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

I agree with Isaac Asimov as a recommendation. His Foundation trilogy had a similar impact on me in Sci-Fi as LOTR did for fantasy. He also was an extremely prolific writer in more fields than any other author I know (our Shakespeare Festival uses "Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare" as an important resource).

Other favorites in SciFi/Fantasy:
Larry Niven's "Ringworld" series, plus "Lucifer's Hammer"
Philip Jose Farmer's "World of Tiers" series and "Riverworld" series
Jack Chalker's "Nathan Brazil" series
John Varley's "Gaia" series
Anne McCaffrey's first two Pern novels
Piers Anthony's "Apprentice-Adept" series
Roger Zelazny's "Amber" series
Philip K. Dick: "UBIK"
John Brunner: "Stand on Zanzibar"
Stephen Kink: "The Stand"

For a uniquely irreverent, offbeat humor approach that reminded me a little of HHGG, I highly recommend
"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Also, for good, entertaining, pulp sci-fi, I really enjoyed "Battlefield Earth" (based on what I've seen, I'll probably stay away from the movie).

Agreed, agreed and agreed.
Actually I prefered the eddings/Sparhawk stuff. More humourous.
I really like Humour in sf/fantasy. Such as Harry Harrison, Robert A Heinlein etc.

True. Harrison's "Stainless Steel Rat" is wonderfully silly fun.

And Heinlein had a unique ability to be humorously grandiose. I always got a chuckle from Lazarus Long.

Me too. I especially liked Friday (what a woman!) and Job:A Comedy of Justice, to name but two. Harrison on the other hand, I don't think I have read a bad book yet, and I have read dozens of his works.
BTW, I am using your 'web tricks' stuff. I think I told you when I greeted you the other day.

Yes, I think I own all of Harrison's and like them all (some very different styles within them, too) and have at one time or other owned all of Heinlein's, from his epic novels to his "juveniles."

Now I remember... Yes, you did say that you were using the web tricks. Hope it's some help. Let me know if you have any questions about what I have there.

I'll keep you straight in my head now... I've been trying to absorb a lot since I arrived on Wednesday... finding my way around, knocking on doors, writing and submitting two entries, learning GuideML and trying to set up GuideML shortcuts in BBEdit, etc., but having a great time.

Glad to hear it. I was just telling a couple of other new researchers earlier that I myself have only been here for about 4 weeks, but I have become very heavily involved in various aspects of h2g2 that I am finding it hard to get around to writing any articles. Though the strangest thing happened today.
I wrote my first article, on HP Sauce, two days ago. Now I have not quite finished it and so have not submitted it, but i took a look at the h2g2 main page, and there is my article under 'Things to see on H2G2' Weird. Click on the HG symbol top left of your screen, scroll down about 2 paragraphs and you will see the link.

Amazing!
I had already read your HP Sauce entry when I checked out your page, realizing sadly that it's probably not available in my neck of the woods
(http://www.h2g2.com/A327999)
but sure enough, there it is on the front page. People wait for months to get their entry reviewed, and in two days you get featured on the front page without even submitting it!

Weird isn't it. I think what happens is that the Community Editors get notified of new articles that have been added to the system. They then have a quick read and if it tickles their fancy, you get punted onto the front page for a few days. This helps with input to the article, esp. if it hasn't been submitted yet, so that the author can refine, add, ammend etc, before submisssion. that way they have a better chance of it getting accepted first time. It also means there is more info available if the editors decide to amend it before making it an official entry.

BTW, see what i meant in the cafe forum? Two levels of conversation, to different subjects, but little confusion or dilution. Apart from tangents

I must admit that the whole review process, editors, sub-editors, is still a bit fuzzy to me. I think I understand the nuts and bolts of what I need to do, but the behind the scenes efforts by editors on intergalactic cruises in their offices on Ursa Minor Beta is still out of reach.

Any suggestions on getting input on entries? I saw something about an Entry Fun Run, or some such beast, but got lost when I tried to figure it out.

I'm not too sure myself. Can I get back to you on that?
Will leave a message on your homepage.
Failing that someone reading this may have a better idea.
I think the Fun Run Critique allows you to say 'Hey guys, look at this and tell me what you think.' before submitting it.
Will let you know.
need to go home to bed now.
Speak to you later.
B-17

G'night.

BTW - I think you are being a little cruel on "House Atriedes" - it did have some good points... erm, I can't think of any ATM, but it DID have some.

Blue - I had considerable "issues" with the prequel Besides the continual lack of consistancy with any of the other Dune novels, it was also written as more of a pulp teeny bopper novel.

On a different note, I was curious about the Sundiver review?

So far I have seen some excellent books suggested for the reading list.

Courtesy, seeing as how you're a big David Eddings fan, can you tell me anything about a new book I've heard is going to be published very soon? I can't remember the name or the publishing date but definitely saw a reference to it somewhere recently (and I can't remember where I saw that either).

Metal, I haven't heard anything, but give me a couple of hours and I will have the answer

*puts on Holmes hat, grabs pipe, and magnifying glass*

Right 'o I'm off, chip chip

Okay, here's what I've found ... *drumroll*

The books name is "The Redemtion of Althalus" it will be available in the UK in July 2000, and available in the states in November 2000 *grumble grumble grumble*

Apparently it is set in the "ice ages" as opposed to the "middle ages" of the Belgariad, Malloread, etc. It deals with a character named Althalus (which from the readings sounds an awful lot like Silk -- probably my favorite character of Eddings )

Here are some sites ....

This site has great general information about Eddings and also all the books and their proper order and proper series
http://www.sffworld.com/authors/e/eddings_david/news/index.html

This is the site that I found the "Althalus" information on .....
WARNING -->> this site contains spoiler information!!!!!!!!
http://riva.ucam.org/~kamion/

Hope this helps .... Let's here it for another world and many more sagas from Eddings I'm glad I will be able to read some Fantasy again.

Courtesy

OH GREAT!!! New books always welcome... I wonder how terribly long it'll take until it's available here too...
I like Silk too!! Very very nice...

Well alien ....

if you are really nice then you might get an english translation for the holidays

Courtesy

Thanks muchly for the info Courtesy. I shall go now and look at the URLs you mentioned. Another good Eddings book to look forward to