READER'S RESPOND

"I FOUND YOUR SEPTEMBER ISSUE FASCINATING, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT ACTUALLY PROVE ANYTHING IT CERTAINLY IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THERE HAS BEEN FAR TOO LITTLE PUBLISHED ABOUT THE AVERAGE LESBIAN.

"ENCLOSED IS A SMALL DONATION TO HELP THE CAUSE ALONG.

" INCIDENTALLY, HOW ABOUT A SIMILAR SURVEY OF MALE HOMOSEXUALS? IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO COMPARE THE TWO."

F.K., OREGON

COINCIDENTALLY, DOB HAS JUST EMBARKED ON A SIMILAR SURVEY OF MALE HOMOSEXUALS WHICH WE HOPE TO COMPARE WITH THE SURVEY PUBLISHED IN THE SEPTEMBER LADDER. RESULTS WILL BE GIVEN AT DOB'S FIRST CONVENTION TO BE HELD IN SAN FRANCISCO OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND NEXT YEAR. -ED.

"THE FRIENDLY AND COURTEOUS NOTICE OF MY NOVELS IN YOUR AUGUST ISSUE RAISES A POINT WHICH I THINK IMPORTANT FROM A WRITER'S POINT OF VIEW; INDEED, OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE. MISS STRONG DESCRIBES THE SUBJECT OF THE LAST OF THE WINE AS MALE HOMOSEXUALITY, TRANSFERRED TO AN ANCIENT GREEK SETTING, AND COMMENTS ON THE TOLERANCE OF ITS RECEPTION. I THINK THIS BOOK WAS IN FACT RECEIVED RATHER AS A PORTRAYAL OF ATHENS DURING THE PELOPONNESIAN WARS, AND OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE SOCRATIC CIRCLE. I HOPE SO, SINCE THIS WAS HOW I WISHED IT TO BE JUDGED.

"THE LOVE-RELATIONSHIP IN THE BOOK IS ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT SOCIETY RATHER THAN OUR OWN; NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS RECOGNISED PUBLIC STANDING, BUT BECAUSE THE TWO YOUNG MEN ARE, LIKE MOST CLASSICAL GREEKS, FULLY BISEXUAL. ALEXIAS IS DRAWN INTO IT PARTLY AS AN ESCAPE FROM HIS SUPRESSED LOVE FOR HIS STEPMOTHER; LYSIS FREQUENTS VARIOUS HETAIRAS, WITHOUT ANY QUESTION OF DISLOYALTY TO HIS FRIEND ARISING; BOTH EVENTUALLY MARRY. THIS

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