So for sure The Ballad of Beta-2 was the Delany with “But a leg is an arm, isn’t it?” quote. The ending is not quite as I recall it, but is pretty abrupt. When I read it a few years ago after remembering a 1976 conversation with that quote I was rather shocked, by the 'well this whole thing is looks good on my academic record" conclusion. The Jewels of Aptor seemed jagged and non-sequitous but an amazing first novel. They Fly at Çiron would have seemed better 40 years ago. ( )