<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2873" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>Since the group's attention seems to have turned to debating "bad fantasy
writing", may I be allowed to comment on my current attempts to read the "Bold
As Love" series by Gwyneth Jones.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have long admired Ms. Jones, both as a a sci fi writer and a
critic. Her first sci fi book "Divine Endevour" was a perfect little
gem. A view of a post-holocaust future, interestingly set in a future
Malaysian penninsula. And her collection of essays, "Deconstructing The
Starships" seems to me, to be the very best critical work on sci fi I've ever
encountered, pace Kingley Amis and John Clute.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So I've been looking forward to reading "Bold As Love" and am now. sorely
disappointed. The crisp intelligence of her previous work as disappeared,
lost in a squlid attempt to elevate rock and roll to a potent magical
force. Don't get me wrong, I'll read the entire four books of the "Bold As
Love" series, but I am SO weary and disappointed. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks to all of you, I hope this isn't too "off-topic"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Pip</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>