There is only one thing to say to the LW: Be true to thyself.

Think that all the way through. It doesn't say "be hip" or "be square."

Individuality is taste. If you want to be "normal," so be it. If you want to dress up in a black burqa or join a body modification troupe, go for it. As long as you know what you are getting into of course.

Perhaps the most unusual aspect of this review is that Miller left out any mention of genre. While Willis is best known as an author of science fiction and fantasy, those words are noticibly absent. Even Jack Williamson, an old-school SF writer who wrote for the original pulps, was simply referred to as a "writer."

As a long-time fan of science fiction and fantasy, I was initially disturbed by this deliberate omission. But after some thought, I actually found it Miller's decision refreshing. Why be a prisoner of genre? The literary world has used genre to segregate works and imply that they are somehow unworthy, and that should end.

If Cormac McCarthy, Richard Matheson, Stephen King, Roger Zelazny, and many others can write a post-apocalyptic novel there is no reason not to judge them on their ability to involve the reader instead of calling the McCarthy book "literature" and the rest "SF/fantasy" or "horror."

So bravo Laura for being bold and seeing literature the way it should be, instead of the way it is.

I'd like to address some peripheral issues:

The fact that women can be funny is not directly linked to feminism. Have you seen SCTV's feminist parody (featuring all women)?

Hillary Clinton's willingness to tear apart the Democratic Party to get ahead is still reprehensible no matter what sex she is.

The success of Barack Obama does not mean that women cannot be President.

There, I said it.

Pardon me, but Hillary Clinton's potential candidacy was a definite subtext in this article and I wanted to address that.

Also: yes, I am a guy but my viewpoint is not invalid just because of my gender. Right?

In response to the lightweight bit of math in the Editor-recommended post, I would suggest a much more comprehensive and detailed examination of the votes at Daily Kos. Since I can't post a URL here, click on my signature to go to the article.

If you worry about being strange, you probably aren't.

If you wish you weren't strange, you probably are.