Judith Merril rocked, both as a writer and an editor. Most likely not a boring choice.

Damn I read the TH White when it came out, but I remember nothing from it.

"Bartleby" is a good story. That line is not only easy to remember, but it resonates well with the larger points IIRC.

Yay, Louise Erdrich. I haven't read all of her books, but Love Medicine seems a good enough place to start.