Unseen Academicals (no spoilers)
Raymond Daley
inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy it.
I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
And I was most annoyed that the new Hitch hiker book wasn't on the shelves
yet despite it being release date today.
Reader in Invisible Writings
> On Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:34:36 +0100, "Raymond Daley"
> <raymon...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>> Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
>> inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy it.
>> I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
>
>
> I bought my UA a week ago from a local bookstore (on order) and there were
> no cards in that and the bookstore pulled it out from an under counter
> shelf where they keep ordered books.
>
> Richard
I believe this is/was a Waterstones Exclusive.
I have only succumbed once to their buy at a small discount and get a
free gift (Thud - exclusive postcard). The offer of a Discworld pack
with Making Money was rather spoilt by the fact that it was a
conventional 52+2 pack with only the "DW-25 year Aturin" logo on the
obverse to distinguish them rather than being a 104 8 suit pack as used
on DW.
--
Reader in Invisible Writings.. Something to Ponder upon!
Raymond Daley
"Richard Cole" <isp...@hotmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:lm37d5lfer3334tsr...@4ax.com...
>>inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy
>>it.
>>I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
>
>
> I bought my UA a week ago from a local bookstore (on order) and there were
> no cards in that and the bookstore pulled it out from an under counter
> shelf where they keep ordered books.
Mine were stuck inside the back cover page next to Terrys picture.
Reader in Invisible Writings
>> inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy it.
>> I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
>
> went into Waterstones and saw it for �12.99 with "exclusive cards",
> which I couldn't find inside the books on display.
>
> I also saw a �40 version of the book, but I had no way of knowing why
> it was worth �40. It was shrink-wrapped with no stickers to explain
> what was inside. It appeared to be nothing more than the same hardback
> inside a slipcase. I thought, "Good luck selling that."
>
> Gavin
Well they managed to sell all the deluxe Nation copies and they didn't
have a slip case, just posh binding and special end papers* (with stars
on rather than just plain blue).
*pretty sure it is end papers not fly papers but I'm not going to Google
or Wiki it again just now!
richard e white
> Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
> inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy it.
> I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
I got the vertion from autible so no cards. Can you tell me about what they
look like?
>
>
> And I was most annoyed that the new Hitch hiker book wasn't on the shelves
> yet despite it being release date today.
What new hichiker book?
I haven't heard about a new one.
--
Richard The Blind Typer.
Lets hear it for talking computers.
Lets go for talking i-pods!
Patrician
"Baba Yaga" <spam...@phonecoop.coop> wrote in message
news:3347d5dkjigh7pn2v...@4ax.com...
> Richard Cole <isp...@hotmail.com.invalid> wrote, in
> alt.books.pratchett:
>
>>On Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:34:36 +0100, "Raymond Daley"
>><raymon...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
>>>inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy
>>>it.
>>>I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
>>
>>What collectable cards?
>
> A Waterstones gimmick, methinks.
>
> I decided they weren't worth paying extra for. (Had a rare useful
> voucher from W.H. Smith & accordingly got it for �7.99, not that I'm
> gloating, much - didn't hardbacks used to be very expensive and
> paperbacks fairly cheap, in the days of me fast-receding yoof?)
>
> On a first reading, not so good as /Nation/ (which, if one had to
> choose a 'best' of TP's works, is certainly a candidate), but still
> decidedly enjoyable.
>
<snip>
Sorry but I think UA is way better than Nation. Nation was worse than
NW, and I never thought that would be possible.
Trev
Baba Yaga
>> On a first reading, not so good as /Nation/ (which, if one had to
>> choose a 'best' of TP's works, is certainly a candidate), but still
>> decidedly enjoyable.
>>
><snip>
>
> Sorry but I think UA is way better than Nation. Nation was worse than
>NW, and I never thought that would be possible.
Heh. It takes all sorts. I rate both NW and /Nation/ as vintage
Pratchett.
Out of curiosity, which do you rate as the best few DW books? (I'm
sure you've mentioned, but I have a sieve for a brain.)
& what qualities define 'good' Pratchett as against 'bad' Pratchett?
(I'm not sure I know the answer to that one for myself. I'll let it
simmer & see what I come up with.)
Baba Yaga
--
Without our shadow aspects we'd be bland, dull, incomplete.
- Juniper
Paul Harman
> Sorry but I think UA is way better than Nation. Nation was worse
> than NW, and I never thought that would be possible.
