Miller.pasa@Xerox.ARPA (08/24/85)
From: Miller.pasa@Xerox.ARPA
Okay, I'm behind in my net reading here, and something tells me that
better folks than I have flamed you for your editorializing, but I am in
the midst of reading Calahan's CrossTIme Saloon for the first time and I
feel that IT demands that I reply.
True, the book is not as DEEP as The Brothers Karamozof, it is not as
'literate' as The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, it is not as LONG as War and
Peace, and it is not even as verbose as Donaldson. True, it is small an
thin, and paperback and has neat pictures on the cover. True, it is
self-indulgent (somebody had to like the puns that went in there). And,
true, it is (noses up, sniff please) Science Fiction-- which everybody
who is anybody knows is never rahlly Good Literature . . .
>>>> BUT <<<<
This does not mean, never has, and I pray, never will, that it cannot
contain some TRUTH. Robinson portrays real human characters with real
human problems who get through life because in some little corner of the
galaxy there are a few other real human (and maybe other) characters who
are willing to help, sympathize, relate and LISTEN to their problems.
Robinson speaks to 'The Human Condition' in a voice every bit as real
as any of the other greats you have listed.
I worry about the type of person-- all too well represented among the
cognoscenti of this and every other age-- who fails to see wisdom,
beauty, and TRUTH in simplicity. One can like or dislike Robinson's
style. One can even agree or disagree with my assesment of him here,
but find it the highest form of intellectual hypocrisy to write him off
because he isn't taught in college English courses. It's at least as
bad as writing off 'Great Art' because it IS taught in college English
classes.
Great Literature encapsulizes Truth. Therefore, Truth is where YOU find
it. Not where somebody-- no matter how many degrees he or she may have;
no matter how many other somebodies may agree-- tells you it is.
-- Chris Miller B.A. (soon to be) Ph. D.
Miller.pasa@Xerox.ARPA
P.S. By the way, in case it isn't clear, I agree that shunning art
because it is art is barbaric and philistine. Just don't take the
attitude too far.