Book Review Leads to Criminal Libel Charge – NYTimes.com

As a regular reviewer of fiction and non-fiction books, I find this news story in The New York Times a little disturbing:

In a little more than a week, a court in Paris will decide whether a law professor in New York committed criminal libel by publishing a book review.

You will want to read the short news story linked below to unravel what is taking place with the trial, but it suffices to say here that it is an international affront to the right of free speech, which includes one’s right to critically evaluate the speech/writing of others. I will report how the trial turns out as soon as I hear. It bears repeating that I will vigorously defend my right to free speech here and in other venues.

via Book Review Leads to Criminal Libel Charge – NYTimes.com.

Published by Jason W. Ellis

I am an Associate Professor of English at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY whose teaching includes composition and technical communication, and research focuses on science fiction, neuroscience, and digital technology. Also, I direct the B.S. in Professional and Technical Writing Program and coordinate the City Tech Science Fiction Collection, which holds more than 600 linear feet of magazines, anthologies, novels, and research publications.