I liked Night Watch, but I agree with you that Nation... lacked
something. Mind you, I haven't really enjoyed any of the non-Discworld
Pratchetts I've read, for some odd reason. And it's not that Nation
seems to be a "Young Adult" novel, since the Tiffinny Aching books are
among the best Discworlds.
Paul
Raymond Daley
"richard e white" <chip...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:4AD64C77...@cox.net...
> Raymond Daley wrote:
>
>> Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
>> inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy
>> it.
>> I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
> I got the vertion from autible so no cards. Can you tell me about what
> they
> look like?
>> And I was most annoyed that the new Hitch hiker book wasn't on the
>> shelves
>> yet despite it being release date today.
> What new hichiker book?
> I haven't heard about a new one.
Its by a chap called Oian Colfer (i have almost certainly spelt that wrong).
Its called "And another thing" and it got approval from Douglas' widow.
Raymond Daley
>> Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
>> inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy
>> it.
>> I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
> I got the vertion from autible so no cards. Can you tell me about what
> they
> look like?
I haven't actually opened them yet but I can see the first through the clear
wrapping and it is a picture of Rincewind in a red soccer shirt with 7b on
the back and it is marked Jolly Sailor Tobacco at the top with his name at
the bottom. I assume they are a parody of old cigarette cards.
The cards measure 4.5cm in height and 2.5cm in width (roughly).
Raymond Daley
"Raymond Daley" <raymon...@ntlworld.com> wrote
>>> Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
>>> inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy
>>> it.
>>> I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later
>>> tonight.
>> I got the vertion from autible so no cards. Can you tell me about what
>> they
>> look like?
>>> And I was most annoyed that the new Hitch hiker book wasn't on the
>>> shelves
>>> yet despite it being release date today.
>> What new hichiker book?
>> I haven't heard about a new one.
> Its by a chap called Oian Colfer (i have almost certainly spelt that
> wrong).
Yes, I did - Eoin Colfer. He was mentioned in the Dr Who group today.
Emma Anne
I really enjoyed his Artemis Fowl books. I bet it will be good.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
> Raymond Daley <raymon...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>> "Raymond Daley" <raymon...@ntlworld.com> wrote
>> > "richard e white" <chip...@cox.net> wrote in message
>> >> What new hichiker book?
>> >> I haven't heard about a new one.
>> > Its by a chap called Oian Colfer (i have almost certainly spelt
>> > that wrong).
>>
>> Yes, I did - Eoin Colfer. He was mentioned in the Dr Who group
>> today.
>
> I really enjoyed his Artemis Fowl books. I bet it will be good.
I skimmed the first chapter yesterday. It looks intriguing. He's managed
(IMO) to capture the "feel" of a H2G2 book without desperately attempting
to duplicate DNA's writing style, which would have been horrible.
(Since we're now talking about a non-Pterry book, I've set followups to
afp [I think].)
--
Dave
"All those with psychokinesis, raise my hand."
The Room With No Doors, Kate Orman
Patrician
"Baba Yaga" <spam...@phonecoop.coop> wrote in message
news:ah1ed5le1uhh8gffs...@4ax.com...
> "Patrician" <ghj...@gmail.com> wrote, in alt.books.pratchett:
>
>>> On a first reading, not so good as /Nation/ (which, if one had to
>>> choose a 'best' of TP's works, is certainly a candidate), but still
>>> decidedly enjoyable.
>>>
>><snip>
>>
>> Sorry but I think UA is way better than Nation. Nation was worse than
>>NW, and I never thought that would be possible.
>
> Heh. It takes all sorts. I rate both NW and /Nation/ as vintage
> Pratchett.
>
> Out of curiosity, which do you rate as the best few DW books? (I'm
> sure you've mentioned, but I have a sieve for a brain.)
>
> & what qualities define 'good' Pratchett as against 'bad' Pratchett?
> (I'm not sure I know the answer to that one for myself. I'll let it
> simmer & see what I come up with.)
>
What makes a "good Pratchett"? For me that would be a book that had all
the elements that have always been a part of DW books. Internal monologues,
multi-character view points, highlighting absurdities and so forth.
(probably not very clear but I've only just got back from walking the dog
and my brains not in gear yet). My favorites are, Last Continent, Soul
Music, Reaper Man, Guards, Guards, Weird Sisters, Mort, Jingo, Witches
Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Hogfather, and Moving Pictures amongst others (not
necessarily in this order and not exclusively). It's probably easier to
say the ones I don't like to be honest, there are a lot less of them. They
are: Small Gods, Night Watch, Nation (I regard Nation as his worst ever,
I couldn't even get beyond page 51 in the hardback edition) and, to a lesser
degree, Thud, The Fifth Elephant, Hat Full of Sky and Wee Free Men.
