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

Mean ol' JKR. Read that scene during lunch break yesterday at w*rk. I'm glad to see Neville growing and finding his place in the world. Haven't quite finished it yet. Have about 80 pages left.

Read it in one sitting (excluding breaks) yesterday. While trying not to give too much away:

Good bits: Some nice scenes with Harry and Snape & Harry and McGonagall. Some nice character development, especially of Ginny Weasley, Neville and Moody. Harry's hormone-overdrive well reproduced. And, of course that classic misteltoe scene.

Bad bits: Plot!? Hello? Where are you? No big twists, barring the death that everyone knew was going to happen. The thing Dumbledore should've told Harry five years ago is blindingly obvious. And all this takes 760 pags. Also:- Not enough Hagrid. Too many house-elves. Quidditch has turned into a joke. Malfoy is getting dull. And why on earth has everyone started calling each other 'mate'?

Nowhere near as good as Prisoner of Azkaban in my opinion

B

Possibly calling each other 'mate' may be an English school thing. I'm not sure. It is in my school. Alrite mate?

I wouldn't have such an issue with it if somebody had actually said 'mate' in the first four books. But it just started all of a sudden.

B

I call everyone 'mate'. Started doing it when I was about 14. Is that theb age of the brats in the book? If so, it's about right.

They're 15, actually. But I find it hard to believe it's a sudden rush of insight on the part of JKR, especially since the twins (aged 18) are doing it too.

B

Ah, in that case, no.

Does it show any signs that an editor was engaged at any point?

I'm sure an editor was engaged.

But I'm equally sure that part of the editorial contract was "you shall not cut any part of this book, whatsoever" (which presumably includes all the misprints on the first five pages).

B

I had a feeling. Me and Schnooks are going down to the indoor mall later today to see if they have any doorstops left.