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

I think 'Lobsang' is one of Pratchett's more subtle jokes, playing on both the notion of the timeless monk (literally, in Thief of Time) and the lazy research that often goes into (or at least used to go into) the inclusion of such characters in Western literature.

<> Mol

I haven't read the book so don't know the setting but to be fair JKR is from Scotland where most community social workers are funded through the district councils. I worked in 2 district council social work offices. Reviews on the book are a bit meh wherever I've looked so I'll not be buying it.

Currently re-reading all of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Very light & frothy urban fantasy and very funny in places.

Well - it occured to me after posting that it's possible 'the district council' is, in this fictional case, a unitary authority (although if that were so, it would be a very recently-created one, and the boundary would have been sorted out as part of its creation and wouldn't be an ongoing issue now). But school catchment areas, where they exist, aren't necessarily contiguous with local government boundaries; and the costs of the estate to the parish would only amount to street lighting, and maintenance of the children's play area - and *even those* would probably in practice fall under the housing authority (ie not the parish council) which built the estate. So the basic premise of the book is flawed, in terms of local government organisation.

I'm astonished that not a single review has picked up on all this

Mol

Her previous books contained lots of things that didn't exist

Absolutely, and you only had to suspend disbelief for *one thing* (magic: it exists), and everything else was then perfectly possible (sometimes rather convoluted, but possible). And it was also 'one thing' where she could make up the rules to suit herself.

Unfortunately for JK, the whacky world of local government is *far* more complex than anything she could possibly imagine.

Mol

Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman. It's got a...Pratchett meets Pinter air about it, and I think I'd enjoy it more if I knew London more closely. I'm enjoying it enough to keep me up, though.

being naughty and re-reading Good Omens. Has that Pratchetty-Gaiman vibe

You don't need to know London at all really to enjoy Neverwhere, the place names are wonderful on their own

No, you don't have to at all - I just think it would add to it.

Good Omens is great, too. Neverwhere's slightly darker - odd perhaps give GO's subject matter.

Currently finishing off all the books I started before/during my holiday, greatly hampered by an OU assignment that's due in on Monday (12/11/12).

On the topic of light hearted books that involve the apocalypse. I'm re-reading Job: a Comedy of Justice by Robert Heinlein. Depending on what else you've read it may or may not be helpful to thing of it as a not-exactly-a-parody of the both biblical book of Job and 'Jurgen, a Comedy of Justice' by the 'Stranger in a Strange Land' guy.

Pastey - It helps if you know that Earl's Court and The Angel, Islington are places in London. I wonder if they'll ever repeat the TV series.

The Fort by Bernard Cornwell. Haven't got very far yet, but it's US War of Independence, as seen from both sides. So similar territory to Redcoat, but I don't think it's a sequel.

I am attempting to read the NOLO How to Form a Non-profit in California. Not as enthralling as I'd hoped.

just finished Nobody Loves a Ginger Baby. What a weird book

Bagpuss, I really enjoyed The Fort and, no, it's not a sequel to Redcoat (which I haven't read - yet!).

Having struggled with his Arthur trilogy, I reached the conclusion that Cornwell is at his best when he's writing about things that are (more-or-less) grounded in fact. Even his Grail trilogy wasn't as much of a slog!

have you read Stonehenge? I generally love Bernard Cornwall but oh my - that is absolutely dire.

Yes, I've read it, but it hasn't stuck in my mind - it was that bad. I did say Cornwell is at his best when he's writing about things based on fact. Stonehenge is fantasy, and not very good fantasy are that.

Interesting. I like the Uhtred books, and I kind of assumed the Arthur ones would be similar.

I thought the Arthur ones were ok, I've only read Sword Song of the Uhtred books (I think that's one of those) and I quite liked the Grail Quest series. And then Azingcourt was not bad either.

Stonehenge though - oh my, what a big load of cobblers. Seriously, i was so glad I paid only 99p in a charity shop for that one.

Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman.

I think it was a mistake reading this straight after Neverwhere. Fat Charlie and Richard Mayhew are both such mostly harmless, unconfident, Arthur Dent-y everymen that that characters and books are starting meld into one.

It's an enjoyable enough read for the way to work, but it's not grabbing me as much as Neverwhere, at least at this stage.