Inspiring words from Ralph Hawk

 It's unfortunate that the literary community continues its rejection of "The Same Tapes."  Yet, no doubt my opinion of it is biased as it's the first real form of art produced by those of us who now live along the north shore of our city's river.  

    But, as Orlon Braem said, "It's probably either the best or worst book I've ever read, and I can't decide which.  Still, what troubles me the most about 'The Same Tapes' is that it may be both of those simultaneously."

    Thus, at this time, "The Same Tapes" remains a copyrighted but not formally published work.  And, Joseph Same's tapes, transposed to prose as they were by Jane Doer, continue to be unobtainable by the masses, though I've heard that bits and fragments of them may have circulated through so-called "underground circles."

    And while the constraints of civility, and the laws of copyright restrain me from saying much about those tapes, suffice it to say, that in my opinion they not only document various "developments" which impacted both Joseph Same and our city, but also enunciate and explain the "conditions" and "situations" existent in our city, which allowed, and probably also encouraged their occurrence.