From: "Timothy Reilly" 
Subject: Re: (urth) Uther Uthers
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 09:37:55 +1000

alga wrote:

>And I don't think Wolfe is a very good short story >writer, by and large.
Some of his fables are marvelous in >-Just-So- kind of way, and a few of the
longer stories, >novellas really, are very good. But if you're pinching
>pennies, skipping a Wolfe collection is not unwise.

I entirely agree, and am surprised I can't recall this point having been
made before on this list.  Wolfe obviously likes writing short stories, but
I don't think he's particularly good at it.  And it's not because I don't
like short stories - I think Chekhov is marvellous.  But I can't think of a
single Wolfe short story that is truly impressive (except perhaps the
Detective of Dreams, but even then...).  His novellas and novels are a
different matter of course!

Tim


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