(urth) Free Live Free Two texts

[Antonin Scriabin]

I just finished the 1984 version, and can't imagine doing without 4000
words. I haven't read the Tor version. I would say have the best of both
worlds; read the longer version with the benefit of the chronology when you
need it. It was fantastic by the way, one of my favorite of his stand
alones.
On May 10, 2014 1:41 AM, "Austin Hackett" <austin.hackett at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, new member here. I joined up to find out which version of *Free Live
> Free* is preferable to read?
>
> I haven't read *Free Live Free* but plan on doing so soon. It just so
> happens I have both the 1984 Mark V. Ziesing small press edition and the
> standard 1986 Tor mass market version on my shelf. Several places online
> say the Tor is shorter by about 4000 words. I also notice that it contains
> a chronology (which, it says, was requested by the publisher) and the title
> of the first chapter is different. The order of some parts may also be
> different between the two versions according to vague reports.
>
> Does the Tor edition represent an editorially truncated text or the
> author's final revisions? Some might think "longer = better" but I don't
> want to assume anything. Maybe Wolfe shortened the book at the behest of
> the publisher, but he may have just revised it for his own artistic
> purposes. Even if the cuts were mandated, he may have taken the opportunity
> to make different changes as well. And none of these factors actually
> determine which version is *better*.
>
> So has anyone read both, or at least knows a little about the backstory? I
> can't find any info online.
>
> Thanks!
>
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