Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!ucbvax!ucdavis!lll-crg!gymble!umcp-cs!seismo!columbia!topaz!cracraft From: cracraft@isi-vaxa.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: SF-LOVERS Digest V10 #361 Message-ID: <3659@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Sat, 14-Sep-85 13:28:58 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.3659 Posted: Sat Sep 14 13:28:58 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 17-Sep-85 05:29:52 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 32 From: Stuart Cracraft Regarding DHALGREN by Delaney... I think the book is total garbage. I stopped less than half-way because I couldn't stomach 1) the boredom 2) the verbosity with no real purpose 3) the self-indulging nature of the author. Delaney has never been one of my favorite authors in any genre, because I think his 'experimental' styles and 'clever techniques' are almost useless in terms of telling a good story and telling it well. For many of the same reasons I didn't like Joyce's FINNEGAN'S WAKE OR ULLYSES (sp?). These types of 'experiments' just don't appeal to me. Folks, if you want a really BRILLIANT novel that extends the concept of what it means to *BE* a novel, please read Vladimir Nabokov's LOLITA. Forget everything you've heard about it from 'old wives' concerned about their children and all that usual clap-trap. Go into it with an open mind, get past the first difficult 20-30 pages, and you will have found the gem of all novels. Since I read the book 5 years ago, nothing, REPEAT NOTHING, I have read has come close. In fact, Nabokov and his wily ways may have done permanent damage to my ability to enjoy novels. Sadly, none of Nabokov's other novels even comes close to this one work, so it really stands alone. Stuart ------- Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com