New Thomas Fuller novel: The Classical World

Fuller's new book arrived yesterday at the IF SF office, 7 boxes of them.

I called him immediately; he was sleeping. "Hey," I said, "you're new book is here." He said he'd come over after lunch and take a look. 

He rolled in about 2 p.m. I admit I can't figure Fuller out. He'd been pestering me for months on all aspects of the book--design, production, copy editing, distribution, sales & marketing--and then when the thing's finally in real-time form he seems almost disinterested, phlegmatic as it were. The same thing happened with his first novel, Monsieur Ambivalence. "Isn't it enough that I wrote it," he said at the time after I'd asked him to help organize a book party, readings etc. to promote the book.

"It's a good looking book," Fuller said, holding a copy of the finished product for the first time. Then he administered the test he administers to every book he encounters: he read the first sentence in The Classical World and the last.

If asked, do you live in a time of peace or a time of war, what would you say? (First sentence).

I walked a lot, almost all the time when I was living in the classical world. (Last sentence).

"Not bad," Fuller said, closing the book. "Not bad at all, the best I could do. I wouldn't change a word of it even if I could."