Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.PCS 1/10/84; site mtgzz.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!drutx!mtuxo!mtgzz!leeper From: leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Comments on Colin Wilson Message-ID: <936@mtgzz.UUCP> Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 23:16:16 EDT Article-I.D.: mtgzz.936 Posted: Tue Jul 16 23:16:16 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 18-Jul-85 05:18:20 EDT References: <2643@topaz.ARPA> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ Lines: 67 >From: Chris Jarocha-Ernst> >I suppose I'm one of the "avid fans" of Colin Wilson's works >that Mark Leeper mentioned. While I like his work, I don't >think he's the greatest thing since indoor plumbing or >whatever. He has his flaws: he's opinionated, sexist, >elitist (or, at least, he comes across that way in his >books). That covers my opinion. >So, a few corrections from someone who (thinks he) knows >better: > >Wilson and August Derleth weren't friends until AFTER Wilson >wrote THE MIND PARASITES. Mark was right about the >"Outsider"/OUTSIDER connection. Wilson wrote a book (THE >STRENGTH TO DREAM: LITERATURE AND THE IMAGINATION), in one >chapter of which he took Lovecraft to task for HPL's own >literary failings. Derleth read this and then asked Wilson >if he thought he could do a better job with the Cthulhu >Mythos. Wilson responded with THE MIND PARASITES, which >Derleth's Arkham House published. That is my bad memory again. You are right. I went back to the intro to MIND PARASITES and discovered I had combined the host and the challenger into a single person. Sorry. > >BTW, when was Kirlian photography discredited? On what >grounds? Don't quote me. My memory got me into trouble once already this article, but I think that I heard the effect had something to do with moisture or water vapor. In any case, the effects should be easily reproducible and hence could studied in the laboratory and I think we would have heard if there really was anything to this sort of spirit photography. > >Mark, I'd be interested to know what 48 books came ahead of >MIND PARASITES in your local SF group's discussion, and why. Well, the list is, I think, lost at this point, but it was many from the list of most popular that showed up recently on the net. >I consider the book to be one of the most important Interesting word. Why "important?" >(and enjoyable) I've ever read; I certainly agree with enjoyable. Though few enough seem to agree with me. > >I cannot recommend Wilson to many (those "specialized >tastes", I guess). Certainly, those readers who prefer >outright escapism or books sans self- critical protagonists >won't like him. But if you like sex, violence, magic, AND >intelligent philosophy, give him a try. Well said. Mark Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper