above.

Take Care

R.F. Briggs
rfbriggs@netcom.ca

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Philip J. Thoennes" 
Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 23:15:37 -0700
Subject: More books by Brust

I am rather surprised your Brust page didn't have the full list
of his books.  The first book is "The Sun the Moon and the Stars"
which preceedes "The Gypsy".  The "Brokedown Palace" take place
far east of Dragerea in the land of the easterners.  Of course they
call themselves humans and the dragereans faries.

The thing I love most about Brust is how different each of his
singles/series are, and yet they are all wonderful to read.

I did enjoy "To Reign in Hell" but can see why a person might not.  I
couldn't make it through "Cowboy Feng's Spacebar and Grill".  I sold my
copy of it.  *shrug*

And you will love Jordan's books when you finally get to read them in
five years.

Anyways, thanks for your web page and thanks for bothering to read this.

---------------------
Philip J. Thoennes
thoennep@peak.org

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Karen James" 
Date: Sun, 11 May 1997 23:50:31 -0700
Subject: reviews at your site

Hi Doug,

Just wandered on in and thought I'd pass along my comments. Unlike you, I
am an INTP.

I do have many similar interests in books and authors :

Jennifer Roberson - Cheysuli series of course, but what about the Sword
Dancer series?
Glen Cook - Black Company (only the old stuff though)
Stephen Donaldson - couldn't handle the graphic descriptions in the
Covenant books (I've got an overly vivid imagination and they made me sick
to the stomach) but I loved The Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides
Through and I'm tolerating The Gap series. 

In fact I liked just about everything on your indepth reviews list I had
read, except the Covenant books which were good... just too good!

Authors I didn't see that I enjoy include:
C.J. Cherryh - The Chanur books and especially the Faded Sun Books
(Downbelow Station is not representative)
Angus Wells - The Book of the Kingdoms series
Eric Van Lustbader - Sunset Warrior trilogy.

Thanks for letting me snoop around you site. It was very enjoyable.

Karen James
kjames@mccalif.com

Suite 101 Contributing Editor
Literature - Fantasy & Science Fiction Genres
http://www.suite101.com/5top.cfm/Fntsy_and_SF
and
Member's Area - Suite Spot
http://www.suite101.com/5top.cfm/Suite_Spot

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ZWBC05A@prodigy.com (MS STACEY L MORGAN)
Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 23:23:42, -0500
Subject: Anne Rice's The Feast of All Saints

I find it hard to believe anyone who is even slightly well read would 
consider The Feast of All Saints slow and lacking in plot. Obviously, 
the writer of the review has had little association with great 
literature. As much as I love Rice's other work, The Feast of All 
Saints will win her the acclaim in posterity she deserves. I 
certainly hope no one who stumbles across this site will believe what 
they read.
                                               Sincerely, 
                                                     S. Ford

## This letter, among others, finally prompted me to write a blanket
## response.  See http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/sourgrapes.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: David S Wehrle 
Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 18:08:37 -0400
Subject: Gap Series

OK, I finished reading all of the Gap series.  [A long silent pause as I
try not to comment.]  I have avoided reading any discussion on it, but
now I am ready.  I was hoping you had finished it (I found your page
about two years ago - I knew you would not finish the series till after
to last book was out).  If no one has told you, all the books are
available at your local book store - I am sure you have your copy.

I am going to jump into r.a.sf.* and see if I can find some info there. 
Any other suggested sources or sites?
When do you expect to complete the series and your review?

david.wehrle@ab.com

## Maybe by the end of summer 1997.  Depends on how much work eats
## up my free time.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Marc Leone 
Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 22:02:12 -0700
Subject: Compare/Contrast and quick plugs

Stumbled on your list through the "Brust" connection and liked what I
saw.  _To Reign in Hell_ was the first book I read by him, so since I
Kept with him that puts me in the "loved it" category.  Be sure to note
_The Sun, the Moon and the Stars_ and _Brokedown Palace_ (taken from a
Grateful Dead song).
  I found it funny that _Agyar_ by Stephen Brust came out about the same
time as _Taltos_ by Anne Rice.  Did they plan on trading genres?

  I like that you likened _Armor_ to _Starship Troopers_, but you could
also add _Speaker for the Dead_ and maybe even _Bug Wars_ and _Tambu_
(the later two by Robert Lynn Aspirin).

  Robert Thurston thrilled me with _Set of Wheels_ when I was a teenager
and I highly recommend it.  Unfortunately, he also did the novelization
of _RoboJox_ away from which people need to be warned.
  
  I'll check in again sometime.
-- 
--Marc Leone

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: netturn@juno.com (Chase B Johnson)
Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 23:37:45 PST
Subject: Dear....

To whom it may concern,
	Your page about David Eddings is about is much as my stomach can
handle.  He is the best writter to date and has the best books to date. 
I agree with you on the fact that David Eddings writes a good plot, but
none of the characters in his books are like any characters in other
books.  The details in his books are amazing, the plot is the best since
Star Wars (I know your thinking for ill-literates only but that was a
very well thought out plot).  The character development in his books is
utterly amazing, take a look at Silk for example, he is clever, wise, and
humorous.  Then, he goes and makes Silk multipule other charaters.  I
don't know how much you read but you must not get out much if you think
that this book is bad, just take a look at the philosophy, willing things
to happen, it makes sense unlike stories about magical rings.  It is like
an alternate world and it really makes you feel like you are there,
unlike most fantasy books.  You can really see that, that this kind of
world could be around.  David Eddings is so amazing and I can not see why
you thought his books were bad.
I am very dissapointed in the fact that you feel this way.   Just look at
how involved the characters are and how real they are.  I can see that I
am wasting my time trying to change an opinion of an INGNORANT FOOL!!!!! 

	Sincerly,
	Chase Johnson

p.s. I know I may have offended you a bit in that letter, but now that I
have calmed down  I must say that you are not a complete and tottle
imbisile.  Please write back I am interested in knowing what you think of
my letter.

P.S.P.S. Please excuse all grammatical errors i was  writting in a rush.

## See above and http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/sourgrapes.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ben Mann 
Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 12:35:34 -0600
Subject: _Timescape_ correction

Gergory Benford's _Timescape_ was not, as you said, written in the mid
1960's.It was actually written in 1979, and published in 1980. Speaking
of Timescape, my opinion completely differed in terms of the personal
lives of the scientists, because they showed A) contrasts between the
scientific/political world of the 60's and of Benford's 1998; and B) in
terms of the 1998 scenario, bits like the squatters and the dinner party
give insight into the social/policital/enviromental world of 1998 and
it's effect on the people living in it. If Benford hadn't created
realistic character for 1998, you'd be less enthusiastic about attemps
to save that timeline,no?

Ben Mann / buckmann@concentric.net

## I have since corrected the review, but haven't changed my opinion.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Dean F Maki 
Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 23:45:43 -0400
Subject: Your Book Page

I read many of your short reviews, and for the most part, I must say
that I agree with you, with respect to the books which we have both
read.  You've read books from many authors that I haven't, so I'm sure
I'll be stopping by to read an opinion before I buy someone new.

I hope you don't mind now if I start handing out recommendations...

Brust:  Gotta agree with everything you said, _except_ for _To Reign In
Hell_.  I just finished it today (second time I've read it), and you're
right...it is a bit much at the start.  But it's worth it.  (Actually,
that's why I came to you page in the first place.  I was hoping to find
info on when his next book is coming out...)

Heinlein:  As a _huge_ Heinlein fan, I can't recommend him enough.  But
I know he's not for everyone, and if you don't read many of his books in
the order they came out, you may be lost a bit.  I love the way books he
has written over _many_ decades interweave and co-exist.  (not all of
them do, at least, not until near the end where things get wierd.)  I'd
give _The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress_ a try.  The language is a bit much
to slog through (he invents his own dialect, and the book is written
first person), but the story is worth it.

Pratchett:  For _Diskworld_, I can't give you five titles yet, but I can
help a bit.  You already have my favourite there (_Mort_).  I'd also
recommend _Reaper Man_ and _Small Gods_.  Not as good, but still
readable, is _Soul Music_.  He's also co-written one of my favourite
books (with Neil Gaiman) called _Good Omens_.  If you only pick up one
book from my list, I'd make it this one.

And Finally  (much applause)...

L.E. Moddesitt Jr.:  Didn't notice him on your list.  His _Recluse_
series is top notch.  Much like the Steven Brust _Vlad Taltos_ series,
each book is a self-contained story.  Unlike Vlad, though, each book in
the Recluse series (except for two at present) take place in different
time periods, with different main characters.  It's interesting to see
the world created and changed over the centuries, with the actions of
the main characters in one book having a profound effect on the lives of
the characters in a later book (for good or for ill).  His writing style
is a bit different, and I've had friends give up on Moddesitt because of
it, so be warned.  Excellent stories, though.

Argh!  I've written more than I planned, but when I start talking about
books, I just sometimes can't stop.  (And I haven't gotten to book I'd
recommend _not_ to read....maybe later, if you like my recommendations
to begin with... :-))

Happy Reading!

Dean.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Library Patron 
Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 20:07:48 -0600
Subject: Book for you to read

I notice that your review page only includes one book by Kieth Laumer. 
This, my friend, is a crime against yourself, for it's the wrong one
book.  Even if you didn't like this, you must read at least one,
probably all of his books about Retief, a diplomat who doesn't fit the
job description.  The situations he or someone else gets him into are
hilarious, and the way he gets out of them is just as funny.  But the
best moments happen between adventures, when Laumer explores to its
fullest and funniest the maze of beuracracy present in all human
affairs.
	Feel free to write back.  My name is Doug Shrum, and me e-mail is
.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: netturn@juno.com (Chase B Johnson)
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 17:07:39 PST
Subject: Re: Dear....

Thank you for your advice.

I do now admit that you may not be a complete and utter idiot, but I
would much rather talk to people who agree with me.  I also think that
Robert Jordan is a pretty good writer (not nearly as good as Eddings but
no one is perfect), so I will probably look at your page.  Also I am
wondering if you have read David Eddings the Elenium or the Tamul (I am
not sure if those spellings are correct), because they are much like the
Robert Jordan seires _______ in most respects.  I urge you to read those
if you have not.   Anyways, I would still like your opinions on those
books that you so harshly critized. 
	Chase

	p.s. please forgive me for my name calling in my last letter.  I
am hoping that you are mature enough to except my apologie.  Also read
Belgarath the Sorcerer.  The best Eddings yet. He he lol.  Also thanks to
your advice I am making my own Library on my favorite books.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Chris Coggins 
Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 05:33:11 -0400

I notice you've read one book by Robin Cook, Mutation. If that soured
your taste for his work, I strongly urge you to read either "Outbreak"
or "Harmful Intent".. these are much better representatives of this
master's work. I enjoyed Mutation, but not nearly so much as his other
novels. I might add Michael Palmer is another good writer in this genre.

Peace,
Chris
ccoggins@onmacon.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Bill Baldwin" 
Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 00:22:24 -0700
Subject: Enjoyed your web page

Hey Doug,

I enjoyed your web page of recommended authors/books. I had Greg Benford as
a Physics professor at UC Irvine (ca 1985) and enjoyed him very much. But I
wasn't able to finish the one book of his I tried. (This is my way of
saying I'm therefore not qualified to interact with your opinion of him,
not my way of saying you're a clueless moron with poor hygiene. I did read
the Sour Grapes page.)

I'm a Chronicles of Thomas Covenant fan as well and I think you've
accurately described the two major hurdles -- the anti-hero and the
outpouring of vocabulary -- to enjoying that double trilogy. They are both
like Covenant himself, the strength and weakness of the set. There is for
me, though, a third hurdle: The Tolkien hurdle. I just can't help feeling
that Berek Halfhand is a little too close in name to Beren One-Hand in the
Silmarillion. And the Ranyhyn really seem to be a race of Shadowfaxes,
created by a man who wondered what we all wondered: How did Shadowfax know
to be just around the corner whenever Gandalf called him? And then there's
the giants. Hello! Treebeard the Ent? Oh, I'm sorry I mistook you for
another race of largish beings that values taking time to say things with
as many words as possible.

The poetry doesn't seem to wear well with time either: the farther we get
from the 70s, the more 70s it sounds. This may be a separate hurdle; but to
me it's part of the Tolkien hurdle, because Tolkien's poetry is first rate,
worthy to be compared with his contemporaries W. H. Auden and William
Butler Yeats.

In spite of this, I love the books. I forgive Donaldson the Tolkien
rip-offs, because he does good things with them. However, I think he hit
his creative stride with The Wounded Land (and lost it again with The One
Tree and The White Gold Wielder, ironically the only two of the series I
bought in hardback). The Wounded Land is an absolutely original (as far as
I know) vision. It is utterly compelling. And yet it wouldn't pack at all
the same punch without that 1400+ page prologue we call The Chronicles of
Thomas Covenant.

Anyway, thought I'd mouth off for a bit. Thanks again.

Bill Baldwin

P.S. You seem like the kind of guy who would like the trilogy by Eddison
(First initials E. R.?). It starts with The Worm Ouroboros and the 2nd or
third is Fish Dinner at Memmison or something like that. I forget the name
of the other. I never made it through them, myself; but that may not mean
anything. (See comment on Benford above.)

P.P.S. Raising Arizona is one of my favorite movies. I assume you've seen
another of my favorites as well: Brazil. If you haven't... Buddy, treat
yourself tonight.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Guy Kay 
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 13:44:19 -0400
Subject: A thank you

Doug,

Thanks for your kind words about LIONS. I was initially amused to note
your 'gypsies' idea about the Kindath, but your last comment is
absolutely right ... it doesn't matter. Part of the point of doing it as
a fantasy (it is ... for many reasons, not least of which is that the
Reconquista took 400 years and narrative energy to tell the -essence- of
the tale requires the telescoping fantasy allows) is to get people
detached from their prejudices and assumptions about Catholic Spain,
Moorish Al-Andalus, the Jews of the middle ages ... so you are
ultimately right: I did intend certain parallels, but the underlying
idea was to get AWAY from a direct association with the three religions
and their beliefs.

I seldom drop a line to reviewers or readers, but you did give me a
moment's pause and wanted to relay thoughts and a thank you.

Best wishes,
GGK

## Wow, I'm honored!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: gol-don@windrunner.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 17:03:03 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Your Homepage and the Cheysuli

Hi, I'm re-reading the Chronicles of the Cheysuli for the third time right
now and I've always really enjoyed them (but i know what you mean about
the 'batman complex')  I've just finished the fourth book and had some
annoying questions that i wanted to share with someone...so i found you *grin*
I realize that there probably IS no answer, but i'd be interested to get 
your opinion.
1. Why wasn't the lir link affected by Taliesin's presence?  He renownced
   the Seker and Tynstar, and that seemed to do it?  

2. How do the Ilhini get their bloodstones? 

er, that's about all i can think of right now actually,
incidentally i think the reason the lir can't fight the Ilhini is 
because they ARE both children of the firstborn, however Kellin's lir did
anyway which seemed annoyingly incongruous to me.

Have you read Roberson's Sword Dancer series? for some reason it's never
appealed to me, but i DID really like the Cheysuli stories (I think that's 
because of the story more than the writing style tho.)

At any rate, if you have any thoughts on what I've said, write back,
I've just been looking for someone to get this off my chest on.

Michael

## Your questions are way too detailed for my feeble memory.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Doug Ingram 
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 20:50:03 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Dear....

Actually, I have reviewed all the books I've read.  I doubt I will
return to Eddings for the forseeable future, seeing as how I've given
him 10 books to impress me while many other notable authors I've
barely touched.  I have quite a list of recommended authors to sample
whom I've never read.

BTW, your letter frustrated me enough that I finally decided to get
off my butt and just write a uniform response to all such mail, so in
a sense, I thank you as I've already saved myself another reply this
week to an insulting emailer by just saying, "please look at
http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/sourgrapes.html".  Anyway, I applaud
your decision to start writing your own reviews.

Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Pearse 
Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 11:13:16 -0700
Subject: margret weis

Most likely the reason you didn't understand the character in The Death
Gate Cycle named Zifnab was because he was what you could call an "inside
joke" for those people who have read margret weis's dagonlance chronicles
where the same god-like character is called Fizban
(fizban - zifnab).

I read through some of your reviews and I think you should read the
Chung Koa series by David Wingrove. It is  about
earth in the furure where the whole planet is covered by a 200 story
city and ruled by 7 chinese emperors. It is damn good.

Sam

## Gah!  Ok, I've now added a note to that review explaining that
## I do understand the Fizban character all too well...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Ranjit S. Mathoda" 
Subject: hey

i read your review of Weiss & Hickman's DeathGate series,
and while i agree Haplo & Hugh the Hand were cool, and
i agree the series as a whole was largely deplorable,
i think in talking about "Zifnab" you missed the fact
that Weiss & Hickman were basically resurrecting "Fizban"
of Dragonlance fame, in his role as avatar of the good
god (here as avatar of "God" and in dragonlance as avatar
of "Palladine").

you might be right, that this all-knowing character was
completely out of place (personally i thought he was
kind of funny) but i was surprised in your review you
didn't catch this point...

## Two in a row!  It's a conspiracy I tell you!
-- 
Ron Mathoda, BC Law '99, tel:617-558-7106
mailto:mathoda@bc.edu; mailto:ranjit@ibm.net
homepage: http://www2.bc.edu/~mathoda;
Intellectual Property & Tech Forum: http://www.bc.edu/iptf

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "The Sinclair Family" 
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 22:19:31 -0400

I just like to say that I think that your web page is great and that I
agree with most of your opinions.

One thing I would like to mention is that I do not think you are being fair
when you rate Eddings books. Although the book does not compare with
Tolkien or Simmons etc. it is a fun series, and the Mallorean really wasn't
that bad. Of course you have to keep in mind I read it when I was 13. If
you want to learn more about the characters you may want to read Belgarath
the Sorceror, which is kind of like Eddings' version of the Silmarion.

I have to agree with you that Terry Brooks is just a Tolkien rip-off.

I think you were being a bit unfair when rating CS Lewis' books. They are
intended for kids under 13! Anyways, the Last Battle is probably one of the
most uplifting books I've read.

You may wanted to read the Iron Dragon's Daughter by Michael Swanwick, a
pretty weird book.

The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe lends an interesting look into the space race.

Do you think you could tell me where to get Angband the shareware game?

If the idea of philosophy or higher learning interests you the slightest
bit, you MUST read Sophie's World by Josteen Gaarder, a very very very
interesting book.

Can't think of much else to say, see ya.

Greg.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Collins 
Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 10:13:01 -0500
Subject: great book

Great page!  I was looking for an email address for Brust, and I got 
this so I looked.  I am forced to agree with you about the Khaavren 
Romances and the Taltos novels.  I have eaten them up.  I didn't see 
another on of Brust's novels that I really liked.  It is called 
Brokedown Palace.  You will of course remember from The Phoenix Gaurd 
the battle that the four friends and Adron e'Kieron "led" against the 
easterners.  I'm sure that you will also remember the rather remarkable 
easterner who was at the head of their army.  Well he is the subject of 
this book and I feel it ranks with the other novels of Dragaera.  If you 
have any info about release of further novels, please let me know!  My 
name is Mike and my email address is:

	andrew@ne.uswest.net
	
Thank you very much and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

## Actually, at the time of this writing, I tend to go back and re-read
## that book in the near future (I read it in the past but couldn't
## recall enough details to give it a proper review).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Kellogg High School" 
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 14:21:23 -0700

I've read your reviews on Chrichtons books and feel that most of your
reviews are acurate and informative.  
	The only thing that I found I didn't like about the site is that you
didn't review any of his books written as John Lang, like "The Venom
Business", "Odds On",etc.  I feel that new and old Michael Chrichton Fans
should know about his other books so that they can read them. 
	 Other than that I Thought the reviews were good.

			Thanks for your time
				Snake 

P.S. Please write me back with a response (Before June 3).  :-)

## I was unaware of this pseudonym.  I'm surprised, if this is true,
## that his books have not been re-released under his own name.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: BROCK 
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 13:42:35 +1300
Subject: reviews

I enjoyed reading your reviews although I found a few of them a bit 
brief. Dont worry, i'm not complaining. One of the authors you have 
listed, Margeret Weis has finished a series called Star of the Guardians 
which Ijust finished reading. You might find it interesting.
Keep up the good work.
Helen.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: woodina@prodigy.com (MR AARON T WOODIN)
Date: Tue,  3 Jun 1997 12:48:36, -0500
Subject: Book ideas:


   Doug:
 
   I Read your web pages, reviews of fiction and non-fiction.

   Some book ideas:

   Baphomet's Meteor, by Pierre Barbet

   A huge minotaur - like alien lands during the Crusades, gives them 
atomic weapons, with which
   they win the whole campaign!  Amusing and satirical, with some 
neat surprises...

   Robert McCammon

   An author comparable to King - has King's feel for small towns, 
morbid situations, and his indepth
  knowledge of firearms.  His better works include: Swan Song (like 
the Stand), Mine (great kidnapping tale!)
   and Stinger, about a burrowing alien that terrorizes a small 
desert town.

   Ghosts, by Marsha Parker.

   Gothic romance, with some supernatural overtones.  Midwestern 
woman marries Britisher, has
   unpleasant life with him, and uncovers surprising facts about her 
past.  This book is hard to find.

   The Abyss, by Jere Cunningham

    Not related to the James Cameron film, and the novelization by 
Orson Scott Card.  A legendary coal
    mine is reopened in a tiny Tennessee town.  Even as the town 
prospers, evil is unleashed - the 
    miners have dug into Hell!  An intriguing premise, not fully 
realized...

    The Butterfly Revolution, by William Butler

     Like Lord of the Flies at a summer camp.  Young narrator falls 
under the spell of adolescent 
     pseudo-Marxist revolutionary at a camp.  Creepy study of the 
potential children have
     for evil...  (made into the movie Summer Camp Nightmare).

     Planet of Adventure - Jack Vance

     Scout Pilot Adam Reith crashes on a hostile world.  Spends about 
800 pages trekking across
     the planet, making both friends and enemies, on a quest to 
return to Earth.  You really feel
     Reith's frustrations and triumphs.  The ending is excellent...

     There are a lot of other books that I loved.  I found your page 
by querying "Stainless Steel Rat"
     Stainless Steel Rat got me into science fiction, and remains the 
book series I have re-read the most
     often (going on 6 or 7 times now).

      Team Yankee - Harold Coyle

       Coyle is getting like King - his novels are getting more and 
more bloated.   Team Yankee is his first novel,
       a World War 3 story, 95% set in Germany, where a tank company 
slugs it out with Warsaw
      Pact forces.  More tactical, just as literate as Clancy, and a 
LOT crisper and more compact... 

   WWW.Powells.com is a great online used book store - a FULLY 
searchable database!

    Good luck,

    Aaron Woodin
    ybab98a@prodigy.com
    woodina@prodigy.com  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ajbrown 
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 04:28:14 -0700
Subject: Your Page

It must have taken forever to complete the description of all of those
books.  I'm impressed.  I'll use your page as a reference for future
reading.  I wasn't aware that Douglas Copeland had a new book.  I'll have
to go look for it.

I read your comment under Jordan, Robert so I will keep this recommendation
short.  You seem to like fantasy books (as do I), but notice that most book
are formula written.  (I can't get through and Jordan or Edding books for
that reason.  As a matter of fact I haven't read any fantasy for years.) 
Try MAR Barker's "Flamesong", or "The Man of Gold".  Both are hard to get
into at first, but well written with good characters.  You will only find
them in a used book section and they aren't easy to find ("Flamesong" is
easier to get into than the "Man of Gold").

-Aaron

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: kyrilson@juno.com (Paul L Spencer)
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 00:21:48 PST
Subject: A couple of recommended books for you to read....

Hi Doug!

	I have been following your page for about a year or so, because I
have found that we generally tend to have similar taste in books.  I read
books from a lot of different areas, because I have diverse interests, I
guess.  In particular, I like SF, horror and historical
"fiction/nonfiction" books.  Here are a couple of books I thought you
might want to take a crack at sometime.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett  --  This book is set in
England/France (that general area) during the Middle Ages (1100's).  The
main storyline is of a simple man's dream to build a cathedral and the
turbulent events of that time, mainly the religious "battles" and
politics among other things.  It's hard to really describe how good of a
book this is, just read it.  One of the things I really enjoyed about it
were it's accurate portrayal of life in the middle ages, and the
everyday happenings in the people's lives at that time.  I think you'll
like this book.

