zeus@AEROSPACE.ARPA (08/29/85)
From: Dave Suess <zeus@AEROSPACE.ARPA> I hate to add to the volume (discussions on likes vs. dislikes, art vs. "anti-art", etc. aren't all that amenable to info-sharing), but I found an aid to reading Dhalgren that helped *me* greatly. After working at the first part of the book, I moved to Los Angeles. Once I started recognizing the locations in Dhalgren as a shattered L. A., I warmed to the imagery and enjoyed it a lot more, and finished (finally!) with an overall satisfied feel. Nothing like picturing L.A. in ruins to add a wistful smile to your day! (If you do move to L. A. to enjoy the novel, don't tell the natives I told you to. Some of 'em get surly about that.) -- Dave Suess