Karsa Orlong

That's a real shame, cos you're going to miss out on some of brilliant pay-offs to set-ups from the first book. There was one particular bit that had me diving straight back into Bitter Seeds to confirm it, and coming away in awe Pedestrian or poo, they both apply

With you there. The end of RotK dragged on long enough without adding the Scouring of the Shire back in, IMO. It bugged me too - I wanted them both to die!

Pretty much how I feel, too. In particular, they're not conveying Stephen's part of the story at all well, and I also feel that Eddie Marsan's talent is being wasted. Having said that, last night's episode was better, I thought, and had some top notch special effects, too. It's definitely at its best when it's focusing on Strange.

I remember thinking it was pretty average, tbh. I can't remember an awful lot about it, apart from a particular theory one of the characters had that came to fruition at the end of the book and tied in quite subtly with the closing shots of the movie. Apart from that . . .

Yup. Agree completely. IIRC, at least some of your questions are answered in Return of the Crimson Guard. Plus it resolves at least one major plot thread from the main series. As a book it's no better than NoK, though What are you reading next?

I stopped watching at the end of season 4 and haven't been back. It's quite easy to walk away.

I have, yes, many moons ago - before the first film came out, I think

Thanks I vaguely remember you asking waaaay back if I had read any science fiction series that had the same sort of structure/feel as an epic fantasy series - this could be just what you were looking for ETA: okay, it wasn't quite the question you asked, but near enough

I finished Julian May's The Many-Coloured Land on Saturday, and now I'm just over halfway through Open Season the first in C J Box's 'Joe Pickett' series

The Many-Coloured Land (The Saga of the Exiles Book #1) by Julian May 1981 - Tor ebook - 572 pages In the 22nd Century, a group of misfits and mavericks are preparing to leave behind everything they have known. Advanced technology has created a one-way time portal to Earth’s Pliocene Era – six million years ago. Those seeking a better life are drawn to the promise of a simple utopia, far from the civilised Galactic Mileu. But no one could have predicted the dangers on the other side. The travellers are about to discover that their unspoilt paradise is far from Eden. Winner of the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. I first encountered this book in the 80s when a new colleague - who had been very quick and vocal in denouncing my choice of reading as I sat in the office one lunchtime with a David Eddings book in hand (one doesn't forget these things, especially where book-snobbery is involved ) - told me it was the best of the best of the best. Naturally, when someone has slagged off something I like, the walls went up and, although I tried to read this first book in the series, I don't think it was possible to go into it with an open mind. I return to it now with an open mind, and I've been very much looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into this initial four books series, The Saga of the Exiles, and following it up with the subsequent Galactic Milieu trilogy and the bridging novel, Intervention. In fact, I tried to start the series again a few years ago, but got distracted by something else and never got further than the first few pages and, in the meantime managed to give my original paperback copy to charity. At the time, the books were out of print, and it was very hard to get hold of them for a while, until Tor came to the rescue and re-issued them with snazzy new covers and ebook counterparts (a lifesaver - they're big books!). It's the 22nd century, and man has been invited into the Galactic Milieu, a confederation, if you will, of alien species who see the potential in humankind. We're also introduced to the idea of metapsychic powers, which can take one of several forms, from telekinesis to coercion. But not all humans like this new universe. Indeed, some people feel out of place, that they'd rather be somewhere else. These people decide to take a chance on a one-way portal that goes to just one destination - six million years into Earth's past, with no communication with or chance of return to their own time. Hmm. It's a leap of logic that doesn't quite seem . . . right. Why didn't they just move to another planet and start another colony there? At least that way they'd have a support network should anything go wrong. Oh well. The book, after a slightly disorientating prologue, then launches into a sequence of chapters that introduce the main characters. It's surprising how many reviews I've seen that say this part of the book is boring, and they nearly gave up, etc etc. For me, this was the best part. Each character gets a one-chapter intro that is effectively a short story in its own right, filling in their backstory and illustrating why they might want to give up their life in favour of one 6 million years in the past. My favourite was definitely Richard Vorhees, a hot-shot space pilot who, in defiance of his family, has become an interstellar courier renowned for making the most difficult deliveries in almost impossible times. The only problem: he's as xenophobic as a UKIP party conference. So, needless to say, when he's on a particularly difficult delivery run and picks up a mayday from an alien craft . . . well, let's just say it doesn't end well. And each character gets a chapter like this, before they are all steadily drawn to a small cottage near Lyon in France, in the basement of which is the portal. They are by no means the first to pass through it. I think it's mentioned somewhere that around ninety thousand people have already passed into Exile at this stage. But still, nobody has any means of knowing what lies in wait on the other side. So, after a surprisingly little amount of survival training, the main characters become Green group, and set off together through the portal and into Earth's past. At first it seems like a strange decision, to have taken this opening 150 pages to build this future which seems so intriguing, and then to take it away and throw the characters back into the past, taking away all the technology and alien encounters. That Julian May will return to that future in the second series of books is quite exciting. What she has done is effectively set up a future history by re-creating the past, with six million years in between. It's a very enticing prospect, original and damn clever. What I will say is don't go into this expecting it to be something akin to Jurassic Park or anything along those lines, because you will be disappointed. The danger that awaits them is not of that nature. Also, I must say that her character-building is brilliant. In those early chapters she makes you feel instantly like you know these people, and you quickly grow to care for them. She's not afraid to kill them off, either. It's not a book without problems, though. It was obviously never intended to stand on its own, and she does something of a George RR Martin by splitting the characters into two groups and then abandoning one of the groups altogether. There were a couple of characters I really liked who disappeared halfway through the book and will not reappear until part two, The Golden Torc. Also, for me, when the book should have been accelerating to its climax, I felt I was being held at a distance from the action and instead of being thrilled I was left feeling a little uninvolved. I'm not entirely convinced by some of the races involved. It's a science fiction novel, but it lurches alarmingly into fantasy territory at times and it didn't always feel quite right to me. Still, when it's good it's brilliant. Anyone with a passing interest in science fiction and/or fantasy could do a lot worse than read this book - just try not to find out too much about the story in advance so that you don't spoil all the surprises (I've deliberately tried not to spoil anything beyond the point where they step through the portal). I thought the first half of the book bordered on amazing, but it just lost its way a little in its latter stages. But writing about it here and remembering some of the events within has reminded me just how much I enjoyed most of it. I'll definitely be returning for more. Memorable Quote:

