Karsa Orlong

You could try Julian May's 'Saga of Pliocene Exile' series, starting with The Many-Coloured Land. It too is about a group of humans who travel back in time to try and build a new life. There's a review here: http://www.sfreviews.net/pliocene1.html

I was disappointed that I didn't like Dracula, too! I really wanted to like it, I really did.

I'm jealous! I just got Grave Peril, the third Dresden Files book, for the Kindle, and downloaded a sample of Adam Neville's The Ritual (although I still haven't read Apartment 16).

Yeah, Firestarter is by Stephen King. Not sure if it's the one you're looking for, Star, but it certainly fits the bill. Brilliant book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Firestarter-Stephen-King/dp/0340899042/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1321449026&sr=8-2

Endless Night by Richard Laymon made me cry - because it was so bad. All those struggling authors out there who can't get published and rubbish like that makes it onto the shelves Seriously, though, I can't say I've ever cried at a book, but certain ones have brought a lump to my throat: the end of The Shadow of the Wind springs to mind, and The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. Also, when I've invested a lot of time in a series and finally reach the end of it, I have found that can be quite an emotional experience (in a manly way, of course ). I remember The Belgariad had that effect many years ago, when I turned the last page, and more recently The Malazan Book of the Fallen.

It was a good, fast-paced read, I thought. His writing style is very easy to get along with. The final twist was obvious almost from the start, but it didn't really matter

Don't you love it when that happens? I think he wrote it in conjunction with someone else, but I haven't got it to hand to check. The story was inspired by The Man Who Would Be King, apparently.

Last night I finished Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg and this morning I have started The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt, which I am thoroughly enjoying already.

Infidel by Bob Shepherd This one's a debut novel about two ex-SAS guys working as private contractors in Afghanistan who incur the wrath of a local warlord and go on the run. It's a fast-moving action/adventure story, quite well written, and I think it benefits from concentrating on a small cast of characters. There's a nice set-up at the start (it's one of those books that starts with the end and then goes back in time to tell you what happened) and leaves you guessing almost to the end about what exactly occurred. It's not particularly ground-breaking, but it doesn't overstay its welcome. 7/10 The Woman in Black by Susan Hill I was in the mood for another ghost story, after enjoying Dark Matter so much, so I got this one on the Kindle. I didn't realise at the time, but I had seen the tv adaptation of this story (rather than the stage play) a few years ago, so I remembered a lot of what was going happen, which was a shame but didn't spoil it completely. This one's about a young solicitor whose boss sends him oop North to deal with the estate of a recently deceased client who lives on the coast in a dark, spooky old house that just happens to be cut off from the mainland at every high tide, and can only be reached by the 'Nine Lives' causeway even at low tide. Naturally, bad things have happened at this house in the past, and the locals are suitably tight-lipped about the details, just giving our hero, Arthur, cryptic warnings. Of course, he soon begins to see and hear things which seriously mess with his mind. It's another ghost story that's told in the first person. Perhaps the only thing that spoiled it (before I remembered knowing the story) is that it starts in Arthur's 'present', where his step-kids are sitting around the fire telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve. This brings the memories of his experiences flooding back, and he vows to write it all down, which is what makes up the rest of the story. The problem here, similar to Dark Matter and Dracula (above), is that it robs the story of any real suspense because you know Arthur will make it to the end in one piece. This doesn't diminish its spookiness, though. I was reading this late at night and, at one particular point, jumped out of my skin when a floorboard creaked next door I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Dark Matter, but it was still a good, atmospheric read that lasted just as long as it needed to. 7/10 Edit: and I've just seen that Hammer are making a new film version of it for release next year

These are all major plus points, imo

You will be when you get to the end of A Dance with Dragons and realise there's no end in sight! Seriously, though, great series, but nothing like Lord of the Rings. I'd go along with The Belgariad and Riftwar Saga, definitely, and maybe add Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow & Thorn series.

Decided to get Robert Silverberg's Downward to the Earth for my next SF Gateway purchase. Started it this morning and am quite enjoying it already.

Speaking as a 45-year-old, I thought the Harry Potter series was great fun. True, the first couple of books are definitely for younger readers, but the series matures with its characters as it goes along, and it's so well written, it really is worth it. Generally, I like much grittier, darker, grown-up fantasy series, but I'd have no hesitation in recommending HP.

I went to see Opeth last night. It wasn't the best concert I've ever been to. It wasn't even the best Opeth concert I've ever been to It was good, but they didn't play any of the growly stuff. I don't mind at all if they want to make an album that's all clean vocals, like Heritage, but I don't think they should ignore the older, growly material when they play live. Still, Mikael is a star - he is so funny

The Definitive Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence at the moment

Fantastic! I take it that it was good

I'm with Kell on this one. I watched the first four and a half episodes then said to myself (in true Willow fashion) "Self! There aren't enough hours in the day to waste one watching this!"

I watched the first ep last night. I don't think 'weird' quite covers it

Ah, I ended up not enjoying it much. I posted my thoughts here so won't repeat myself

Holy cr@p! I can't believe Artem danced that brilliant jive on Saturday night with a fractured spine!! From the Telegraph: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF8XxJcWSng Seriously, holy cr@p!

Rush - Time Machine Tour blu-ray, predictably awesome Mongrels 2x01 & 2x02 - I love that show!