Casino by  Nicholas Pileggi  --  I know this is probably a bit out of
your scope, and you've  probably already seen the movie, but, the book
is MUCH  better, and is very interesting.  If you haven't seen the
movie, it's basically the true story of the rise and fall of the Mafia
stronghold in Vegas.  What made this book so interesting for me were the
brief parts discussing the nuts and bolts of how a casino is run and some
of the scams gamblers try to pull.  Except for one scene, this stuff was
omitted in the movie

The Gap Series - Donaldson  --  I'm sure I don't even have to mention
this to you, you're a lock to read this series considering your reviews
of his previous works.  I just wanted to say, it's a great series, with
a very good, complex, far-reaching plot.  As in Donaldson's previous
works, the characters are all in the grey areas (they all have some bad
and some good in them).  Most of them are not very likable, yet you find
yourself in their corners rooting for them as you read.  

Hopefully, you will find something in my short list that you might like
to try.  I haven't been able to find much on your web site regarding
reviews of historical fiction/non-fiction.  Do you have any
recommendations?  

Keep up the good work and happy reading!

Rob Hall

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Richard Wereley 
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 12:52:19 -0400
Subject: Some comments on your Web pages (Turing Option)

Hello,

I was just surfing around and got to your web page searching for reviews
on one of my favorite writers, Harry Harrison.  I first wanted to
compliment you on a fine page & reviews (many of which I agree with.)  I
also noticed you were in the midst of reading The Turing Option by Harry
Harrison.  Personally, it is not one of my favorites, but I recently
came across a slightly intrigueing, if not interesting web page for
Marvin Minsky.  It seems that Harrison & Minsky (co-authors) had decided
to keep two chapters on the psychology and interdynamics of the
technology out of the final draft.  Minsky, whom I take wanted to keep
them in has made the two chapters available on the internet.  Its always
interesting, I believe IMHO to see such material. 
	The address is http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/minsky/minsky.html

# Actually, I discovered those two chapters on the Web while hunting
# for information on Artificial Intelligence.  Those chapters, in
# turn, led me to the book, not the other way around!

I figured I would make the information available only because when I
read the book I found it to be somewhat lacking.  The two chapters are
not that great either, yet perhaps the character development and
extensive plot would be justified a bit.  I thought the innovative ideas
where interesting, yet a book could have been written on the
implantation of a microchip in a brain just by itself.  To add on to the
science part of the fiction an AI or MI creates an instance where as
Minksy suggests when he tells us that Harrison and Aldiss (editor)
thought the two chapters would hinder the flow of the plot.  
	Anyhow, I just found it interesting, even if slightly interesting ;)

-Rich Wereley
http://www.epix.net/~heminway/index.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Croaker 
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 15:06:08 -0400
Subject: Glen Cook/The Black Company

You mentioned that Glittering Stone was due out Real Soon Now... I've
had my copy for over a year now....  just thought you'd like to know.

Glittering Stone is actually the name of a new Black Company series. 
Book One: Bleak Seasons
Book Two: She Is The Darkness  (Due September, 1997)
Book Three: Forthcoming

It can be a little difficult to find Bleak Seasons; bookstores (at least
around here - Altoona, PA) seem reluctant to carry it; however you
should be able to order it; either at the bookstore or at
http://www.tor.com

Good luck!

-- 
Mike

PS.
Barbara Hambly's Darwath trilogy now has a fourth book in it: 

The Mother of Winter(available now)
Icefalcon's Gaes (Forthcoming)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: jcolpit@minot.com
Subject: McCammon

Hello agian,
	I writing this time to tell you about Robert R. McCammon.  I noticed
that your ranked King's The Stand rather highly.  McCammon's Swan Song
ranks right up there with it.  He also has some other rather good books.
MINE is an excellent suspence, while BOY'S LIFE is a good read.  The
Wolf's Hour and Blue World are also worth your time.
	On another note; have you read Red Mars, Green Mars or Blue Mars?  I
was wondering if the are worth reading. 	
	I just finish Card's Children of the Mind.  Nowhere near Ender's Game
but a good finish to the series.  Thank you for your time.

v/r
Jeff Colpitts
jcolpit@minot.com

## I have since read and reviewed Swan Song and didn't like it at all.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "R.F.Briggs" 
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 22:24:35 -0700
Subject: Tepper

Just read your review of _Raising the Stones_ and can't agree more!! 
But do yourself a favor and read the third in the series _Sideshow_.  It
is by far in my opinion the pick of the litter!!!!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Wilbur T. Oldham" 
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 10:16:56 -0500
Subject: old title

I would like to recommend an old book for your pleasure.

author: Eckert,Allen W.
title:  HAB theory
published in Boston by Little,Brown,c1976
LC Call#   PZ4.E192 HAB PS3555.C55

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Kirk W. Ellis" 
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 20:36:24 -0700
Subject: SF Choices

I just read through some of your reviews and your submission to the 
TOP 100 LIST.

We disagree on a few points :
I rate Heinlein's Starship Troopers and Friday much higher than 
you do, although you don't have much of his on your list.

You are way too kind to Tad Williams series; it was enough to keep me 
reading, but disappointing overall.

Those are my major disagreements, but I was amazed by your list in 
that I've actually read about 50% of them and agree wholeheartedly on most.

Good call on Brust's Phoenix Guards and Five Hundred Years After -- 
nobody I know seems to appreciate those.

Based on that, I would recommend:

Daniel Keys Moran -- start with "Long Run", then get the background in 
"Emerald Eyes", then finish with "Last Dancer".  The "Long Run" is by 
far my favorite book of all time, witty, brilliantly built future, upbeat, 
and fast.  "Emerald Eyes" is darker and somewhat defeatist, 
"Last Dancer" shows the story is larger and older than you thought.  
All of them very intelligently written.  Now the bad part ... 
you'll need luck to find copies, especially to read them in the 
order I recommended.

Around X-mas I read a series starting with "Midshipman's  Hope" 
by an author whose name escapes me but is near to Feist on the shelves.  
Really absorbing low-tech sci-fi and tortured soul of a protagonist.  
Very funny, really.  Pay no attention to the cover art.

Also, you rated Feist's Riftwar books only so-so, while I enjoyed them more, 
but the "Daughter of the Empire" series with Janny Wurts includes a lot 
of political by-play on the world of Kelewan that I enjoyed.  

You also shouldn't miss Steve Perry's Matador series, starting with 
"The Man Who Never Missed", a great premise and good follow-through. 

I'm also rarely disappointed by Dave Duncan.  I've read everything he's 
written, starting with the "Reluctant Swordsman" and it's very enjoyable 
(if light) fantasy. 

PS.  I don't have your rule about waiting for a series to hit paperback, 
so I'm up to date with Jordan's series.  It is starting to fizzle, 
so you may not want to read it by the time he's finished with it.

"Of course that's just my opinion ... I could be wrong. "  Me and Dennis both.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: OLIVIA SALAZAR 
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 11:08:22 -0700
Subject: Alex Haley

HI!!

        I ready Malcom X and I thought it was a very Good Book And
Movie... But I wonder If you Have read Alex Haley Queen. It based on his
family history and Abc made a mini serais based on the book.. I really
think you would like this book...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Charles R.  West, Jr." 
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 17:57:58 -0400
Subject: John Steakley

.  I've read, and seriously enjoyed both of his books.. but was hoping for
more. So I did a Web search and found your page and this one http://www.scho
ber.com/~corona/films/details/vampires.html . Not much help for info about
upcoming books, but since you enjoyed the Vampyres book I thought you might
be interested in the movie- follow the above link for details.
.  I also have some book recommendations in the Book Store area of my site,
in case you lack something to do.. feel free to check it out. Wish I could
say I've read something especially good recently.. but can't .. waiting for
Jordan, Feist has gone downhill, waiting for Cherryh, etc...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: David Harp 
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 23:05:35 -0500
Subject: Eddings

I am shocked, Sir!  Nay, I am appalled!  Okay, maybe I'm not shocked and
appalled, but I'm certainly surprised at your review of the works of David
Eddings.  Specifically, the Belgariad and the Mallorean.  I will admit that
the similarity between these two series was somewhat disappointing and that
the characters were a bit stereotypical, but I urge you to consider the
following:

The Belgariad was written in an attempt to work out certain technical and
philosophical difficulties concerning the fantasy genre.  I would even go so
far as to say that the Belgariad was Eddings' attempt (at least in part) to
deal with some personal philosophical and theological questions, chiefest of
which (I'm guessing here, but I don't think I'm too far off the mark.) was
the seeming paradox of free will versus predestination.  Read in this
context, I think the Belgariad and its continuation, the Mallorean, are very
insightful and thought-provoking.

If you want to rip on his other two series, the Elenium and the Tamuli,
though, feel free.  They were amusing enough, but everything was just too
pat, especially in the Tamuli series.  The finale was anticlimactic.

Concerning Steven Brust's "Vlad Taltos Saga" and Glen Cook's "Annals of the
Black Company", I am in complete agreement.  (If you care.)

Keep up the good work.
-Dave

# Thanks for the note.  I hadn't really thought to give Eddings
# much credit for expanding the free will vs determinism debate,
# and I'll admit that makes the series more a more attractive study
# of that than, say, a forced-march-English-class reading of
# "Moby Dick" or some such.
# 
# Still, I just hated them.  I can't help it.  :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Bob 
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 04:02:16 -0400
Subject: A very interesting board

I stumbled across your board while doing an Alta Vista search on one of
my favorite authors, Lois McMaster Bujold, and decided to stay a while.

I'm sorry that you started with The Vor Game, it is really something one
should read when one is familiar with the internal structure of the
universe she has created.  I may suggest that you try Shards of Honor
and The Warriors Apprentice, these being much stronger novels and which
lay a serious groundwork to judge that-little-short-guy Miles :)  I
usually feel the same as you about waiting for paperbacks, but I shelled
out the cash for the latest book as soon as it came out in hardcover;
it's one of the best series I've ever read.

Ah, but we all have our personal likes and dislikes, and a sense of what
we will abide.  One of my personal favorites is The Imagica by Clive
Barker which goes on to untold thousands of pages of which I would not
cut one single word.  Long, but well told.

I wish I could agree with you about Donaldson.  Yes, he has some great
ideas, and you could really feel the characters, but I found myself
slogging through the first three books hoping that they would finally go
somewhere and not keep repeating themselves so often (yes, you have
Leprosy, you don't believe this is happening, tell me again).  I kept
thinking that a competant editor would have sliced the whole thing down
to a single book with just as much impact.  I bought the second trilogy
at a used bookstore and skimmed them just to see where it would all lead
to, but then sold them back.  I was satisfied, but still wished it had
been told as much shorter length.  The words vs ideas just never added
up to me, no disrespect meant to the author or those who appreciate his
works.

You included in your list a few Star Wars novels.  That is a subjenre I
have never been willing to read.  There are shelves at the store
dedicated to each; Star Trek, Star Wars, Quantum Leap; things that I
have a deep respect for and that I am not willing to follow as each
author splits it into his/her version of the original vision.  I have
followed terrible fights as people have debated how this or that detail
does not jibe with someone elses.  To each their own, but I feel that if
you are going to tell a tale then you should start from scratch and lay
it out for us as a fully told story, and not your take on someone elses
idea.  My opinion, for what it's worth.

I only wish I had the gumption to put up a board such as yours.  I look
at my bookshelves and weigh my feelings about each volume but I know
that I'll never take the time and energy to tell others about my
thoughts.  Thank you for sharing yourself with the rest of us.

Bob

PS. So you are a Lawrence Watt-Evans fan too.  Each story stands on its own
without the need to know the others, but is just so much fun to find the
connections between them.  I'll sometimes pull The Misenchanted Sword
down off the shelf to read a section or two, just because he tells a
very complicated story in so few words

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Nicole Andrews 
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 20:29:11 +1000
Subject: Thanks for the tips

Hello 

Stumbling on your page was like listening to a great conversation
someone else was having and being allowed to join in. I'm always looking
for new authors to read as I tend to find one I like or who has been
reccommended and stick to them. 

Some suggestions try "Dragonsbane" by Barbara Hambly or her vampire
series "Those who hunt the night" then "Travelling with the dead". I
particularly like Hambly's consistent treatment of magic in all her
books. I see no listing for David Gemmell. I really like his earlier
books "legend" and "waylander". He also has two good books mixing his
brand of magic and greek legend and Alexander the Great stories in "lion
of Macedon" and "Dark Prince".

For something completely different try the Lindsay Davies "Falco"
series. A set of crime novels set in ancient Rome where the hero is an
early private eye type. I have bought the complete set and re read them
frequently.

Thanks again.

Nicole

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Nancy J. Proctor" 
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 14:24:36 -0400
Subject: Since you like Clancy . . .

I like Tom Clancy's books about as well as you do & would like to
suggest another author that you might like.  W.E.B. Griffin has written
some really good military and police books.  There are 3 series to date:
The Brotherhood of War, The Corps, and Badge of Honor.  His
characterization is very similar to Clancy's and the plots are
interesting.  You might want to give The Brotherhood series a try--as
far as I can tell, it's complete.

Nancy Proctor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "KENNETH C. GRIEST" 
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 13:08:38 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: Suggestions from an ENFP

    I came across your web page today quite by accident and found myself
enjoying reading another person's opinion on some of my favorite Fantasy
and Science Fiction books.  So, I thought I would just send you a note to
respond to some of your reviews and suggest some books for future reading.

Terry Brooks - Shannara series
  I also found the first book to be shamefully similar to the Lord of the
Rings Trilogy, which is certainly the best fantasy series I ever read.
However, I think Brooks' Scions of Shannara series is more original and
worth a look -- especially the Druid of Shannara.

Dan Simmons - Hyperion
   This book has to be one of the most original works of fiction I've ever
read.  I'm looking forward to reading Endymion.

Dave Duncan - A Man of His Word series
   I noticed you didn't have any reviews of Dave Duncan's books.  His
Seventh Sword books are pretty interesting and quite funny in parts, but I
believe his best work is in his A Man of His Word stories.  These books
contain an original, fresh perspective on the standard elements of the
fantasy genre.  They're a thoroughly enjoyable quick read.

Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time
   I'll try to be brief, since I know you get snowed under with this
topic.  First, I think it's an excellent idea to wait until Jordan has
finished the series before you start reading it.  The plot in this series
is simply incredible.  I have a very difficult time remembering all the
characters and plot twists since I have to wait at least a year in-between
book installments.  It's worth the wait, though.  Jordan is very nearly
Tolkien's equal as far as creating a spell-binding tale goes.  The plot
alone is far more complex and interesting than in Tolkien's Trilogy.  I'm
afraid you'll be waiting a while to read these books, though. I don't see
how Jordan can possibly finish the series in less than 10 installments.

   Well, sorry for the Jordan plug.  I couldn't help myself.  Your web
page sorely needs a review of his books.  Anyway, thanks for giving me the
excuse to talk about this stuff.  I'll take your advice and try some of
Stephen Donaldson's books.
                                       --K.G.

***************************
          Ken Griest  
  griestk@ucsub.colorado.edu
********************************* 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Joe  Prozinski 
Subject: Comment on Death Gate review. No Sour Grape

Doug,

I recently found your review of _The_Death_Gate_Cycle_ while gaining
inspiration for a new character in my friends AD&D campaign. I found it
to be an accurate interpretation of the books. I only have one
disagreement with the review. That is the part of Zifnab.

     I don't feel he had an insignificant role in the grand scheme of things. I
see how you could get that impression from the books. It has been
awhile since I've read the books, but from what I remember he made few
appearances throughout the seven books. 
     He plays an important role, although the authors could have
developed that role to a greater extent. They may have intentionally left
his role vague, he is a bit of unpredictable and mysterious character.
Take for example "How did he move between each of the different
worlds without using the Nexus or The Seventh Gate?" He also seemed
to know things that none of the other characters knew about, but
always seemed to be holding back and not telling certain info. He could
also find the characters, even though he shouldn't have known where to
find them. It seems to me these are things only someone with the power
of a "god" could do. Which was brought up, just not in conjunction with
Zifnab, but with the Sartan and Patryns being gods. 

     I feel he played the part of a god who realized the world he created
was falling apart, and couldn't stand aside and watch if fall apart. So he
decided to go in an tinker, but not play a big part in making things work
again. Just like I might when a program I write on my computer isn't
working exactly the way I want it to. I go in a make minor adjustments so
I don't ruin the whole thing. So to conclude, I feel he did have an
important part to play in the grand scheme of things, his part was just
understated. 

     I hope this isn't taken in the wrong way. Zifnab is one of my favorite
characters in this series, the other is Hugh the Hand, and I feel it's my
duty to defend his "honor" or the honor of any character I like.  ;-)

     Another interesting bit. After having read _The_Dragonlance_
Chronicles_ and _The_War_of_the_Twins_ I read DGC. Then I read
Weiss/Hickman's newest book _Starshield_. I found that he appears in all
four series. Although with a different name in each. Fizban in
Dragonlance and War, Zifnab in DGC, and Zanfib in Starshield. 
He is without a doubt a god in the Dragonlance books, and he doesn't
appear to be a god in Starshield, but a very powerful wizard. It can't be
denied that they are the same character, all three are described the
same way and look at the letters in their name. Just the kind of thing you
would expect from an absent minded old wizard who's answer to any
problem is this wonderful fireball spell if he could just remember how it
goes!

     Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings. I think you may have
come to some of the same conclusions. I wasn't sure what you meant
when you wrote "stop me if you've heard this", but you may have been
alluding to my last paragraph. Thanks again.

-Joe Prozinski

Before I forget, I'm an INTP. I've taken four different personality type
indicator tests over the last three or four years and this is where I've
found myself every time. I would also recommend _The_Coldfire_Trilogy_
by C.S. Friedman. Long books, about five or six hundred pages each.
Very dark. Sorta mix between SF and Fantasy, but a very good read.
One review I read said "Friedman makes Stephen Donaldson look like a
comedy writer." I haven't read much of Donaldson's stuff, I started _Lord
Fouls Bane_ but haven't finished it. Got sidetracked somewhere. From
what I remember Friedman and Donaldson have a very similar writing
style.  The titles are in order _Black Sun Rising_, _When True Night
Falls_, _Crown of Shadows_. Hope this is helpful.

# Thanks for the note and the recommendations.  By necessity, I
# reviewed the "Zifnab" character in a vacuum, independently of
# his presence in other books.  He just didn't work for me.  I
# personally wouldn't give THAT much credit to the authors by
# saying that his presence is supposed to spark some Deep Thinking
# by the reader.  Oh well, the bottom line is that (imho) the 
# series would've been better off without him, but I still get a
# few readers defending him because my review is so harsh on that
# particular point.  I guess at the time of writing, I'd had my
# fill of fantasy archetypes (namely, eccentric wizards) and was
# hoping for something fresher.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Jim Laubacker (8-293-6077)" 
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 97 10:14:20 EDT
Subject: web page

  Still enjoying your reviews page, but I'd thought I take a minute for
a couple of comments:

  I read the Black Company books 'way back when, and the first 3 are
great, but the quality drops off, and the last couple are really poor..
I was disappointed by Bleak Seasons, which was just a retelling of
Dreams of Steel.  You may want to warn your loyal fans.

  I noticed in your Julian May review that you had not read the Pliocene
Exile series.  They really should be read before the Intervention series,
as they set the stage for them.  Besides, they are GREAT BOOKS!  Again,
something you may want to warn other readers about.

  Don't be so hard on Terry Brooks.  Sword came out 'way back in the 70's,
when fantasy didn't exist as a genre yet, and people wanted more Tolkien.
Yes, Sword is very Tolkien-ish, but after that he takes his world in its
own direction.  I think if you take Elfstones and read it without being
influenced by Sword, you'll like it more.   You may also want to pick up
Katherine Kerr's later books in the Deverry series, they get more interesting.

  Some books to try:
  A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin
  Eye of the Hunter  Dennis McKiernan
  'Hatrack River' Series (Alvin series)  Orson Scott Card

Avoid D. McKiernan's early books, they are deliberate Tolkien imitations.
Eye of the Hunter and Voyage of the Fox Rider are very good, though they
were written in reverse order and 'Voyage' could be read first.  Card's
'Alvin' books, which are alternate history, are even better than the Ender
books, if that's possible.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Russ Wilcox 
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 23:57:39 -0400
Subject: Enjoyed your page

Good stuff.  I will be trying some of your 9's (read all the 10s
already).  Haven't read much Lawrence Watt-Evans (did he do something
about an executioner?) so I will have to go back a bit.

Probably would have listed Tigana a full 10, but that's just me.

Always good to see the Black Company get its due!

For reference, my Meyer's Briggs is between ENTJ and INTJ.

Recommendations:

 - Neal Stephenson, Diamond Age
	-- It's out in paperback now
	-- Just as good as Snow Crash and maybe better
	-- Some wild visions but without ANY cyberhype
	-- Captures and transports you; very good

 - Joan Vinge, Winter Queen (S1) & Summer Queen (S2)
	-- S1 is really excellent I thought
	-- much much better than her Catspaw/Psion series
	-- weird society with good characterizations
	-- married to Vernor Vinge & both good writers

 - Jack Vance, Araminta Station (S1), Ecce and Old Earth (S2), and Throy
(S3)
	-- tongue in cheek science fiction mystery
	-- wry dialogue can reach the sublime, like Phoenix Guard did
	-- super super super -- I loved it the whole time

 - C.S. Friedman, Crown of Shadows (S1) - Coldfire Trilogy

	-- a quest in a dark & haunted fantasy world
	-- S1 was really imaginative and stands alone
	-- S2 & S3 were good reads, although it's S1 that's the star
	-- I skipped this one in the bookstore for years but it 
	turned out to be excellent

 - Elizabeth Moon, The Deed of Paksenarrion 

	-- will be liked by anyone who enjoyed Black Company
	-- highly recommended; a stand-out

 - Dennis McKiernan, Iron Tower / Eye of the Hunter / Fox Rider /
Mithgar

	-- for all Tolkien fans, standard group quest fantasy fare
	-- but.. really well done!  great storyteller, many plot twists
	-- ended up reading everything he has written
	-- particularly liked Voyage of the Fox Rider but read'em in order!


And just to show I'm not all praise, here's one that's worse than Bambi:

	World Without End by Sean Russell (& sequel)
	-- 1000 pages that go NOWHERE

-- Russ

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Rocky D Hasty 
Subject: Authors

Doug,

	Have you read anything by David Weber or Hal Clement?  If you 
have, what is your general opinion.

	I just read Turtledoves latest and checked in to find out your 
opinion of him.  We agree on that.

Rocky D Hasty

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Peter Griffiths 
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 00:34:40 +0100
Subject: bill bryson

seeing as how you gave 'notes from a small island' a good review, i'd
suugest you try also his non-fiction works like 'made in america' and
'mother tongue' a try. in fact i started with these and worked up to
'notes..'
they are both stories about the development of the english language, but i
say stores because they are as easy to read as a story book, rather than a
dry, dusty old linguistic text. well worth a go if you come across them.
by the way, i thought your review of 'notes...' was a bit muteds. i laughed
out loud all the way through - something i normally reserve for alvin and
hobbes (alas, no more...) perhaps the fact i live in england made it
funnier.
like the site though, i've got a couple of books after reading your reviews.
all the best,

peter

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
X-Sender: linkmaster@smtp.scientology.org
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 15:36:03 -0700
Subject: Suggestions

Dear Ingram,

I looked at your site and was surprised to see that you did not enjoy L.
Ron Hubbard's books.  While the Mission Earth series is one of my favorites
I thought that maybe you could give some of his other books a try.  Have
you read Fear?  This is an amazing book that many people I know, and don't
know, have loved.  When I read it, I was very curious as to what it all
meant, and found the ending both exciting and left me thinking.  Another
one of his books that you should try reading is Final Blackout, which was
just re-released and is getting the same great reviews as before.  

L. Ron Hubbard wrote many wonderful things and he caters to many different
genres of readers.  He has written numerous books as well and is loved by
many.  I hope you give some of his other books a try.  Browse through his
many titles and see if there is anything you might enjoy.  There is a site
you can check out to get a better list of his many books.  It is at
www.authorservicesinc.com.  There is a list of his fiction books at
http://www.authorservicesinc.com/fic_home.htm.  There may be something
there you would enjoy.

Thanks for taking time to look at these.

