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Show Wednesday, June 2, 1993 The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Ten terminal from page nine be able to do it. Each character is as flat and predictable as if it walked off a television sitcom. They fall into three categories, the strong, the weak, and the heroic. The strong and weak all go through the same cycle. They start out weak, as fetuses and children who are expendable unless they are perfect. They develop into teenagers who all have an abortion, and by that rite of passage become cruel adults. They then become the old and indigent who are put to rest by their young, strong children. This cycle assumes that all young women are going to have abortions (at least one) because they haven't been responsible enough to use reliable birth control. It also assumes that the young and strong are not enough to look to the future and save themselves from death by their own children. By its own logic, this system fails. Then there are the heroes, the self-center- ed Christians following the higher law of the Bible. They are flawlessly good in a world of evil and corruption. These are the protagonists. In any novel, especially- science fiction, it is the protagonists who carry the story, and with it, any moral right or wrongs the author wants to convey. These protagonists are not capable of that. They enter the story too late, and they - are too flat. Rogers doesn't even introduce a hero until halfway through the novel. And, unfortunately, he does not have any characters that last all the way through the novel. Most are written into only three or four scenes, and the few larger characters have only about 10. Science fiction and future fiction is the realm of the extreme. Just about any idea or philosophy will fly in this genre. The book cover says Rogers grew up reading science fiction and dreamed of writing science fiction himself. Rogers should study what the great writers have done before he attempts a book like this again. won an award from the Literary Reed Council for Small Magazines. Also, included is a short-stor- y Reed wrote in college entitled from page nine you won 7 be afraid). the introduction, Reed says that he believes that these are lyrics he believed could stand apart from the music. Even if they could, would we want them to? Reed's music, although derided In "The Gift." "The Gift" was read on the Velvet Underground's White LightWhite Heat album, but was buried beneath a noise barrage. Two interviews conducted by Reed for magazines are included. by many as too simple and spartan, amplifies the atmosphere and ambience of every lyric. What is "N.Y. Telephone Conversation" The first with Hubert Selby, What is "Venus in Furs" without Reed's interview with Vaclav Havel, the former president of without its trite cabaret piano? John Cale's menacing electric viola droning incessantly? The strongest sections of and Expression are actually the non-lyri- c portions. Reed includes two poems, "The Slide" and "Because Half the World is H20". The former Between Thought author of Last Exit to Brooklyn, is an interesting examination of Selby's writing. The highpoint of the book is Czechoslovakia and leader of the Velvet Revolution that overthrew the Communist regime. Havel relates the influence of the Velvet Underground and other American rock bands on the underground movements resistance in Czechoslovakia. Havel takes Reed to a club to play old Velvet Underground tunes with a band of former dissidents, the Plastic People of the Universe. At the end of the evening, Havel presents d Reed with a book of hand-copie- translations of Reed's lyrics. Havel says, "There were only 200 of them. They were very dangerous to have. People went to jail, and now you have one. Keep your fingers crossed for us." Between Thought and Expression is an admirable project. However, if you are truly interested in Lou Reed and are not deaf, the albums are and will remain Reed's legacy to music and poetry. The lyrics are some of rock's best, but they are so con- nected and dependent on the music that a collection of lyrics seems more superfluous than Debbie Moeller WRITE THE EDTIOR Moving ? The members of the Velvet Underground, including Lou Reed (far right), practicing their music. The staff of The Chronicle invites you to determine for yourself what Editor-in-Chi- ef elect Jason Wood (far right) is thinking about. Don't forget to make a change of address at the Registrar's Office, 250 N. Student London Paris Frankfurt Madrid Rome Oslo Athens $305 $330" $342 $365' $409" $409" $459" Fates are each way from Salt Late City based on a roundtrip purchase. Taxes not included and restrictions apply. Seats may be limited so book early. Call for other worldwide destinations. ... . ........ ,: ... .:, , n4 it. 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