From: davis@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Barbara Davis)
Subject: Re: What is this world coming to?
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 18:43:03 GMT

Jonathan Baird Homer <jh85+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>Greetings,

>    This is my first posting to this board, but I have been reading it
>for several weeks now.  In general, I've been terribly dissappointed
>with the quality of postings.  However, I must applaud
>rraf@dciem.dciem.dnd.ca (Rob Feltham) who found the patience to post a
>partial list of Anthony's works.

>    Thank you, Rob, but that really shouldn't have been necessary. 
>Anyone who considers themselves an Anthony fan (and I'm going to make a
>bold laep of faith here) should own at least ONE of his books.  Now, if
>this book was published any time in this decade, it should have a fairly
>complete list of Anthony's books on the back of the title page.  So,
>before anyone else decides to post responses, take a look at this page. 
>We would be able to avoid stupid (and unexcusable) mistakes like "I
>think the first book in the series about Phaze and Proton (called
>Apprentice Adept, by the way) was called Out of Phaze"  Wake up!  Split
>Infinity was first.  Out of Phaze was fourth!  Additionally, the trilogy
>confusion could have cleared up with one response, not 37.

Why does a person have to own one of his books to consider themselves a
PA fan?  Perhaps they are library patrons who can't afford books.  That
does not effect whether or not they may think of themselves as fans.

I for one post from work which is not where I keep my collection of PA
books.  If I am posting something about a series I might have them slightly
out of order and unless the order of the books is the purpose of my post,
so what if I am not totally accurate!

>    As cjohnson@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Carl A. Johnson) mentioned earlier,
>all of you should go out and get yourselves a copy of Bio of an Ogre. 
>Read it until you understand it and then look at the last few pages to
>find Piers' bibliography.  Admittedly this is now somewhat out of date,
>but it does list the publishers and dates, etc.  Judging from his
>previous postings, this Carl Johnson guy must be one of the only true
>Anthony fans out there.  I imagine that he and I could get to be really
>good friends sometime...

I do think that you two should talk to each other since your orientation on
fandom appears to be the same.  However, I would like to point out that
neither I or any other poster on this group has appointed you chief 
determiner of the quality of our fanness.

I have not read Bio of an Ogre, I have read the authors notes, I have an
autographed hardcover copy of one of his books (oh, no, I don't remember
the name of it.  I just flunked fandom. *NOT*) and I have met Piers Anthony
and talked to him.  He is a wonderfully creative person and not all that
comfortable to talk to.  He is a riveting reader of his own work.

>    I'm sorry if any of you have taken offense at my ravings.  I don't
>mean to be quite so harsh, but I am serious about looking at an Anthony
>book before posting if you are not sure of your answers.  This way we
>would waste far less time on trivial issues, and would be able to spend
>more time intelligently discussing Anthony's wonderful novels.  Which
>incidentally, I shal devote the rest of this posting to...

Sorry, too, I don't accept your evaluation of trivia.  Trivia related to
one of my favorite authors is gleefully read.  And if I get bored with it
I simply stop reading that posting and more on.  That is the wonderful
freedom of the net.

>    The general consensus is that Macroscope is excellent.  I couldn't
>agree more.  This is truly the pinnacle of Piers' 'pure' Sci-Fi writting.
>    I must say that the Mode Series is a futile attempt to re-create the
>Apprentice Adept flavor.  Mode isn't bad by any means, it just doesn't
>have the power of Apprentice Adept.  The concept of 'The Game' was
>brilliant.  That was my favorite part.  I also want to say that Piers
>should have left it at three books.  Out of Phaze - Phaze Doubt detract
>from the first three.  I guess it is understandable though.  If I was
>Piers, I probably wouldn't turn down who knows how many thousands of
>dollars for four more books that could share in the glory of an already
>successful series.

Okay, we understand what a serious person you are and all we lightweight
fans are soooo impressed.  And we will continue posting when the mood
strikes and the topic interests.

Actually, you all realize, the real difference between us is that you have
the kind of mind that holds onto and enjoys lots of detail and wants to
know things in depth.  I and some others on this group have minds that want
to know something about lots of different topics.  I don't tend to remember
lots of details months after I read a story, although a discussion of the
book will bring them to mind.  I just know whether the book offered me
entertainment, wit, something to think about, and perhaps some new twist on
things.

>    More important business calls... (The Penn State vs. Miami game)
>    Maybe in the future we can discuss relevant issues on this board and
>make it worthwhile.

And I suppose a true football fan can quote statistics from years back.  *NOT*

Again, sorry, I do not accept your definition of relevant!  And I will not
read a pre-determined list of information before I consider myself a PA
fan.  Fan and expert do not need to be synonamous.

Barb
-- 
Barbara G. Davis                       Internet:  davis@ucsu.colorado.edu
University of Colorado, Boulder 

                   If I don't ask, you can't say, "Yes!".
Newsgroups: alt.fan.piers-anthony