title: First Light (Contemporary American Fiction)
author:  Charles Baxter 
description: "Baxter does a masterful job of combining form with function in his first novel," said PW of this story of an astrophysicist's awkward visit to the home of her car-salesman brother. "This imaginatively conceived, evocative novel will hold the reader's attention from first to last." <br />Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: Billy Baxter's Letters
  1
  Billy Baxter's Letters
  William J. Kountz, Jr.
  
  Billy Baxter's Letters
  2
  PREFACE
  In presenting this work, we believe that an explanation is  due the
  reader as to why the letters are given in their present  form at this time.
  The first book published, "One Night," was "issued by The Duquesne
  Distributing Company to show its great love for the American  people,
  and to incidentally advertise the 'R--R--S--.'"  Its  success was
  immediate.
  "In Society" appeared February 1, 1899, and scored as promptly  as
  "One Night." The demand for the booklets was phenomenal, and  Mr.
  Kountz received thousands of friendly letters applauding  him for his
  humor. He also received flattering offers from the  leading comic
  weeklies, the metropolitan dailies, and great  advertisers throughout the
  Union. He declined them all, being  primarily a business man, and
  carrying literature only as a  side line.
  On May 1st "In Love" was given to the public, with the promise  that
  "In New York" wou