To Slay the Folks and cleanse the land
And leave the World a Reeking Roastie
High Purpose of the Gallant Band
And six were Kids and one A Ghostie.
A child's a Monster Still Uncurled
The World's a Trap, and None Can Quit It-
The "Strife Dulanty" With the World
Was Mostly that They Didn't Fit it.
No Setting For the Gallant Brood
In Sacred Groves of Yew or Lindens
They Found a Hold More Near Their Blood
A Mountainful of Murdered Indians
A Brazen Clash of Helm and Greave
Fit Subject for Heroic Chantey
The Battle Joined That Could But Leave
Or Altered World or Dead Dulanty.

This is no poem nor rhyme, but each line is a chapter
from the book: "Reefs of Earth" by R.A. Lafferty

Concerning R.A.Lafferty
(A question I sofar did not find or get an answer to.)

>> Lafferty
How come R.A. Lafferty does not really have a place among the
best known American writers?

>> translations

Germans have translated practically all of his work.
Eight of his books are translated to Dutch.Two short stories made it to Finnish.
In order to be translated in Dutch a writer must have somehow a best-selling reputation, if not they wouldn't bother for such a small language region.
In Dutch S.F circuits people think that nothing that came after has been able to match this weird and extraordinary oeuvre.

I 'm no real S.F. fanatic, but I think whoever likes language,
whoever likes to have a mindboggle-time and a lot of fun would
love to read this.
R.A.L. twists and turns different layers of realities and juggles with time, space, history, philosophy, words , dialogues. Witty. If not genius then very ingeneous.

I read three in English sofar and found three Dutch translations, dating from the seventies, in second hand bookshops here.I read one of the translations; it lost quite some magic in the process. I mean to read them all in English.
(with thanks to one of your well read people who put me on his trail)

What is his actual status among well known writers right now?

(I could not find anything on him in the AWAD archives sofar)