Well I just reread Vineland and the news is still bad...

[Ya Sam]

Also, I'm sure he's not smoking as
>much dope or dropping as much acid as he was back then.
>

As compared to the cyclomite addicted Lew Basnight and such substance 
abusers as Nigel and Neville.

I agree that AtD is much more 'sober' than GR. Especially at the level of 
the narrative. In GR the narrative tends to morph into hallucinatory visions 
disorienting the reader to such an extent that it's impossible to tell apart 
different discourses. In AtD hallucinations are distinctly framed by the 
narratorial voice. In GR the text itself all of sudden becomes 'trippy', 
which is not AtD's case.

_________________________________________________________________
Need a break? Find your escape route with Live Search Maps. 
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?ss=Restaurants~Hotels~Amusement%20Park&cp=33.832922~-117.915659&style=r&lvl=13&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=1118863&encType=1&FORM=MGAC01