The Fax on a Lack of Return Mail

About a year ago, through my interest in literature and first-edition books, I struck up a fax correspondence with a rare books dealer in New York. He then introduced me by fax to another bookseller in London.

Since then, we have all become great friends and comment on all and sundry, all by fax. (What they say about fax paper being ephemeral is true, but this can be overcome by photo copying.)

The friendships have gone beyond the bounds of books and become an important part of life. I have commented that, thanks to the fax machine, I have become an 18th-Century person. Indeed, letter writing is not dead at all.

KATHERINE SUNG

Beverly Hills