Is Free Live Free worth it?
The Urth list — 4 messages, 4 voices, 30 Jan 2001
https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/2558

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Redhaven1 — 31 Jan 2001, 02:04

I'm just starting Free Live Free and it seems darker and grittier than 
anything by Wolfe I've read yet.  Actually, I'm not really enjoying it at 
all.  I would just give Wolfe the benefit of the doubt (he's never let me 
down yet) and read it trusting it will be better, but I'm coming to this list 
for advice.  Maybe this book was his one dud.  What did you guys think of it? 
 Is Free Live Free worth it?  (i.e.  Does it get better?)

-Steve

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James Jordan — 30 Jan 2001, 21:38
  follows, by subject match Redhaven1

Have you ever read the Wizard of Oz? Or even seen the movie? If so, bear it 
in mind while you read. It will make the going much more fun.

JBJordan

> At 09:04 PM 1/30/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> I'm just starting Free Live Free and it seems darker and grittier than
> anything by Wolfe I've read yet.  Actually, I'm not really enjoying it at
> all.  I would just give Wolfe the benefit of the doubt (he's never let me
> down yet) and read it trusting it will be better, but I'm coming to this list
> for advice.  Maybe this book was his one dud.  What did you guys think of it?
>  Is Free Live Free worth it?  (i.e.  Does it get better?)
> 
> -Steve

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Peter Westlake — 31 Jan 2001, 10:26
  follows, by subject match James Jordan

> At 21:04 2001-01-30 EST, Redhaven1 at aol.com wrote:
> I'm just starting Free Live Free and it seems darker and grittier than 
> anything by Wolfe I've read yet.  Actually, I'm not really enjoying it at 
> all.  I would just give Wolfe the benefit of the doubt (he's never let me 
> down yet) and read it trusting it will be better, but I'm coming to this list 
> for advice.  Maybe this book was his one dud.  What did you guys think of it? 
> Is Free Live Free worth it?  (i.e.  Does it get better?)

It does. It isn't dark at all, and enthusiasts of grittiness wave it aside.
You have probably passed the single instance of profanity in the entire book,
for instance. Stick with it, is my advice. And as well as thinking about the
Wizard of Oz, keep an eye open for anomalies. Odd things about the weather,
music, anything at all.

Spectacled Bear.

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Michael Straight — 31 Jan 2001, 08:21
  follows, by subject match Peter Westlake

> On Tue, 30 Jan 2001 Redhaven1 at aol.com wrote:
> I'm just starting Free Live Free and it seems darker and grittier than 
> anything by Wolfe I've read yet.  Actually, I'm not really enjoying it at 
> all.  I would just give Wolfe the benefit of the doubt (he's never let me 
> down yet) and read it trusting it will be better, but I'm coming to this list 
> for advice.  Maybe this book was his one dud.  What did you guys think of it? 
>  Is Free Live Free worth it?  (i.e.  Does it get better?)

I think Free Live Free is easily Wolfe's funniest book.  In fact the
phrase "madcap adventures" comes to my fingertips.   It's also got a
humdinger of a puzzle to fit everything together at the end (I hope you've
got the edition with the timeline in the back--BUT DON'T PEEK AT IT!)

I think Free Live Free is the best of Wolfe's "modern" novels,
(Castleview, There Are Doors, Pandora).

-Rostrum

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