Andromeda Edison
linkmaster@scientology.net

# Is it just me, or would anyone get the creeps by getting this letter?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "James H. Park" 
Date: Mon, 07 Jul 1997 08:00:24 -0400
Subject: Hey Doug: re your book reviews

It's really funny reading my e-mail on your page; I had no idea I used
the word "enjoy" so frequently. It's a little embarrassing. :)

At any rate, just a few pieces of sundry stuff.

I saw the fifth book of the Gap series in paperback. I'm really looking
forward to your review of it! For future reference, there is a very,
very long and spoiler filled review at
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/nd69/ which you may want to
look at after you've written your review or before, or however you
handle such things. 

On my reading list right now (which is unfortunately very short, and the
books tend not to be read as quickly as I'd like) is Tolstoy's Anna
Karenina. One of the few classical literature - type books I actually
like while reading.  

Finally, I ran across the page where you compare personality types and
reading preferences. Well, as I told you before, the TC novels are some
of my favorites of all time (I think my e-mail identity is set as TC
right now, though I'm not certain about that), and my MBTI profile lists
me as a (surprise!) INTJ. Most of our other prefs are the same, as I
wrote before, though I have a higher opinion of Weis/Hickman. (Btw, if
you could throw a link onto that page of other INTJ's, I'd appreciate
it. My home page is http://www.amherst.edu/~jhpark if you still have
that page up.) And a friend of mine, whom I have yet to convince to read
the series, really, really likes LOTR (has read it 14 times) and is an
INFJ, if that provides a useful reference point.

				--James Park

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Sharalee Daniels 
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 01:26:36 -0700
Subject: Shannara series

-- 
MZ�
I just thought I would let you know my feelings. I love these series! I
have read the first Shannara series, and am on The Tailsmen of Shannara
in the second series. He is a wonderful writer, and keeps it up through
all of the sequels. The Landover series wasn't as good, but still worth
reading. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I do.

I just wanted to suggest an author who is very talented, but is not on
your list. Dean Koontz has written many excellent novels. I think that
you should look into adding him to your list.

       Thank you, 
    Cathe Daniels

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: JHaruda@aol.com
Subject: Just found you .....

Love your Monty Python reference in your screen name.....
Just finished Robin Cook's Chromosome 6 ....it was great, as all of his are.
It really speaks to frightening science-related experiments which are taking
place now in our "progressive" world.  I'll look forward to "dropping in"
from time to time. Thanks for your time! 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Eric 
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 22:54:07 -0400
Subject: L. Ron Hubbard

Hello, first of all, I must say I truly enjoyed perusing your site,
(although I can't say I agree with on everthing, to each his own).  I
just wanted to give you a counter opinion on old L.Ron Hubbard.  First
of all you, mentioned in your review that you had been told that the
invaders plan was the best book in the series, I must disagree.  I found
the first book to be rather plodding and after resding the series,
realized that Hubbard needed an entire book just to set the stage for
the rather ambitious ten book series.  The following 7 and a half books
are truly enjoyable reads with more twisted plot lines than one would
expect from as you called him, "Mr. Scientology himself."  I beg you not
to forget that while it is easy to think of Hubbard as the man behind
Scientology (to which I must point out, I do nto myself subscribe) he
was also one of the founding fathers of Science Fiction as we know it. 
I must however, include a warning as the series is incredibly long.  The
final book and a half are told from the perspective of reporter several
decades later and are not nearly as good.  The perspective changes
without warning at for me, a particular disconcerting point in the plot
line of the series.  My own personal feeling is that the fianl portion
of the series was ghost written after Hubbards death, it is that far
removed from the caliber of the rest of the series.  Despite this
obvious drawback, the preceding novels, (2 though 8 1/2) are so good it
makes up for the rather lackluster ending.  I hope you will take the
time to read the rest of the books, it is worth it.  Also, I must
mention Battlefield and Final Blackout, in my mind, must reads for any
SF fan.  Battlefieled Earth reamins to this day, my favorite book of all
time and Final Blackout, written decades ago, contains so many glimpses
at the future (many which have long since come to pass) that it is worth
the time even for someone who does not really like Hubbard.  It is even
a fairly short book, unlike Battlefield Earth (1000+ pages).  Anyway,
thats my disertation for the day, I hope you will find the time to
return to L. Ron and all his marvelous works.

	Thanks

		Eric van Hattem (kingh@netrover.com)
		Toronto On, Canada

PS By the way, avoid any Terry Pratchett involving Granny Weatherwax and
you can really do no wrong. (although Masquerade(a brutal satire of
modern opera) and Equal Rites are quite good)

	Sincerely

		Eric van Hattem (kingh@netrover.com)

p.p.s.  Your comments would be appreciated, it is rare to come across
someone as well read in Sci-Fi and Fantasy as you obviosly are.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Wu 
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 23:05:00 -0400
Subject: The Paratwa series...

I read your little blurb about "Liege-Killer"... I felt the same way
about it, but I went out and bought the last two books in the trilogy
and read them.  I found them fascinating.  Where Liege-Killer was more
of an action-oriented military sci-fi sort of thing, Ash Ock and The
Paratwa develop an astounding plot and end with a bang.  I strongly
suggest you check them out; Liege-Killer is not representative of the
series at all.

I am working on a review of the series, actually, which will be posted
at http://wwww.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/2064/books.html real
soon now.

Just passing along a recommendation,
Brandon Wu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: tenforward@webtv.net (Jessica Lynch)
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 10:31:56 -0700
Subject: Terry Brooks

I just read your review of Terry Brooks novels.  I am a very big fan of
Terry Brooks and, yes, the Sword of Shannara was kind of a let down but
don't knock his writing until you read the rest of his books which, I
might add, if you are the fantasy lover that I am, are extremely good
and are very well written.  This is not a nastygram but please if you're
going to knock someones writing read all of the books.  Thank you.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: KiwiSpring@aol.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 20:27:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: web page

Hello, I am trying to start a sci/fi review page.  I was wondering if you
would like to check it out and tell me what you think?  And maybe if you like
it, you could post a link.  So far I don't have much, but I am working on it.
thanks, 
kiwi

http://members.aol.com/kiwispring

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Rudish, Charles" 
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 16:06:58 -0400
Subject: suggestions???

Doug,
	Just saw and went through your page, interesting stuff.
I am, or was, an avid reader of Clancy, Cussler and Coonts. Clancy
turned me off with his last few books. It's like he just got lazy and
let someone else do the work, and signed his name to it. I really miss
Cussler, with his Dirk Pitt character. Both him and Coonts gave up on
fiction it seems, and started doing bio's. I guess that's what those
guys do when they run out of things to write about. The closest I've
come to these guys are people like Poyer and Cannell, but again, it
takes them forever between books.  I guess I've given you an idea of
what I like. Do you have any suggestions for this type of read? I like
stories of or about or near the ocean. (I am, or will be a marine
Captain/Master by October) This seaborne mystery stuff is to my liking.
Later,
Chuck

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: BCL@webtv.net (Lewis Bressler)
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 20:02:23 -0700

     You may find this strange but I have been looking for a short story
I read years ago that maybe you have read if you're heavily into the
sci-fi genre. It's title is "Man of steel, Woman of kleenex".  It's
basically an analytical study of Superman and Lois Lane and the problems
they would encounter during sexual relations and such.  If you haven't
read it and you find it.(god knows where) you're in for the funniest
thing in print (I think anyway).  I accidentally found it years ago
while at work and thumbing through an old book of sci-fi short stories
at the lunch table. people thought I was nuts the way I was giggling the
rest of the night over it. But I never got the name of the author nor
book of short stories but I do know he was a well known and fomous
author of sci-fi,
     Anything you might know about this would be greatly appreciated.
    
_______ Bart 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: erika44@webtv.net (Erika Minnie)
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 10:34:10 -0400
Subject: Doug's library

You seem to be mostly a science fiction fan but you shouldn't dismis
Robert McCammon until you have read "Mine" or "Gone South"  Both are
very good and have my highest recomendation. Also try Louise Cooper.
                                   Erika


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: lumer 
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 10:58:17 -0700
Subject: DragonLance

Hi.
I'm quite a Weis-Hickman fan and I read your opinions about the "Death
Gate Cycle".
I wonder, after seeing your various authors and books related in your
site, if you read
"Dragon Lance" (and I mean only Chronicles and Legends), and I would
appreciate if
you could write your opinions about this really fantastic series - which
I think is the best ever writen by Weis-HIckman.
If you are not familiar with the series (and I'm quite sure you are),
It's Mainly aboute the
Majere brothers - Caramon and Reistleen, in a world called Krynn - a
kind od D&D
world with all kinds of races - Minotaurs, gnoms and of course elves,
dwarves and humans.
I will greatly appreciate if you wrote about the 6 books,
    Thanks in advance
        Koby Lumer

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Doruk Akan 
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 19:33:18 -0700
Subject: Recommendations

I have visited your page a few times now, and I enjoy it very much. You 
said you wanted some recommendations, so I've decided to give some.

1. Robin Hobb, Farseer trilogy - I know you mentioned that you won't read 
a series until its all out on paperback, but I must mention this one. 
This is a very good and very easy quick read involving many surprises and 
court intrigues. I can't recommend this enough. Even though the third 
book is still in hardcover, I want to bring this series to your 
attention. You should get this one, while their all paperback.

	Farseer Trilogy
		1. Assassin's Apprentice
		2. Royal Assassin
		3. Assassin's Quest

2. The second series, I want to recommend JV Jones' Book of Words series. 
This series doesn't have anything special, but it is still a good read. 
If you have the time, you will want to check these books out.

	Book of Words
		1. The Baker's Boy
		2. A Man Betrayed
		3. Master and Fool

3. The last book I'm going to recommend to you right now is Nobody's Son. 
This is a terrific and fantastic book in my opinion. Its author, Sean 
Stewart, apparently won some award. But the intriguing part of this book 
is that it tackles the problem of happily ever after. In this novel, 
happily ever after isn't as it always is for the hero.

	Those are my recommendations for now. If you read them, and don't 
like them, don't blame me. I loved them. Oh, and by the way, I know its 
your own opinion, but I disagree with your review of Raymond E. Feist's 
Riftwar Saga. Not just pretty good, but excellent. The series ranks among 
my top 5, as I like almost only fantasy, and the first book ranks in my 
top 5 for books. And just to bring it to your attention (you probably 
already know), Magician:Apprentice and Magician:Master were originally 
published in one volume.

					Thank you,
					Doruk Akan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Suzane 
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 22:07:52 -0500
Subject: Book page

Hi Doug,

I enjoyed your web page very much. I agree with many of your reviews,
and it is encouraging me to pay attention to the SF/fantasy genre again.
I used to read quite a lot in this area, but kind of lost track of
what's current after reading (or attempting to read) so MANY bad ones. 
Not to mention waiting for years for Jordan to finish his series. I
really really tried Brooks--about 5 times--but couldn't make it through
the first book. And after I read the first series of Eddings I couldn't
believe I actually took the time to read that stuff. So it's great to
see I'm not the only one in the world who doesn't like these authors.

On the other hand, I very much liked Kay, Adams, Eco, Tolkien of course,
and Williams. So I've decided to let you read everything first, and if
you say they're good, I'll give them a try! :)

Some I've read that you might like:

Phyllis Eisenstein
John Crowley
Mary Brown, although her first two books seemed like exactly the same
story, to me
Mary Gentle
Parke Godwin
Ellen Kushner
Patricia McKillip
Robin McKinley, if you like fairy tale kinds of fantasy

Thanks for a great web page!
Suzane Um

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Ted Orosz" 
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 97 04:12:41 UT
Subject: Reviews

You're looking for an author who can hold your interest for 7 or 8 books?  
Read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time.  7 books have been published so far, #8 is 
due early next year, and all he will say about the eventual length is that the 
eighth will not be the last.  The books are 500-1000 pages each (paperback).  
Sound dull?  Try it.  You'll like it.  I like it so much that I recommend it 
to people on the streets.  I think Jordan owes me a share of his royalties by 
now.

# My only response: http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/books/rjordan.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Justin McDonnell 
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 1997 14:06:16 +0100
Subject: Your reading list

I think your website is one of the most interesting I have visited 
recently. I found it by typing 'Alfred Bester' into a search engine.
He is one of my favourite SF authors. I have often wondered why no-one 
has tried making films out of his books 'Tiger Tiger' has to be a prime 
candidate. 
With regard to Iain Banks, Have you tried any of his mainstream stuff. 
The Wasp Factory is particularly good, if you can get hold of it over 
there.
I'm currently attempting to read Island of the day before by Umberto 
Eco.
Next week we are driving to Spain for a vacation. Im taking 'Therapy' by 
David Lodge, 'The Shipping News' by Annie Proulx and 'The Arizona Game' 
by Georgina Hammick

Cheers

Justin McDonnell

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: COWBOYFEW@aol.com
Subject: Swan Song

I'm a big McCammon Fan.  I thought Swan Song was outstanding!  I gues to each
his own.

You do have my curiosity now on King's THE STAND.  Think I'll check it out,
however, I've read King before and he takes 200-300 pages to say nothing.  He
sometimes reminds me of the torture of Reading H.D. Threaugh (spelling) "On
Walden Pond" (drudgery in English 102 in college)  verbose piddle!

Just an average joe with another opinion.  I'll keep tabs on your sight.

Thanks.  Cowboy

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "David Drazek"
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 23:05:26 -0500
Subject: Tom Clancy

Did you happen to read T.C.'s "Executive Orders" yet. I'm about 3/4 though
it and I think that it's fantastic. He must spend alot of time researching
his books. His attention to detail always amazes me. I especially enjoy the
way he brings all of those separate story lines together. I must say ,if
it's not already apparent, that I'm a really big Clancy fan.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "John S. Johnston" 
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 13:27:40 -0700
Subject: Vampire$

Doug,

A friend called me last night to tell me that John's book is finally
being turned into a movie.  A fact that we (in Dallas) all knew years
ago.  However, I am unable to locate anything about it on the Net.  Do
you possibly know anything about Vampire$ being filmed?

I know who John had hoped was going to star and all I will tell you is
that they are both veteran actors and Father and Son.  If they are going
to star, the movie should turn out very well - provided you like the
actors.  But no matter, as you stated, the story line is great.

I wish I could find out more myself but, as John's books are sporadic so
is his presence among his friends - at times.  He tends to hibernate
when he is writing.

Anything you can find out would be appreciated. I will let you know,
also, if I find out anything more - if you want to be kept abreast of
the progress.

Sincerely,

John S. Johnston

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "S. Pharand" 
Date: Sun, 03 Aug 1997 12:26:56 -0700

Hi. This is just a message to tell u that I really enjoyed visiting your
web page. There is a few titles on your page that I will read. You
convinced me to do so. I also want to say that I can't believe you
didn't like Stephen King's Insomnia that much. It is one of his best
book!!! With the Dark Half, It and Dolores Claiborne. 
BTW, if you're looking for good books I have a few suggestions::
-The University by Bently Little
-The Homing by John Saul
-Gone But Not Forgotten by Philipp MArgolin.

Well, that's it.
Goodbye.
Sebastien Pharand

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Fran Spragens 
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 18:14:39 +0000
Subject: Reading suggestions

I have a suggestion or two (or three). Anything by Barlett and Steele.  
They were to have a new book published this last fall but I have not 
seen it yet.  Michael Lind's Up From Conservatism and The New American 
Nation are very interesting.  Wm. Greider has a new book out but I am 
not sure of the title and I haven't seen it yet but I certainly shall 
as he is one of my gods. Kevin Phillips The Politics of Rich and Poor 
is great as is his Arrogant Capital.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
X-Personal_name: Ryan Danks
From: rdanks@depauw.edu
Subject: Book site

Thanks for the great site.  I really enjoyed your reviews... agreed with
some, disagreed with others.  Such is life... 

A younger (young-adults/children) series which is easily readable and (I found)

(Sorry, I screwed that up)

A ya/childrens series which I found interesting was Susan Cooper's.  
I can't remember the names right off hand (one was Over Sea, Under Stone),
another was Greenwitch, and I don't remember the rest)... they had to do
with fantasy-type characters living in modern England... easy reading.
Another, more historical fantasy-type series might be Lawhead's "Taliesen,
Merlin, Arthur."  Enjoyed them as well.

On the non-fiction side, I wouldn't definitely recommend PJ O'Rourke's 
Parliament of Whores.  

More seriously, Garry Wills's book about the Gettsyburg Address (Lincoln
at Gettsyburg) is probably the best book I've ever had to rread for 
a class...

WEll, that's enough for now. 

Thanks
Ryan Danks

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robb 
Date: Fri, 08 Aug 1997 18:36:11 -0600

howdy Doug,
	just found your library while looking up Naomi Wolf. i heard her this
morning (Fri 8/8) being interviewed on Pacifica or something like that
on public radio (KGNU, Boulder was broadcasting the interview). she was
talking about a book she'd written called "Promiscuities" which she
described as her own public confession about her sexual education in
Amerikan culture. i plan on finding the book and reading it with my
wife. i'd like to see your review.

peace,
robb

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Cande 
Date: Sat, 09 Aug 1997 19:53:24 -0700

Hi,

I've been a silent surfer of your page until now.  Not because of lack
of opinion, I just figured you're doing well without my two cents. :)

To the point -- Glen Cook has published 'Bleak Seasons' Book One of
Glittering Stone.  This is the 7th book in the series of the Black
Company.  This is a series that I thoroughly enjoyed.  If you liked the
rest of the Black Company as much as I did, just about anything Glen
Cook put out in this series would be looked upon favorably.  But, true
to form, it is entertaining.

--Cande

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Gavrielle Perry 
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 13:13:44 +1200
Subject: Zifnab - not a flame!:)

Doug,

Thanks for a great site.  I particularly enjoyed your comments about Zifnab
in the Death Gate Cycle - I thought you were dead on.  He made me squirm.

I note you're a big SRD fan and that you're currently reading the Gap
series.  You might [modest cough] be interested in my lengthy (22,000 words)
review of the series at http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/nd69/index.htm.
It's full of spoilers, though.     [This review has since vanished]

Finally, commiserations on the flames you obviously sometimes receive.  I've
had quite a few responses to my Gap review, and all of them have been polite
and thoughtful- obviously we Donaldson fans are a more evolved form of the
species:).

Gavrielle

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
To: ingram@shrubbery.com
Subject: Ron Luciano

Hello, I am a current umpire however not in the major leagues and am
responding to your review and story on Ron Luciano's death.  He has written
some very funny books and their is one more you left out it is "The Fall of
the Roman Umpire".  You may also want to consider making some changes on the
summary of his tragic passing.  You are partly correct, however the main
reason for him committing suicide was not because he was not directly
involved in baseball.  He hadn't been for several years before that.  It was
that is mother was dying and he was in debt.  His mother's condition had been
deteriorating since she was diagnosed with a memory disorder in which made
her unable to recongnise the most important and constant things in her life.
 Including her house and son, but not necessarily an amusement park or a
friend's car.  He became very depressed and could not stand to see his mother
in that condition.  This according to Referee Magazine, USA Today and the
Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Thanks.

# The web page has since been updated appropriately.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Matthew.Carlone@Chowda.com
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 16:46:04 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Connie Willis / Dooms Day Book

Hi, Doug?

I am not quite sure I have the correct e-mail address, but I want to write to
the author of Connie Willis's DOoms Day Book review.

I am currently a student at North Kingstown Public High School in Rhode Island
and have just finished reading the novel as part of my summer reading program.
I enjoyed the novel quite a bit, but must agree that several characters in the
present were "annoying" and a better build-up of the relationships between the
characters in the past could have been more/better.

I especially appreciated the "Willis wanted to" part of the summary -- there
were clues on the handout I received at the end of the last school year that
the essay I will be writing will be about what the author's intent on writing
the book is, and you've covered several areas.  I highly recommend this write-
up, although I still think the book overall was good and wouldn't recommend it.

Matthew Carlone
Matthew.Carlone@Chowda.com or ab879@osfn.rhilinet.gov

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From DoraRoundt@aol.com Wed Aug 13 17:14:01 1997

You have an excellent page with a lot of information.
 I love science fiction and I suggest you read "Corrupting Dr. Nice"
 by John Kessel, a strange, funny and irreverent tale of time travel.
For a review, see my Web Site--http://www.mutoscope.com/doras.htm
You can use my review if you link with my site.  I will have a link page next
week and will include your site.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From GButton838@aol.com Sun Aug 17 15:42:38 1997
Subject: Children of the Jedi

  I strongly disagree with your review on this book. I am a very devoted SW
fan, and of all 23 books I have read in this series, Children of the Jedi has
to be my favorite. Now if I had to say which SW book was the worst in the
series, I'd say it was Splinter of the Mind's Eye. Splinter, which took place
in between A NEW HOPE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, was so terribly wrong and
uncharacteristic that I could barely stand to read the entire book.
      Children of the Jedi, on the other hand, was the most terrific,
can't-put-it-down book I've ever read, and I suggest you read it over again
and think about that.

                                                          - Mara Jade

# To each his/her own, I guess.  I like Hambly (as my review of her
# "Time of the Dark" series indicates), but I couldn't stomach CotJ.
# As for Foster's "Splinter", I should note that I read that book back
# in 1979, before Empire was released.  Back then, it was GREAT 
# speculative stuff and fit right in with what I knew about the
# characters.  I guess now that the Universe has been fleshed out,
# a lot suffers in the translation.  You'll note (as I have) that
# it is no longer listed as part of the "official" SW history.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From Viking2173@aol.com Mon Aug 18 06:14:30 1997
Subject: Death Gate Cycle

I thought that you did a very good job in reviewing the above mentioned
series.  However, I belive that you were wrong in not recomending this book
to others.  Many people I know were not interested in reading, let alone
fantasy works.  When I told them to read this series, they became much more
appreciative of the time the author took in creating such a pictureable
world, make that 7 worlds, with more detail than any previous series I've
ever read.  This series is an excellent stating point for the beginning
fantasy reader, because it draws them into the story with words that create
pictures, and feeling.  Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but to
draw more people to read fantasy, you must keep their minds working, even if
it is a boring subplot.  These subplots take you the full way through the
journey, day by day, not bothering to hide the boringness of everyday life.
It makes the reader feel as though he living the life of the lead character,
by exposing him to every asspect of their lives.  
I do hope that in the future that you would change your mind and see that
this is the type of writing that brings new readers.  But as I said you have
your own opinion, which you are entitled to.  Just thought I'd share mine
with you.

Thanks for your time,
Viking2173

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: The Twisted One 
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 14:37:50 +0100
Subject: The Gap Series

Having just stumbled across your site whilst searching for Donaldson, I
thought I might just drop a mail and ask whether you have started/finished
the Gap Series yet, since (in England, anyway) all five are out in
paperback. I saw them in my local bookshop about 8 weeks ago, along with
the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (1+2), and thought, "Now there's some
books that I wanna buy". So I did, to give me something to do when I moved
over here, to Germany.

Having already read 2,3 and 4 of the series, I thought I'd buy the lot. And
very glad I was that I did. An excellent series, almost up alongside the
Chronicles (which I bought in omnibus editions). Unfortunately, I then read
the first 3 inside a week, and so didn't bring them to Germany. On the
upside, my housemate has now read them and is addicted.

I can't vouch for the rest of your book reviews (having not read most of
those featured), but on Donaldson, I am happy at last to have found someone
who also thinks he is a writer of astonishing ability. IMHO, Mordant's Need
was not up to the Chronicles, but I did like Daughter of Regals, and Other
Stories, plus the book he edited, Strange Dreams.

I think I'll just bookmark your page and have a browse, just in case I find
something else I think I might like.
Nik Borton, The Twisted One (c)1997

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/6911	    mailto:TheTwistedOne@geocities.com

	"Joy is in the ears that hear, not the spirit of the telling"

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Tann A. Nichols" 
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 1997 18:46:13 -0400
Subject: Suggested Readings

Two suggested readings based on your book index:

and the Devil Will Drag You Under:  Jack Chalker
	Better than the rings of the master  series

The new series by Eddings,  still a bit of mind candy but
the characters are more engaging and a bit more realistic
the main character, Sparhawk reminded me a bit of Cook's Croaker.
Give them a whorl, should be worth it. imho

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Crowjack@aol.com
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 1997 22:58:14 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: VAMPIRE$

as you can tell from my screen name i am a major John Steakley fan. I
understant that a major motion picture starring James Woods and directed by
John Carpenter is being shot currently...

i always thought it was a humorous touch that felix and jack crow were in
both books...although not the same characters (and even flipping
personalities somewhat).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: MaryA1926@aol.com
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 1997 18:23:54 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Douglas C. jones

Dear Doug,
You may want to check out Douglas C. Jones
He is located at Members.aol.com/MaryA1926/dougJones.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jose Noe Cortes G 
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 10:35:00 -0600
Subject: Hello ...!

