Reviews

This collection, containing both fiction and nonfiction, is representative of Burroughs's work. The style and tone are vintage Burroughs; the themes of addiction, mind control, and homosexuality central to the novels are explored here more succinctly. The most original material consists of comments on writing and writers: perceptive remarks on Hemingway and Fitzgerald, an interesting comparison of Proust and Beckett, and an acknowledgment of Conrad's influence on a portion of Naked Lunch. Although occasionally marred by repetition, these pieces provide useful insight into the writer's philosophical and artistic concerns. Recommended for serious collections in contemporary literature. William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., CUNY