Greg Miller:
It's the always elusive quality that often goes nameless...that which enchants in art, or story, or music, that which makes any piece memorable...beyond memorable, indeed indelible in one's psyche. Generally, the closest word we have for that is..."gifted".

The optimism you speak about in Ray's
works indeed endears us, because it is an optimism that rings true. Even at 82, with not the best of health encompassing his hours and days, Ray still hollars out for passion in the arts, and optimal behavior. Wow! But that seems to have always been a fundamental character of why he is loved...

(Ps) Greg: Best wishes on your new book, Big Cicada

Since the discussion of the movie, "Pleasantville", in other postings recently, has blossomed into a discussion on Ray's handling of sex in the short story, I somewhat... hesitantly, make comment on how this is incorporated into... 'the bottom line of his writings'....

You will never find Ray being vulgar...shall we say lacking manners?....or treating sex as a tool for excitement. It's his portrayal in words, the art of his expression, that unmasks his personal conviction on the matter. Thus, you will find that it is always generously 'safe', unthreatening to the reader, comfortable to be 'walked' into scenarios by the words Ray writes. His gift does not exude a place to ...beware!