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From: allison@mitre.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: What should be your FIRST sf book ???
Message-ID: <3538@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Thu, 5-Sep-85 13:40:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.3538
Posted: Thu Sep  5 13:40:36 1985
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Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: Burgess Allison <allison@mitre.ARPA>

Particularly for would-be newcomers who are pre-disposed against BEMs,
Wierd Science, and stream-of-bizarre-consciousness writing styles,
I strongly suggest "The Stainless Steel Rat."
    
A good read, well-written, starts fast, has a plot, and doesn't dwell
on the bizarre or arcane.  Harry Harrison could have just as easily
written Slippery Jim into a completely different setting and it still
would have been a good book.  The SF setting enhances the story, and
sparks the reader's imagination to go beyond what's written on the
printed pages.
    
That's my vote for best-in-an-introductory-role.
    
Burgess Allison                                           <allison@mitre>