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

I forgot to say that it might be good to explain that Pippin is pereguin tooks nickname

That's exactly the kind of conversation you're going to get in any thread about a subject like LOTR, GD, but I'm sure we can all work through the speak to pin down the genuine PR talk

I get back to my original question - should an edited entry about a book like LOTR (or indeed *any* book or film) be little more than a synopsis of the plot?

Cheers. That clears up one of the questions that I asked

Thinking about it a little more - any subject which is the demesne of s must be accurate to the minutest detail unless you're going get people like Comic Book Guy "Worst episode ever" picking holes in it.

"should an edited entry about a book like LOTR [...] be little more than a synopsis of the plot?"

Yes, maybe a little more.

But in this case, not a lot more please. I have the feeling that if you start adding explanations, reasonings etc etc you are going to be off down a slippery slope towards an unreadable monster of an entry

Whaddya expect - it's a bloody long book And there's a lot to get one's teeth into in this one.

I *know* it's a bloody long book: I tried reading it once as a teenager. After getting about a third of the way through I gave up and went back to trying to get into Lucy B*****'s knickers instead

Ooops! That should read "... Lucy B****'s ..."

Damn straight it should - Lucy B***** was *my* girlfriend

I stress the word 'trying'

And I notice I've done it yet *again* with the topic drift thingy. Sorry everyone

Ena, I think this is a great entry and, although I've read the Silmarillion and have some detailed knowledge, I agree with GD about simplicity. Just one quite minor addition, you could mention that at the tome of the War of the Ring Galadriel is the oldest elf in Middle Earth, one of the original exiles, so her returning on the Grey Ships is actually quite important. There were a few typos but I'm rubbish at picking them up *and* remembering them so I'll leave it to the others
Isn't it nice when a labour of love ends up so beautiful

Thanks for being so nice all of you.....I know there are definitely other things to be done to it (such as the typos........) but I have my exams at the moment so it might take a while

Good luck with the exams.

I'm probably one of those people who GreyDesk thinks should get out more... having said that I agree with him 100%.

I think, though, that maybe since there isn't any analysis of the plot etc, you could possibly change the title to reflect this, and then when it's in the Guide (as it surely will be) the can all come out of the wardrobe (oops, wrong author ) and discuss the third orc from the left's cousin four times removed to our... oops, their hearts content.

One thing though: I really think you need to have at least a few lines about Tom Bombadill. It's something that often comes up when this book is discussed: Frodo should have given Tom the ring and saved him and everyone else a lot of heartache and bloodshed.

Or maybe not

And while you're mentioning Tom, Goldberry should be in there too. And the fact that the Nazgul and the Witch King are the nine mortal Kings.

sorry, don't mean to go on and on and on

Also, I think it might be a tad easier to follow if you listed the characters in the order that they came up in the book, or grouped them: the hobbits, the Rohirrim, those pesky chappies from Gondor etc.

Oh, and didn't Legolas and Gimli hang around until after Aragorn's death before sailing off? Which would have been a fair amount of time, because he was around 80 or so when he was crowned king (someone will be along to correct me in about 30 seconds) and he lived to around 200.

But I have to say: all kudos to you for taking this on and doing it. Can't wait for it to hit the front page.

I can't believe I left Tom out *talks to self while hitting head on a brick wall* Stupid girl....grr.....

I will change it as soon as the exams are over.

noooooo not stupid!

If only Tolkien had been as sensible and left him out, it would save me flicking past those pages...

Exams... Good luck! I'm doing them too, so I know how you feel. Anyway, on to business...

fist up, a few typos:

the lived peacefully --> they lived peacefully
it's sole aim --> its sole aim
loyal friend he learns --> loyal friend, he learns
it's power ---> its power
by Bilbo Gollum-->by Bilbo, Gollum
it's many trials ---> its many trials
influence refusing to take --> influence, refusing to take
beautiful elf she chooses ---> beautiful elf ,she chooses
destiny's --> destinies
free-people's ---> free peoples



"Sam is the real hero of the book" Some people might not agree with that.


Finally, you may wish to give a few details of the various races. Not TOO much, just wnough for people like GD who get out far too much to have some idea For example, you could say that the Evles are the wisest, fairest, greatest, bravest, smatest, bestest race in Middle-Earth, that the dwarves are quite short but very strong and love gold just a >little< too much, etc.

Also, I can't remember now, but I think there should be mention of how the Orcs are corrupted elves, and something about the Uruk Hai - the distinction between those and the Orcs.

I think this is a really nice job of contracting the plot and character summaries into an article of the right kinda length.

Light of Elendil--> Light of Eärendil

"created by the Vala, like the Istari"-->Vala is singular, Valar is plural. One of the Vala, but created by the Valar. And the Valar didn't create the Maiar, the Maiar are simply lesser Valar, created by Illuvatar.