I have just scanned your Web-page about BOOKS ....
It=B4s impresive the stuff you has been reading ...!!

But .. :) ... but I feel that you has skiped one of
the very crafted autors of paperbak=B4s : Martin Cruz Smith..

It should be fine to hear your comments to , by example ,
"Gorky Park" ...=20

Congratulations ..!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Craig & Heather Patterson 
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 23:08:51 -0300
Subject: Doug's Library

Doug- This is my first time sending an e-mail on my own computer from my
own home. You will be hearing from me again in the next while, I am a
self proclaimed science fiction\fantasy freak. I have just over 700
titles in my collection and just as a benchmark I've read 71 titles
since Jan.1/97. I've looked up your sight when ever I've had a chance at
a computer and I would like to someday have my own web page. I live the
book lovers dream and work in a bookstore where I have the chance to
order my own books. Just as a taste of things to come here are 3 titles
I've read in the last little bit which are new and good.  N. Lee Wood -
Looking for the Mahdi (7) ,  Joshua Dann  -  Timeshare (8),  Elizabeth
Moon  -  Remnant Population (7).  Not to be a pain but a short note to
say that I sent this thing correctly would be appreciated. Thanks,
Craig.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Gar Vance 
Date: Mon, 01 Sep 1997 16:37:41 -0700

I did a search for Ken Grimwood and found your review of REPLAY.  I
found REPLAY to be one of the more facinating books I have read in a
looong time.  I have recommended this book to many friends and all have
enjoyed it.  I'm also a J.R.R. fan, but I have yet to read Donaldson. 
After reading your reviews, I think I'll check him out!  

A friend at school teaches physics and recently gave me three videos of
the PBS series, Mysteries of Deep Space.  INFJ??  Hmmm...I'm an ESTP.  

Nice web page:-)

Gar Vance
Valencia Community College
Orlando

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Emaen 
Date: Tue, 02 Sep 1997 20:23:08 -0400
Subject: Donaldson

Greetings!!

I just had to write after finding your page in a search for Stephen R.
Donaldson.  I was so glad (and surprised!)  to find someone else who was
a Donaldson fan.  I know that when I first read Lord Foul's Bane,  my
life was changed.  The first Covenant series is my fave,  though I love
the second as well (in fact, I cried at the end when Linden walked
away,  with "her wedding ring" in her hand.  It was just so sad,  that
Covenant had found his salvation and couldn't treasure it).  I also
thought Mordant's Need was wonderful,  and Daughter of Regals too.  One
author I'd like to recommend (and I haven't read the rest of your page,
so I don't know if you've read her or not) is Ursula K. LeGuin.  In
particular,  The Beginning Place.  It's a short book,  but one that
affected me as strongly as Lord Foul's Bane.  I hope you like it,  if
you get a chance to read it.  

Remember the Oath of Peace,

J. Maden

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Jason K. Duffy" 
Date: Wed, 03 Sep 1997 21:17:08 -0500
Subject: Just had to send you a note...

Dr. Ingram,

   Hello, my name is Jason Duffy, and I am an undergrad CS student at
Purdue.  I was searching the 'net for sites that would mention Steven
Brust's "Agyar" in hopes of finding more books along that work's "goth"
theme when I found your review page.  Reading through it I found that
I share many of your tastes (you put up with much more Asimov than I 
could) and I feel I must make a recommendation.  "Travels," a non-fiction
book by Michael Crighton.  All I will say about it is that I have read
most of his works, and it is the most memorable.

Thanks for taking the time to document your readings so thoroughly.  I
have noted several titles to nab next time I am at the library.

Take care, and happy reading.

Jason Duffy

# Actually, I've read it.  It's reviewed in the non-fiction section.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: JLWHill@aol.com
Date: Wed, 03 Sep 1997 22:57:17 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Brin

Hi Doug, I just recently discovered two (!!!) new uplift books by Brin. Of
course you will not be getting them anytime soon because the third one has
apparently not been written yet. I couldn't stand it and got the first two
from the library and will buy all 3 when they are in paperback. Evidently it
has been awhile since I checked because he got 2 written while I was not
looking. I started the first, and as usual with me and Brin I find it
somewhat difficult to "get into" for the first couple of chapters. They have
always been worth persevering for though. 
I agree with you about "The Postman", not that good a book compared to other
post-apocalyptic novels out there. Guess Costner liked it.   Jackie

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Michael Burke 
Date: Sat, 06 Sep 1997 17:56:55 -0700
Subject: Author - Paul Quarrington

You might want to give Quarrington a read... You can find more
information about Quarrington at "http://www.quarrington.org".

Michael Burke
Sea Change Internet Solutions, Inc

"http://www.seachange.ca"

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Tim Crean 
Date: Sat, 06 Sep 1997 22:47:23 -0700

Now I am in no way telling you exactly what to read.  I'm not saying read
this series now or die not knowing what you missed and suffer a long while
for it.  That out of the way I thought I would recommend one of  my
favorite fantasy authors, Terry Goodkind.  He writes the sword of Truth
Series.  It contains Wizards First Rule, Stone of Tears, and Blood of the
Fold.  Now since it is not all in paperback I would say that you should
wait.  the first three are as of now but the fourth book is going to be in
hardcover this month or next month depending on Tor.  not only that there
is going to be at least one more probably two so I just thought I'd call
this author to your attention.  My lord I'm getting longwinded.  

David Crean
davey@crean.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Melissa Kelly 
Date: Sun, 07 Sep 1997 14:50:13 +0100
Subject: gender differences

Hi Doug,
Excellent web page; your reviews are candid and thought
provoking. I've just read
  You Just Don't Understand by Deborah Tannen

I didn't find the book dry or boring, but perhaps less
rigorous that I would like. I know of only one other
man to have read it. Did you find that none of her
characterizations of men struck a chord of truth for
you?
I'd very much like to find some of the other
"interesting work to come out of this" topic. Can you
point
me to anything?   Thanks, Melissa Kelly

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Loki 
Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 09:54:30 +0930

-- I *politely* suggest you take a look at the sequels to Intervention:
Jack the Bodiless, Diamond Mask and Magnificat. I also congratulate you
on the decision to await completion of the R.Jordan saga. Truly each
book is long and somewhat repetitive in that it's rehashing the same
story over and over again in the next book. The books also take so
bloody long to come out that by the time they do the previous story was
unmemorable enough that you've forgotten it. Never had this trouble
before. First two maybe three books are really quite good but after that
they steadily go downhill. 
   Just getting into Donaldson . . . Gap series superb! THomas Covenent
also up there with great fiction.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jenny Brown 
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 09:47:41 -0700
Subject: your opinions vs mine.

Hello Doug, just a quick message.

I have had a brief look at you library site and was pleased to see this
page as being more of a reader than a computer buff, it combines the
best of both worlds.

But...

i was totally offended by what you had to say about Robert Heinlen's
stuff (except for "stranger in a strange land" - never could like it for
some reason) and David Eddings. I guess this means that you didn't
bother to read "Belgareth".

However your comments on Douglas Adams and Harry Harrison were fair.

Jenny Brown.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Matthew S. Jones" 
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 20:58:44 -0400
Subject: Sci Fi GAME reccomendation.

Hello!

     I stumbled upon your library page by accident and became lost in
your reviews for almost an hour now.  :)  I figured, with all the
science fiction reading you've done, you might be interested in a
computer game with (what I believe) is the most decent plot I've seen so
far.  The game is "Star Control 3".  Much of the game is
conversation-based interaction with aliens, and the rest of it is
ship-to-ship combat.  But the PLOT.. OH! the plot...  It starts off very
simple, but a story unfolds about the origins, and creators, and
maintainers, and destroyers, and rebuilders of all life in the
universe.  I can't go into any more detail because it would ruin the
wonder and amazement you may find should you play the game.  Just
thought I'd let you know about it :)

-Matt
(EvilSeed)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: taparmley@DELTA.IS.TCU.EDU
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 19:13:38 -0500 (CDT)

I was wandering through your pages on my way to print out the Study Guide
for Astronomy and found some really cool things.  
	First of all, I would like to submit my web page for your
Personality Index.  I tested as an XNFT and my URL is 
http://delta.is.tcu.edu/~taparmley/  ,
my name is Theresa Parmley and my email address is
taparmley@delta.is.tcu.edu  .
	Then, I was reading some of your reviews of novels.  I am a big
Science Fiction fan (in fact, I am taking a literature course this
semester called Science Fiction), and, more specifically, a Star Wars
fanatic (or so my friends claim).  I have read all the novels and it was
great to get someone else's opinion.  Thus far, I think my favorites would
have to be the Zahn Trilogy.  Grand Admiral Thrawn is by far the best
villian of the novels, in my opinion.  He was not pure evil, he was
cunning and even ingenious.  I have heard it said that a hero is only as
good as the villian (I believe that was Stan Lee).  Thrawn was wonderful.
I have to point out that in your review you said that he "takes the title
by virtue of his commanding ability, his military rank, and his control of
the last several remaining star destroyers from the Empire."  Actually,
it was assumed by the Rebels that he assumed the title because they were
sure that they had killed all of them.  In point of fact, he was the only
alien that an anti-alien biased Emporer granted the title and it was at
that cerimony that he met Mara Jade.  Furthermore, you refer to the Rebel
Alliance, but by this time they had already assumed the title New
Republic.  Other than nit-picking details, I agree with most all of your
opinions.  The Chrystal Star is probably my least favorite novel and it is
only abidable because of the title Star Wars and the Universe it lends.
However, you cannot always get away with that (I refer you to my essay
_Hiding_Behind_a_Legend_ about Star Trek Generations
http://delta.is.tcu.edu/~taparmley/star/stg.htm).  
	I just wanted to say that I took the second half of Astronomy last
semester and liked it so much that I took the first half this semester and
talked a friend into taking it with me.  I love your approach and your
class and just wanted to say thank you.  

			Always,
			  Theresa Parmley

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Agnes 
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 16:23:38 -0700
Subject: No Ken Follett??

Hi!
Really love your page...all the reviews are great!
Question????
Don't you read Ken Follett..if not, why?
In my humble opinion, Ken Follett is really good and quite diverse, you
never know what you are going to get..a good histrical read or a
hightech suspense. Each and every book is a treasure waiting to happen.

/Just Curious

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: GALPERIN@drew.edu
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 21:26:27 -0400 (EDT)

In your list of the Chronicles of Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, I note that 
you left one of them out.  There was a book entitled "The Horse and His 
Boy" in that series, and as I recall, it was one of the better in the 
series.

The order of the books, as I'm sure you are well aware, is up for debate, 
and to be honest, I'm not quite sure which I read them in.

Anyway, I just wanted to pass this little note along to you.

Glenn Alperin
galperin@drew.drew.edu

# Thanks for the note.  That information is news to me, as I first read them
# when I bought them as a boxed set.  The boxed set had numbers on the book
# to suggest a reading orders, which is the order I have them listed in the
# page.  Anyway, I'll include your informational note in the mailbag.  Thanks.

If you get the chance, the debate is probably chronicled in Dejanews 
several times over, and there are various reasons for having the series in 
particular orders, one of which was to be the order that he wrote them in, 
another of which was to be related to the chronological order that the 
books were suposed to take place in.  I recall reading the chronological 
order of numbering when I was younger.

Glenn

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Zak Binder 
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 15:16:11 -0400


Hi,

I don't want to criticize, but I want to offer my opinion on one thing I
noticed in your page.

I saw the "I won't read Jordan until it is all done" line and wanted to
comment on it.

First of all, I can tell that you have done A LOT of reading. And that
impresses me. When my Web Page is finished (www.erols.com/zbinder)
I plan to include my favorite books as well.  And if you are anything like
me, buying a book is much better than buying oh, food, clothing, or paying
rent.

Now on to the reasons why I read Robert Jordan and don't wait till it is
done:

1) I started and can't stop.

2) The most exciting thing about Jordan, is that I think about it almost
daily in some way. This is a series that has affected me more than the
majority of stuff I have ever read (except for Orson Scott Card and The
Stand + a few others).

3) I have gotten to speak with people over the net that I will never meet.
(I am sure this has happened to you, but Jordanites have a special bond).

4) I don't know if this series will ever finish.  I think it will go on for
at least 5 more years.

5) I enjoy suffering. It makes reading the latest book in the series even
more enjoyable.

6) finally, $27.95 is a small price to pay for a few days of enjoyment.

I know I won't be able to change your mind, but I thought I would let you
know how I feel about this, and it might hopefully, maybe, sorta, affect
your views.

Thanks for your page I really enjoyed it.  (I read Replay too, and it is
one of my favorites.)

Zak Binder

Let me know what you think at zbinder@erols.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: marilyns@CapAccess.org
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 12:22:04 -0400

"Ball Four" is probably the SECOND best baseball book.  (I read it a long 
time ago, so I remember only that it was very good).  The VERY BEST 
baseball book, bar none, is "The Boys of Summer", by Roger Kahn. who grew 
up in Brooklyn but wasn't athletic, so he had to pursue his second choice 
of career -- being a newspaper reporter who covered the Dodgers.

Read it, and tell me what you think.

I like your web page.  I'm an eclectic reader, as you are.  I am now 
reading William Greider's latest book.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Scott S." 
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 01:26:55 -0700
Subject: Armor

scott2k@gte.net
  First, let me say that I think you have a very good idea here. I am an
avid book reader (particularly Sci-Fi) and it is very difficult to keep up
with new releases and so forth. I'm sure I will return and investigate this
site frequently. 
  Secondly, I would also like to say that I think your taste in authors and
books are excellent! However, it would seem to me that you are passing up
some all-time sci-fi greats. Have you read the Chtorran series by David
Gerrold? If not you definitely should. Also, I have read many of Asimov's
books and I think his Robot series deserves at least as much attention as
the Foundation series. 
  Lastly, I found this site when I was looking up John Steakley in the web.
I am very excited to hear that he has FINALLY done something else. I have
read Starship Troopers by Heinlein and I have read Armor by Steakley. I do
not think your review of Armor did it the justice it is due. As far as book
quality and the ability to put it down that they are in two different
worlds of class. I think it's a fabulous read and should be recommended
highly instead of compared to Heinlein's work. 
  Well, I've said my peace...Thanks for your time.

  Anne ;)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: rachel@goldeen.com (Rachel Goldeen)
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 14:20:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Books & Myst

Hi Doug,

Thanks for your positive, generous attitude!

I found your Myst hints page for my nephews who are currently enthralled
with the game. They like the hints format over a walkthrough. It made me
realize that most teaching in schools is of the walkthrough format rather
than the hints format. It gives away all the good stuff, taking much of the
fun out of learning.

Then I looked at your home page and found your book page. I like to read
lots of books, but I have almost no overlap with the books you read. I'm an
ENFJ, but I lean towards the belief that Meyers-Briggs is quite a lot like
astrology. (Vague categories into which we all sort of fit, but nothing
fits quite right. I actually come out 40%E, 60%N, 50%FT, 25%J, so more
rightly I'm a J and the others are undetermined.) Even so, it's fun to
think about such things.

I read a lot of nonfiction. Here is a list of some of the books I have read
and liked, some written a long time ago, some written recently:

"And the Band Played On" by Randy Shilts. About AIDS from 1977 to 1987.
This is a page turner and 600 pages long, so be careful to start it when
you have some time on your hands.

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman" by Richard Feynman. (I'm sure you've
read this one.) I'm currently reading it aloud to my 11-year-old nephew (I
first read it when it came out). My favorite quote: "What's the matter with
people? They don't learn by understanding---they learn by some other way.
By rote, or something."

"Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Konner. Melvin Konner was an anthropologist
who decided to go to medical school in his mid-thirties. He got his MD but
decided not to do a residency so he is not a practicing physician. He takes
a cultural anthropologists view of medicine, and it is fascinating.

"Dumbing Us Down" by John Taylor Gatto. This is about the real lessons of
school.

"How Children Fail" by John Holt. Another book about school and learning.

"Bellwether" by Connie Willis. This is a short, fun book. (I know you
didn't like the Doomsday Book, which I haven't read, but this one is so
short it's worth a try.)

All of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels by Dorothy Sayers. (I personally got
hooked by reading the short stories first.)

All of Jane Austen's books. I know she has been overdone in the movies
lately, but her books are great.

Believe it or not, the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls
Wilder. I only read these a few years ago (at the age of 28) and they were
great.

"Dave Barry's Guide to Guys" by Dave Barry. Do you read Dave Barry? He's a
humor writer. I have read most of what he has written, but this is one of
his best.

All of the short stories by Ring W. Lardner. Go to the library and find a
collection of his stories---they can't be found in bookstores anymore.

Cheers!

Rachel Goldeen

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: galta@pathcom.com
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 14:51:09 -0400
Subject: John Steakley

nice page!!!

i tend to agree (+ or -1) with most of your ratings.

in particular, it's nice to find another steakley fan. i stumbled across
armor at a local library, and being an adventurous sort, took it home
despite the stupid artwork on the cover. truly enjoyed it. the battles
against the ants were a better part of the book than were the segments
on the new planet, but still, that's like saying diamonds shine better
than rubies.

i've been looking for vampyres but haven't been able to land a copy yet.

has yet written anything else?

thanks again for a worthwhile effort here.

galta

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "W.Pasquill" 
Date: Sat, 04 Oct 1997 23:10:50 -0500

Aye,
	Well after reading thru most of your page its time for one of my long
winded e-mails that might end up being to damn short.

About the Discworld series, I'd recomend reading alt.fan. oh wait a
minute, no i aint sending you to that looney bin known as
alt.fan.pratchet, no one here in the states understnad anything they
talk about as far as I can tell, actually I don't think anyone outside
of england gets it, and when I say england I mean england Not Great
Britain (the island) or the Untied Kingdom (Britain and Nortthern
Ireland) I mean england england and even if you live there if you can;t
find the right pub your screwed. I'd try alt.books.pratchett or maybe
its rec.books pratchett, ask them about the better 5 then wait a couple
of years and go back they may have decided (if yoy try AFP ask a
descendant to checj ina few millenia by then they will have gotten close
to the top 5 if they are still talking about the top 5 books in that
subjext and not about something else entirely). Personnaly I recommend
Reaper Man which is about what happens when Death (the Grim reaper) gets
fired and the ensuing Chaos and Guards, Guards which is about a dragon
attacking the city of Ankh Morpork (which I presume you became aqcuanted
wioth in your previous reading) the follow ups to Guards, Guards (Men at
Arms and Feet of Clay respectively) are good aswell.

	No about this 'covenant" series. Until reading your page I'd never
heard of it, but I do intend to go find it. I'm also thankful that you
turned me on to Steakly's work in Armor and Vampire$ which look like my
sort of SF (oddly the new Starship Troopers movie looks more like your
desxription of Armor then it is of Starship troopers, or atleast thats
what 'net folks have been meaning when they call it Blasphemy).

	Next on Rosenberg, I love this mans work, its the first fantasy I read.
And oddly enought the first one was copyrighted when I was born. But
anyway, you are right when you talk about the role player connection,
the Guardians books do appeal greatly to roleplayers, but I think Joel
is just a great writer and another good thing about his books is that
most of us understand the characters more then we do in other fantasy
novels.But I don't agree with you about the last 2 not being that great,
these books were wondeful, but at this point in the series Joel is
writing for long time fans and himself, he does presume that you know
what is going on and just realy love the characters and therefore he is
just telling whatever stories come to mind instead of pushing a vilain,
we all know that sooner or later the Slavers will get back to fighting
the heroes (as you may remember the heads of the guild won't let them as
of yet do to so many defeats) and Jason will have to fight the sone of
the guy Karl killed in the first one, but no body is in a rush to get
there, it will just happen so while we are waiting we might aswell enjoy
whate Walter is thinking and his ongoing nightmare.

Lastly I'd like to suggest Joels new series to you The first book is
available in paperback and is called the Fire Duke (I's give you the
series name, but a friend of mine currently has it) I haven't read the
secon book and can;t remember the title but I'm sure it will be damn
good when I get it.
I'd also like to suggest Headcrash by Bruce Bethke which is a hillarious
(IMNHO) cyberpunkish story that is hard to explain but was said on the
cover as being what would happen if Monty Python wrote Neuromancer.
And
Greg Costykians Cups and Sorcery series which is also very humorous
however wating for the third patrt is becoming a nuisance.

Well thats it,
Bill

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Sean Dustman 
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 1997 20:32:11 -0700

 Dear Doug

    Hello my name is Sean Dustman am a corpsman in the U.S. Navy.  I was =
surfing the web and saw your page.  I have a really bad habit of eating =
books and saw your page and really liked it.  I totally agree with you =
with both Ender's Game and both the Thomas Covenant series but you got =
to read Robert Jordan, I know I should have done what you did and wait =
till all the paperbacks came out first but I didn't and  I'M RIPPING OUT =
MY HAIR WAITING FOR THE NEXT BOOK(S) TO COME OUT.  Every word ties in =
somewhere else, it might be five books away or the next page, everyone =
in these books seem to come to life.  If someone were to picture another =
world and have every detail in place this would be it.  Terry Goodkind =
is also a very good read but I won't know till tomarrow weather the =
series is compleat yet.  Since I can't convence you to read Robert =
Jordan (I hope your younger then 50 cause you might not be around for =
the last book) I really liked Dave Duncan's Man of His Word series and =
Clive Barker's "Cabal" and "The Great and Secret Show".  Well big Test =
great page you have there.

Sean

ps you didn't wait for all of Tom's book to come out in paperback so =
what's the excuse for Robert? =20

#  Tom Clancy (like Steven Brust and a few others) was grandfathered in.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ren'ee 
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 11:09:30 +0000

Hi Doug
Like your list. You might want to try an other author Harold Coyle. I
love the starwars and star treck stuff and find coyle great.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Spence 
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 16:52:26 -0400
Subject: Heinlein

 Just browsing through your site, and I would ask that you reread your =
Heinlein.  It seems that you have skipped the text, and looked at the =
pictures.  This is not meant to offend, however, Friday, for instance is =
about a man who dies and has a brain transplant into the body of a =
nubile young female.  I agree that it was not one of Heinlein's best, =
however it has nothing to do with agents.

Another item is Starship Troopers, without a doubt one of the best works =
ever written in the genre of military fiction.  The whole work is an =
essay on political philosophy, (while being entertaining).  Skip the =
adventure and read the sections on History and Moral Philosophy, then =
reread the whole thing, you will find it much more exciting, and much =
more thought provoking.

I have a Masters in Philosophy, so, of course I am a Police Officer... =
;)  But, Heinlein explores human interaction more than Science fiction =
in most of his works, it could be that his style is not your type but do =
not judge his works by a strict Sci-Fi interpretaion, it is not space =
opera, it is space philosophy...

Try it again, you might change your mind.

                 A. Spencer Wilcox

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Robert and Julie 
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 19:36:53 -0500
Subject: Jerry Pournelle

Fellow Horned Frog,
    There I was, surfing the net for information on this fellow, and I
find a Horned Frog. Well!
    Anyway, I am hunting for information on an article Dr. Pournelle
wrote in the late '70's discussing an idea he termed "Project THOR". The
article appeared in Galaxy, a monthly SF magazine. He wrote a piece
every month on science fact he called "A Step Further Out" or
"...Beyond" or whatever.
    THOR was his idea for a space based weapons system that had the
virtue of being both simple and cheap, provided that one had cheap
access to low Earth orbit. That price has not lowered too much since
1977. The concept was to put up a satellite of fairly low mass, filled
with steel rods. The rods would have an ablative shield tip and a
controlled burn rocket on the other end. If bad old Country X is acting
up, why risk pilot's lives or possible cruise missile failure when you
can literally call down fire from the heavans with pinpoint accuracy. I
saw that you were in the physics department; work out what the kinetic
energy output of, say, a six pound crowbar impacting at orbital-plus
speeds. Or maybe ten in a one square mile area. Ouch!
    The reason for all this is in tha latest issue of Proceedings, in
which an engineer for Lockheed is proposing a similar system, but with
all kinds of very pricey bells and whistles. I have a hankering to give
credit where credit is due in this case.

