Karsa Orlong

The Dark Crystal

Over the weekend: finished Tim Powers' The Anubis Gates and started on George RR Martin's A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow.

I haven't got a library near me, sadly. There used to be one just around the corner but they closed it down a few years ago. I like to go in book shops (usually Waterstones or Hatchards) to see if they've got what I want. I have to confess that I'm one of those crazy people who likes to keep his books pristine, so I buy them new. If there's five copies on the shelf I'll look at all of them and take the one that's in the best condition. And I never crack the spines If I can't get it in the book shops then I'll order from Amazon.

I remember reading The Secret Seven and The Famous Five, too. And I remember my dad getting me hooked on the Biggles books.

The night is black Without a moon The air is thick and still The vigilantes gather on The lonely torch lit hill Features distorted in the flickering light The faces are twisted and grotesque Silent and stern in the sweltering night The mob moves like demons possessed Quiet in conscience, calm in their right Confident their ways are best The righteous rise With burning eyes Of hatred and ill-will Madmen fed on fear and lies To beat and burn and kill They say there are strangers who threaten us In our immigrants and infidels They say there is strangeness too dangerous In our theaters and bookstore shelves That those who know what's best for us Must rise and save us from ourselves Quick to judge Quick to anger Slow to understand Ignorance and prejudice And fear walk hand in hand... Witch Hunt by Rush

I don't mind the Go Compare ads. Should I go and hide somewhere?

Didn't read much yesterday, as I lost the afternoon to my writing, so only about 50 pages of The Anubis Gates. Shame, as I was hoping to have it finished today.

Yes, two episodes on Easter Monday, I think. Part 1 was brilliant but I didn't get to see Part 2 last night, unfortunately. Ended up watching episode 6 of Spartacus: Blood & Sand instead. And I've still got three episodes of season 2 sitting on my dvd recorder - I'd better get a move on Thought the special they did for Sport Relief was hilarious (especially the Tiger Woods bit )

Part 2 of The Pacific, hopefully. Really must watch the last couple of episodes of season 2 of Ashes To Ashes before the new season starts, too.

Up until about a year ago I was probably more likely to read a magazine than a book. I'm not sure how or why that happened. Possibly because I used to do most of my reading on the tube, and I was finding it harder and harder to concentrate in that environment. I've hardly bought any magazines since I re-discovered the joy of books, though, and now I always seem to have a novel close to hand. It does help that I don't have to travel on the tube at the moment.

Sheesh, after reading this thread a couple of days ago I had a look for these books in Waterstones today and they didn't have any of them Which is good, cos I prefer the US covers. So I've ordered them from Amazon.com Thanks for the heads up. Officially the first recommendation I have taken from this board

Last night I read about another 100 pages of The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers. It's different, clever and very entertaining. I had to go to a meeting today, so on the way home I popped in Waterstones at Bond Street. I had some money left on a gift card so I bought Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman.

Last night I read the first 80 pages or so of The Gates of Anubis by Tim Powers. Very enjoyable so far.

Some I've listened to today: No One Knows - Queens of The Stone Age Rusty Cage - Soundgarden The Funeral Portrait - Opeth Unleashed - Epica The Spirit of Radio - Rush Left Out - Riverside

I thought Perdido Street Station was fantastic. Must pick up the other's you mention at some point.

Russell Crowe as Bud White, Guy Pearce as Ed Exley and Kevin Spacey as Jack Vincennes, all in LA Confidential. I'd never heard of Russell Crowe before then, and I don't think he's ever been that good since. They all did the characters great service. Also have to mention Robert Shaw in Jaws. He got Quint almost spot on, I think.

I blame David Eddings for my love of fantasy, as I became hooked on the genre after reading The Belgariad. I was very sad to read of his death last year.

I can appreciate that - they're not for everyone, that's for sure. Definitely a love it or hate it series. Obviously, I'm in the former category I'm finding they benefit from re-reading more than any other books I have read, too. Going back to the start with all the knowledge gained from the later books has been a real eye-opener. The scope and ambition of Erikson's work is something that I find quite staggering.

I recently turned 44. I suppose that means I should have known the meaning of life, the universe and everything for a couple of years now but I'm not actually noticing any difference

I go in the Waterstones at Piccadilly quite a lot, and also to Hatchards just along the road from it. I pop in Foyles occasionally but I'm not a huge fan of the place. I also go in Forbidden Planet a fair bit. I'm really gutted that Borders closed down. I used to spend a lot of time in the one on Oxford Street. I tend to have a fairly good idea what I want when I go in a book shop but I still have a browse. If I see a book that interests me I'll make a note of it and go away and read some reviews before taking the plunge.

I read the last 100 pages or so of A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin last night. Thought it was fantastic, if not quite as good as the first book in the series. I haven't quite decided what to read next. It's between The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers, The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks or a re-read of Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton (so that I can finally get around to reading its sequel).

I love that venue. You always get such great sound and atmosphere there.

I'd go along with those as well. Also for me, LA Confidential. It's one of those films which I went to see on a whim and came out of the cinema wishing it hadn't finished. I was totally caught up in the whole experience of it. Brilliant acting, brilliant story and a brilliant adaptation of a brilliant book. Quite how Titanic managed to win the Oscar for Best Film in the same year this came out is beyond me.

Probably Part 1 of The Pacific, the follow up to Band of Brothers.