Re: Collecting Salinger

jason varsoke (jjv@caesun.msd.ray.com)
Mon, 12 Apr 1999 09:53:10 -0400 (EDT) 

On Sun, 11 Apr 1999, WILL HOCHMAN wrote:

> Though I'm still working on Scottie's request to reply to "Stained-glass
> Window" by Mr. Abrose Beers, I do want to quickly pop in and suggest you
> not put copyrighted Salinger stories online...you see I think he has a
> right to his words and they have earned my respect and love too often not
> to repect Mr. Salinger's rights.  In other words, he gave us great
> stories--how can you take anything from a guy who already given so
> much...give an author a break willya, buddies? will


  Will is usually the 800lbs Gorilla in the group so I think he's the
person to address on this issue.  I see Mr. Salinger's attempt to keep
others from seeing his early work as a person trying to eliminate their
mistakes, re-write history, or show his own perfection.  I've read most of
this uncollected works and found that they are of low quality and
generally not his best stuff.  But that's exactly why they are so valuable
to aspiring writers.  Looking at JDS's collected body of work makes the
author and his talent seem formitable, if not down right unassailable.  I
think this is the image JDS wants us to have of him.  But really, that's
not the true story of his writing.  He wasn't always as talented at F&Z.
And I believe it's important to recognize that in his body of work.
Essentially, JDS is trying to contain his body of work to his most well
polished pieces.  He's trying to hide his early years, the mistakes, to
seem greater than he is.
   I personally believe that if the uncollected works were published by
JDS again there would be no legitimate reason to distribute them w/o
paying him.  However, since JDS is not planning on making any money off of
them, we wouldn't be taking any money away from him.  
   Also, since the works were published, they are owned by the public.
Now, I know this isn't true as far as copyright law goes, but it does mean
we have a right to them.  This is why libraries can't be forbidden to own
copies.

   I also notice that there is a bit of elitism going on.  Those who
own/have read the stories often want to stem the flow of their
proliferation.  It's the same as the US telling underdeveloped countries
not to burn coal, which is a cheap, un-green, way to advance their
industries.  It's a shame really.

   But I must suggest that publishing stories should be avoided.
Trading/sharing stories should be encouraged.  Therefore I suggest that if
you are looking for a story post it at the bottom of some other JDS
posting that you are making.  Hopefully, people who have them will contact
you.  Or if you have them and want to be generious (and don't mind a flood
of email requests) post that you have them.  But above all I suggest you
not post them to this list.  Not everyone agrees with distributing them.
And any kind of public, blind, distribution should be avoided.  Keep the
exchange private.

-j
Looking for: "I'm Crazy" and _Inverted Forest_
Have: "Young Folks"