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

But of course it did!

Influenced, of course, by the Viking settlers that spread across the country bringing their 'Althing' concept with them...hard on the heels of the Egyptians, naturally...

A theme taken up by the equally disappointing "Dances With Wolves" . . .

oh... I'm so unsophisticated, I loved Dances with Wolves. The part where he writes that he loves Stands with a Fist in his diary is lovely.

Maybe you two will know... I once read a book, similar sort of thing to Dances with Wolves I think, where the Indians (Native Americans or whatever) referred to themselves as 'human beings'. Any chance either of you know what it is?

Don't know, but there is a faint echo of "Little Big Man" possibly . . .

The thing that pushed "Dances With Wolves" over the cliff for me was when Kevin Costner experienced a dawn of recognition, understanding the grammar of the name, and went "Hmmm . . . " and you cound see the thought bubble saying "So that's what the name of this movie means."

Actually, now you mention it, I think it could be that one. I don't remember reading the book though, I just remember the film. Dustin Hoffman wasn't it?

Little Big Man that is.

As for Dances With Wolves, I've seen the film but I don't remember much about it. The book however is most excellent. I've read it a few times now and each time it gets better.

I can well believe that. Very few good books are improved by filming, though mediocre ones often are.

In fact if a book is really good the best thing a film can be is faithful.

LOTR achieved a lot in that direction, but the only one that I can think of that was eyepoppingly faithful, and a good film, was the Russian War & Peace (edited down to two three- or four-hour chunks for us in the west) sometime in the sixties.

The Harry Potter films are (I am told) faithful to the books, but to their detriment as films.

I love the Harry Potter films which are faithful to the books by using the method of leaving out all sub plot. It's necessary.

I love LOTR (book) for various reasons, mostly to do with it having been my best friend through the first part of boarding school. I dreaded the films, and refused to see the first for a long while after it came out. But when I did I was hooked. I think they will be held up as an example of excellent book -> film adaptation. (and you have to love a director who totally deleted Tom Bombadill)

Sometimes films can totally change the book and be better for it, you can watch them almost like reading fanfic: the characters you know doing other stuff. Of course, I can't think of an example.

I'd love to see that War & Peace again. It was a moment of revelation -- well, a number of hours of revelation -- it did what I had firmly believed impossible. Another such moment was hearing Nigel Kennedy make a violin sound like a saxophone. Up till then it simply couldn't be done.

How's that for topic drift?

Topic drift? It's my middle name!!

Speaking of Nigel Kennedy - I saw him with some Polish folk band, what a show (on tv only, unfortunately) but oh my! His neck was red and bleeding, he really gives it welly when he plays the violin