GREAT PAGE-TURNER. One reason for the somewhat light posting of the past few days is the arrival of Frederick Forsyth's Avenger (details or compare prices.) Great read, and no sign of the recycling of content that has been plaguing Tom Clancy (or shall we say the school of Tom Clancy lately.) Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Osama, the usual Forsyth coincidences, and some political philosophy: "The hatred of your country is not because it attacks theirs; it is because it keeps theirs safe. Never seek popularity. You can have supremacy or be loved but never both. What is felt toward you is ten percent genuine disagreement and ninety percent envy."

Probably the Literary Establishment (motto: we don't want you to understand it) will sniff at Forsyth, if they have time to sniff while shuttling from Community College A to Vocational School B, if what Joanne Jacobs has found is true. (Pretty ineffective full employment scheme, if you ask me.)