I didn't realize they were that connected

Professor Dunworthy is in both stories, and a couple of people from the first (DB) cameo in the second (TSNOTD). So, yes -- same equipment, if for a completely different experiment. So to speak.

The Rule of Four. One of the authors is actually a college classmate of mine, though I didn't know him. I mostly want to read it for nostalgia's sake, since it's apparently set at Princeton.

I picked it up for the nostalgia reason, and because I always love good conspiracy/academic puzzle/etc. stories. It's quite good, much, much better than "The DaVinci Code." The writing is excellent, although I wish the editor had told them to cut back a bit on the metaphors.

"Fire Watch", probably the best thing she ever wrote (a novella), which is neither farce nor unpleasantness.

Love this. Anyone who wants to major in history should read that story. It makes me cry (in a happy way) every single time.

So jealous of GC, but I met Sherman Alexie so I do have a Hot Arty Writer Story. But still jealous.

Ah, I saw him read when I met Lorrie Moore ( my Hot Arty Writer Story). He was pretty amusing. "That's right, I'm not satisfied until you've been naked with my book." I haven't read anything by him yet, though (besides the story he read).

If you care about short stories, read "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" He makes it look so easy, but, um, it's not.(Damn it.)

"The Rule of Four"?

Hmmm, sounds interesting. I really didn't like The DaVinci Code -- so many people thought I'd like it because -- Da Vinci -- but I thought it wimped out at the end and didn't think it was that great in the beginning or middle either.

Reading The DaVinci Code was like reading a crossword puzzle, IMO. So far, The Rule of Four is doing a much better job of things. The main point of the puzzle isn't the puzzle--it's the impact that the solving is having on the characters' lives. Also, the answer to the puzzle isn't something that's been bandied about in conspiracy-oriented history books and A&E specials for the past several decades.

When I was at the library last night I picked up a round robin mystery called The Sunken Sailor. I haven't started reading it yet but it's set in an English village between WWI & WWII. Authors are Simon Brett, Jan Burke, Margaret Coel, Deborah Crombie, Eileen Dreyer, Carolyn Hart, Edward Marston, Francine Mathews, Sharan Newman, Alexandra Ripley, Walter Satterthwait, Sarah Smith and Carolyn Wheat. I've read books by some, not all of the writers that participated. Anyway, the writers are members of Malice Domestic.

Salon's lead feature today is an interview with Alan Moore.

Beware! There are Watchmen spoilers. I advise those who haven't read it to skip the paragraph on the first page beginning

Similarly, "Watchmen," Moore's groundbreaking serial that blew the comics genre wide open

and the first question and answer on the fifth page.

Yes, it's old, and no, it doesn't give away the villain, but part of the enjoyment of reading it came from not knowing what was going on, and I wouldn't want people to have that experience tainted.

too late. :-(

Good article, though.