Read "Good Old Neon" in his short story collection 'Oblivion.' It's brilliant, and eerie in light of his sad end.

Just passing through. Found you on GOB and just thought I would give you a read.

 Counselors, 

Should I do the stories before the rest of the nonfiction?  Is Wallace best-known for that?

Thanks...but what's GOB?

I think he may be "best-known" for his fiction simply because 'Infinite Jest' was so immense--*literally* with something like 1,076 pages, over 100 of which are footnotes (some of which go on for pages of themselves), and also *literarily* as as a genre-buster with huge influence. It's such a crazy and upsetting book, but so awesome :) (i'd insist that you to read it before you die but you don't like being told what to do...)

I think his fiction and nonfiction spotlight each other--In his fiction he writes the most absurd things, a kind of fantastical realism that carves out something very weird but very true. I've not read as much of his non-fiction but am impressed that he can unleash the same analytical prowess and lucidity separate from the outrageous quality of his fiction. I wish my writing was that adaptable. I am very envious of his vocabulary and obsessive imagination...

I'll stop enthusing before you wish to be euthanized, but if you're interested in DFW, check out http://www.thehowlingfantods.com/dfw or the memorial threads on mcsweeneys: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/dfw/memories.html .

 Thanks, Counselor Sharon.  100 pages of footnotes sounds GREAT.  But not sure if I can do a 1000-page book at this point in my life... But yes, I will try to get to it before death.  

Yeah, it's always cool to read fiction and nonfiction by the same person.  I'm envious of his vocab too.  

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