We're all different and it's good that there are so many people that can
find something in the DW series that they like.
Trev
Emma Anne
> It's probably easier to
> say the ones I don't like to be honest, there are a lot less of them. They
> are: Small Gods, Night Watch, Nation (I regard Nation as his worst ever,
> I couldn't even get beyond page 51 in the hardback edition) and, to a lesser
> degree, Thud, The Fifth Elephant, Hat Full of Sky and Wee Free Men.
I am trying to figure out what these have in common. The first three
don't bring the funny to the same degree. They also concentrate on the
development of a personal philosophy and way of interacting with the
world. They are more concentrated on a single person.
The ones I love the least:
Color of Magic/Light Fantastic, Reaper Man, and maybe Eric and The Last
Hero. I am pretty sure I know why: they don't have the coherent sense
of story that the later works all do. Things happen, one after the
other, often funny, but not mattering much to the narrative or building
to something bigger.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
Interesting. I agree with your reasons, in the sense that they're similar
for my reasons for loving some books least[1], but I'm not sure I agree
all your choices are examples. Reaper Man and TLH, IMO, have very strong
narratives (RM admittedly has *two* narratives, which are only
coincidentally connected), which both build to something bigger (RM
introduces the Big Bad of the Death novels, and shows us the Death-as-a-
person who'll be an essential part of later books; TLH gives us the
Heroic Sacrifice of a recurring character).
TL*C*, OTOH, I'd list as a possible example, although not to the same
extent as TCOM; at least there *is* a narrative.
[1]I also agree with your careful phrasing, which suggests you don't
actually *dis*like *any* of them. I probably come closest with TCOM,
which is ironic since if I hadn't loved it when I first read it, I
wouldn't be an obsessive DW fan now...
Carol Hague
> Raymond Daley wrote:
>
> > Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
> > inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy it.
> > I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
>
> I got the vertion from autible so no cards. Can you tell me about what they
> look like?
>
> >
> >
> > And I was most annoyed that the new Hitch hiker book wasn't on the shelves
> > yet despite it being release date today.
>
> What new hichiker book?
> I haven't heard about a new one.
As others have mentioned, it's by Eoin Colfer and it's called And
Another Thing.
It might be of interest to you that it's been the Book at Bedtime on
Radio 4 this week, and you should be able to listen to it on the BBC
iPlayer if you have access to it.
--
Carol. www.mullimages.com
"This might as well say "bing tiddle tiddle bong".
It's complete gibberish," - Rodney McKay, Stargate: Atlantis
Esmeraldus
"Daibhid Ceanaideach" <daibhidc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9CA7761B655A7da...@130.133.1.4...
I tend to like the UU books less than the other arcs and I very nearly, but
don't quite, dislike TCOM and TLF. I didn't read those two first, I picked
up MAA, but it was a bad time for it and I sort of bounced off it. Six
months later I was set WA for a college course, and was utterly hooked.
But I tend to love the philosophical ones and not like the ones that are
"larks," as the author has put it.
Unseen Academicals was enough in the vein that I like to make me appreciate
it, while still being a UU book, which I liked. Normally I don't get much
out of the wizards, so when it's a year for a wizards book, I sort of sigh
inwardly and hope the next will be Watch, Death, or witches. It wasn't Night
Watch, but it was far from being TLF, too. Some readers are glad it wasn't
NW, but NW is one of my absolute favorites. I think he did a pretty good
job of staying between extremes, my personal preferences aside. I don't
think a very dark, philosophically inclined UU novel would have gone over
well with a lot of fans who are used to the lighter UU novels and like them
that way.
--
Stacie, fourth swordswoman of the afpocalypse.
AFPMinister of Flexible Weapons & Bondage-happy predator
AFPMistress to peachy ashie passion
"If you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
richard e white
Didn't he write the artamus fowl books?
I rather liked them.
richard e white
Thanks. Let me know if there are anyone else shown on a card.
richard e white
I don't have access to that, nor do I even know what it is. As I live in the usa I
don't think they will send me one. However, if someone is reading it on BBC radio
four, I am sure it will be out soon in some format I can get. In fact I think I
will go trolling diffrent sights I can get stuff from. Thanks.
Raymond Daley
>> Its by a chap called Oian Colfer (i have almost certainly spelt that
>> wrong).
>> Its called "And another thing" and it got approval from Douglas' widow.
