OPENING MESSAGE Hello Card  -  Volume 19  -  Preface Card Number 0  -  Sun, Mar 17, 1991 9:52 PM Although slow in coming, I think this is a truly remarkable issue of Archipelago. Some hilites: Larry and Diane are now PARENTS! We've got pictures and everything! (see VC 19 Larry 5). From here on out I hope Larry will be able to find the time to document Kristin's growth, with at least one voice card per issue. We've got two book reviews, one by Drury and one by me, and the author of my book even responded to the review! We also have another superb Bestiary poem and a promise from Paul to resurrect the Quotationist! There's more: four amusing gifts and another hilarious installment of the Sound of the Month Club. The results of our first annual competition for best voice cards are in. As I predicted, Paul, Drury, and I were the only ones to respond. You may find some surprises among the nominations. I have a very special Mr. Wizard for you this time which includes CASH PRIZES which could amount to HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS!! A challenge for bookworms in the group: name your 100 favorite books! I start off with my list. A number of conversation trees continue to thrive, including followups on the Iraq War, and more about personalities. I am sorry to report that our newest member, Tom Meyer, has become too busy to continue in the group. His new job takes him to Kyoto, then to Paris to cover the air show, and then off to Spain to work with the Olympic committee. Too bad: he would have made a great member. The good news, though, is that next time we will introduce yet another new member, a 23 year old woman named Yumi Nagasaki. Yumi works with Drury and, after excessive late night phone calls, has become my friend as well. She should add a fresh new perspective to the group. Last but not least, I am happy to announce the beginning of another one of our serial voice card sagas. Instead of a sci-fi thriller like the Crab Epic, this new story will be a murder mystery set in New York at the estate of billionaire Horace Frobisher. The story is entitled "The Case of the Misplaced Gargoyle." Enjoy!