A smart female east african plains ape tells a story.

Also, If slush readers could write honest rejection letters.

When I was young I could read astonishingly fast. Even more than the buying a Tom Swift Jr. book and reading it in the 15-minute trip home fast. Which is why I quit buying the books, it seemed an inefficient use of limited money. This started going away in college for no reason I could see and is vastly slower today. Ms. Bear has a more interesting story of her reading speed changes.

Added - Darth Vader is our father.