An ill wind?

Although Alice Randall has written a clever and provocative work with The Wind Done Gone, it is more of a bizarro-alternate-universe Gone With the Wind than a true parody per se ["Gay With the Wind," September 11]. Those seeking literary parodies of GWTW might want to check out 1990's The Book of Sequels, with side-splitting vignettes written in the styles of Erica Jong, Tama Janowitz, and Alice Walker. Furthermore, in 1999 Alyson Books published a parody anthology titled Wilma Loves Betty, which contained a gay lampoon of GWTW (I should know--I wrote it).

Dean Backus, San Jose, Calif.

Randall apparently lacks the ability or energy to pen an original story and instead chose to trash a classic. The fact that she peoples her pulp with gays and lesbians does not make it worthwhile.

Ron Mackovich, Los Angeles, Calif.