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
Subject: http www.astro.washington.edu /ingram/mail/letter.bp1

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

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
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

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.