Marlena: What scientific survey has been done using a great cross-section of samples?
So-called "scientific surveys" can't even determine the strongest chess player so far. Arpad Elo started one that had flawed metrics, and another survey used different metrics (hence different flaws) -- each measuring against the strength of players defeated, versus drawn, versus lost. Then a third group computed who was strongest in any given one-, five-, or ten-year period of tournament play (Bobby Fisher for the first two, Kasparov for the third). Or is the strongest player the one who held the championship longest (E. Lasker)? And how does that relate to changes in the game itself?
In chess, I think you might compile a top 100 list. In fiction, maybe a top 1,000. It's all so ultimately, hopelessly, maddeningly, gloriously subjective. Maybe only Judy Blume will endure?
E ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