Thanks!
Robert Wood '87

# Can't help ya there.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Mark Bernstein, Eastgate Systems, Inc." 
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 15:07:12 -0500

I enjoyed your Doug's Library!  It seems an exciting and helpful project,
and I hope you're finding it rewarding. (My own short list is at

	http://www.eastgate.com/books/Bernstein.html

We publish hypertext -- fiction and non-fiction -- for serious readers.
We've been doing this since the late 80's, and I hope you might enjoy some
of our titles.  (Among our most recent titles, I think you might enjoy
Edward Falco's A DREAM WITH DEMONS, but our entire catalog is at
http://www.eastgate.com/ )

If you'd like to read and review a title for your site, I expect we could
find a review copy for you.  Let me know if you're interested....

---------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Bernstein                          Bernstein@eastgate.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Timothy Byrd 
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 01:05:56 -0800

 Hi Doug,

I was surfing and stumbled onto your review pages.  I like the reviews and
capsules.  Thought I'd drop you a few quick comments...

Glen Cook's "Bleak Seasons" is out.  It's billed as the first book of
Glittering Stone.  It's pretty good, he's thrown in an interesting twist
with the new annalist.  I really like his work, but I believe (at least in
the Black Company books) that he has a tendency to take major characters and
kill them off stage in a trivial way.  (How does Raven finally die?)   About
Cook's detective series:  I read a few - they were okay but fairly
interchangeable.

About David Brin's "The Postman":  I can see why they are making a movie of
it.  I thought the beginning was incredible  (Up through the point where the
main character gets to the second or third village.)  Something about it
just resonated with me.  I thought the second half was weird and
disappointing, though.  Overall. I'd rated about what you did, or perhaps a
little lower.

About CJ Cherryh: Try the "Faded Sun" trilogy, before giving up on this
author.  Hard to find, perhaps, but I thought they were excellent.  Basic
theme is that humanity has just won an interstellar war against an alien
race called the Regul.  The Regul are not warriors themselves, instead
employing a third race, the mercenary Mri.  Fearing to lose the services of
the Mri to the humans, the Regul destroy them, but two survive.

Poul Anderson: Have you checked out "Three Hearts and Three Lions"?  One of
the classics...  (Remember to take the year it was written into account.)

Harry Harrison: I started with the Deathworld Trilogy,  A gambler (with a
slight psychic talent) gets involved with a colony fighting to stay alive on
a deadly planet. I like this series a bit more than the Rat novels.  On the
other hand the "Homeworld", etc. trilogy left me cold.

I noticed that other than a slighting reference to Conan, there was no
Robert E. Howard.  You might want to check out one of *his* Conan stories.
Much more direct and dark than the pastiches.

Here are a few more suggestions for your reading list (At least they were
books that I enjoyed...):
    Richard Adams - Watership Down (rabbits!)
    Barry Hughart - The Bridge of Birds (someone else recommended this, and
I'm echoing)
    Michael Sharra - The Killer Angels (about the battle of Gettysburg - won
a Pulitzer)

Take care,

-- Timothy Byrd
tbyrd@telis.org

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Matthew Proctor 
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 16:03:05 +0000
Subject: ramblings of a diseased keyboard

Hi,
I just came across your page while searching for Deathgate Cycle pages
and then managed to spend about an hour or so trying to find all the
people I had read here :) You must have a _very_ full bookshelf!
I am going to have to reread the Donaldson books based on your
review...although I found his trek through the desert a bit wearing the
first time.
I agree totally with your not reading Jordan until the whole series is
out, although you may have a long wait. I got shafted by that one - I
don't recall exactly why I bought the first one, but it hooked me and I
got to the end of the seventh and found myself staring at an 18mth wait!
I managed to do the same again with Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy
(although the final one is _supposed_ to be out by now I think). The
books so far have been enjoyable, although I get the feeling that she
has left a lot of loose ends to tie up in one book.
I agreed with your 'long mind candy' view of Belgarion/Mallorean -
although I thought the similarities were explained in the books as
being  a necessary condition for each meeting of the child of dark and
good? Not that that is a good excuse for avoiding using some
imagination.
Have you reviewed Julian May's further books now? I thoroughly enjoyed
them, especially the Pliocene ones.
I have remembered why I went for the Jordan series now - and it reminds
me, have you read the Recluce Saga (L.E. Modesitt Jr)? I got into this
because it reminded me of a MUD I had recently been unable to continue
playing where the protagonists were Chaos and Order. To be honest he
writes the books in a slightly odd order, he seems to slap a bunch of
prequels into the middle of the series which didn't help me much (I keep
getting names mixed up - I had a hell of a time with Saruman and Sauron
for some reason!).
The Jordan book that caught my eye was 'Lord of Chaos' although by the
time I got that far through the series I was reading it for its own
merits.
Well I just wanted to say I enjoyed reading the reviews, and I certainly
agreed with lot of the stuff you said...enough to take your
recommendation and give Brust a try when I finish Weis/Hickman. I've
bookmarked your site and will keep an eye on it!
Matt Proctor
matthew.proctor@sbil.co.uk

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Cary Whelan 
Date: Thu, 06 Nov 1997 23:55:49 -0500
Subject: Sphere

Doug,

    I am appalled at how you rated Michael Crichton's BEST book Sphere.
I would hardly call it a "check-your-brain-at-the-door" novel.  It is
truly his best book.  I have read it two or three times and each time I
am surprised at what I pick up as new and interesting.  I would never
see it a a horror film.  It's science fiction at its best!  I believe I
am one of Crichton's biggest fans and Sphere is undoubtedly his best!

                                                        Kia Whwlan
cwhela@po-box.mcgill.ca

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: 97835714@mmu.ac.uk
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 18:00:23 GMT0BST

Hi

I have just read your Library pages, and enjoyed the reviews on some 
of my favourite authors.

I was surprised however, to find no reviews on DAVID GEMMELL.

He is after all a British Bestseller.

Try him (I would recommend all of his books, but particular 
favourites would be:

LEGEND
WAYLANDER
KNIGHTS OF DARK RENOWN
MORNINGSTAR
LEGEND OF DEATHWALKER

I also have a soft spot for Lawrence Watt Evans.  Although in England 
some of his books have been a tad difficult to locate.

Where are you based by the way?

I am also a huge fan of the Star Wars Novels (ZAHN maybe even 
eclipsed the Lucas Trilogy for me)

I look forward to hearing from you

REGARDS

BRIAN HANN (MANCHESTER)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kevin Curtis 
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 22:10:46 -0800

Hi,

Came upon your page quite by accident and was blown away with the amount of
time and effort you've invested along with the number of books reviewed,( I
always hated doing book reviews). Anyway, a series to consider might be
David Wingrove's "Chung Quo", a supposedly seven book series and the seventh
just been released. I could go on about it, but the first book would be
enough to hook you if it appeals to you. Good reading,( whatever it may be). 
Kevin Curtis

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Elizabeth Oldfather 
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 18:28:19 -0500

I find it interesting to read people's book ratings, and I liked yours and
often agree with them.  As per the Shannara books, for example, I am
totally in agreement.  However you did say that you hadn't read the newer
series (heritage of shannara) and I think you're making a mistake there.
It is in my opinion far superior to the earlier works, especially the
second book.  You should give it a try.
sorry, just had to stick in my two cents recommendation!
-lizzie

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jake Maynard 
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 02:46:01 -0600
Subject: Terry Goodkind

Just stumbled across your page. Very interesting stuff, we have a lot of
authors in common. One I didn't
see was Terry Goodkind. I read the note concerning Robert Jordan, and
thought that I would simply say
that I think that is an author worth taking a closer look at. It is also
a book that someone else "recommended" to me, and as you pointed out,
those are the books you are almost certain to dislike.
But this one actually turned out quite good. I also noticed that a
couple of the things that got you
in some of the horror-type books are the horrific torture scenes, such
as the one at the ranch in The Hollow Man.  I also find such scenes
interesting, not out of any weirdness, but basically that the author can

so effectively communicate the absolute horror of being in such a
situation. I really don't know if this is
making any sense at all, but I thought I'd try. :) At any rate, there
are a few scenes written by this guy
that make every other painful situation or torture incident I've ever
read seem like a happy day at Captain
Kangaroo's.
    Anyway, just thought I'd pass on my small recommendation, if you get
the chance, check Goodkind out.
I was impressed, and more importantly, entertained as hell.

      Thanks for your time.
     -Jake Maynard

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Milena 
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 16:56:52 +0100

Hey Doug! This site is brilliant!
I share your opinion about some of the books ("The Hobbit", for example). I
also like Guy Gavriel Kay VERY much, I've been through the whole Amber
series by Zelazny and I LOVE the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. (For me
Adams is the greatest philosopher of the 20th century.)
What I can recommend is Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series (if you are
not frightened by a series as huge as twenty-something novels and several
short-story anthologies!) One last thing: Have you seen the movie Dune? If
not, do it!!!!!!!!
CU
Milena

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: tennisEnigma@webtv.net (jan messina)
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 16:28:16 -0800

We seem to enjoy alot of the same books
in the SF/Fantasy genre so I thought you
might enjoy the "Last of the Renshai" series
by Mickey Zucker Reichert...the second series
look promising too (two of three books out).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: John Simpson 
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 22:40:44 -0600

Dear Doug,

I have enjoyed reading parts of your electronic library.  Below are two 
comments concerning your review of Zelazny's _Lord of Light_.

The first chapter of _Lord of Light_ actually falls, 
chronologically-speaking, between the second to last and last chapters. 
This, no doubt, causes some confusion, but the epigrams and other hints 
serve to orient an alert reader, but it is helpful knowing the true 
chronological order before reading.

The god-like powers and attributes of the "First" are presented to the 
reader with compressed description employing words associated with magic 
such as "wand."  These divine powers are thoroughly explained in 
surprising detail, however, as mutant mental abilities enhanced by 
technology.

Randell Simpson

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "S. Pharand" 
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 23:23:28 -0800

Hi great page. But I just want to tell you that the book The Mummy by
Anne Rice isn't part of the Vampire Chronicles. It is a book on its own.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Petar Barisic 
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 08:30:16 +0000 (GMT)

Say, abut P.K.Dick, you should find his book "Ubik" for starters and 
then all them other books...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Naomi Kalmusl 
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 15:31:01 -0700
Subject: THe lions of Al-Rassan

I was put off by your note at the end of the review that you could put any
persecuted group in the story and it would be the same.  That's just not
true if one knows the history of this era. Jews were highly valued members
of the Moorish courts and often served in the roles of physicians,
philosphers and key advisers.  When the Catholics reconquered Spain, they
undertook the Inquisition, one of the most vicious persecutions of Jews
until the Holocaust.  To this day their are "secret Jews" whose family hid
their identity and became Christians in order to save themeselves.

As you may guessed, I'm Jewish.  I ususally enjoy your reviews, but was
insulted by the offhanded way you said it could have been anyone.

Naomi Kalmus
nkalmus@cadence.com

# My reply:
# 
# Well, I'm sorry you felt that way.  No offense was intended by the
# "offhand" reference.  If it helps, G. Kay has since written and told
# me that he thought my comment was actually quite appropriate.  The
# text of his message is reproduced below from my mail bag.
# 
# Regards,
# Doug Ingram
# 
# # From: Guy Kay 
# # Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 13:44:19 -0400
# # Subject: A thank you
# # 
# # Doug,
# # 
# # Thanks for your kind words about LIONS. I was initially amused to note
# # your 'gypsies' idea about the Kindath, but your last comment is
# # absolutely right ... it doesn't matter. Part of the point of doing it as
# # a fantasy (it is ... for many reasons, not least of which is that the
# # Reconquista took 400 years and narrative energy to tell the -essence- of
# # the tale requires the telescoping fantasy allows) is to get people
# # detached from their prejudices and assumptions about Catholic Spain,
# # Moorish Al-Andalus, the Jews of the middle ages ... so you are
# # ultimately right: I did intend certain parallels, but the underlying
# # idea was to get AWAY from a direct association with the three religions
# # and their beliefs.
# # 
# # I seldom drop a line to reviewers or readers, but you did give me a
# # moment's pause and wanted to relay thoughts and a thank you.
# # 
# # Best wishes,
# # GGK

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Theresa E Wurth 
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 10:49:53 -0600

Doug
I am writing to you because this is the first time I got the idea to =
search on a subject that I have always been interested in...but was =
frustrated because I want more and can't find it....so...I searched on =
Thomas Covenant.  I am a fan of Donaldson's...and I see you are an even =
bigger one!    I think I have read every thing he has written....The =
Covenant books over and over again.    I have waited for the Chronicles =
of Linden Avery to come out...but to no avail.  Have you heard that he =
is planning on writing anything else?  Do you know where I can write =
him?  I want to encourage him to write more.  It is so hard these days =
to find good writing.  
Although, have you read any Clive Barker works....besides the Hellraiser =
stuff.  He has done some very interesting fantasy work.
Anyway...like your page, keep up the good work...and you don't need to =
publish this...doesn't make a difference to me...I have already had my =
15 minutes on the stage...LOL
Take care.
Theresa

# From what I've heard about SRD, the more people pester him to write
# more about the Land, the less likely he is to do it, so my advice is
# not to bother him!  :)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 15:37:15 -0600
Subject: Katherine Kurtz's HEIRS OF SAINT CAMBER

Suggestion.  You said you had never got around to buying 
the last series of Katherine Kurtz.  I definitely recommend 
you buy and read at least the first two.  I think Katherine 
Kurtz wrote much better books when she was forced to by the 
plot.  They are stories about Cinhil's children as kings.  
She is forced to have write a much better story, where 
characters can die, simply because she's already established 
that the main characters lose in the end and die.  And she 
has to include a lot of politics, because she's already 
introduced the power hungry regents.  But if you don't have 
time don't bother reading the last one, THE BASTARD PRINCE.  
It ends too happily.

	Sincerely rtharris@midway.uchicago.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: rhp@acsu.buffalo.edu
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 19:24:51 +0000
Subject: Stephen Brust missing

You are missing two novels on your web page on Stephen Brust and a short 
story.  Broken Down Palace or Castle may be the name of one (and that was 
his worst book, but I liked To Reign In Hell), and this story of a group of 
starving artist with no real plot and really great characters.  he also has 
a short story in the anthology for the Sandman comic book character (which 
I have yet to read).  goodbye, Robert Pastwick, rhp@acsu.buffalo.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: alan_prendergast@csg.stercomm.com
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 08:28:07 -0600
Subject: Re: Nice hints page.
     
     Checked out your books page.  Good solid list.  There's a book 
     that was written before you were in high school, back around 1981 - 
     83.  Sorry I'm fuzzy on the year, it was a while ago... anyway the 
     title of the book is Armor, and I think the author was John Steakly 
     (possibly misspelled that too....). 
     Anyway, while it was, on the surface, a rip off of Starship Trooper 
     (the suddenly popular....) it turned out to be a LOT more than that.  
     (Ah!, sorry just checked again and saw you've read it and gave it 
     good reviews...I don't think I've found anyone yet who got through it 
     and didn't like it.  BUT! based on your review of Vampire, I'll get 
     hold of a copy...) 
     
     Another author you might consider reading is Tim Powers, he wrote 
     Anubis Gates, On Stranger Tides, Dinner at Devents Palace, The 
     Drawing of the Dark, The Stress of Her Regard (and probably others, 
     I've fallen WAY behind in the last few years...)
       Anubis Gates & The Drawing of the Dark are probably my two 
     favorites, because the plot lines were pretty easy to follow, and it 
     was fun because he uses historical time line situations for the 
     stories. 
     On Stranger Tides, and The Stress of Her Regard, were also 
     historically based, but a little harder to follow (of course, by the 
     time I read them, I was used to his style.)  Dinner at Devents Palace 
     was very much like some 60's psychedelic movie, it was easy to 
     follow sometimes, and made you work REAL hard at others.
     
     With Niven/Pournelle, you might try reading Mercenary, or West of 
     Honor. If you like those then you can tie into others, because there's 
     a relationship.  The concept is taken from the Co-Diminium 
     which is mentioned in Mote in God's Eye.  It's a future history
     that covers the creation and use of mercenary legions around the time 
     the Co-Diminium is on the point of failure.  The writing is, as is 
     usually the case with Niven/Pournelle, technically based.  Sort of 
     like the Tom Clancys of Science Fiction.  The story line carries into 
     novels like Go and Tell the Spartans.  If you want to read a decent 
     future history that doesn't involve a lot of aliens try it.
     
     Also you might try Protector & Ringworld by Niven/Pournelle.  These DO 
     involve a lot of aliens, but you get a lot of nice technical 
     constructs and plausible explanations for things like Ring Worlds, and 
     Dyson Spheres.  (I was tickled to see one in a Star Trek, Next 
     Generation episode where they rescued Scotty from the Transport loop)
     
     Another author you could try is Gordon Dickson, some of his earlier 
     stuff.  I've picked up some of his recent work, and haven't really 
     liked it as much.  Old stuff like Ancient my Enemy and some of the 
     early Dorsai novels were decent.  
     
     Well, I've bent your ear (or worn out your eyes...) long enough.
     
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "ROSS M. BANTA" 
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 20:07:13 -0500 (EST)

Hi!  My name is Ross and I am a student at Eastern Michigan University.  I
know you don't like people to reccomend books to you, I'm the same way,
but you should at least check out the Dark Tower series by Stephen King.
I thought it was a great fantasy/adventure, even though it is not yet
completed.  If you ever find yourself without anything to read, try it.
Just know that it may be awhile before Stephen King finishes it.

-Ross Banta
RBANTA@online.emich.edu

# Yup, I'll read it when it's all out in paperback.  Looking forward to it.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: PEGIT61@aol.com
Date: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 16:34:05 -0500 (EST)

I was disappointed in your reviews on both David Eddings and Anne McCaffery.
I personally have enjoyed all of their books. But I enjoyed  the sameness of
the books. It's like going back and visiting your favorite friends over and
over again.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "R.F. Briggs" 
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 1997 23:58:30 -0500
Subject: P.K. Dick

As one of your tormentors, I'm glad to see you finally found a Dick
novel to read.  I think, from reading your review, you may find his
other works disappointing in similar matters.  He tends to focus on the
"little people", generally the underbelly of society, and their
reactions to extreme mental stresses.  There really are never any earth
shattering happenings, or heroes for that matter.  I enjoy his writings,
but I have to view them as a separate genre, ie "I think I'll read a
Dick book now".  

Take Care!  

Ralph
rfbriggs@netcom.ca

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Mark Huckabone 
Date: Sat, 06 Dec 1997 21:32:49 -0800
Subject: Great page!!

I too am a big Dan Simmons fan.  I just finished the last Hyperion
book "The Rise of Enymion".  It was great.   A love store, believe
it or not.
I agree with most of your reviews and since you've read a lot more
than I, I'm going to try out some of your better ones.  I'd also
like to recommend a few.  Larry Niven's first 2 Ringworld books are
great.  Also the sequel to "The Mote in God's Eye" called "The Gripping
Hand" is better than the original.  Thanks, again for the page and
the reviews.

Mark Huckabone

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Janet Allaby 
Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 22:19:07 -0400

Interesting point of view on some of my favourite authors and just
because I don't happen to agree doesn't mean that I think you are wrong.
The purpose of this email is to find out (since I didn't see her name
mentioned) if you have read or are going to read anything by Mercedes
Lackey (she is, perhaps, my favourite female author - it used to be Anne
McCaffery but I found that she seemed to be running out of ideas in her
Dragonriders of Pern series and started getting boring).  If you have,
what is your opinion?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Elke Sisco 
Date: Tue, 09 Dec 1997 23:25:09 -0800

Hi Doug,

Since you like science-fiction - and Richard Feynman, one of my heroes :-)
- have you heard of John Crowley? I found him via a recommendation on a
usenet group, regarding his novel "Engine Summer". I love word plays, so
the title caught my interest.

I bought a paperback that has three of his novels - and that's what the
book is called: Three Novels by John Crowley. It contains "The Deep",
"Beasts", and "Engine Summer." I liked the Beasts okay; haven't finished
The Deep, and have reread Engine Summer twice. It's one of those stories
that gives you little clues that you want to revisit after you've pieced
the whole thing together. Much like Myst, I guess.

If you read it, I'd love to find out how you like it.

Regards,
Elke Sisco

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Halcion 
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 00:02:37 -0500
Subject: P. K. Dick

You were asking about P. K. Dick novels that worth the read. The ones
I've read are very powerful in sense it drives you in strange state of
mind for some days... The only other sf writer that makes me feel this
way is Dan Simmons.

so you could read: Ubik, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, A Maze
of Death, Dr. Bloodmoney. But i would say that maybe the best part of
his work consists of short stories check for The Father-thing, Faith of
our fathers, Upon a dull Earth, Colony and more...

also if you like short stories (i'm not sure you do by reading some of
your reviews) i couldn't suggests you enough richard matheson (you
certainly know his classic "born of man and woman", others are
masterworks too).

Please forget my (poor) english, french is my native tongue.

P.S.: Can you explain me what are the differents between a novella, a
novellete and a short story? In french, we just use the word "nouvelle"
and we don't make further classification.

Thomas Bergeron

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: KCdgw 
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 07:55:21 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Roy Gallant

Dear Doug:

Like your web page!  Roy Gallant wrote a book 30 years ago, THE ABC'S  of
ASTRONOMY, which my parents gave me, along with my first telescope. I loved
that book, practically wore it out in fact. Alas, it was lost many years
ago... and is out of print... I wanted to get another copy for my daughters,
who are showing an interest in astronomy, and I found Mr Gallant via a web
search recently, and he's selling me another copy. He is a delightful man!

Sincerely,
Dave Wisker

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: wam 
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 20:52:05 -0600
Subject: Books to Read

        I like your list but i didn't see David Wingrove's series Chung
Kuo......the Middle Kingdom.    You should definately read
them.....trust me.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Frunaxx 
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 22:47:13 -0500 (EST)
Subject: thanks a lot (in regards to the sight)

your "Tom Clancy" part of the sight saved me...i had an english project due
and your info helped me through it...i got an "A"...i searched through about
30 sights and that all had nothing but crap...thanks again for making a sight
with real criticism.
Thanks again
Jason

# Great, just what I always wanted.  I've designed a site that helps
# students cheat on their homework.  :(  Seriously, you wouldn't believe
# how often people write requesting that I write a special expanded
# review for them so they can complete an assignment of some kind!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Clifford Kashtan 
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 18:58:24 -0600
Subject: The Dark Tower

I'm a little surprised that you don't seem to have read Stephen King's 
Dark Tower series. These books are often extremely disgusting and 
gritty, but they have an incredibly interesting and mysterious 
atmosphere (especially in the third book). These books are very easy to 
obtain in either used or new bookstores, although the series is not yet 
finished (King once said that he might never finish it in his lifetime) 
and the fourth book just came out in hardcover.
	-A fan of your review page

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Hans-Christian Karlsborn 
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 00:41:09 -0800
Subject: carl sagan

Hello!
Actually Carl Sagan released a book posthumously- "Billions and
Billions-Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium". I
got it as a christmas gift from my wife yesterday. It appears to be very
entertaining..as usual in his case.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hans-Christian Karlsborn, Helsingborg, Sweden

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Rj 
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 19:20:37 -0800
Subject: You have every right to be critical

Hi:

I thougt I'd drop you a line and tell you that I think you opinion on the
Terry Brooks Shannara series are valid. I say this even though I am Terry
Brooks fan.

I don't know why people have to be upset when you are speaking your opinion.

Your page is informative.

Keep it up.
Rj

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "McKenney, Sean" 
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 12:52:34 -0600
Subject: review of gap series

Hi Doug, 

Enjoy your home page.  Since you just read the Gap series, allow me to
suggest this interesting review (if you haven't already come across it).

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/road/adc95/Gap.htm

Sean

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Merrilyjo 
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 16:16:34 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Book of Atrus

first my apologies if I am responding in the wrong area

However I loved the Book Of Atrus
Just the pages and the color and the very physical form of the book made me
feel serene. The story made me feel included and the ending satisfying.
I did wonder how the Island of Myst evolved from the simple place pictured  in
Atrus' book to the very technical place pictured in the game Myst.
I probably would never have even tackled Riven (THE GAME)had I not read Atrus
book.

