--I think it would be useful to have Bill act as a compiler of reading-list suggestions, just so that we don't spend a year coming to a consensus on what to read. --I like the suggestions of _Trouble_Is_My_Business_ and Pronzini's anthology. Novels ought to be included too: I nominate Ross MacDonald's _The_Drowning_Pool_. A discussion of how hard-boiled Lew Archer really is could generate some strong opinions. --One of our goals should be variety--no more than one or two books by the same author. There's so much out there! josh - # RARA-AVIS: To unsubscribe, say "unsubscribe rara-avis" # to majordomo@icomm.ca