> -----Original Message----- > From: Davis, Iain E. > > > From: Barbara Baj [mailto:tmer at eudoramail.com] > > But in general, I personally prefer fantasy or easy > > science-fiction because I read for pleasure and relaxation. > > I'll second this idea! As a general rule, I tend to re-read > easier to read, "mindless adventure" type books when things > are busy and stressful. I guess I have a mental list of > books/authors that are "safe", e.g., a nice escape from the > stresses and ugliness of the world, while others I'll avoid > reading unless I'm in a "good space" already. > > It sometimes leads me to reading things that others complain > "But all the books in the series are pretty much the same > thing", in a sense, they are, but that's what I'm looking > for, isn't it? But they're not always. My personal escape from stress is something very soft and unoffending like _Little House_ books, except for _The First Four Years_ (which is not at all offensive but certainly more depressing because of the house burning down and the baby that died). Or the Vlad books that occur during his life pre-Teckla. But, point taken. I agree that fantasy often is friendlier than sci fi. Perhaps my abhorrance of depressing literature explains my personal tendency to prefer fantasy to sci fi. Rachel