Mindy, No doubt, your group is now reading Twain's book as I write this note. To my mind,__ The Mysterious Stranger__ represents Twain at his best. I am not sure what version of this tale you are using, but William Gibson provides a fine discussion of the several versions in his introduction to Mark Twain's Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts (1969). You might also check out John Tuckey's _Mark Twain and Little Satan_, a small pamphlet packed with fascinating information on Twain's Stranger tales. For a more detailed analysis of the tales, see Sholom Kahn's _Mark Twain's Mysterious Stranger_. Much of my own _Mark Twain & William James__is also given over to a discussion of the tales, especially _No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger_. I recommend _No. 44_. if your group has not decided on a text at this point. The U of California publishes a paperback edition with some explanatory notes. This text, I believe, represents Twain's final version of the tale of the mysterious stranger. Be prepared for some fun with zany plot complications, experimental writing, and highly speculative thinking on Twain's part. In fact, I do believe _No. 44_celebrates independent thinkin, itself, and invites readers to ride along with Twain on a rip-roaring romp through the mysteries of mind. This is certainly Twain at his most imaginative and _No. 44__ reveals his genius in process. Others may disagree--reading the Stranger tales as some end result of an ever-deepening cynical vision. But I believe the differing viewpoints here could be best discussed with _No. 44__ as your chosen text. Here's to an entertaining jaunt through Twain's own mysterious mind, Jason G. Horn Gordon College Barnesville, Georgia