That is true, in most cases. But GRIMHAVEN is a bit of a
different story. The copies available these days on the
Internet can be traced back to one source, and Betsy
Willeford told me she herself gave the manuscript to that
source (and that source provided me with a copy a few years
ago for the cost of Xeroxing, so I have no doubt mine's
authentic). It's unmistakably Willeford. Compared to the
other Hoke books, it is much shorter -- in terms of length
more like some of his paperback originals, I think. And it
certainly doesn't hold up in quality to the other four Hoke
books. But then Willeford didn't intend for it to be a
stellar work. The fascinating part about the manuscript is
seeing how Willeford recycled chunks of it into NEW HOPE FOR
THE DEAD and SIDESWIPE. He really was a master
craftsman.
wrote:
It is always risky to buy an unauthenticated manuscript. The
risks increase when the work was willingly withdrawn by the
author. My guess? Any Grimhaven ms circulating now might at
best be 50% Willeford. Possibly far less than that. MS, like
gossip, tend to take a little from every handler. To buy
an
"authentic" Xerox copy? Wow! There's provenance for ye!
PB
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