BEg2 Chapter 2: Stamp quackery

[Allen Ruch]

I don’t think this was mentioned, but for those interested in duck stamps, John Oliver just did a humorous piece on them on “Last Week Tonight,” maybe like two weeks ago?

So I’d like to jump into the Bleeding Edge reading. I’ll volunteer to host and such, but that won’t come until December. I’m buried under work right now, between my real job (chemistry) and restoring Spermatikos Logos (lunacy).

Anyway, just wanted to say this: I really like Bleeding Edge. As a New Yorker who was here “back in what still isn’t quite The Day,” and one who suffered through the dot-com crash, and one who saw 911, the book has some parts that ring loud and true. I know there’s some other folks on the list who fit this description, too. I remember the first time I read Bleeding Edge being struck by a bolt of authenticity, like this fucker was really taking notes.

Also: I like Maxine; and I love the dialogue and inner monologues in this book, all those hesitations and loopy qualifiers, half-sentences and affectionate ellipses—a charmingly suggestive dialogue that reminds me of Against the Day, particularly among the Rideout clan.

Anyway, looking forward to Chapter 3,

—Quail