The last book that I found to be so involving of the reader was NEVER ENDING
STORY.  

Just a bit about me---I am not a Science Fiction fan per se but I will read
books by any author that make me feel that the story  could be real! That I
wake up in the morning feeling I need to get something done!! ( see about the
characters in the book) Therefore I loved Atrus, and most of the Pern ( Anne
Mc Caffery) books, and some by Salvatore (forgotten realms). I found myself
yearning for a dragon for my own and a dark elf for a friend. Nuff said.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kim Woolley 
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 17:23:38 +1100
Subject: Books...

This letter is not from Kim, it's from Emily Groom...

Just a letter to let you know about another author that you seem to have
overlooked/not heard about on your sci-fi/fantasy review pages (although I
haven't looked *everywhere*).  There's a Scots author by the name of Iain
M. Banks who writes marvellous (imho) sci-fi books.  The ones I know about
are...
Consider Phlebas, Player of Games, Use of Weapons (which I haven't read
yet) and Excession, which are a semi-series about a civilisation known as
the Culture which has a symbiotic relationship with computers/machines (not
as naff and cliched as it sounds), Feersum Endjinn and Against a Dark
Background which are stand alone books, and a collection of short stories
called The State of the Art.

All of his books are very dense, generally have several (seemingly)
unrelated stories going on at the same time, and are what you could call
'intelligent' sci-fi (ie: not your average 'hero saves the known universe
using nifty weapons' stories).  Out of all of them I probably enjoyed
Excession the best (that's his latest one) although Feersum Endjinn is also
great.  That's not to say, though, that the others aren't good as well.
The State of the Art is interesting in that it contains a novella which
relates the Culture that he writes about in several of his books to the
earth, as well as having some other quite bizarre little stories in it.
Highly recommended by me and most of the people I've told about him.  I'm
forever grateful to the guy that lent me the first one of his books I read.
 I really can't say enough good stuff about him, especially the Culture
ones, so I guees you'll just have to give them a go and find out for
yourself (if you want to of course).

He also writes straight novels under the name Iain Banks (no M.), although
straight is not really the right way to describe them.  Probably the best
known and most controversial of his novels is the first one he wrote, The
Wasp Factory, and if anyone who's read it can think of a good way to
describe it without making it sound like a horror novel (which it's
definitely not) then I take my hat off to them.  He's also written Canal
Dreams, Espadair Street, Walking on Glass, The Crow Road and Whit, althoguh
I may have forgotten one or two.  I also highly recomend these, although
The Wasp Factory is not for those who object to some fairly graphic and
macabre things.  One of the funniest things I've ever read is the
collection of reviews inside the front cover of The Wasp Factory - ranging
from 'this man is god' to 'this man is the antichrist'.

On a sideline, I forced myself to read the first two Covenant books and had
to give up - not what normally happemns when I pick up a book!  I think it
was a combination of Donaldson's writing style (although I enjoyed the
Mordant series), the wallowing in self pity for pages at a time, and the
overriding tone of depression.  I really only read the second book because
I thought I should, which I suppose is not a good reason to read anything.
It just didn't grab me at all, although I can see your point about it being
an important series.

If you want to write back (don't know if you do that or not) then don't
write to this address - my *real* email address is
ek_groom@postoffice.utas.edu.au.  Also, if you're going to put this letter
up on your web page, put that address on, not the one I'm sending this
letter from.  This isn't my address, and theoretically I shouldn't really
be using it (promise you won't tell anyone?), so please don't drop me in
the poo!

Thanks for a great page, anyway - you've certainly given me a list of
authors that I shall have to go and find out about.  I'm always on the look
out for more things to read - I've a friend who works in a secondhand
bookshop, and he keeps handing me books he likes, but he's not a big sci-fi
fan and hence doesn't tend to know what's good and what's rotten.  Must go
now, so hope you enjoy Iain M. Banks and keep up the good work!

Cheers, Emily (Taz)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kim Woolley 
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 17:38:21 +1100
Subject: Books again...

Emily again...

Arrggh!  How embarrasing...  Just revisited your web page and found Iain M.
Banks (Use of Weapons) in your author list - I can't have looked very hard
last time!  Sorry about that, although it's interesting that you had little
gripes about parts of his writing (the complicated place names and
technical terms etc.) that I probably found the most interesting things
about his books.  For me, the explanations about the basic premises in
sci-fi novels are definitely tedious - I'd prefer to find out about them
during the course of the novel.  With his books, it would probably help to
start with the first of his Culture series, Consider Phlebas - this does
give you a little more background information and is written from an
interesting perspective.  Having not read Use of Weapons, I can't comment
on your mark out of ten, although if it's up to the standard of his other
books I'd have to say that I think it's a bit low (but I'm not going to
flame you about it or anything - at least you liked it!).  any way, that's
all I wanted to say, so thanks again for the reviews (keep 'em coming!).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Richard Wallace :)" 
Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 15:50:57 +0000 (GMT)

Well, i suppose Use of Weapons is fairly bouncy round on the time scales,
i felt this was the only real way of doing the thing without giving the
reasons zakalwe was like he was though (just my view anyway), but i none
of his other books really go into strange timelines, pulp fiction all over
again :) Excession, his newest book is well written, but i expect the none
Banks fan to get a bit confused with all the intership communication, most
of which is pretty irrelevant anyway, GSV's, ROU's, and all the other
ships, i guess someone should bring out a book of terms for his ships.
Still, i like his writing style, its flowing, and he's generally got the
quirks of humour slipped in around the place. 

I've got to admit to liking Clancy too, however, im in abit of a mood with
him at the moment, as his Op-Centre books are all too short, why not stick
them all together. Red Storm Rising has got to be one of the definitive
3rd world war stories, one of those books where you get engrossed. I guess
that comes of being a pilot though. 

I just think you should give banks another go really. 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: LMarley 
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 17:04:11 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Completed trilogy

Dear Dr. Ingram:

Like you, I'm a college teacher (Prof. of Voice, Cornish College, Seattle).
I'm also a classical concert and opera singer, and my trilogy from Ace Science
Fiction is now complete:  Sing the Light, Sing the Warmth, and Receive the
Gift are all on the shelves.  These are science fantasy novels with strong
musical and artistic themes.  I would love it if you could visit my web page: 
Louise Marley's Web Site
and if you find that the novels interest you, and you'd like to review them,
I'll send you a set.

I've enjoyed your site over the last three years--thanks.  I hope to hear from
you!

Louise Marley
LMarley@aol.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jeremy Hamilton Ross Norton 
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 17:18:59 +0200
Subject: Books/reviews/etc.

Hello 

Just found your site I which I liked,The Idea Of a place where I can
Come to look at reviews of books by you and/or your contributing letter
people is great,Books are so expensive here at the moment,I find my self
less and less risking buying non-recomended authors (I have a shelf at
home of Books I have struggled through once and have no wish to do so
again.)Thanks for giving me a sudden boost to the recomended Booklist.

I would say that your were a bit harsher than i would be on some books
,but it does give me hope for those Authors with high ratings who I have
not read yet.

What I found interesting in reading the letters which have been sent to
you is although there seems to be some divergence on what is good and
what not ,
LoTR seems to have a strong following among all ,It Obviously is THE
great fantasy work.

As to your reviews and those books which are missing (most of hese have
been given by others)

Iain Banks/Iain.M.Banks : This guy is great,He has a very different view
on SF I found Use Of Wepons a great and inventive read, I would
recommend his other Sience fiction also his non-SF work Mostly quite
good but some of it is wierd,I would say  The Crow Road  is possibly his
best to date but I still have not read all of his stuff

C.J.Cherryh : To see you having such a negative reaction to one  of my
favorite authors says to me you probably read the wrong book first.

The forigner series gives a great perspective on the confusion of cross
cultural reationships(I liked the development of the old idea that alien
mentality veiws the universe in a different way to humanity,this is also
explored in  40000 in ghennia  (again spelt wrong ))

her view of space flight and space expansion culture I also enjoyed.
though I will have to reread the books to pinpoint the exact details .

Her fantasy seems to periodicaly suffer from ideas put down to fast
without enough development(farie in shadow being one of these) but on
the whole it is well writen and good .The Chronicals of Morgaine are a
wonderful series which while written as seperate books Should be read as
on volume(IMHO)-Exiles gate however i found a slip in standard a bit
,Still worth reading however.The Fortress in the Eye Of Time Is Possibly
her best fantasy work to date which invloves a complex political
threads,magic,melevolent spirits and a confused central character yet
manages to aviod being setreotypical -A very gripping read.

Anouther great Series Not mentioned by you but brought up by ine or two
of your contributors is the Farseer Trilogy by Robb Hobb This is a
different series put's newe spins on some idea's (the system of magic )
and introduces a difficult to describe hero , it is possible to put down
his attributes and motives this does not capture the nature of this
character as written by Hobb. an author to watch.

More to come when I go Home And look through my collection.

Thanks for the site 

Jeremy Norton
High Executioner of the Point ,
Clan of the Upright Pencil .

Durban  
South Africa

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Kim Thomas 
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 13:40:03 -0800

Don't mean to spam you but I just had to email you and say I love your 
book reviews web page.  I've been reading non-stop (it seems) as far back 
as I can remember so in my recent pursuit of building a webpage I was, 
of course, forced to include a page of links on various authors I've 
enjoyed.  Out of all the pages I've hit recently I would say yours was 
the most complete, insightful, and (most importantly) in agreement with my 
own opinions :).  Anyhow, just wanted to say, loved your reviews.  

Kim Thomas

p.s.  I noticed you didn't have any comments on Simon Hawke's Wizard series.  
It's a rather nifty series if you're interested in light fantasy/SF/whatever.  
Basic premise is magic returns to the world.  It contains one of the best 
characterizations of Mordred that I've seen recently (my hero of the Arthurian 
legends) and of course where you have Mordred you have to have Merlin (ah, 
but it's Merlin with a twist).  But, I should be going now, so, good eve.  
(One more comment: he has more ways of resurrecting dead characters than a 
D&D campaign ... and I mean this in a good way ... sorta).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Chase Roden 
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 00:24:34 -0600

i didn't see a review of it, so i'd like to suggest one of my favorite
sf books of all time: stephen king's _the running man_ (as richard
bachman).  totally incredible book.  you can read it in one sitting, as
i have several times.  don't avoid it because of the movie.

                    chase

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Penny Duane 
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 20:54:22 -0800
Subject: quite a list

Mr. Ingram  I was impressed with your page/web site. you have done alot of
reading. you hit some of the ratings right on the nail. did you notice that
a lot of the series loose points as more books in the series come ouy? here
is an author you might be interested in. Donald E. McQuinn has a 3 book
series out and as far as i know it's only going to be 3 they are 1. Warrior
                2. Wanderer
                3. Witch
He is working on another book but i don't think it is connected. I met him
at a writers con about 4 years ago. i see him once or twice a year at cons.
you might like them. and have you read any of Tanya Huff's vampire ones.
fun. And i really liked Terri Windling's - The Wood Wife.

Nice readingd ya!  PJ

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: RSmith5284 
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 00:35:31 -0500 (EST)
Subject: You asked for it...

Tom Clancy: Couldn't agree with you more about the recent trend; What is it..
something OPS? But I don't dislike them as much as you seem to. I personally
think that "Without Remorse" is his absolute best by far.
Wanted to recommend a writer named M.A. Foster.... best book: The Gameplayers
of Zan. Good luck finding it, though.
Brin: The first Uplift books were great, but I've had a much harder time with
the newer ones.  I couldn't beleive I was on the verge of laying one of this
guy's books down. I've read thousands of books and have laid down about five
in my life.
Piers Anthony: try an old one called "Macroscope"

enjoyed your site.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Alun Bestor 
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 20:19:27 -0800
Subject: Myst: The Book of Atrus

OK, I have played and finished Myst and Riven and have also read the first
prequel book, Myst: The Book of Atrus. I haven't read the second (Book of
Ti'ana), and I hear there's a third, Book of Gehn (any news of it?) Anyway,
I have to say while I loved both games the book was a disappointment. Just
like the other person said of it, the world was excellent (I particularly
liked the descriptions of Riven prior to the opening of the star-fissure),
but the plot and writing were pretty bad.
The ending to me in particular was very badly written. I mean, Atrus
'suddenly discovering' that Anna had been following and watching him the
whole time, that she had written an age of her own (with what materials, may
I ask?) and that Catherine had been planning this with her all along, it
sounds too much like either the Millers and/or Wingrove wrote themselves
into a corner and had to use the cheesy deux ex machina approach. These plot
twists could have been hinted at prior to the ending, and could have been
unfolded more smoothly than simply cramming it all into the epilogue.
So there's my two cents. For now, I advise the Millers to stick to the
medium they are best at: the data bit.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Summers, Dana" 
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 12:25:25 -0600

Dr. Ingram,
	Hello, I'm in your noon 2083 Astronomy course and was suprised
to find the absence of Alan Lightmann books in your list of bood
reviews.  As a physist and an English professor, Dr. Lightmann has
combined a very interesting twist of science and narrative fiction in
his work, Einstein's Dreams.  He has also reciently published another
book, but I unfortunatly don't remember the title.  If you've read this,
or are interested, please let me know, I'd be happy to pass it on or
hear your feed back.  My e-mail address is not the one listed above but
rather mfred@delta.is.tcu.edu.  Thanks for your time.

Marian Red  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ringrost@rmcs.cranfield.ac.uk (ringrose.t)
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 17:27:16 +0000 (GMT)

g'day Doug,

just visited your book page again and was surprised that
you didn't rate the Gap series that highly. I thought it
was generally better than Covenant, even though his grasp
of elementary physics seemed pretty dodgy at times. 
It definitely seemed epic to me, and i can't think of any
other books which pull off the just-when-you-thought-it-couldn't
get-any-worse-it-does so well and so often. I'm amazed you
rated the first one more highly than the rest too. My marks
out of 10 for the five books would have been 1 8 10 10 9. 
(For comparison, I'd rate the six Covenants at 5 10 10 6 3 6). 

Also I have to disagree with your comment that the forwards/backwards
storylines in Use of Weapons didn't serve any purpose. I would
hold it up as the ideal example of when an unusual structure
like that not only helps but is crucial. The final revelations
wouldn't have had anything like the impact they did without
that structure. I really don't think the book would have worked
with a standard timeline. 

Have a nice day.

Trev/WTG etc

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Rod Pennington 
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 22:15:10 -0800
Subject: More suggestions...

Doug,
Visited your website for the first time in a few months.  Glad to
see you read and enjoyed "Permutation City".  You gave it a "7", I'd
probably give it an "8".  It had it's weaknesses, but also delivered
several transcending moments that I'll remember for a long time.  And
then, of course, there's the patented "big ideas" Egan is known for.
That being said, I have to say I was a bit disappointed in reading
Egan's much talked about collection of short stories "Axiomatic".  Also,
I was so eager to read his next novel "Distress", that I bought it in
hard back.  But I found it to be a bit of a disappointment, too.  Still
worth reading though.

I note you read Roger Penrose's book "The Emporer's New Mind".  I haven't
read it, but I've read of it, and have also read "Conciousness Explained"
by Daniel Dennett.  If you have any interest in the concept and nature of
human conciousness, you should definitely read Dennett.  He debunks
Cartesion dualism, Searle's "Chinese Room", and various other concepts
that get bandied about among cognitive scientists and philosophers.

Incidently my opinion is that if Star Trek transporters were a reality, 
that the self/soul/ conciousness, or whatever, would survive transporting
(I'm refering to the issue you raised in your Penrose review).  Let's say
we describe an individual conciousness as a continuous stream of causally
connected informational states.  So long as the chain of causality isn't
broken, I'd say the person who steps out of the transporter chamber at the
"receiving" end is the same one who stepped in at the "sending" end.  The
substrate in which the informational states are encoded, be it a particular
set of atoms or an energy beam, isn't (in my opinion) important.  Just 
thought I'd toss that out there.  I'm not sure how well this idea would
stand scrutiny.

Anyway, keep up the good work!  Do you realize you're probably the
most famous "Ingram" on the internet?

Regards,

Rod
=================
Rod Pennington
Temple, TX
rodpenn@sage.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "J.C. King" 
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 00:27:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Generals Comments and Patton

Dr. Ingram,

I chanced upon your site in my feverish search for Riven hints.  My 
hunger satisfied, I browsed around until I found your book list.  Very 
impressive.  I was surprised that you did not include Joan D. Vinge's 
Tiamat series.  A friend of mine bought books one and three for me as a 
birthday present some years ago.  I more recently found out that a book 
#2 existed.  They are:

The Snow Queen--My favorite of the three.  Combines your basic 
Cinderella story with cloning, environmentalism, and the mysteries of 
the universe.  Just a darn good space opera.

World's End--Like I said, I didn't know until a few years ago that this 
book even existed, and I had no problems (aside from the occasional 
"well, how did so-and-so get from there to here," which didn't trouble 
me too much.)  It is a good transition between the two larger works, and 
is written in a different style.  I almost wonder if it was written 
retroactively.

Summer Queen--The fairy tale elements take back stage to the tech in 
this volume, as the unthinkable gives rise to the next unthinkable, and 
so forth, and all come to pass before the book ends.  Incredible ending.  
Really binds you to the characters.

All three are in PAPERBACK, and you should check them out.

Literature aside, I enjoy your site thoroughly.  It's nice to see a 
professor with a cyber-geek streak like the rest of us.  Keep up the 
good stuff...

JC King
Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: rmadill@lonet.ca
Date: Sun, 02 Feb 1997 15:09:42 -0500
Subject: George R. R. Martin

Greetings.

I've been browsing through your web page lately, searching for a new
series to read that will be satisfying, and noticed that an author by
the name of George R. R. Martin wasn't listed.  In my opinion he is
worth checking out, although I think he has only written one book, which
is called "The Game of Thrones".  Now I must admit that I only bought
this book because on the front cover in big letters was the quote,
"Brilliant - Robert Jordan".  And also it won the best fantasy book of
1996.  Anyways, there is not a lot of information on this author, and he
isn't well known as of yet, but his first book was fabulous.

Also of note.  I've read some of your reviews on authors such as Tad
Williams and Melanie Rawn, and they convinced me to go back and read
through the series, which I had grown bored of after reading through the
first books.  And I thoughroughly enjoyed the series.  Thank you for
poiting out the obvious, and I also intend on going nack to Stephen R.
Donaldson's series, after reading only half of the first book.  It seems
I am a little too quick to judge.

Jeff Madill

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: docds@ix.netcom.com
Date: Tue, 03 Feb 1998 12:33:41 -0500
Subject: Lois Bujold

Hi, I just saw your review of The Vor Game.  I've read all of the
Vorkosigan books, and I encourage you to go out and find them.  The
Warrior's Apprentice is probably the one you should read first in order
to understand the rest of them.  I think there are now compilations of
the Vorkosigan books, and those might be cheaper.  They're called Young
Miles and Cordelia's Honor.
Brad Sellers
brs@neoucom.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: m reuther 
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 01:31:53 -0800
Subject: Looking for something to read?

Here's a book for you: A Fan's Notes by Frederick Exley. Great story that
captures the very heart of one man's search and ultimate rejection of the
American Dream. Using professional football as a background, Exley, a
dreamer with literary inclinations - he wants to write The Book - boozes
his way across America and through countless jobs while pursuing his own
idea of the Holy Grail. Read it, then read it again slowly and savor it
like a good wine. You won't regret it.  

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Spencer Allen 
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 19:26:51 -0600
Subject: books to read

Doug-

	well, i like your page on book reviews. you've read all the books i've
read and enjoyed and then some, for the most part. i just reada what books
you've read by harry harrison, and i wanted to recommend, if your enjoyed
his style, the West of Eden series. i haven't read his other books, so i
can't compare it to them, but the world he constructs is unbelievably
beautiful. i also had a question. i am looking for some kind of site or
group of people i can talk to aoubt writing and throw some stories and
ideas at. if you know of anyplace, i'd appreciate you response.

thanks,

Spencer Allen

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Peter Kolthof & Marjolein de Gruijter 
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 20:43:17 +0100
Subject: Recommendation?

Hi Doug, 

I stumbled across your excellent page while looking for works by Guy
Gavriel Kay and even though I don't read as much SF as you do, I
scrolled down your list. Impressive! And very nice, such a lot of effort
and with such friendly intentions too. I couldn't help but notice your
Prattchett-entry and how you wondered which books in his Discworld
series are in the top 5. Well, I have them all and although I'm not on a
par with the fanatics at alt.fan.prattchett, I do have my personal top 5.
First, read "Good Omens", written together with Neil Gaiman. It's a
hilarious story about the ending of the world (..next Saturday, in fact,
just after tea..) and the starring roles are filled by an angel and a
demon who miracurously cooperate. 
Second, try any of the following: Men at Arms, Lords and Ladies, Small
Gods, and the latest one, Hogfather. Then if you feel like reading more,
you have plenty left to choose from. 

Keep up all those nice reviews (and read Iain Banks' Complicity, it's
good!) and I'll keep visiting from time to time. 

Regards from Holland (not Michigan, but the REAL stuff!),
Marjolein de Gruijter

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: GLypHe@aol.com
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 04:08:59 -0500 (EST)
Subject: So many books!

I was just searching for books on the web when I got onto your page.  Nice
job!  Musta took a LOT of time!  Anyway, I looked through all your authors and
lots of your comments, pretty cool.  Anyways, since you said you wanted some
reading suggestions, well. . .  These are my favorites anyway, most of which
are fantasy/humor, (you've already got most of my sci-fi favorites)  No
guarantees that you'll like 'em.

Laurell K. Hamilton- Guilty Pleasures (vampire, 1st in series)
Allen L. Wold- Jewels of the Dragon (very sci-fi)
Vivian Van Velde- Dragon's Bait (More young adult, but not w/o appeal)
Joan D. Vinge- Psion (though, the second book, Catspaw, is better)
P.N. Elrod- Bloodlist (another vampire, but original)
Tanya Huff- Bloodprice (Another vampire, but all her other books are equally
good)
David Weber- Oath of Swords (a fantasy, but everything else he's done is hard
core                     .             sci-fi [Honor Harrington])
W.M. Simmons- One Foot in the Grave (ANOTHER vampire, but different, more
.             modern)
Josepha Sherman- King's Son, Magic's Son (elven/mage, follows the style of
.             Mercedes Lackey, Margaret Ball & Mark Shepherd)
Robin Hobb- Assassin's Apprentice (about an assassin, what else?)
Tamora Pierce- Alanna Series, sort of young adult, but very good
Danial Hood- Fanuilh (original)
John Dalmas- The Lion of Farside (another original, it'd take too long to
describe)
Lyn Flewelling- Luck in the Shadows (1st book of a new author, not bad)
Philip Jose Farmer- Dayworld Rebel (futuristic, he's got a lot of other books,
but I        .             only read this series)

Well, actually I could think up more, but that's a lot.  By the by, I agree
with your comments about Brooks, I mean I liked the Shannara series, but
unlike some other books, I didn't read it over and over again.  Same thing
with Eddings, I am a character person, and when the characters keep on
changing like in the Shannara series, it's a bit sad.  I really like Brust
too.  
I also noticed that you read some stuff under one author, but not others.  For
Simon Hawke, you didn't read the Wizard on 4th St series, and the Outcast
series is pretty good to.  Rober Asprin's Myth series.  Esther M. Friesner's,
well, she wrote a lot of funny stuff.  Alan Dean Foster's Flinx and Pip
series. Terry Brooks Landover series (I think that was the name.)
Anyways, if you have time to find this stuff and read it, I hope you enjoy it!
Irena

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jeff Lathan 
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 14:33:17 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Tax related political question

Doug,

I have been looking at your library page for quite some time now.  In
fact, I just checked it and read your review on the latest Clancy.  I
saw your comments on taxes, so that made me a little curious.

I checked your home page and went through some of the links you had
available in the politics area.  Namely, the gay rights discussion and
the IQ debate.  I did not read of all the texts, but I read enough to
say that you are obviously an intelligent guy that thinks things
through.

That is important because I would like to ask you about your tax
comment.  I have a few friends with, I gather (it is impossible to get
a good feel for your complete view on taxation from the brief comment
in the review), the same basic idea on taxes as yourself.  The problem
is, they cannot explain why they hold the view in any kind of
intelligent manner.