I like Defiance. It's not the greatest show ever, and it had some pretty dodgy episodes early on, but it steadily improves. It's usually worth it to see Tony Curran chewing the scenery FWIW, I thought season 2 was much better than season 1.

At least I noticed, unlike some

That's a lot of Katherine Kerr I've heard a lot of good things about Daggerspell, to the point where I nearly bought it a few years ago. But then didn't I also owned the first of the Paul Hoffman books, The Left Hand of God, for several years . . . and never read it Looking forward to hearing what you think of them ETA: Katharine Kerr

Vikings season 2 finale. Great stuff. And another episode of Ray Donovan.

By choice, or because you couldn't find it? I know they were out of print for a long time, but they've all been re-issued now, so it should be easy to get it

Phew! Glad you enjoyed it I'm currently 320 pages into Julian May's The Many-Coloured Land.

Loving it so far It is a re-read, but it's so long since I first read it (25 years or more) and I can't honestly remember how far I got first time around

I remember snatching my legs up off the cinema floor when the velociraptor jumped up at the girls legs (when they were trying to escape at the end)

Yeah. And I love the way he recruits the others, especially Jayne and Kaylee I watched the third episode last night and, okay, the end got me. Have to watch the next episode, no choice

I'm exactly the same! I just don't 'do' books that set out to be funny, but I do love it when the humour comes naturally from the characters and the dialogue, and I think he nailed that

'Out of Gas' is still one of my favourite episodes of any show I've followed. Marvellous stuff Last night I watched the first couple of episodes of Wayward Pines. I think it's going to be one of those series that tries to keep you watching by not telling you what's going on. Even the opening shot was almost identical to that of Lost I'll give it a couple more episodes.

Sacrilege I hate happy endings Alien Resurrection is a pretty dreadful film all round, but the ending is truly dire. Hybrid? 'A beautiful, beautiful butterfly.' What?? I always knew Brad Dourif was mad I'd have an alternative ending without that rubbish and that kills off the 'franchise' entirely so it can't be sullied any further. And for God's sake, someone stop Ridley Scott from making any prequels. Oh, wait . . .

I saw yesterday that they're bringing out a 'tweaked' version of the controller - maybe this problem has been addressed? Great review of the Cole book. I hope the new character's super power is binding books really quickly, though.