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• Monday, December 22, 2008 11:53 PM

  David Brin responds --

  Okay let's go-

  To the editor - I grew up in the newspaper trade and know how to keep it simple. But these are SALON readers!. Anyway, your belief in dumbing-down is part of the problem. You'll not find a single $5 word that I used, whose meaning could not be guessed from context (that's what good writers do!) Moreover, Salon readers have instant dictionaries available. Words are poetry and your reflex to quash the scope of vivid English simply shows how low an opinion you have of those you edit-for.

  To the fan - THANKS! Startide Rising had a script commissioned by Paramount. Same with Kiln People, but in both cases it costed too high. Now, with vivid/cheap animation... well.

  Come on by http://www.davidbrin.com for more info about fun fiction etc. (And to see what I thought of what Costner did to The Postman.)

  To the rest, thanks for being polite! I did tweak all sides a bit. Glad to be sharing a lively civilization.

  Final notes and addenda:

  1- Catch me on "The Universe" Tuesday night on the History Channel.

  2- If interested, I am running a series of "unconventional suggestions for the new administration" at:

  http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/

  And/or you can see the series on OpenSalon at:

  http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=67948

  And see my latest novella about a near future world disrupted by rising seas, on Universe Magazine (online) at:

  http://baens-universe.com/articles/Shoresteading__Part_One

  (hit me up for an e-coupon.)

  Busy week!

  May YOUR week be joyous and may the new year bring good things for all of you and for our civilization.

  David Brin

  http://www.davidbrin.com

  —David Brin Read David Brin's other letters
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