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

referencing your page http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/authors.html,

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.