----- Original Message ----- From: "Joy Jennifer Nicholson" <jjnichol at MIT.EDU> To: "Scott Crain" <s_thomas_crain at yahoo.com> Cc: <dragaera at dragaera.info> Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 7:17 PM Subject: Re: The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars > > I really really enjoyed Feng's, although much more for the writing > style than for the actual plot. The protagonist was very _human_, > something that one doesn't see in sci-fi fantasy all that often. He > was (until the climax), just an ordinary guy, and it was wonderfully > refreshing to read about an ordinary person in the midst of > extraordinary circumstances, one who doesn't necessarily "rise to the > occasion and do heroic deeds" because at his heart he's a hero, but > because he's forced there. (if we can even say he's heroic - it's > been logn enough since I read it that I can't remember the details of > the climax.) > > The best part of the book, IMO, was how it left me with the strongest > craving for Matzoh ball soup. I still get flashbacks. Seriously. > > >-----------snip--------------- > > > My thoughts exactly. While the story was good, it was the characters that draw me in (over and over again, it is one of my most re-read books). These are people I know. The way that Steve portrayed every character was outstanding, holding each one to the light to reveal both the facets and flaws. Because of this, Cowboy Fengs pulls at my emotions more than most novels (Except for Tekla and maybe Phoenix) because of the sense of personal tragedy and loss suffered by each character, and the cost of triumph in the end. Jeff All choked up now, but Whiskey Will Make It Better