As Far As The Novel

I've Come Across A Novel Called The Palm-wine Drinkard, By The Nigerian Writer Amos Tutuola, That Is Really Remarkable Because It Is A Kind Of Fantasy Of West African Mythology All Told In West African English Which, Of Course, Is Not The Same As Standard English.

It Is At Least Scientifically Respectable To Postulate That At The Centre Of A Black Hole The Laws Of Nature No Longer Apply. Since Most Scientists Are Just A Bit Religious And Most Religious Are Seldom Wholly Unscientific We Find Humanity In A Comical Position. His Scientific Intellect Believes In The Possibility Of Miracles Inside A Black Hole While His Religious Intellect Believes In Them Outside It.

One Thing Should Be Put Firmly. Where People Have Commented On That Novel [the Paper Men], They Generally Criticize The Poor Academic, Rick L. Tucker, Who Is Savaged By The Author, Wilfred Barclay. I Don't Think People Have Noticed That I Have Been Far Ruder About Barclay Than I Have Been About Tucker. Tucker Is A Fool, But Barclay Is A Swine. The Author Really Gets His Come-uppance.

Only One Novel Is A Novel: That Is A Successful Novel.

We're Not Savages. We're English.