h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Didn't think he was that good, but maybe it was the book I read, what do you think of the following books? Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls, A Dog Called Demolition, The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag and Waiting for Godalming?

How about the Niel Gaiman books, like American Gods and Good Omens?

I just finished "Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls" and I thought it was brilliant, although you sould really read the preceeding 5 Brentford trilogy novels before you read it. I thought "A Dog Called Demolition" was good, especially the ending which was a bizarre mess. "The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag" is alright but not that good. "Waiting for Godalming" is my favourite of his books.

I admit that he's not that good as an author, but he taps into my sense of humour perfectly.

I've read "Good Omens" and thought it was brilliant.

It's still on my to-read list. I'm a compulsive book-buyer and so I have stacks of new books I haven't had time to open.

You really should read it. It's really funny, especially the bit about the shoot out at the convent.

Reminds me of my aunt cousin sister Wilda.

Well let's face the fact that he [Rankin] is better than Tom Holt who writes the most banal shite I ever had the misfortune of picking up. And his work is more original than that Terry . Who's only decent title was written mainly by Neil Gaiman, who is the probably most talented writer of this time.
A Dog Called Demolition, The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag are extremely funny works of dark madness. Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls, is lighter but still features great characters, good action and healthy quantity of humour. Waiting For Gadalming is widely regarded, and by the author himself as his weakest novel. Something I disagree with, personally favouring Web Site Story for that ahonourable title. Waiting For Godalming suffers mainly form it's poor ending, there is still alot of laughing to be had at an otherwise well executed work.

You see this is where I have to dissagree. I bought, damn that was a waste of £2.49, A Dog Called Demolition and I found it to be shallow, dull and and poorly written. I think you'll find that on the contrary Holt's comic fantasy work, while based on old/ancient fables, legends and stories, are imaginative, often have great depth, especially if you know the original stories upon which they draw, and are far more entertaining, not to mention easier to read while Pratchett takes familiar, often serious, subject matters and turns them into imaginative satire, albeit in a light fantasy setting. Another author whom you haven't mentioned is Harry Harrison, who writes exceedingly funny and at the same time intellectually stimulatng and thought provoking stories.

I would probably, actually I think it's almost a certainty, rate Robert Rankin bellow Craig Shaw Gardener, and he's so inconsistant that while his 'Other Arabian Nights' trilogy is hillarious, the Ebenezum Trilogy and Ballad of Wuntvor are mediocre and the only thing which stops me using the Cineverse Cycle as bog paper is Revenge of the Fluffy Bunnies.

I think we can all agree that Stephen King is bovine excrement.

ah yes, one of the few authors who's work makes better films than books

I know it's rare, but I agree with TB. Tom Holt is IMHO the sharpest and insightful writer of comic fantasy at the moment. There is ALWAYS at least 1 gem in each of his books that makes you think! Whether it's the allegedly true story of Santa, The various thing that got left at the bottom of Pandora's box( Who but the greek gods would give a woman curiosity, then give her a box AND tell her not to open it!!)including Hope, incompetence and litigation, or the fact that there is a note from E.A.Presley "to be opened in event of my death" still unopened.

The brentford trilogy should have stayed precisely that! The Late, Great DNA was the only one to make a trilogy in 5 parts work.

A further point, Harry Harrison also wrote some very good fairly mainstream Science fiction - try to get your hands on his 'Deathworld' Trilogy

I've read Make Room! Make Room!

On the 6th of August it becomes the Brentford Heptology.

What about Ursula LeGuine? Any comments?

I've read the Earthsea trilogy, which then became the Tales of earthsea when it hit four books, although I think a fifth was released recently

Well, this is where I must disagree with Stealth. The Brentford Trilogy is much better in 7 parts. I found the first three (which were his first three books) to be rather dull and without the bizarre surealism which came along with the Armageddon Quartet. What I like about the trilogy is that despite the fact that they're all about the same characters, absolutly none of them has continuity with each other.

You mean like how Holt has recurring characters like Danny Bennett, but where things which happen in one novel don't necessarily affect the same character in the others?

Make Room! Make room! was hollywoodised as Soylent Green, Giving truth to the maxim "Never trust a Hollywood 'adaptation' ". Several very good books had their reputations ruined by The American Film Industry! (rant Over)