Great writing is fueled by great ideas, allied with great ideals, and delivered with great passion, in a way that powerfully inspires or moves the reader. And it's very subjective as to which piece of writing may seem "good" or "great" to any particular reader, isn't it?

I agree that "Huckleberry Finn" is a great book. "Tom Sawyer" is a very good one.

"Watership Down" is a great book. "Shardik" is just so-so.

And by the way: darned good idea for a thread.

- LH