Edward Champion's Return of the Reluctant

AM Hit & Run

• A writer mistakes a JCO blurb for junk mail. (via Galleycat)
• Tonight in San Francisco, there's a memorial tribute to Jack Kerouac. The Chronicle has more.
• Walter Mosley fesses the Fantastic Four as a major inspiration. Unfortunately, Mosely couldn't be convinced to say, "It's clobbering time!"
• Best Booker-related lede: "Alan Hollingshurst is a cheap date."
• A one-volume edition of Lord of the Rings is being released -- the version that Tolkien always wanted. His estate wants it too. After all, there's a new swimming pool to put in.
• John le Carre has come out hopping mad against Bush.
• Neal Stephenson answers questions at Slashdot.