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

Entry: Cox Plate, 1986 ~ A Really Exciting Horse Race - A29231516
Author: Trout Montague - U188966

Bit of a punt, this.

I'm not sure if this is suitable for the Guide as it is, but I do wonder why this race is so special it's worth writing about? Or have I missed the point? I did find it quite hard to read.

Bravo! Brilliant - really got the atmosphere of a horse race.

I can understand where Eco's coming from on subject choice, but I don't wonder at it. This is the guide to everything and even if it's not the Bangor race track, an obscure ozzy horse race is still part of everything. Fantastic hootoo bizarreness.

The present tense retelling is an unusual style for an EG, but why not?

Needs a touch a proof reading.

Thank you Trout. Gems like this making coming here worthwhile.

Pretty good, Trout.
Oh, all right then. Bl**dy fantastic, Trout.

Needs single-mindedness to win a horse race, of course. There's always distraction from the punters. You just have to shut it all out, keep your seat, and pound on down to the line.

*Almost* bl**dy fantastic, Trout

I think you've captured the drama and excitement of the race perfectly; you can feel what it's like to be there, and I don't think you could have got that across any other way.

The only reason I say 'almost' is because it doesn't quite work with three simultaneous voices. I know it *should* be clear which bit is talking at any particular time, but it isn't always. I read this a few days ago and I've been trying to figure out why, and tonight it clicked. I think it's easy to sort out just by formatting, of all things; the plain white text and the green overlap to some extent, so just take away the green. Then put all the italicised text into blockquotes, so it's obvious which bits are commentary and which are trackside. I know it sounds really picky and daft, but I tried it in a test page and it just looks right somehow.

I feel really stupid talking about formatting in such a good Entry...

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

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I didn't realise you'd made the changes, so this is the first time I can say it.

Bl**dy fantastic, Trout

A Toast to Trout