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Read other letters about this article
Gee, some of you guys are pretty hard on Mr. Barra for his offhand comment about genius and genre writing. I think both of these terms are too fuzzy to stand up to extended scrutiny (Poe wasn't a genre writer and King isn't a genius) and perhaps, if there is a rap on Allen Barra, using fuzzy terms might be on the mark.
On the whole, though, I think the essay is pretty much on the mark. The Bond of Fleming's novels is much more interesting than the cartoon character Bond that has evolved on the screen. Perhaps, like the mortal-sized Bond of "Casino Royale", the new Bond movie is a little closer to the real world.
Mr. Barra's point is that the books are well worth reading, and with that point I agree.