Before I bother you anymore with my question, I will tell you a little
bit about myself so that you know where I am coming from.  I am 24,
typical white surbanite kid from Mequite (right outside of Dallas).  I
have a computer science degree from Texas A&M.  As for politics...  I
believe that people are people; do not discriminate based on anything
(skin, nationality, religion, sexuality, etc).  

The kicker: I firmly believe that I should not have to pay a higher
percentage of my salary towards taxes than anyone else.  I believe that
I have no obligation to others beyond what I choose to have.

So, my question is this: Why do you believe the opposite?  There must
be good reasons that I have not heard if people I believe are
intelligent believe them.

Thanks,

jeff

## Because I occasionally review political books and my views
## tend toward the liberal side on many (but by no means all)
## issues, I occasionally get letters from conservatives asking
## me to defend or discuss my own views.  I prefer to keep 
## politics out of the book review business, but I'll answer
## the occasional letter if I have time, as below.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: ingram@procyon.tcu.edu (Doug Ingram)
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 14:34:44 -0600
Subject: Re: Tax related political question

Why do I believe in a progressive tax system?  

Well, I guess it is just my background.  I've always been taught
that those who have more of anything should be more generous.  
It's not that I believe in socialism...after all, I am a practical
person.  I just believe that asking someone who makes, say, $200K
per year to pay, say, %40 in taxes is just about as painful as
asking someone who makes $20K to pay %10 in taxes.  

To a person making $200K/year, the loss of $80K is painful, but
hey, you've still got $120K.  Of course, the argument there is
that the $200K person is being "punished" for making a lot of money,
and I can see that point.  But it isn't like the $200K person
has no incentive to work harder (the capitalist argument against
progressive taxes) because the tax rate isn't 100%.  And yes,
the $200K person is being asked for more, but I think that with
the freedoms we have in this country, a forgotten concept is that
of responsibility.  

If you make a lot of money, then I believe you have a "responsibility"
to share more of it in the form of taxes.  After all, if not for the
system we have that the $200K person took advantage of, that degree
of success might not be possible.  So I believe that those who get
the most out of our system have a responsibility to share the most.

In a much more practical sense, I know from a lot of research I've
done that the increased socioeconomic equality brought about by
progressive taxation have other great benefits, such as a reduction
in the crime rate (this is why Europe has so few problems with
widespread criminal violence like we have here).  While I'm not
willing to go as far to end the crime problem as to impose a
socialistic taxation system, I am also not willing to completely
ignore the benefits.

So there are some relatively disorganized thoughts for you to
chew on.  The justification for a progressive taxation system
seems so apparent that I'm surprised you've never heard a
believeable defense of it before.  To be sure, I am quite
familiar with the arguments for flat and regressive systems
(my father's side of the family is close to the Armeys), but
I simply don't agree with the logic and the packaging.

See ya,
Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Plastic Nuclear Ferret 
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 12:05:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: hey there

doug,

found your site, and i have to say:  keep up the good work.  i won't extoll
the virtues of what you've done, etc.  more likely than not, it's already been
said.

anyways, i noticed that you were lacking one of my favorite authors up there:
joe haldeman

haldeman wrote the forever war (his vietnam experience put into a futuristic
story) and a few other collections of novellas and other works.  he is a
techie-author, but he doesn't overwhelm one with too much information.

the three books that i would recommend for reading are:
1) dealing in futures (a collection of novellas w/a short desc of the story
behind the writing of the novella... my favorite work of his so far)

2) the forever war (classic)

3) there is no darkness (written with his son i think...)

oh, i just would like to say that i agree completely with your reviews of
Steven Brust's work.....  i hated 'to reign in hell', and 'cowboy fengs space
bar and grille' was weak, but the two series' worth of dragaerian books
rocks.  i suggest also that you read 'brokedown palace'.  this is a precursor
to even 'the phoenix guards'.

anyhoo, enjoy your reading... 8^)

later-

shane

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Subject: Octavia Butler, Diamond Age, & TWOT
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 23:25:41 -0500 (EST)

I was reading some of your reviews and thought I wopuld add my two cents.

If you get a chance you might try Octavia Butlers Exogenesis series: I am two
books into it and it is great! I previously had read her novel Patternamster
and liked it.

I like Diamond Age much more than I liked Snow Crash ( though I did like Snow
Crash fairly well.) I haven't read his new one yet. On the "cyberpunk" note
you might give Idoru (Wm. Gibson) a read if you see one at the used store. I
enjoyed it the most of his that I have read. 

On the subject of Robert Jordan: I am not a rabid fan but I have enjoyed his
Wheel of Time series, but it certainly isn't the grail. The books are fairly
derivative, though written in an engaging and page turning style and if you
felt like starting them (I only started reading them two years ago) more than
likely, judging from the books you like the best on your site, you wouldn't be
so ravenous for the eighth that you couldn't hold out for the paperback.
Please don't think I am trying to push you though just tring to give you a
more balanced look at the series. Jordan's Conan series is pretty
entertaining.

Happy reading,

Robert "SkolarBob" Wright

ps: Thomas Disch's Concentration Camp is also worth a look and pretty easy to
find in used stores. 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: William D Chernenkoff 
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 23:51:50 -0500
Subject: liked your page

i'm not much into dragons and wizards so i haven't read margret weiss's
death gate cycle

but check out her "star of the gaurdians" series

great sci-fi

reminded me of star wars!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Apintrix 
Date: Tue, 03 Mar 1998 17:55:36 -0500
Subject: web page

I just learned html and, inspired by your page, have dedicated most of mine
so far to reviewing the science fiction and fantasy books that I consider
worth consideration for whatever reason.

I hope you don't feel I'm biting off you and sue me or something, but:
1)we have different tastes,
2)I'm reviewing based on how good I think a book is, not how much I enjoyed
it,
3)we've read different books
4)you have a line on your page that suggests other people do own review
pages, which is why I figure you wouldn't mind :-) I hope?

anyway: if you wanted to check it out. I just finished my reviews last
night-ish, and now that it's done I thought I might send you the address.
Just in case you're interested.

http://pantheon.yale.edu/~ewo3/authors.html

--lizzie 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: crash 
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 23:27:28 -0800
Subject: reviews

I don't want to ream you, but I think you rating system is a little off. =
 I loved Neuromancer, it's one of my favorite books; but hey, everyone =
has their own opinion.  You gave it a 6, I personally would have gave it =
a 8.  I also noticed that you gave The first book of the Jedi Academy =
trilogy a 6.  A 6?  Come on, that whole series sucked.  How can you give =
Neromancer and Jedi Search the same rating?  That is the ultimate =
insult!  I loved Star Wars, but the Jedi series still sucked it.  The =
fact that I read the whole series is proof I'm a fan, that's dedication. =
 I don't want to take up a whole lot of space trying to prove Neromancer =
is much better than the Jedi Search.  You read both, if you couldn't =
tell the difference there is no way in hell that I could prove it to =
you.  I figured that if I pointed it out to you, you would realize they =
errors of you ways and corrected it accordingly.

   crash@aznet.net

p.s. you don't need to justify you rating of Terry Brooks, he is O.K. at =
best.  I read Sword of Shanara and I was not impressed.  As a matter of =
fact I don't see how anyone who has read a lot of good fantasy/sci-fi =
(Card, Zelazny, Tollkin, Anthony, Asimov, Wolfe) could think Brooks was =
that great.=20

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Bruce Stirling 
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 23:17:03 -0800
Subject: book review

snow in august by pete hamill

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Daniel Lundmark 
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 23:02:47 +0100
Subject: Just wanted to throw in a small thanks

Hello,

My name is Daniel Lundmark, I'm from Sweden, and I've been quite a frequent
visitor to your page from time to time. As I've just finished Riven, mostly
by my self, but still with some badly needed help from your Riven-guide, I
thought it would be approiate to take this oppertunity to thank you for your
pages.

The guides to Riven and Myst, first of all, are great. I love the way you've
made them. I usually have problems with ordinary walkthrus, as I tend to
read to much to easily. Not so with your hints. I can still play the games,
even with my lousy character. :-)

As for your book reviews page, that's even better. That was the reason I
found your page in the first place, at least I think it was. (It may have
been the Myst-guide) It's also the one of the reasons I've read Stephen
Donaldson. And THE reason I've read Hyperion (and loved it). I pretty sure I
wouldn't have read the three Star Wars books about Zahn either... Ah, let's
admit it, you've been a pretty major influence on my reading. Of course I
don't agree with all of your opinions, but how boring it would be if we all
had the same opinions, right? An example: I didn't really like the two
chronicles of Tomas Covenant that much. I think the reason is that I could
never really stand Covenant himself (and the fact that nothing good ever
happened to him), except for near the ends of the two series, which I
enjoyed. BUT, I read them two years ago, I think, and I am going to reread
them, as my english has improved quite a bit since then. I believe I may
understand Covenant better that time.

Well, I seem to be strolling from the intended path of my letter...

Let's just conclude this, and maybe I'll write another letter sometime
discussing literature, I give you a great bit thanks for helping me with
Riven, and an even greater thanks for the work you invested in your book
reviews. I've really enjoyed them.

Have a continued great time,
Daniel Lundmark.
dan.lun@swipnet.se

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Maureen O'Byrne" 
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 16:50:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Hi!

Hello 
I feel funny, being critical to someone who've I've never met you and
the first thing I tell you I how I think you should improve yourself,
ok your website, but here goes.  You forgot "A Horse and His Boy,"
under your CS Lewis section.  And that is one of my favorite Narnia
books, so you should fix that.  Just for me :)  I found your website
in a search for Ursual K. Le Guin. We have read a number of books
together by the way, I found we have simular tastes ( in the reviews ) 

Oh and not like I read a lot of Anne Rice, but she has two Vampire
books not on your list, one brand new called "Pandora" and the one
before which I can't remember the name of.  If you're interested, and
I know you're not because you would have read it by now, as it's been
out for two years, you can find it on someone's website.  Oh, it's
called Memnoch the ?Devil? (not sure about the last word in that title)

I think that you should read David Brin's "Glory Season" I have no
read anything else by him yet, but I liked that book a lot, and your
review was somewhat favorable of him, so i would recommend that one.
(Obviously you found something in his work, you've read a few of them)
 Glory Season is about a futuristic world (of course) that isnt Earth.
 It has a world wide female clone society, males have been
marginalized into strictly for 'breeding purposes and sailors.' Non
cloned women ( a neccessaty to continue the gene pool / evolution
thing going) and men are forced to eck out a living.  Doesn't require
a great leap of faith to belive that this is a world ripe for revolt. 
It isn't a sweeping "Lets change the world into a utopian paradise"
book, it is more about the protaganist's (a non - clone) loss of
innocence and grasp of the world she grew up, yet never saw.
I liked the book.
A LOT.
Not one of my favorite-all-time-books, but not bad though.  But, I
should mention this, I didnt get through it the first time.  I was
about 15 and got through the first 100 pages.  THe whole "new society
descriptions + protaganist strikes it out on her own" thinging bored
me.  Then last summer I picked it up and didnt put it down.  It is one
those 
leaves-you-with-a-"Jeez, why did this book end and WHY can't it be a
series?"-feeling.

So I hope you responed to this.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jason Swenor 
Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 21:48:32 -0500
Subject: your books

Doug,

As a fan of Julian May, Tad Williams and Guy Gavriel Kay, and from the
favourable reviews you've given these authors, I found your page very
interesting.

Intervention is actually the second series (originally published as one
book in hard cover).  The Saga of Pliocene Exile (the best of the three
series) was first and Intervention was followed by the Galactic Milieu
trilogy.

Based on our similar taste in books, I recommend Matt Ruff's
_Fool_on_the_Hill_.  I enjoyed it immensely.

Good reading, 

Jason

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Glenn OR CJ Waddell 
Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 16:20:31 -0600
Subject: Hello

Hello Doug,
  I am writing you to suggest you read (or include in your lists) a couple
more of Stephen Brust's books.
"The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars."  Very good read.  It is one of his more
unusual books, and I think it falls into the category of Love it or Hate it.
  Also, "Brokedown Palace".  It is similar to the prior mentioned book, in
that the storyline is  broken up into sections that don't feel like they
belong together (although they do in the end.)  Brokedown palace is about
the "Easterners", and is set probably in the past with respect to the Vlad
series.
  Just wanted to pass them along,
Glenn Waddell.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: BUXTONM@ohs.ocs.k12.al.us
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 09:07:22 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Robin Cook

You need to give Robin Cook another chance. "Mutation" was definitely 
not one of his best. His newest release, "Toxin", is excellent. As a 
biology teacher, I'm constantly looking for novels that I feel good 
about recommending to my students. "Toxin" deals with e-coli bacteria in
the beef industry. Let me know what you think! 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Brian Ballsun 
Date: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 12:22:42 -0700
Subject: Hi

Well taking your adivce about not preaching <> I'm humblly suggesting Wies and
Hickman's other series. There are 3 sets that I would recommend. Wies's
Star of the guardian series, very good, and actually made me feel some
emotion !!! and The Dragonlance Chronicals and Legends series. 

the DL series are sorta wierd in how you "should" read them.
If I may suggest, Read chronicles 1 2 and 3 first, then read the legends
trilogy. If you are into background about characters read _The second
generation_ (collection of short stories) eventhough it isn't that
great. Then read chron 4, which in my opinion is quite good,
<>
-Brian Ballsun-Stanton
-TAHUD To abbreviate is human, to understand, divine
denubis@loop.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Joseph Panioli 
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 11:16:07 -0400
Subject: Site

Great. I checked out your personality check AND your authors list. I =
think you could be me!
You have so many of the same authors, and seem to rate them the way I =
probably would (if I could remember). I frequently read 3 books/week (no =
wonder I can't remember!), am addicted to scifi, and in fact have a =
whole notebook of wants/reads. I haven't completely checked out a direct =
comparison, but you've missed some and I've missed some.  Will continue =
to check out your info.
One author you don't have who's one of my favorites is James P Hogan. =
You're the 2nd scifi reader whose lists I've checked out today that =
doesn't have him. Understand, I read for entertainment, not for social =
comment or significant content. I have however found many "views" in =
scifi very thought provoking. Especially in Hogan's "The Giants Novels."
Won't bother you again if you don't mail me back.

Sue Panioli

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
To: "'Doug Ingram'" 
From: Joseph Panioli 
Subject: RE: Site

The reason I first recommended the giants novels is because my son =
(almost 25) is not really an avid book reader, but he loved them and has =
recommended them to friends. I love Hogan's work and would rarely miss =
one. Check out Man, Machines and Evolution as well. Some thought =
provoking comments on various subjects. I have yet to create a =
"library". Could be a lengthy process, as my room is nearly wall-to-wall =
books. I find I have a bad habit of running into an idea an becoming =
obsessed with "I've got to find out more". Like this online thing. Just =
got my system in Feb and am not too up on things, but I guess I'm =
figuring things out. Was just getting OK on my son's old Mac LCII, too. =
But, I needed something bigger and better to satisfy my desire to work =
with NASCAR statistics, book stuff and cross-stitch needlework charts =
(all MORE of my obsessions). This was in spite of my husband's aversion =
to the electronics industry. Who knows if I'll ever accomplish anything, =
seeing as I seem to enjoy too much bugging people like you with mail =
they may not care about.
Anyway, just one other passing thought. In case you haven't, check out =
Fred's Insanity at php.iupui.edu/~mfeyerma/home.htm--I just thought it =
was one of the more interesting sites I've come across.
Sue

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: William Armstrong 
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 1998 14:18:04 -0400
Subject: A British series that MUST be read.

A few years ago I read an excellent fantasy series called "The
Chronicles of Hawklan," by British writer Roger Taylor.  While it is the
familiar story of the Dark Lord, it is told brilliantly, with some
interesting twists.  It must be read.  It is published by Headline Books
(only in paperback from what I've seen), and is composed of these
titles: "The Call of the Sword," "The Fall of Fyorlund," "The Waking of
Orthlund," and "Into Narsindal."  The Call of the Sword caught me
straight away with the Prologue, describing an ancient battle key to the
story, and culminated in the masterful Into Narsindal.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: cab 
Date: Mon, 03 Aug 1998 00:44:25 -0700
Subject: McCammon,R

I was literally shocked when I saw the review you gave to Swan Song.  I =
was first introduced to McCammon while passing the night away in a line =
waiting to purchase some Pink Floyd tickets.  Half of Swan Song was =
devoured by the time I got my tickets.  Swan Song was one of the most =
robust, real, and endeavoring books that I've ever read and certainly my =
favorite of McCammon's.  It is similar to The Stand, but it is much more =
subtle and surely its details are less corny.
I've read most of King's work as well as McCammon's.  I recommend that =
you read the rest of McCammon's writing, such as Mine (completely creepy =
and real!) and Night Boat (one of his best).
Well, that's all!
chris@woodlandwebs.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Med_Affairs 
Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 08:46:52 -0700
Subject: Swan Song

# Apparently, I have galvanized the McCammon fan club somehow.

I'm not sure when you wrote your review of Swan Song, but I have to say
that I completely disagree with you.  I found the characters in Swan
Song to be rich.  Unlike a lot of King's character's I could visualize
Sister Creep, Swan and Josh instantly.  Just because both books deal
with the impending end of civilization, doesn't mean that they aren't
both worthy of praise.  They aren't the ONLY post-A books afterall. 
Besides, while Swan Song deals with what happens when our environment is
destroyed, The Stand deals with the potential extinction of the human
race while our environment remains in tact.  I think that while the
psychic connection to Mother Abigail is spiritual (as the woman herself
is), the concept of your true self emerging, of God bringing the inner
face forward is much more powerful.   I thought the only truly
believable character in The Stand was the Trashcan Man.  His was a
psychosis too bizarre to be made up.  I found Swan Song inspired much
more hope than The Stand.  I will agree that Randall Flag was a more
imposing villain than the Laughing Man.  However, the site of Las Vegas
for the colonization of evil was cliche.  Anyway, I read both books
although I have read Swan Song several more times than The Stand only
because the characters draw me back time and time again.  It is a book I
have purchased and given away dozens of times.  I consider it a must
read.
Kris Staley, Fresno, Ca

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ivy 
Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 11:58:56 -0500
Subject: book list

You have quite an extensive list.  I would like to recommend a few more
books for you to take a look at... I noticed that you liked the Covenant
series by Stephen Donaldson (I really liked those myself, both trilogies
were good, although I found the second series really depressing, but
anyway, he wrote another book which I thought was interesting if not as
good as Covenant called "Daughter of Regals"... some other books that I
thought you might be interested in reading as well from Barbara Hambly,
she wrote a series called the Windrose Chronicles, it is a trilogy
consisting of "The Silent Tower," "The Silicon Mage," and  "Dog
Wizard".  Also I saw that you had listed the Darwath trilogy and I'm not
sure if you were aware that she added two books onto that series...
"Mother of Winter" is a good stand alone book that follows the other
three, and "Icefalcon's Quest" comes after that.  I have not read
Icefalcon's Quest, it is still in hardback form and I haven't gotten
around to it yet.  There is one more book of hers that I think you
should definately read though called "Dragonsbane"  it is a very
different type of portrayal of Dragons and fighting dragons... Another
author that I think that you might be interested in is Tad Williams, you
rated his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series, but he just started a new
series called Otherworld, the first book is "City of Golden Shadow" and
it is in paperback, the second is River of Blue Fire and that was just
released and is still in hardback.  I haven't read River of Blue Fire
yet, but I really liked the first book.  It very different from his
Memory, Sorrow and Thorn books.  Hopefully you don't think I'm being
pushy or whatever, I think you have a fabulous list, and I really like
how you have managed to rate them all.  I have a list that I am working
on of my own, but I've got so many books that I own but haven't read yet
that it's pathetic.  And I have friends that keep giving me books that
they think I NEED to read.  

Janell Wolfinger
nel@michianatoday.com

PS. I forgot there's one more series that you might find interesting by
Barbara Hambly, it's called the Unschooled Wizard series consisting of
"The Ladies of Mandrigyn", "The Witches of Wenshar" and "The Dark Hand
of Magic"  They are about this one eyed pirate type of character (not
actually a pirate, a barbarian) who is thrust into all kinds of
mischief... and each book ends with him saving the town and then being
banished from that town. 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Ronnald Stovall 
Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 15:03:57 +0500
Subject: other authors

Doug

Just spent about 4 hours reading your reviews of authors/books.  Like to
recommend Patricia
A. McKillip's "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" to you.  Good read.
  I think you are way off the mark on Guy Gavriel Kay...I have been
reading anything I can
get my hands on for 20 years and believe he is the quintessential author
of any time.  I've never read anything, by anyone in any genre that has
moved me like his works have.  The exception being, I thought the "Lions
of Al Rassan" was boring, dry and shallow when compared to the
"Finovar Tapestry" , "Tigana" and "Song for  Arbonne"...  also, I
thought Stephen R. Donaldson was just great, too, ...until I found Kay.
Anyhoo, just giving you my humble opine.
     Great website, btw.  Keep up the good work.  Would love to have you
see my own hardback collection sometime.
     Best regards

Stacy Jackson
onesunnygal@yahoo.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Smudgeco@aol.com
Date: Sun, 09 Aug 1998 22:59:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Star Wars Books

I found your Library in a search for Star Wars books.  I have recently gotten
addicted to the series, and while reading the first in the Jedi Academy
series, Jedi Search, I read about the resurrection of the Emperor, and Luke's
experience of going to the Dark Side.  Was there a book written about this?
If not, there should've been.  It's not nice to tease avid SF readers.  If
there was a book about this, do you know the title?  I've read all the books
up to the last Jedi Academy book, Champions of the Force, which I am finishing
up tonight.  I haven't read the four X-Wing books yet.  I'm trying to follow
in chronological order, so I won't miss some background stuff.

There's supposed to be a website for some of this stuff, I saw it on the back
of the latest book.  It has the words bantam/spectra in the address, but I've
forgotten the rest.  Any you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you. 
Steve Bryan

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Philip J. Thoennes" 
Date: Sun, 09 Aug 1998 22:19:52 -0700
Subject: The Sword of Maiden's Tears

The last book suggestion I gave you was Agyar.  Glad you liked it.

The Sword of Maiden's Tears by Rosemary Edghill has been really
interesting.

Take one elf, dump in NYC, and add a man-eating monster that only the
Elf can kill.

The part that makes this book any good is the folks who get involved
with the Elf.  Most think his story is complete bunk except the girl who
falls in love with him.

The book does have a large number of gramatical erros, which is strange,
even if it is her first book.

It may not be a great book, but I enjoyed it and plan on buying the
sequels of which there are two.

Actually, this isn't that great a book, it is ok, and even somewhat
interesting, but doesn't rate very high.  However, I do have a book that
isn't on your list that rates very  high on my own scale.  "Swordspoint"
by Ellen Kushner (I think that is the authors name.)  While Brust is my
favorite author, and the Wheel of Time is my favorite series,
Swordspoint is my favorite book.

It takes the political intrigue that is found in the "Hawk and Fisher"
series by another author and refines it with excellent characters,
descriptions, and plots.  All in all, a book I can and do in fact read
time and time again.

And no I did not get that blurb off of a dust cover. ;)

Philip J. Thoennes

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: RICHARD BROWN 
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 23:50:02 -0400
Subject: Guy Gavriel Kay and your reading habits

Honey, I read your book report of Guy and your summary of the Lions was
frankly a little dismaying. If you didn't pick up on the religious
nuances of the book, maybe you haven't read it as carefully as you
should have. Don't miss out on all the juicy details and parallels to
his literature. Its all really quite fulfilling.
    Also your choice of literature matches that of every boy I've ever
dated. Frightening, but not all in bad taste. Though Donaldson I could
do without.

# Sometimes I just HAVE to respond...

From d_ingram Mon Aug 17 07:34:51 1998
Subject: Re:  Guy Gavriel Kay and your reading habits

Thanks for the comments.  Regarding your comments about "religious
nuances" in Lions and me not reading the book as "carefully as I
should have":  Please, you're taking my reviews *WAY* too seriously!
As for guys you've dated, I guess you should look on the bright side.
At least they *read*.  

Doug

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Lara Langeneckert 
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 16:46:58 -0500
Subject: hi (again)

I sent you mail during the period where you deleted the file, so I
thought I'd resend it just in case you hadn't read it.

I read one Steven Brust work you haven't mentioned on your page:  "The
Sun, the Moon, and the Stars."  I really enjoyed it.  It's a part of
Terri Windling's Faerie Tale Series, which consists of adult retellings
of classic fairy tales.

