The flattened American landscape of minor writers

[Great Quail]

John writes,
  
> I enjoyed your post, but I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

I agree that we'll have to agree to disagree, because we can't agree on what
we disagree with. Which is --

> it would 
> surely be difficult to argue that Pynchon belongs several rungs above
> Moorcock.

Oh, certainly -- and as you generously pointed out, I said that. I only
think that they should be *compared.* And that Moorcock is a great writer
who has exerted much influence. I would never claim he was a better, or more
literary writer than TRP. But then again, Pynchon is my favorite living
writer, so....

> Right, but the pinnacles of the comic book medium, whether you want to call
> them 'graphic novels' or not (and that term can be seen as self-negating),
> can't compete with teh pinnacles of the novel medium - I mean, come on! - so
> all that proves is that the novel is a superior medium. It's not that I demand
> a skewed playing field, the playing field is already slanted.

See, there's where we simply have to disagree. Obviously we see things
differently. 

Pistols at dusk? Or do you prefer Tom A. Swift Electrical Rifes?

--Quail