Matt Roth wrote: Given the energetic current of "strong
opinions" swirling through The List these days--a good thing, in my
opinion--I've been thinking about how we approach novels like Pale
Fire. In particular, I've been thinking of VN's famous passage in SM
about chess problems. ...The question then becomes whether or not it is
valuable to report on those treks into the wilderness, or should we limit our
published reports to only those details which lead most directly to the finish
line. Is there a way of valuing those "tries" that the designer has
intentionally placed in the problem , or should we simply put up a sign at the
entrance to those dead-end tunnels that says DO NOT ENTER? Thoughts?
Jansy Mello : Matt, a lot
of ground in relation to your interesting proposal has already been covered by
Brian Walters in his on-line text in ZEMBLA. I suggest we pick up our
discussion from there? I'm all in favor of ludambulations, for discussing
treks into the wilderness...