OFFER. THE QUALITY OF THE FICTION FLUCTUATES, AS YOU KNOW. VERY FEW OF THE CONTRIBUTORS,, | IMAGINE, ARE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN WRITING, BUT IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT THEY TRY.

"WAY I ALSO COMPLIMENT HELEN SANDERS AND KRIS DODDS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE COVERS?"

K.D., HUDSON, N. H.

"I CAME ACROSS THE LADDER BY ACCIDENT, AND HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY FASCINATED WITH THE THREE ISSUES I'VE SEEN. I'M CONSIDER ING DOING A LESBIAN NOVEL, AND THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT | INTEND TO WRITE ABOUT

"THE LETTERS, ESSAYS, POETRY AND STORIES WHICH YOU PUBLISH. SEEM TO AFFORD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF LESBIANS THAN THE MANY BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED.

"THE AVERAGE PERSON'S CONDEMNATION OF LESBIANISM IS, I BELIEVE, BASED LARGELY ON HAVING NO UNDERSTANDING OF IT, AND IS IN FACT A FEAR REACTION. ONCE THIS IS DEFEATED, THE LESBIAN'S POSITION IN SOCIETY WILL BE MORE COMFORTABLE FOR BOTH ELEMENTS. THE EXCELLENT SENSE OF SOCIAL AWARENESS AND DISCREETNESS OF LESBIANS GIVES THEM MUCH TO BE PROUD OF. IT GIVES THEM A FAR BETTER CHANCE OF BEING SOCIALLY ACCEPTED AND RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR VIRTUES THAN THE MALE DEVIATE.

"PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE DOB SOCIOLOGICAL QUESTIONNAIRE. ALSO A COPY OF YOUR RATES AND DEADLINES FOR ADVERTISING IN THE LADDER."

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R.L.S., LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

"I HAVE JUST FINISHED READING THE STORY "SPRING FIRE"BY VIN PACKER AND I WAS TRULY DISAPPOINTED IN IT.

"IT SEEMS THAT NEARLY EVERY BOOK THAT I HAVE READ ON THE LESBIAN THEME HAS AN UNHAPPY OR TRAGIC ENDING. IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO

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