Joseph Epstein, one of my favorite essayists, referred to Style by F. L. Lucas in a recent review of another, inferior, style guide. It took some searching, but I was able to find a copy of Style and I read it immediately. Published in 1955, F. L. Lucas’ Style takes plenty for granted. For example, there are at least a hundred quotations in this book in FRENCH. Lucas assumes as an intelligent, educated reader, I should be able to read those French quotations. Sadly, my high school French was not up to the task so I missed out on many wonderful examples of great style. Lucas also includes examples in Latin and Greek, but occasionally takes pity on the language-challenged reader and provides translations. Still, there are hundreds of examples in clear, precise English to enjoy. If you’re a fan of good writing, there’s plenty of it in Style. If you want to improve your writing style, F. L. Lucas may have written the definitive guide. GRADE: A

The versatile Philip Jose Farmer delighted in writing biographies of imaginary characters. One of Farmer’s best is Tarzan Alive: A Definitive Biography of Lord Greystoke. I prefer the Bison Books edition that contains a Forward by Win Scott Eckert and an Introduction by Mike Resnick. Farmer’s detailed examination of Lord Greystoke’s incredible life “corrects” some of errors in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ version. This Bison Books edition also includes Farmer’s “Exclusive Interview with Lord Greystoke” and “Extracts from the Memoirs of Lord Greystoke.” Farmer’s intimate knowledge of the Tarzan Saga coupled with his sense of mythic design makes Tarzan Alive an unforgettable reading experience.