Raven

Does anyone here have any knowledge of Eve Online? I signed up the other day, and it took me over two hours just to create my character! Seems... complex!

Flowers for Algernon is a Kindle daily deal, today.

Capaldi was the first Doctor in a new regeneration cycle, because Tennant regenerated twice. The Timelords gave Smith's Doctor a new set of regenerations when he was dying at the end of The Time of the Doctor.

Sounds like the Banks books you have read are Use of Weapons and Inversions (in which case I have read the former, but not the latter). I've read Rendezvous with Rama, and thought it was pretty good, but I've not gone further with that series. You seem to have an idea of what makes a good science fiction novel, can you describe what that is? (Is it accurate science, per chance?)

Science fiction is a very broad canvas, and can be very different things depending on the author and the story they are trying to tell. Wells, for example, had a lot of social comment in his stories, and as you say an interest in the scientific thinking of the day, but under the same banner you also have books like Stainless Steel Rat, that are just a bit of a romp. Poul Anderson falls into what I would term hard science fiction, which is often a high concept idea, with rather cold and flat characterization (Asimov and Clarke are quite often the same). If you want something with a little more life, but something that is still big on Sci-fi ideas, try some Iain M. Banks (I'd recommend The Player of Games, personally).

Had a spot of lightning this morning... This was around 1am, it finally started to quieten down around 2. Bit tired now...

Clash of the Titans (2010) No where near as good as the original... Warcraft: The Beginning I was given the Blu-ray of this by someone who didn't enjoy it (doesn't like ambiguity in films, apparently). I was expecting this to be bobbins when it was first announced, and then delayed several times, but it actually hangs together pretty well. They did the right thing by focusing on the characters rather than on Warcraft lore or making it all about set-piece battles. A shame it didn't spawn any sequels, really...

I don't think it will be Marshall. To be honest, I hope they cast another unknown. I don't care what sex or colour they are, as long as they can act and are a bit unworldly.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Really enjoyed this, a great ole romp with some great characters! Looking forward to the next one!

Boy, did I pick the wrong day to wear a black top to work...

I've enjoyed most of this series, but there have been some miss-steps. Watching the Bill/Doctor relationship develop over the course of the first part of the series was good, but the mid-season three-parter fell at the final hurdle (after quite a good build-up). Also, I'm hoping Mark Gatiss will be moving on with Moffat as Empress of Mars was in equal measure predictable and dull (even with the inclusion of Alpha Centauri!). The two-part finale, though, I think will stand up as being one of the best ends to a series in years to come, even if you know how it turns out. The first part built to a really chilling climax and he second part, unlike a number of final episodes over the last few years, didn't fall flat on its arse and actually delivered. Overall, not the best series since Who returned, but it was certainly Capaldi's best and I will be sorry to see him go.

Still watching! I thought the last two-parter was excellent, although the first part was partially ruined by in-trailer spoilers and other material put out by the BBC. Looking forward to the Christmas special now.

Going for a ten mile walk, followed by some fine ales. The second part may not have finished yet.😉

Sad to see Barry Norman go. Always enjoyed Film [fill in the year] when he was doing it. A good critic and presenter. RIP.

Neither am I, phonetics aren't my strong suit!

This is very stream of consciousness!

And there was me thinking it was pronounced Noel-lage!

I've always recommended Guards! Guards! as a good starting point, but Mort is pretty good too!

Nearly 3!

Vibrant Forest Citra, and jolly nice it is too!

The forecast for this week is mid to high 20s, where I live. My flat, which has very poor airflow, is already up to 26 degrees. Hoping this won't go for two weeks, as I have the week after next off!

It's too chuffing hot. I went for a walk around town this afternoon and out of the shade it was very unpleasant. I'm not really one for the heat though!

Would you like fries with that?

I thank you! (and, no, I've not given up the day job..)

Actually you can, but the bindings are generally old now so they fall apart quickly.