Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 15:24:40 -0500
From: Ted White <tedwhite at compusnet.com>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: reading likes and dislikes
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Steve Smith wrote:

> Candy Madigan wrote:
> >
> > At 06:37 AM 03/26/2002 -0800, you wrote:
> > >I'm afraid I fall into Candy's camp where Bester is
> > >concerned.  I've enjoyed some of his short fiction,
> > >but The Stars My Destination really didn't do anything
> > >for me.  I think perhaps my expectations were too
> > >high, since everyone kept telling me what a
> > >masterpiece it was. don't think I hated it quite as
> > >much as Candy though.
> >
> > And actually, my dislike of TSMD grew gradually.  I actively disliked the
> > book the first time I read it, but it didn't stand out in my memory enough
> > for me to remember it the next time I read it, or the next time, or the
> > next time...  I finally memorized the author and title so as *not* to read
> > it again.  So I class it in the "never read" category and suspect that my
> > hatred for it would be less if I hadn't accidentally read it over and over
> > and over.
>
> Warning -- TSMD is easily the best thing that Bester did.  In
> particular, don't read "Golem<sup>100</sup>".  (Doncha just love authors
> who insist on funny typography?)

I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned THE DEMOLISHED MAN -- which I greatly
prefered to THE STARS MY DESTINATION back when I read them both in the '50s.

--Ted White