Recently, during a trip to Florida, I read Kara Dalkey's "Goa" and
"Bijapur" which are the first two books in a trilogy.  Don't read them
yet, since the third one's not even out in hardcover yet, but they were
great.  Incidentally, Brust and Dalkey were part of the Scribblies, a
writers group in Minneapolis that also included Pamela Dean (my personal
favorite author), Will Shetterly, and Emma Bull.  (But then you probably
already knew that.)

Thanks, and I hope to hear what you think of any of these.

Langley

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Erskin Tallent 
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 09:31:07 -0400
Subject: Clarke fan.

I was just looking at your list of Arthur C. Clarke books that you have
read and I have a few others I would like to suggest.  First is "The
Songs of Distant Earth" 1986 release.  Also I think you would enjoy two
other books, one by Clarke and the other by Clarke and Gregory Benford.
The first one is "Against the Fall of Night" and the other co-author
book "Beyond the Fall of Night."  These books deal with the evolution of
mankind, and I think they are very well written and thought provoking. 
On another note.  I began reading Clarke after taking a Philosophy
course in college and reading "Childhoods End."  I have been hooked on
him ever since.  I hope you read and enjoy these books.

Erskin Tallent

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Geil, Craig" 
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 15:33:21 -0500
Subject: hi

Hi Doug,

I got a little bored at work and started on a quest to find a good
sci-fi book since I've run dry with all the authors I normally read. You
have a really great web page, very informative. It looks like your a big
Dan Simmons fan so I'm gonna give Hyperion a try. Amazon.com has tons of
great reviews on it too. Thanks for the tip :)

Craig

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: jkc 
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 03:12:54 -0400
Subject: some comments

I like to thank you for doing this sight, it was getting hard to find a
good sff books until i found this sight. And i totally agree with you
about the Thomas Convenent series, but i would have gave the Gap series
little higher grade. For my recommendation,  some comedy fantasy try
Foster's Spellsinger Series, one of the funniest fantasy i read, Mudge
the otter kills me. I read it ten years ago, but i think it's still
good. I would recommend more books, but you already read it, and i can't
remember some of it.  And Thanks again for all your recommenation. Keep
up the good work.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: nightstryke@juno.com (Brandon C Wu)
Date: Wed, 02 Sep 1998 23:28:17 -0400
Subject: Intrepid

Hello again -

I visited your page today for the first time in a while.  Thanks for
putting up my letter.  I had forgotten writing half the stuff I said in
there.  I have some updates: first and foremost, when I wrote I was
reading the Covenant series; well, I finished both Covenant trilogies a
while ago and absolutely loved them.  Amazing imagination and emotional
impact, and to me the writing never got in the way.  I also wrote about
George R.R. Martin and recommended a few works by him.  Now, after having
read almost everything the man has written, I'll have to put forth the
recommendation again.  Not for anything specific, just something by him. 
I'll say no more.  :)

I noticed you're reading the Coldfire Trilogy now, and in a flash of
egotism wondered if that was perhaps inspired by the review in the copy
of _Intrepid_ I sent along to you.  What do you think of it, anyway?  I'm
not sure how many people really want to read our opinions, but we're
having a lot of fun putting it together so we aren't going to stop
anytime soon.  :)  Thanks for letting me use your review, by the way.

Well, that's all I wanted to say.  Take care.

Best regards,
Brandon Wu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: apintrix 
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 01:03:53 -0400
Subject: links links links

I have a review page at http://pantheon.yale.edu/~ewo3/authors.html , want
to cross link?
Another good review page is "seized by the tale", it's linked to on my
authors page.

I can't remember if I've told you this:

I really think you've missed a lot of the good points about LeGuin's
Earthsea books.  While I found Tehanu a little overpoliticized, I enjoyed
the fact that bad stuff happens to the characters which does not happen to
your everyday fantasy characters: a woman grows old without realizing her
potential, people are ignorant and malicious and don't face retribution or
education, heros are forced out of the limelight.  The result may strike
some as a cop-out-- there's not much entertainment in the bleak reality of
life-- but it took courage, I think, to attempt to write a novel in the
fantasy genre which would be no-one's fantasy.
But Tehanu wasn't my favorite earthsea book, and I think there's stuff
you've overlooked in the others.
From reading your long donaldson review, I can see that you're a man who
appreciates the finer points of theme, and are not just reading for cheap
thrills.  Although I like a thrill as much as the next person mind you.  ;-)
The thematic content of the first two books of earthsea is tremendous; what
leguin does in "a wizard" is write a novel in a western canon (the coming
of age story) that is largely based on the eastern philosophy of Lao Tsu's
Tao te Ching.  It's an amazing accomplishment, resulting in an uncommon
quest: it has all the western elements that have become cliche with the
proliferation of epic fantasy, but in an eastern context.  It is acceptance
of the dark side rather than defeat of it; when Ged in traditional coming
of age fashion meets the enemy, he does not destroy evil, but becomes one
with it-- and the doing so is right.  It is also a perfect quest, because
doesn't it seem that the point of all these coming of age quest novels is
always for Mr. Protagonist to discover that the greatest thing he's
accomplished is the questing, not its goal?  In Ged's case, his questing
itself teaches him the aim of his journey, unifying the seeking with the
finding.  But enough: on to "atuan".
In "atuan", the polarity is reversed: where Ged is light that becomes
unified with darkness, Arha is darkness that must be filled with light, by
him, almost sexually.  It's a rather traditional view of femininity, but no
less valid, and the imagery of darkness, emptiness, etc. fills the book and
is one with the ideas of womanhood as yin: most spectacularly, as the
undertomb forbidden to men is the womb from which Tenar is born of Arha and
can enter the human world of wholeness.  In this book the connections of
sex to yin/yang are subtext, and the polarity of light/dark is more clearly
seen than in "wizard", which dealt more with unifying west/east.
As for "farthest", I've never been able to understand what LeGuin's subtext
is; I suspect that it's about aging, and I suspect that when I get older
I'll understand it: I'm too young.  I'm not worthy.  ;-) All I know is that
when I was a child, I hated the book, and found it depressing... but the
more I read it, and the older I got, the more I appreciated its beauty, far
greater sadder than the overtly thematic previous novels.  Ged after his
sacrifice reminds me of the fisher king story: the "grail" has healed the
king by delivering him to death, and the new generation (arren; also the
living in general) assumes kingship.  (this is not the Arthurian fisher
king, but the older greek celestial hercules figure from which that story
evolved).  Ged himself is the grail now drained, which no-one thinks of after.

well I hope I've convinced you to give the books a second reading, at
least; they're the kind of thing that improves with repetition.

BTW, you really should try "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", it's
beautiful, has a plot, and is by Dick.  Also "Valis" because of the
interesting narrative technique.  (same author)

lizzie

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: John Gewin 
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 19:37:54 -0500
Subject: good reading guide and some recs

Doug,

Love your page. I think I've spent hours reading it and look forward to
reading some more Brust and others soon.

Anyway, in case you haven't already found it, The Good Reading Guide has
been redone in HTML and is at
http://skogsviol.ce.chalmers.se/SF_archive/SFguide/ The site seems pretty
erratic though, and I have gone weeks without being able to get on it.

It (and your page) have inspired me to create my own at
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/8791/ About 3/4 of the way done now.
If you get bored some time...

Some quick recommendations-

The Winter of the World series by Michael Scott Rohan is my favorite
fantasy. It's your basic "stable boy becomes powerful" tale at its core, but
it throws in mythological and prehistorical elements. These, combined with a
detachment from the characters (like Earthsea), really made the thing seem
like the retelling of a legend. And as legends contain elements of truth, it
actually seemed somewhat realistic to me. Hard to explain as I read it a
couple of years ago, and my copy isn't around here.

The Seventh Sword series by Dave Duncan, in particular the first book, was
very entertaining. Covers some of the same ground as Covenant (although it
doesn't have the same "literary" weight).

Treason by Card. Sometimes I think it's better than Ender's Game.

Honor Harrington is great, mindless, formulaic action.

Gateway is one of my favorites.
The Diamond Age is like Snow Crash, but better.
I bet most of these are already on your reading list. I think I have more
books _to read_ than I've actually read. Oh, well. I'll catch up after I
retire in like 30 years or so.

Again, thanks for the great page.
-------------------------------
John Gewin
jgewin@ibm.net

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Default 
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 15:22:37 -0400
Subject: a list

Just happened upon your site while preparing a research exercise for my
new Eng. Comp. students.  I'll have them read your brief review of
"Black Like Me."  I have a Library Committee meeting, so I won't be able
to explore your site immediately, but I do want to ask whether you've
ever seen the paperback called "The College and Adult Reading List."
I'm going to check while at the library for this meeting to see if it is
still in print.  Ciao.  Dan Gribbin.  Ferrum College.  Ferrum Virginia.
dgribbin@ferrum.edu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: olivier@disquette-et-mat.com (Disquette et Mat - Olivier)
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 22:25:08 +0200
Subject: Hi, from France...

Hi there !

Being  a  Donaldson fan, I ran a search on Altavista, and I found your
Donaldson-related  page.  Well  I  could  say  you're not the only one
bearing   The   Unbeliever   as  your  personal  cross...  I've  been
recommending that to everybody for almost ten years, without success.

Well, that may be because all my pals read french, and the translation
is  not  so  good.  The  Unbeliever  was  even  my main motivation for
learning  english  :  I  thought  at the time that that book HAD to be
better than what I was reading.

Well, I was right. :)))

I LOVED the Gap series. Do you know by any chance what comes next ?
Better yet, do you happen to know Donaldson's e-mail ?

And thanks for your page. ANd the whole library, as a matter of fact

Olivier

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Chris 
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 15:50:30 -0500
Subject: Anne Rice

Just writting to let you know that there is an error on your page for Anne
Rice.  You have "The Mummy" listed as part of the Vampire Chronicles when
it is in fact a stand alone novel that has nothing to do with the vampire
series.

A quick reading sugestion: read the Dark Tower series by King.  I know you
don't read a series until it is finished but by King's own admition he may
never finish.  At the very least you should read "The Gunslinger" which in
my opinion is his best novel (and i've read them all).  It works well as a
stand alone novel so you can read it without being completely sucked into
the series.  The books combine all the best elements of King and will, I
think, be remebered as his greatest achievement.
	Great site.

Chris

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Subject: Simon Hawke
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 14:06:36 -0400 (EDT)

I just thought I would write to you about the latest info on Simon Hawke. He
now teaches at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, NC. I am one
of his students. He is currently working on a new screenplay that has already
opened many ears and eyes. I thought you might want an update.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Subject: Thanks
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 21:12:13 -0400 (EDT)

Dear Mr. Ingram:

Thanks for the review page.  You must read books 24 hours a day.

I'm sure you have a recommended reading list a mile long, but being an
SF fan, I'd like to add a few more to your list:

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Gateway by Frederick Pohl

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem

I wouldn't put any of these in the top 10 best SF, but at least in the top
100.

William F Buckley has written some fascninating books on sailing the Atlantic.
He's written about 4 or 5, of which I've read Windfall and Cruising.  And he
doesn't talk politics.  You might give one a try.
Thanks again for the reviews.
        ~SF FAN~

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Seth Armstrong 
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 14:16:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: books

The Chronicles of Hawklan, Roger Taylor (series includes: "The Call of 
the Sword", "The Fall of Fyorlund", "The Waking of Orthlund", and "Into 
Narsindal").  I enjoyed them very much.  They are, of course, influenced 
largely by Tolkien (but it is not so blatant as some); while it owes him 
a great deal, it is still highly original.  And it has all been out for 
several years now.

Fire From Heaven, Mary Renault.
You _might_ not be into this one, but I enjoyed it immensely.  It is a 
story about Alexander the Great's life from boyhood to his accession. It 
is a part of a trilogy, but can stand on its own.  The other two, "The 
Persian Boy" and "Funeral Games" are also very good, although the last 
is of the events after his death, when his successors fought over his 
empire.
If you are into that kind of thing, you should also check out her 
biography of him, "The Nature of Alexander", which is not as dry as most 
works on the subject; while scholarly, it is also entertaining.

"The Chrysalids", by John Wyndham.  I hated it when I was forced to read 
it in high school, but re-read it later and loved it.  The run-down 
sounds cheesy (its about telepathy in a post-apocalyptic world) but the 
way it is written makes it worthwhile.

"Legends of the Fall", by Jim Harrison, I loved.  If you didn't like the 
movie, that's okay, because the story (it is a novella, published along 
with two others) is superior.

"Lion of Ireland" and "Druids", by Morgan Llywelyn.  Both are basically 
"historical fantasy".  "Lion of Ireland" is about the semi-legendary 
Irish High King (d.1014 A.D.) Brian Boru and his war to drive the Norse 
out of Ireland (which he did) and his attempts to unify the country 
(where he failed).  It is very good, and has some decent battles.
"Druids" is in many ways more fantasy than history.  It takes the 
legends of the druids and their abilities as fact.  It is set in the 
times before, during, and after the conquest of Gaul by Caesar.

"The Iliad", trans. Robert Fagles.  Now, I know what you're probably 
thinking. But it's not the dull read that it sounds.  It has some of the 
bloodiest, most gruesome battle scenes ever - particularly in book 20, 
when Achilles fights.  But don't bother with anything but the Robert 
Fagles translation.

Those are some of the ones I've most enjoyed.  If you end up taking a 
look, I don't think you'll be sorry.  Well, see ya.

Seth Armstrong

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Cateline de la Mer 
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 13:11:05 -0700

Good Sir,

If you would be so kind as to make mention of my Guy Gavriel Kay fan
mailing list (tigana@onelist.com, subscribe at www.onelist.com), I would
really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Cat

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Claire Wells 
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 1998 16:54:26 -0500
Subject: Vampire$

Hi Doug, the most esteemed review man --

John Carpenter's Vampires, a film coming Oct. 30 to a theater near you,
is based on _Vampire$_.  Stars James Woods.  Sounds like it could be
intereresting :-)

Hope you're having a great year.

Claire

## After seeing it, I was unimpressed.  The book is much better.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Gavrielle Perry 
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 05:42:59 +1300
Subject: Gap Review

Doug,

I note that you have commented that my review of Stephen Donaldson's Gap
Sequence has vanished.  Its new address is
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/road/adc95/Gap.htm

Thanks,

Gavrielle

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Scott Ferris 
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 13:08:46 -0500
Subject: many thanks

After having read everything by every fantasy author that I like and not
finding much good that was new - I stumbled
across your website in search of some recommendations about some good
new authors.  I decided to give
Glen Cook a try and picked up The Black Company at a used book store.
Amazing!!!  I have not read anything
this amazing for years.

A recommendation of my own - read Tom Dietz.  He's a little hard to find
and not well known but in my opinion
he is the best author out there.  He writes fantasy that crosses the
boundary's between our world and that of
Celtic mythology.  Simply the best.

My opinion - Don't ever waste your time with Jordan - literary crap.  Of
course that's just my opinion.

Scott

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: STEPHEN LONG 
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 22:56:29 +0000
Subject: Tigana

Dear Doug

How can you compare the Al Rassan to the masterpiece that is Tigana. It =
is multi-layered with an effective tie in to the Tapestry with its very =
own incestuous lurve triangle. Al Rassan didn't keep me enthralled in =
the same manner, and whilst I agree that the Tapestry is a touch roughly =
hewn, the character development is superb. One of my friends is still =
madly in love with Diar after all these years......

jenny

P.S. Steve wishes to say that..."I've tried to replace the Kindath with =
my favourite historically persecuted group of people but it doesn't seem =
to work with Tottenham Hotspur fans........."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Lesley Dale 
Date: Sat, 07 Nov 1998 21:27:44 +0000
Subject: your library

Dear Doug,
             Found your pages by accident tonight . I was just surfing
looking at stuff on some of my favourite authors. I love your pages but
I wondered...
              You don't list either the Sparhawk novels by David Eddings
or any of Anne McCaffrey's work apart from the Dragons of Pern saga.
Have you read anything else she's written?
            I love Eddings but to my way of thinking the Sparhawk novels
are better than the Belgariad and the Mallorean. The humour is more
subtle some how. Anyway thanks for an entertaining set of pages. Hope
you don't mind the questions.
                                Lesley. (My chat name is Lady Kylara by
the way. I guess you'll recognise that and it'll probably tell you what
I think of the Pern novels)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Jason Fleshman 
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:32:33 -0500
Subject: "Doug's Library": One more Ron Luciano book

In 1988 Luciano (and David Fisher) published "Remembrance of Swings
Past" (Bantam Books).  "Remembrance" is more about the changes in
baseball over the years than Luciano's time as an umpire in the AL.
"The Fall of the Roman Umpire" (if you still haven't read it yet it's
pretty good BTW) is a collection of mini-autobiographies of lesser-known
players prefaced by the third half of Luciano's autobiography.

In case you're curious I found your page when, for a class on American
sports, I was assigned to do a book review of a book on sports history.
I needed to include information about the author but the book jacket
didn't include when Luciano died.  Your page was the first good match in
a Yahoo! search.

--Jason

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Date: Tue, 01 Dec 1998 22:34:13 -0500 (EST)
From: SteRens@aol.com
Subject: what to read

Just thought i would recommend a very good sci-fi book called "The Reality
Disfunction" by Peter F. Hamilton.  It has a massive plot thousands of pages
and is without doubt one of the best science fiction books i have read ranking
just ahead of Dune in my opinion.
Unfortunately it is a trilogy and the final part comes out in hardback
sometime in 99 or 2000.  But it is well worth the wait and i recommend you
read it as soon as possible.
yours sincerely  Steve

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Date: Tue, 08 Dec 1998 14:20:50 -0500 (EST)
From: GeoMetroid@aol.com
Subject: Reading suggestions

Doug,

         Great site,  Read Clive Barker: Weaveworld, the two books of the Art
and (drumroll please)  Imajica, completely and especially Imajica. Imajica is,
IMO, one of the best books ever written.
                                                         GeoMetroid@AOL.com

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Scott Ferris 
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 07:15:01 -0500
Subject: feedback

It seems like everytime I go to your site I find something new - still
one of the best sites on the Internet.
Well, I took some of your reviews and went out and bought some books
with mixed results.

1.) Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionovar Tapestry - Flew through the first book
and was very impressed due mainly to the story line.  Plodded through
the second book hoping that I would enjoy it as much as the first.  And
then on the 3rd book I did something that I have never done before - I
threw it out.  I tried on 4 separate occasions to read it and just could
never finish it.  And then I realized why I thought it was crap, yes he
has a wonderful writing style BUT I didn't care about the characters at
all and to me that means everything - anyway.

2.) The Black Company - Amazing, simple as that.

A few recommendations for you...

Anything by Tom Dietz - a little hard to find but well worth it.
Richard Adams - Plague Dogs (not fantasy or sci fi but amazing
nontheless)
Myst - Book of Tiana (of something like that), it was bought for me as a
present and I put off reading it for a year because I thought I wouldn't
like it.  I was impressed, very creative storyline and characters that
are well defined AND I was made to care about them
Starship Troopers - I couldn't remember if you have read this but very
cool book, a little corny at times but good for a few hours
entertainment and thought provoking reading.

Great Site
Keep up the great work, I still haven't seen anything on the web that
compares to your site.

Scott Ferris

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From: "CJAM 91.5 FM" 
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 14:31:08 -0500
Subject: review of the man in the high castle

I must respectfully disagree with your review of Dick's novel. It is
in the minutiae of life that has depth and meaning. By focusing on such
"minor concerns" as you call them, Dick is able to create convincing
three dimensional characters that the reader can relate to. This is why,
beyond the strange and almost surreal settings, that Dick is so highly
regarded by literary critics; his novels and short stories have
something that most science fiction lacks, convincing characters that
change and develop. I find it unfortunate that the day to day concerns
of the characters seems to be so ephemeral to you. It seems that you are
more concerned with the grander scope of things. I cannot deny you this
preference but I wonder about all the individuals living now, going
about their lives, and how these details will be swept under the carpet
by historians and writers and documentarians interested in "the big
picture".
	I would say that if this was your take on "The Man in the High Castle"
then you will probably not be impressed by his other novels as the style
of character and plot development does not change. Indeed, many people
consider "The Man in the high Castle" to be one of Dick's
greates novel. Indeed, it won the Hugo award for best novel, the year it
was published. If I were to recommend further readings, "A Scanner
Darkly", "The Martian Time-Slip", "Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep?", "The Penultimate Truth", "Flow My Tears The Policeman Said", 
"The Zap Gun", "The Three Stigmata Of Palmer Eldritch", and "A Maze of
Death". Of course you will hardly ever find Dick books in used
bookstores because people keep his books, they don't trade 'em in. Also,
if one is so fortunate as to discover a Dick book in a used bookstore,
it is immediately purchased by some lucky literati. Peace unto thou. 

				Sincerely,
				Christien Gagnier
				mailto:gagnie5@uwindsor.ca

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From: LUCIAramos@webtv.net (Lucia Ramos)
Subject: GOOD CHOICE IN READING

I'VE TRIED TO GET INTO THE DARK TOWER SERIES BUT I FELT LIKE THAT 16
YEAR OLD KID (EVEN THOUGH I'M A SK FAN) IS IT REALLY WORTH THE READ??
ALSO, IN YOUR SELECTION OF BOOKS, TRY PHILIP DICK BOOK VERSION OF "BLADE
RUNNER" VERY INTERESTING. ALSO, THE "HANDSMAID TALE"  ALSO, WOULD YOU
SAY THAT SK'S "EYE OF THE DRAGON" INTRODUCES RANDALL FLAGG??  FINALLY,
LAST BUT NOT LEAST I STRONGLY RECOMMED  ARTHUR MILLER'S "THE CRUCIBLE"
AND THE  "I CLAUDIUS SERIES."       

## I ask myself:  "Would I listen to a 14-year-old me?"  Naaah.

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From: Kasper Grosman Michelsen 
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 00:57:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Reviews

Dear Doug.

At first, I'd like to tell you, that I think you've done a great work by 
placing all those reviews on the internet; it's a great idea (well, I 
know that my english isn't perfect, but I hope you'll understand what 
I'm writing (I'm danish)).
   I read your comment on the David Eddings novels in The Belgariad and 
The Malloreon, and I'd like to tell you, that as you sead, to less 
experienced readers, these books are quite good. I guess that I'm not a 
very experienced fantasy-reader, but I've read quite many books, and I 
like David Eddings very much (because I find him very funny). I haven't 
read the Malloreon yet (I'll have it as a christmas present, I hope) but 
I found the Belgariad very entertaining.
   Now, my point is, that if you read the prequels, Belgarad the 
Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress, it makes the other books much more 
interesting (at my opinion). I think they (the prequels) are very good, 
and I'd like to hear your opinion on them (when I read reviews, I like 
to read about some books that I know, so it is possible to compare).

By the way, I think Eddings' new books, The Elinium (3 books) and The 
Tamuli (3 more), are much better than his old ones.

I hope I haven't bothered you, Kasper Michelsen (kaspergm@hotmail.com)

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From: Nancy /Bill Kreml 
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 00:20:50 -0500
Subject: Good Books

Well, I suppose everyone has already recommended these, but they're stil
really worth reading.  I'd be interested in your views:

Series by Kim Stanley Robinson:

Red Mars
Green Mars
Blue Mars

also by KSR:

Antarctica

Two novels, not a series, but I can't remember the author's name. Easy to find:

Snow Crash
Diamond Age

## These are by Neal Stephenson.  I've read the first of the two.

Good book, but not speculative/fantasy:

by Barbara Kingsolver--

The Poisonwood Bible

Thanks for reviews and MYST hints. I like your restraint.

Nancy Kreml

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From: intrepidmag@juno.com (Brandon C Wu)

Hello -

Hopefully you recall who this is.  Well, you've done it again - one of
your reviews will appear in the second issue of Intrepid magazine, which
should be coming out in a week or so.  I'll send a complimentary copy
your way as soon as the issue is available.  Thanks, and I hope you
enjoyed the first one!

The piece of yours which will appear in issue #2 is the review of
"Replay" by Ken Grimwood.

Best regards,
Brandon Wu

-----
Intrepid * Amateur Journal of Science Fiction & Fantasy
Tough reviews * Insightful essays * Entertaining rants
* editor/publisher Brandon Wu * intrepidmag@juno.com *
www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/2064/intrepid.html