> Didn't he write the artamus fowl books?
> I rather liked them.
No clue, I'd never heard of the guy before they announced him as descrating
Dougs work by trying to write the new book.
The day they announced that I decided that very second I hated him. Having
never heard of him or seen ANY of his work.
The mere fact he was trying to replace Douglas Adams was reason enough to
hate him.
I know Dougs missus said it was cool but I wonder how much of that was down
to the publishers waving HUGE wads of money at her to sod off and be quiet
while they wrang a little bit more money out of the Adams name.
Raymond Daley
news:4ADBAFCC...@cox.net...
>> It might be of interest to you that it's been the Book at Bedtime on
>> Radio 4 this week, and you should be able to listen to it on the BBC
>> iPlayer if you have access to it.
> the usa I
> don't think they will send me one. However, if someone is reading it on
> BBC radio
> four, I am sure it will be out soon in some format I can get. In fact I
> think I
> will go trolling diffrent sights I can get stuff from. Thanks.
Richard it might be worth your while directing your newsreader software to
find
alt.binaries.sounds.radio.bbc
the 1st 5 parts of it are there which is all that has aired so far.
If you are unable to get it from there for any reason then feel free to drop
me an email directly.
Carol Hague
<BBC iplayer>
> I don't have access to that, nor do I even know what it is. As I live in
> the usa I don't think they will send me one. However, if someone is
> reading it on BBC radio four, I am sure it will be out soon in some format
> I can get. In fact I think I will go trolling diffrent sights I can get
> stuff from. Thanks.
iPlayer is a catch up service for BBC TV and radio programmes. It's
accessible via web browsers.
Radio shows are supposedly accessible to people outside the UK, even
though TV shows are not.
The URLs for the first five parts of And Another Thing are :-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n4z16/Book_at_Bedtime_Episode_1/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n4yyh/Book_at_Bedtime_And_Anothe
r_Thing..._Episode_2/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n4yyk/Book_at_Bedtime_And_Anothe
r_Thing..._Episode_3/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n4yym/Book_at_Bedtime_And_Anothe
r_Thing..._Episode_4/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n4yyr/Book_at_Bedtime_And_Anothe
r_Thing..._Episode_5/
I'm not sure why the first URL is differently formed to the rest though.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
> Raymond Daley wrote:
>
>> "richard e white" <chip...@cox.net> wrote in message
>> news:4AD64C77...@cox.net...
>> > What new hichiker book?
>> > I haven't heard about a new one.
>>
>> Its by a chap called Oian Colfer (i have almost certainly spelt that
>> wrong). Its called "And another thing" and it got approval from
>> Douglas' widow.
>
> Didn't he write the artamus fowl books?
> I rather liked them.
Yep, that's the guy. I've never actually read them, but I've heard good
things.
And I've leafed through "And Another Thing", and was impressed. It's
going on the Christmas list.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
What silly publishers. Giving someone "HUGE wads of money" in order to
get "a little bit more money". It doesn't seem economically viable to me.
Personally, I wouldn't approve of, say, a Discworld book written by other
hands because I know Pterry is opposed to the idea, and I think that
counts for something. I don't know if Adams (or Milne, or any of the
other late writers with new books out) ever expressed an opinion one way
or the other[1], so I'll give those responsible the benefit of the doubt.
I also know Adams *wanted* to write another HHGG book where it turns out
our heroes aren't dead, he just never got round to it. And I'm pleased
Colfer uses the same method to save them that I came up with when I first
read Mostly Harmless, and not the one in the radio series (which
*shouldn't have worked*).
Of course *proper* Hitchhiker's Guide is the first two radio series, and
nothing else, anyway...
[1]And I have looked. Well I've searched the internet, which is like
research for the lazy.
Stacie
> Personally, I wouldn't approve of, say, a Discworld book written by other
> hands because I know Pterry is opposed to the idea, and I think that
> counts for something. I don't know if Adams (or Milne, or any of the
> other late writers with new books out) ever expressed an opinion one way
> or the other[1], so I'll give those responsible the benefit of the doubt.
Adams did more or less give Terry Jones the reins on the actual
writing of the Starship Titanic novel, best I can remember. I think
the foreword indicated he only handed the rough concept over and Jones
did the heavy lifting of writing it.
http://www.sfsite.com/12a/star22.htm
Not quite the same thing, as Adams was very definitely not pining for
the fjords at the time, but it might be a point in favor of him not
minding a different author taking his ideas, concepts, outline,
universe and characters out for a spin.
