A Conversation for Ask h2g2
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
IctoanAWEWawi Posted May 31, 2002
C Hawke,
Cheers! At least I now have a name to search under. D'you know if they're still in print before i rush of to the great evil bookseller?
Jim,
"And to my mind, Holdstock has never bettered 'Elite: The Dark Wheel'."
Eh? 'Fraid I have my ignoramous hat on today.....
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Jim Lynn Posted May 31, 2002
It was the novella that accompanied the original Elite for the BBC Micro. One of Holdstock's earlier works.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
a girl called Ben Posted May 31, 2002
Tolkein did not invent the 'three decker' - ie the novel published in 3 volumes. This was standard stuff in Victorian England (ie only 40 years before LotR was published.). If you look at Jane Austin's books you will find the volume breaks in there as well as the chapter breaks.
a figment of your imagination called Ben
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Hoovooloo Posted May 31, 2002
What an imagination I've got...
H.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
IctoanAWEWawi Posted May 31, 2002
Jim,
Really? I never knew that! Just goes to show and other expressions of incredulity.
I thought I recognised the title but I never knew he wrote it. I wonder how that came about, bit of a difference!
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Still Incognitas, Still Chairthingy, Still lurking, Still invisible, unnoticeable, missable, unseen, just haunting h2g2 Posted May 31, 2002
I have been reliably informed that the next TP will be called Night Watch and involves time travel.Sounds derivitive I know but TP should have a way of making the plot unfold in a unique manner.
Please excuse spelling but I'm back on my old PC which has not got a spellchecker.
Love Incog.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Giford Posted May 31, 2002
Sorry, sorry, latecomer, but - I love DNA. I like Pratchett better. But I would say that you need a really good knowledge of English to appreciate TP. Not just language (he loves playing with the English language like DNA does) but also culture, classical and popular. The more you know of it, the more you'll like him. Hence no TP sales in the USA. (TP's books don't have Josh Kirby covers over the pond either, at least not all of them.)
I do think DNA and TP have similar styles - one-liners were very common and very, very good in early Pratchett. No-one has yet mentioned the left-wing subtext in a lot of TP's stuff, eg Jingo, anything with Vimes in.
Does anybody know why LOTR has book and volume breaks?
Gif 
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
a girl called Ben Posted May 31, 2002
Because Tolkein wrote it a bit at a time.
B
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
a girl called Ben Posted May 31, 2002
And on the subject of time travel... F48874?thread=184893&latest=1
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted May 31, 2002
Unabashed plug or what? 
If Night watch is to be a time travel novel, (and the title would indicate it wiill be a Vimes time travel novel), then it will presumably be building on the idea of the History Monks that he has introduced in Thief of Time.
I shall look forward to it with glee.
Who hopes it wasn't him who introduced the idea that Tolkien invented the multi-part novel. I *think* all I said was that idiotic publishers slavishly following Tolkien continue to overstretcgh ideas in fabtasty novels that should be a short stroy into a saga, , which isn't the same as saying Tolkien started the tradition at all.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me! Posted Jun 1, 2002
OOH, ooh, I mentioned Holdstock - I *love* his work... I am reading his book Celtica at the moment, well, not this precise moment, I am computering, but it is in my bag to read at McDonalds later.
Mythago Wood has got to be the best fantasy I ever read, ever! 
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Jim Lynn Posted Jun 1, 2002
For all those of you who tire of endless, formulaic fantasy series, try reading Diana Wynne Jones' 'A Tough Guide To Fantasyland' (ISBN 0886778328) which dissects all the tropes, traditions and cliches of the fantasy novel. Very funny - you'll never read a David Eddings book the same way again.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
You can call me TC Posted Jun 2, 2002
Having once read one of her (DWJ's) books, I hope that this "Guide" you mention is better.
The one I read (I bought it because everyone said she was better than JKR) was no better than I could have done myself. Can't remember what it was, but the plot was construed and the language fairly primitive.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Jim Lynn Posted Jun 2, 2002
You might have read one of her books for younger readers.
IMO she's a better writer than Rowling.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Wayfarer-- I only wish I were crackly Posted Jun 2, 2002
*jumps up and down with the exitement of the possibility of another TP book*
especially if it has more about the History Monks(i thought i remembered some about them in Small Gods? much less overt, though).
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 3, 2002
Moorcock's book on fantasy novels is a good, controversial read from one of the more outspoken *anti-Tolkien's* out there as well.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
a girl called Ben Posted Jun 3, 2002
DWJs Chrystomanci books are definitely sub-Rowling, but A Sudden Wild Magic is wonderful feminist SF - as good as anything Naomi Mitchison has done, or Ursula Le Guin for that matter.
Anyone else here read or reading "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman? A sort of blacker and less funny version of the first Tom Holt book. (Not "Who's afraid of Beowulf" but the other one). Never forget that Neil Gaiman collaborated with TP on Good Omens.
I can highly recommend "American Gods" if you like your reading dark and with a twist.
Ben
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like Posted Jun 3, 2002
Sitting in a big pile of stuff to be read...
I like Gaiman, he takes risk, though I have to say the whole idea is *rather* reminiscent of Ellison's Deathbird stories, but he is good enough to admit that in his acknowledgements, so thumbs up to the guy.
I look forward to his next comics work with interest, as he had been going off the bowl for some time before he started writing American Gods.
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
Tefkat Posted Jun 3, 2002
Diana Wynne Jones - I read Hexwood and thought it was wonderful. Have put her on my list of authors to look out for. Is it not representative?
Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
fords - number 1 all over heaven Posted Jun 3, 2002
*wishes so bad for some money to go and buy all these great books* 
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Did Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams know each other, considering the fact that their writing styles are identical?
- 161: IctoanAWEWawi (May 31, 2002)
- 162: Jim Lynn (May 31, 2002)
- 163: a girl called Ben (May 31, 2002)
- 164: Hoovooloo (May 31, 2002)
- 165: IctoanAWEWawi (May 31, 2002)
- 166: Still Incognitas, Still Chairthingy, Still lurking, Still invisible, unnoticeable, missable, unseen, just haunting h2g2 (May 31, 2002)
- 167: Giford (May 31, 2002)
- 168: a girl called Ben (May 31, 2002)
- 169: a girl called Ben (May 31, 2002)
- 170: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (May 31, 2002)
- 171: DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me! (Jun 1, 2002)
- 172: Jim Lynn (Jun 1, 2002)
- 173: You can call me TC (Jun 2, 2002)
- 174: Jim Lynn (Jun 2, 2002)
- 175: Wayfarer-- I only wish I were crackly (Jun 2, 2002)
- 176: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 3, 2002)
- 177: a girl called Ben (Jun 3, 2002)
- 178: Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like (Jun 3, 2002)
- 179: Tefkat (Jun 3, 2002)
- 180: fords - number 1 all over heaven (Jun 3, 2002)
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