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

And Chris Barrie/Terry Pratchett have been at them? Why?

Don't like conventions.

When I've seen people at the red dwarf convention '95 (not that I've been) dressing up as characters is going too far!

Chris Barrie was there to MC the evening's award ceremonies, plus make easy money by signing autographs for a few hours. Terry was there to collect an award and hang out in the bar with people like me.

More signs of people dressing up (stormtroopers, Buffy characters, Jedi, Zaphod) at the Blackpool event than down in London - but then Blackpool all happened in the same hotel so you didn't have to cross the road to the pub in full costume regalia...

Oh no you don't have an ego whatsoever!

I'm sure the esteemed Pratchett was at the bar just to have a drink!

Oh no you don't have an ego whatsoever!

I'm sure the esteemed Pratchett was at the bar just to have a drink!

Oh no you don't have an ego whatsoever!

I'm sure the esteemed Pratchett was at the bar just to have a drink!

Easy on that submit button HBP!

Hmm, fair point. That came out wrong. Should've said, 'Terry was there to accept an award and generously spend some time in the bar with his fans.' Okay?

There we go! That's the Pratchett I respect!

Yeessssssss.... Riiigghhhht...

Hey!

I'll have you know that I appreciate a person that doesn't just shrug off those who helped make him a success.

I wasn't one of course. I just helped make him slightly richer!

Well, if it's any consolation, he asked me to say how much he appreciated your buying his books.

That's 'your' as in everyone then?

By the by, Sam Kisgart is presenting a show on Daleks on Radio 4 this week.

Yeah, I've heard it - it's okay. He's midway through an extended interview about the League and his DW career in the current issue of Dr Who magazine, we're just about to learn exactly why two former Dr Whos are no longer speaking to him.

Okay.

Having just seen the Tomb Raider II trailer I have to say it LOOKS like it's actually an Indiana Jones-esque action adventure and not just looking like soft-core pornography as the first one did.

God, that's the kind of comment that could get soft-core porn a bad name.

Was this a TV advert or have you actually been to the pictures?

TV trailer.

I rarely go to the cinema... last time it was Bruce Almighty, before that it was Daredevil.. before that Signs...

I can't remember the order of ones before that, but it's something like Muppet Treasure Island, Jungle book, The Flintstones, Toy Story, Mask of Zorro, Lantana (which I hate), student films....

There's a few more but I can't remember!

Back yet, AA?

Would/could you write a Stan Lee-esque intro for the discussed story if it gets the Post treatment?

Some kind of 'greetings true believers' babble please?

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In theory, yes, but, and here's the bit you may not be delighted about...

Writing for the Post is the main thing I do on h2g2, it's taken me a couple of years to get to the point where (I think) people look at my name on an article and think 'Hmm, Awix's stuff usually isn't too bad, I'll have a look at that'.

I'm not saying your story is complete crap, as you suggested, but I don't think it's at a point where I'd happily recommend it to all and sundry and have my name attached to it. Bits of the writing need a good polish and it's not 100% clear what it's actually about (other than being a spoof of the Spidey origin).

So if you want some help with that I'd be happy to oblige; if you're mortally offended (and, hey, that's your prerogative, baby) and would rather forget the whole Stan Lee intro thing (why not ask the man himself? he's not exactly publicity shy), that's fine too.

There you go, that's my honest position... sorry, but you've kind of pushed me into a corner on this.

Now when you didn't have an ego...

Ask Stan Lee to write an intro to a small article in a BBC website??

Well the intro is supposed to be a spoof aswell... in which you could mention the plot...

It's only a one-off farcical tory and you got what it was...

*sigh*

Most things I don't have an ego about: my writing, I do.

The SL suggestion was a joke.

Look - I've told you what I think about this. I could give you a detailed crit of what does and doesn't work in your story but I don't want to spend time doing that if you're just going to get defensive and refuse to take it on board. If you want my help, fine, I'll give it and then write you your intro. If you don't, that's fine too, I'm sure Shazz will take it anyway. Just let me know either way, okay?

*blip*