I disliked Gore Vidal’s politics, but he was smart and funny, and some of his writing, especially the essays, will stand the test of time (“The Aaron Burr of writers,” Editorial, Aug. 6). But who will read him 50 years from now, or William F. Buckley or Norman Mailer or anyone else like them, is another question altogether, unless their work begins appearing in comic book or graphic novel form, which, of course, it could not.
We have already moved well past the point of no return regarding the reading of serious books in this country. Notwithstanding the advent of electronic books, the end of serious books as a source of enlightenment or entertainment for sizable audiences of committed readers is clearly in sight.