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

...or "What pirate-themed book are you reading at this minute?"

Actually, I haven't read any pirate books in a while, but I'm in the middle of "Two Years Before The Mast" by Richard Dana, densely packed full of nautical terms and gritty description of California circa 1830's. "After our topsails had been sheeted home, the head yards braced aback, the foretopmast staysail hoisted, and the buoys streamed, and all ready forward for slipping, we went aft and manned the slip-rope, which came through the stern port with a turn round the timber-heads." Huh?

What pirate books would you recommend? I've read a few of the old non-fiction classics, "Buccaneers of the Americas" by Exquemelin (sp?), and "A General History of the Pyrates" by Johnson (Defoe), and the more recent "Under the Black Flag" by whats-his-name. And Captain Blood is surprisingly good, better than I remembered from high school when I was too bored to get through it.

Dana describes the hunger that he developed for books, when few of his shipmates had any to trade on those two years from Boston to California and back. I don't need to borrow any out of your locker today, but if you recommend some titles, I can see if my local library has them.

I'm reading Joseph Conrad's "An Outcast of the Islands". A book for seamen

I'm not reading any seafaring books at the mo.

But I watched 'Perfect Storm' over the weekend. There was a lot of sea water in it!

...time to read "The Boat" again...

Two books to recommend very strongly...

1. The last great grain race ...Eric Newby,(true biographical account)
...Threadneedle St.youth ships out to Australia and back on the last four-masted bulk grain carrier...gripping stuff...gets washed off the top gallants, into the South Atlantic...then, miraculously is washed back on deck,...and is told to stop messing around and get back to work.

2. The Riddle of the Sands...Erskine Childers,
...classic tale of on the ground spying,...like John Buchan meets Patrick McGoohan...brilliant.

alec.

Hmmm Well, letsa see here.

I just recently finished re-reading The Lord of the Rings Trilogy for the 6th time ;-P, The Silmarillion and The Martian Chronicles.

I'm now reading the SW New Jedi Order series, and after that am gonna read War of the Worlds and The Time Machine by H.G. Well's

hehehe :D

I read "Treasure Island" by Stevenson to my son recently. All about the pirates (and no piratesses).

"Treasure Island" is a must, of course! As is "Mutiny on the Bounty" (forget the films!). I have yet to read "Peter Simple". Wonder when I'll find the time

I've been meaning to read 'Moby Dick' for years.

Ooooo, that is a good one too, that is!



(I used to call my wife Moby Dick - until she found out what I was talking about )

WIFE???

Oh , I don't think my husband calls me by anything other than my real name, but perhaps I had better pay attention more!

"Peter Pan"

*dreaming of Captain Hook*

Not to worry, Floh. I'm not married any more

What are you trying to tell me, Hati? That I am Captain Hook with a Peter Pan-syndrome?

I already knew that!

May I have a little bit of Wendy-syndrome than?

I think there is enough for everyone. Want a little Tinkerbel--syndrome to go with that?

Yesyesyes...

Well, allright, here you go then: Fly, baby, fly!