I don't know if there is any connection between reading SF and being a spicy food lover, but I grew up eating hot, hot foods, and I started reading SF in the early 50s. My main complaint with SF in recent years is that so many writers are going in for the "epics" and spending way too much time writing and there is not enough coming out. (I am a very rapid reader- at least 10 books a week, often more). So I have had to branch out into mysteries. I take a writing class and most of the people in the class are also very interested in spicy foods. So maybe there truly IS a literary element associated with capsaicin. Actually I have long thought that the foods were love are stimulating to the intellect and must be an asset to creative folks. -- Andie Paysinger & the PENDRAGON Basenjis,Teafer,Cheesy,Singer & Player asenji@earthlink.net So. Calif. USA "In the face of adversity, be patient, in the face of a basenji, be prudent, be canny, be on your guard!" http://home.earthlink.net/~asenji/