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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I read "New Sun" first. I came away from it
convinced that Wolfe was a phenominal creator of worlds but only a so-so writer.
I thought that because:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. Wolfe failed to make clear and/or resolve key
plot elements by the end of the book.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Wolfe would go into great detail describing
something Severian's childhood relationship with a dog or enjoying quiet-time in
a mausoleum and then relate the death of the alzabo in a single
sentence.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now, of course, I realize these complaints are like
criticizing Rock&Roll music because "it could lead to dancing". The next
Wolfe story I read was "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" and suddenly I "got it". At
that point I began telling people that Wolfe was THE finest science fiction
writer period.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So I don't know where to start with Wolfe.
Probably, a recommendation from a someone you trust is the best introduction to
Wolfe.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>J</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=hammstu@sbcglobal.net href="mailto:hammstu@sbcglobal.net">Stuart
Hamm</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=urth@lists.urth.net
href="mailto:urth@lists.urth.net">The Urth Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, June 14, 2007 6:05
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> (urth) A Question</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Hey Evryone,I have a question for you all...</DIV>
<DIV>I have a couple of good friends I want to turn on to GW, what is a good
strting point? Don't want to scare them off to soon...</DIV>
<DIV>I'm thinking "Strang Travelers" or "The ISland..." ,or should I just give
them Shadow and Claw and be done with it???</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Stuart<BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>