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From: brust@hyper.UUCP (Steven Brust)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers,net.books
Subject: Re: THE DRAGON WAITING
Message-ID: <167@hyper.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Apr-85 11:26:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: hyper.167
Posted: Fri Apr 26 11:26:56 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-May-85 03:12:20 EDT
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> 
> ...............................................................  Ford
> is a *very* precise, able, and efficient writer, one of the best
> wordsmiths I've ever read.  He tends to write just enough to create the
> effect he's after -- and no more.  He also tends to give the readers
> just enough information to figure out what's going on and why -- and no
> more.  This kind of precision in writing is very difficult to pull off
> because if the writer miscalculates, he can leave the reader very
> confused.  On the other hand, if he does things just right, he can
> leave the reader with an amazing sense of completion when the focal idea
> of the entire novel makes itself clearer and clearer as the last few
> chapter slowly unfold.  In THE DRAGON WAITING, Ford does it just right.
> 
> 	Ray Chen
> 	princeton!tilt!chenr

I completely agree with you on all points.  The thing about Ford is that,
in most cases, one must read him twice to fully understand what is going
on.  Usually, I'm tempted to call this a weakness.  In the case of writers
like Ford and Gene Wolfe, its okay, because there is so much in the book
to enjoy even when the plot isn't fully clear, and because rereading them
is such a pleasure.
				-- SKZB