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

Wow, finally found the book forum... erm, should the link from the Aroma cafe be updated now you've moved? Anyway, after all that running around I need to settle back with a nice hot cafe latte - got any going? I just finished Jostein Gaarder's through a glass darkly, really touching.... anyone know it? Also have people read Birdsong? I think someone recommended it to me once but can't find out anything about it, it may have been a dream....

That's because it has a nice round flavour to it. But if you're short
on pastries, have a gingerbread heart: <3
Traditional swedish christmas cookie.

Anyone read any of Gilbert Sorrentino's books ? I am in the middle of Mulligan Stew now.
bizzare seems a mild adjective...I love it.

Something Helena said reminded me of a truly excellent book I just read. Its called Mother Tongue and its by ..oh my, um Bill Braxton I think (something like that anyway)...

*Beeblefish suddenly realises now nice and fast this PII lab computer at his school is compared to his .... whoa *

But I digress, its all about the english language, like liguistic anthropology lite, full of great anecdotes like the fact that the way we do pluralisation was once varried, but since adding an 's' was what they did in London, and that is where the seet of gov. was, it stuck.

If the seat had been in Devon for example, where then used 'en' (like we still do for ox --> oxen) then we would say a bird --> some birden, and a fish ----> some fishen! It really maken you think!

Also, does anyone like Desmond Morris booken?

~Beeblefish

oop. That might not have made sense ... I trailed off. The thing Helana said that reminded me of this was about dialecten in England changing litterally over the next hill, which is in the book. Plus theorien why this is not the same in America, for example.

Oh, and can I have some nice stong Earl Grey Tea please

The Dune series was great. I would be interested in why you trailed off in Chapterhouse (that being one of my favorites)

As for the new book, I read it, and would recommend not reading it if you liked the original series. I have ranted on this before in the previous forum

http://www.h2g2.com/forumframe.cgi?forum=26140&thread=27063

so I won't go into it again. Also, if you go to amazon.com, I found the reviews of the book to be bang on.

With regards to Piers Anthony, I read all the Adept books and all the Incarnations books, and then trailed off.

Has anyone read Armor by John Steakley? I read it awhile ago and just re-read it. A fantastic book. It's definitely one that I recommend, both to people that are looking into SciFi and to those of us that are already into it.

Also, The Forever War *thinks, scratches head, looks puzzled* can't remember the author is a great read.

Thanks Courtesy (why 38?)

That is disapointing of course, but I never expected it to be good. I just wanted to know the things taken from Herbert's original notes.

I hate that more than anything, by the way -- being spoonfed in litterature, that is like a comedian who laughs at their own jokes to point them out, of American television -- ugh.

I will return to Chapterhouse, actually. I think I was just overloading . . I had read them Back to back and Herretics left me --- oddly unsatisfied, it seemed to trail off, especially since I Liked God Emperor so much.

I think I actually lost interest at the point Duncan and Sheana (was that her name (Memory Failure! Memory Failure!) get together. All that build up, the parallel storylines all of it and then they come together and then, well, I dont want to spoil it for anyone who hasnt read it -- but it just wasnt what I was expecting.

Ill give CH a second chance

The 38 was in case there was a second Courtesy or for future compliance issues if H2G2 ever goes to unique nameing. I am thinking, however, of just dropping it *think, think, think*

I agree that Heretics dropped off, it was the first novel by Herbert that I felt was written for a sequel.

The sad thing about the new Dune book is that I don't think either author even read Frank Herbert's notes, there are soooooo many inconsistancies (sp?)

Here's food for thought. Frank Herbert was working on a Dune #7 to take place after Chapterhouse and from what I have heard, he had a preliminary plot. However, with the lack of writting ability in his son, I doubt we will ever see it

YEAH for the second chance on CH

ooh . Dune 7 would have been nice.

Ya know, up until the Guide appeared I was all for the Butlerian Jihad!

Hey kids, come and Join the Royal Order of Insanity!

(http://www.h2g2.com/A225415)

Hi Lil,
I read the Tarot trilogy and thought it was great! Left me with an oddly hypnotic feeling...
I never got to the cluster series, though - did you read these ? comments ?

Another excellent SF/F series involving the Tarot is Rodger Zelazney's "Amber" series...there are ten or so books in it, and is alot of fun.

The Amber series is another great series that should be read.

Anyone read Michael Moorcock (Elric, The Eternal Champion)?

Courtesy

About the new Dune - I haven't read it yet, but I know that they are already well on their way to Dune: House Harkonnen, and the third one too... Perhaps that will make it make more sense...?
I don't know - I would of thought his son would understand the Dune plot, but from all I've heard, apparently not.

Who knows, maybe all the negative feedback will make subsequant books better.

*Looks around furtively*

It could happen!

I agree Blue, the reason I bought the book was because it was Dune and it was written by Herbert's son, I mean who else could understand Dune as well as he?

Beelbefish, the new books might help, however, *BIG sigh* I don't think I will be reading them. Not unless I hear something in here to change my mind.

*Another BIG Sigh*

It just bums me out that there was soooooo much potential for a great book and it just didn't work.

Oh well, Helena, a cup of the strongest coffee to drown my sorrows in.

I am too curious to avoid reading the new Dune trilogy...
One thing I do want to hear about is the new Foundation trilogy - PLEASE - if anyone has read that, let me know....?

Blue, let me know what you think of "Dune: House Atreides", in fact, if you haven't bought it yet, I could send it to you.

I am also interested in the new Foundation series, so I concur, if anyone has read it, or even heard something about it Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please write something.

Courtesy

Thanks for the offer - I may get it for Christmas, but I doubt it.
Have you read the Robot series by Allen? I haven't yet, so how good is that?

The only Robot series I have heard of is by Asimov. If Allen wrote one then I will have to read it and let you know.

I just realized a major problem with this forum. I now have some major purchases of books that I need to read. I think I will probably get a thank you from Amazon for allowing them to make their first profit

I know the feeling - I have to get the Comic Relief book now that Douglas Adams wrote 2 short stories for...