In addition, I know that many unaffiliated Twain scholars and fans have found the established community of Twain scholars extremely supportive of their efforts and interests. Several times in the last few years, the Mark Twain Circle has invited independent writers to present papers and offer critiques at their professional meetings. This electronic community is a wonderful example of the commitment most of us have to new perspectives on Twain, regardless of the titles and degrees of the contributors. I know we all wish to continue -- in the spirit of Twain himself -- to appreciate good and passionate work without being hung up on credentials or credit. Thanks, Siva Vaidhyanathan University of Texas at Austin