Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!dennis%cod@Nosc From: dennis%cod@Nosc Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: STARS IN MY POCKET LIKE GRAINS OF SAND Message-ID: <2470@topaz.ARPA> Date: Tue, 2-Jul-85 11:52:25 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.2470 Posted: Tue Jul 2 11:52:25 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 4-Jul-85 06:08:49 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 26 From: Dennis CottelI have just finished reading STARS IN MY POCKET LIKE GRAINS OF SAND by Samuel R. Delaney (Bantam Books, 1984). This is the first of Delaney's work that I have read since I plowed through DHALGREN some years ago (the only book I have ever trashed when I was through). Fortunately, this copy of STARS came from my local library--I was spared the feeling of wasting the purchase price. This message doesn't require a spoiler warning because there is nothing to spoil. After a promising prolog about mind-altering humans to condition them for slavery, the story (using the word loosely) wanders apparently aimlessly, describing a strange society consisting of a mixture of humans and vaguely reptilian aliens. Finally, it was over. To be fair, an Author's Note at the beginning states that the book is the first of a diptych, so I suppose you could hope that everything will made clear in the second part. I won't be reading the other half. Now, I suppose some of you will like this book (after all, *someone* liked DHALGREN according to its cover blurbs :-). There is occasionally an interesting idea scattered through the pages. But if you are looking for plot, believable characters, and a satisfying story when you read, skip this. Dennis Cottel Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA 92152 (619) 225-2406 dennis@nosc.ARPA sdcsvax!noscvax!dennis