From /tmp/sf.4146 Tue Aug 9 02:09:08 1994 Path: liuida!sunic!EU.net!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!postmodern.com!not-for-mail From: jim.henry@ftl.mese.com Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.reviews Subject: _Joyleg_ by Ward Moore and Avram Davidson Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.written Date: 17 Jun 1994 05:38:31 GMT Organization: Faster-Than-Light, Atlanta GA USA, 404-292-8761 Lines: 40 Sender: mcb@postmodern.com (Michael C. Berch) Approved: mcb@postmodern.com (rec.arts.sf.reviews moderator) Message-ID: <24417.4.uupcb@ftl.mese.com> Reply-To: NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu Originator: mcb@remarque.berkeley.edu I haven't read anything else by Ward Moore, but Avram Davidson is been one of my favorite writers for a couple of years. This is one of his best novels -- the collaboration was good for him. The front cover painting is nice (artist's name not listed), but totally irrelevant. The back cover blurb is exaggerative, but doesn't give away too much of the plot. Indeed, there isn't much plot to give away. A female Republican representative and a male Democrat representative discover the file of a veteran of an unspecified war who has been receiving a pension of eleven dollars a month as far back as the current records show. The Hon. Lucinda Rose Habersham (R., Tenn.) decides it is a fraud to be exposed, someone using a long-dead veteran's name to leech off the pension fund. The Hon. Tully Weathercox (D., Tenn.) declares it is an insult to throw a measly eleven dollars a month to someone who has fought and bled to defend his country's freedom. They independently decide to leave during recess and search out Isachar Joyleg. They find him. The second half of the book is devoted to what happens when Joyleg's actual age is made public. The novel's excellence comes mainly from its dialogue and characterization. If you're looking for a fast-moving adventure story, look elsewhere. If you like hilarious satire and Old Men of the Wandering Jew/"The Gnarly Man"/Lazarus Long type, make a diligent search for _Joyleg_. "A shorter version of this novel appeared in the March and April, 1962, issues of _Fantastic_." %A Moore, Ward %A Davidson, Avram %T Joyleg %I Berkley Medallion %C New York %D October 1973 %G ISBN 425-02442-3 %P 191pp * SLMR 2.1a * Democracy is the most entertaining form of government.