Raven

Harsh . . .

Brer Rabbit?

OJ Simpson?

Max Mosley?

I do read prologues, but I never read the third, seventh and twelfth chapters, I find it adds an air of mystery to the plot, not knowing what the hell is going on.

Car drivers at junctions who have no concept of the Highway Code, who stop to let you walk across the road when they have a line of traffic behind them that they have no business holding up. Who are only beaten by: Car drivers at junctions who stop to let you walk across the road, despite the fact that there is nothing behind them and that through the act of slowing and stopping they have wasted more time than they would have done if they had kept on driving, hence wasting both your time. Who in turn are only beaten by: Car drivers at junctions who look at you in a funny way when you don't step off the pavement into the path of their two-ton block of metal. So in summary: Car drivers at junctions, they shouldn't be allowed.

"You say I'm unemotional, I can be emotional. Jesus, I cried like a baby at the end of Terminator 2, you know, with the metal . . . and the hand . . ." - Tim Bisley. Back on topic, how is it going with Terry Brooks? I have The Sword of Shannara to read, but I've been put off somewhat by comments that it is a Tolkien clone (they are supposed to get a lot more original after the first book, but I was wondering what you think!).

I've got the film of this on my "too watch" pile, I really should get around to it sometime!

I generally find it best not to get drawn into lengthy replies to posts like the one "Lady" made (and even if they've made it personal it's infinitely preferable not to return the favour yourself). If the poster is genuine then they have expressed their opinion badly and don't really warrant such a lengthy reply; if they aren't genuine you've risen to the call and posted a reply any troll would be proud to elicit - it's no win either way really.

I think most writers (and TV/film execs etc) are happy to leave fan fiction (and fan films etc) be, provided the person making them isn't seeking to make commercial gain out of them. Take Rowling, for example; she has said a number of times that she doesn't have a problem with fan fiction, but she did go to court to stop someone making money out of an unauthorised encyclopaedia last year. I think as long as you make it clear what you are doing isn't for profit, you will be okay.

Me three. Jolie probably is about the right age to play Scarpetta in the early books, but she is wrong in just about every other respect. I've always thought of Scarpetta as a grafter and Jolie just doesn't have that vibe.

The Midwich Cuckoos, by John Wyndham The sleepy village of Midwich is a place where nothing remarkable ever happens, until one September day when the entire village is mysteriously put to sleep. After the Day Out, as it comes to be known, everything seems to return to normal, but the women of the village soon begin to realise that everything is not as it should be, for every one of them is pregnant . . . The Midwich Cuckoos is classic John Wyndham; bad things happening to the English middle classes, and as with The Day of Triffids, The Kraken Wakes and many of his other books, this is a story set firmly in post-war Britain that asks questions that are as relevant today as they where when the books were written over half a century ago. I think the thing I like most about this book - and again it is a common trait with other Wyndham novels - is the way in which he slowly builds the tension as the chapter's progress. The events of the "Day Out" are mysterious, but not particularly alarming in of themselves, and although everything appears normal afterwards you just know something sinister has happened, but Wyndham isn't one to show his hand in one almighty flourish. Slowly, over several chapters, he drops hints and clues as to what is going on, before the shocking truth is finally revealed. Where Wydham could be said to fail, however, is in largely ignoring the plight of the women who have suddenly found themselves violated in such an alarming way, to ask the bigger questions; Who are we? How did we evolve? How would we react to the sudden appearance of a superior group of humans? His main characters are - for the most part - male, and as with his other books the female characters and quite often reduced to making cups of tea in the back ground, whilst the men discuss the ramifications of what is going on over a stiff glass of sherry. What Wyndham lacks in equality though, he more than makes up for in suspense. The menace posed by The Children is both chilling and fascinating in equal measure; they are wonderfully realised, with a cold, detached manner that is genuinely alarming. Special mention must also be made of the character of Gordon Zellaby, a brilliantly eccentric character who leads the charge in expounding Wydham's speculative thinking. It has been the best part of twenty years since I last read Cuckoos - I don't think I will be leaving it that long before I return to Midwich once again.

"You give me a big sack of cash and you can play who the hell you like . . ." A woeful piece of miscasting there. (Brad Pitt is going to have to "chunk-up" a bit if he wants to play Marino).

I do have it, but thank you for the offer! I started reading it around Christmas, but wasn't in the right mood for it. I'm not a huge fan of Moist Von Lipwig, at least not a large enough fan for two novels based around him to be banged out in such quick succession. I want to see another Witches book, the Tiffany Aching books are good, but I want another Granny Weatherwax/Nanny Ogg adventure!

I have been reading them for over 20 years now though - I started with The Colour of Magic waaaaaaay back in 1987/88, just before Sourcery was published. Enjoy reading them though, they really are very good!

I've read them all except Small Gods, Making Money and the as yet unreleased The Unseen Academicals.

Find Loads Here.

There is some very good fan-fiction out there, but there is a lot more bad fan-fiction. ETA: That's more slash-fiction than fan-fiction, isn't it?

Roast chicken - I really should start these things earlier in the evening . . .

They are, but they are for children, so they I don't think thy count as "official" Discworld novels. ETA: 8. Guards! Guards! (1989) 15. Men at Arms (1993) 19. Feet of Clay (1996) 21. Jingo (1997) 24. The Fifth Elephant (1999) 27. Night Watch (2002) 28. Monstrous Regiment (2003) - to an extent 30. Thud! (2005)

The DEATH books are good, but the Guards ones are better. Hope you enjoy them though CS!

Sadly this is true, my Iain M. Banks books come in three distinct flavours . . .

OCD Alert!

Turning the question around a little, how many of the above - who have said they will give the book a go - will buy the hardback?

My enjoyment of the series increased with each book until The Order of the Phoenix, which I felt was a good 200 pages too long. Although I enjoyed the last two books, they weren't as enjoyable as for me as The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire, simply because they meandered around to much. It's interesting to note that Rowling took a break between The Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Phoenix, because she was suffering from burn-out after writing the previous four books back-to-back. I've often wondered whether the rise in popularity of the books, and the film series in particular, that happened whilst she was on that break, contributed to her publishers just going with what she had written for the last three books rather than having an editor sit down with her and expunge the padding.