anti Rushdie on Pynchon

[MASCARO at humnet.ucla.edu]

J. Rice writes:
>
>I think your perceptions on Rushdie are off the mark. He's a genius at language 
>and dialogue. Both Midnight's Children and Satanic Verses are great examples of 
>the man's prose capabilities,


Well, I guess this list is just perfect for such toss-off opinions, so here"s mine:  I 
think J. Rice is off the mark.  I side with the anti-Rushdies and think that that 
Fatwa is responsible for Rushdie's notoriety.  His fiction is flaccid, his review of 
VINELAND was nothing short of stupid, and that smug arrogant tone--go away!

p.s. I am also viscerally reacting against diction like: "great examples of the man's 
prose capabilities"  what's with "the man"?  Is that a Rushdian construction?

john m