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

I came across your entry on Robert Rankin the other day, and I'm sorry to say I was very disappointed. Not because it wasn't any good; far from it. I was disappointed because I'd been hoping to write one, but yours is easily as good as any I could write, and probably better, so there was no hope of it needing replacing like the Final Fantasy entry (A281512) I embellished upon (A3482769).

However, I also noticed that your entry's a number of books out of date, and while I haven't read that many of the more recent ones, I've read some (such as Hollow Chocolate Bunnies), and wondered if you'd be interested in doing an update for your entry with me.

That's assuming you don't think it's rude of me just to barge into your space like this, of course. If you do think it's rude, I'm sorry and shall leave immediately.

Similarly, I understand if you don't want to update it or would prefer to do it yourself. However, I felt there were a few bits I might have included had I written the entry that you don't have in it, so wondered if you'd be interested in doing a joint update.

First of all, thanks for reading and appreciating! It's always nice to know people are reading the stuff I've written.

Second, no, it's not rude at all - that's how this place works!

Thirdly, you're absolutely right - it's one of the acknowledged weaknesses of h2g2 that entries on contemporary subjects can go out of date and the updates are complex.

So, after all that, if you feel the time is right for an update to the Rankin entry, my own feeling would be - crack on. I'm pretty busy at the moment so I haven't really got the time I'd like to dedicate to it, plus I've not yet read "Knees Up Mother Earth", so I'm not as up to date as I'd like to be, so here's what I propose...

You write an update - copy and paste the old entry into a new one, then add whatever you think it needs. When you're done, ping this thread with a link, I'll go and read it and make any comments I think are appropriate. You can take those or leave them, and when you're happy you've finished, probably your best bet is to contact the subeditor on the Edited Entry and see if they can get the update incorporated into the Edited version.

Sound OK?

SoRB.

That sounds like an interesting method, although I should warn you I've proably read less recent ones than you have (including not having read KUME) - I've only been reading RR for a few years and don't buy his books as often as I'd like (and the local library doesn't have very many of them). However, I'm more than willing to take the plunge - I've another week before I return to school, and despite my number of other commitments in that time I can probably get a good start on it, at least.

Thanks for the go-ahead, and I hope I can do the existing entry justice!

Well, I've started on it. The new entry is at A5370635 - although as I've put you back in as a researcher, you've got it in your entries list as well.

I notice that having done that, the system's noticed that it's a re-write and put you as the writter/researcher, and me as editor...

Anyway, I've put the bits I've added/changed in bold, with a couple of exceptions - I've added an entire header (only a small section) for the writing style, which I may well embellish upon, and I've adjusted the lists at the end, putting Sex, Drugs and Suasage Rolls as the sixth in the Brentford trilogy, which I believe is true.

I'm not convinced that an extensive amount of updating needs to be done, as the only really out of date thing was the bibliography. This is probably best as an opportunity for adding other bits that would enhance the entry, as my bits are hopefully doing.

As for submitting it as a full update when it's finished...should it be sent to the Update Forum? You mentioned talking to the original editor, but on your entry it's listed as just The h2g2 editors.

Anyway, hope you like what I've done so far.

I've just adjusted the lists of books, putting in "The Trilogy That Dare Not Speak Its Name". My research is causing confusion about the exact choice of groups and so-on, however, so I may contact an authority. Such as the publishers, or Mr Rankin himself.

Only a minor change, but I thought I'd just let you know how it's going.

Jumps in as equally geeky and also un-named checker of first Rankin entry - it being a tradition of mine...

'The Witches of Chiswick', 'Knees Up Mother Earth' makes up parts 1 and 2 of 'The Witches of Chiswick' Trilogy. I have not worked out whether 'The Brightonomicon' makes up the third part of it or not.

However 'Earth' and 'The Brightonomicon' are definitely Brentford books.

'Sex, Drugs and Sausage Rolls' IS NOT a Brentford book and should not be part of the Brentford list. Yes, it has Jim and John and Soap and teh Professor I seem to remebmer(and hence gammon) in it but it is not part of the 'Trilogy'. Lets be geeky, lets be correct and stick it in the one off books. Jim adn joh have a BIG cameo in the book. And to me it did not feel like a Brentford Trilogy Book.

Good to see the entry being up-dated.

Thanks for the input; however, on contact with Sally Rankin (Robert's partner) I am informed that "Sex, Drugs and Sausage Rolls" _is_ a Brentford book.

Accuracy is important to me, so however minor or geeky a point may be, I'm happy to receive it. In this case though, the accurate one is apparently that S,D&SR is one of the Trilogy and hence remains in the list.

It'd have to be so, anyway, as what else could be the sixth one in the series (Earth is described as the seventh)?