And in Colfer's favor, at least to my mind, he says he didn't exactly
try to channel Douglas Adams, he did it in his own style. So that at
least sounds more promising than an "Oh, V.C. Andrews kicked off,
let's bring in that and do a Replace... All on the main female
character's name, change the locations up a bit, get ourselves a new
cover image and churn out another fourteen or so books..." approach.
One of these eons when I get caught up with the books I've already
purchased, I may have to check it out. I've only read the first
Artemis book so far, but I did enjoy it.
Patrician
"Emma Anne" <emma...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:1j7o8z3.1f1db5w2jkvcaN%emma...@mac.com...
I tend to read books of a certain type dependent, a lot, on my mood. I
have a job which can be quite stressful and at those times I used to read DW
books or, maybe, Niven. They are, or were, light, humorous, insightful,
and an "easy read". If I was in the mood for something more dark and
intense then I would choose an author that wrote that type of book, Peter
Hamilton or Stephen Baxter for instance.
This used to work pretty well, Small Gods was a minor blip and the only
one that really stood out as being "not as good" until Night Watch. From
then on the whole "feel" of the series, for me, has changed and I cannot
rely on the latter DW books satisfy my need need for an "easy read" any
more. I guess it maybe time to, metaphorically, move on, although none of
the "humorous" writers I've tried are a patch on TP at his (using my
criteria) best.
Trev
Aggie Angst
"Raymond Daley" <raymon...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:SxLAm.18231$Rk1....@newsfe07.ams2...
> Bought it today, advise those wanting it to buy sooner than later as the
> inserted collectable cards may not be in it by the time you come to buy
> it.
> I forsee people nicking them. I'll start reading the book later tonight.
>
> yet despite it being release date today.
I've read 22 pages and I'm already in love with UU.
:)
I would read that man's shopping list.
Aggie
Baba Yaga
> What makes a "good Pratchett"? For me that would be a book that had all
>the elements that have always been a part of DW books. Internal monologues,
>multi-character view points, highlighting absurdities and so forth.
Certainly that last. I'm intrigued that you mention it, however,
because it suggests that you find it lacking in some of the books,
whereas I would see a sense of the absurd as intrinsic to all of them
- to Pterry's world view. Perhaps, however, it's less explicit and
more implicit in some of your betes-noire?
I'm less aware of the structural elements you mention - they probably
do contribute to my feelings about a book, but not in such a way that
I'm conscious of them. (Re. multi-character viewpoints, I think
sometimes they enhance the narrative flow of a story, and sometimes
chop it up. Whether they consistently do one or the other in Pterry's
writing, I would have to pay more attention than I do to find out.)
>(probably not very clear but I've only just got back from walking the dog
>and my brains not in gear yet). My favorites are, Last Continent, Soul
>Music, Reaper Man, Guards, Guards, Weird Sisters, Mort, Jingo, Witches
>Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Hogfather, and Moving Pictures amongst others (not
>necessarily in this order and not exclusively). It's probably easier to
>say the ones I don't like to be honest, there are a lot less of them. They
>are: Small Gods, Night Watch, Nation (I regard Nation as his worst ever,
>I couldn't even get beyond page 51 in the hardback edition) and, to a lesser
>degree, Thud, The Fifth Elephant, Hat Full of Sky and Wee Free Men.
It's interesting that your favourites include several which I tend to
pass by when reading (TLC, Jingo, SM, MP - I had to check whether I
actually own MP, and its spine is tellingly uncreased), whereas your
not-favourites include several which I rate very highly. It suggests
that we're responding to different aspects of the books.
NW and Thud!, and probably also T5E, do have that property of being
rather confused as to details of plot, which can detract from a book:
in NW, the strength of the overall plot and telling was such that it
didn't much trouble me, whereas in Thud!, it did somewhat. OTOH, I'd
say that property is as present in some of your favourites.
One of the things which is very present in Small Gods, &c, and a great
part of my enjoyment thereof, is a philosophical approach to the
world; thikning about thinking, and thinking about the effects of
thinking. (I'm not sure that's precisely the thing I wanted to
express: perhaps only part of it.)
Pterry does silliness well and engagingly, but some of your favourites
and my less-favourites seem to me to have too high a ratio of
silliness to seriousness. I'm wondering whether perhaps your view
might be that your non-favourites have too high a ratio of earnestness
to lightheartedness?
Our lists of relative favourites overlap considerably in the middle,
of course. UA strikes me as being rather in that middle territory.
> We're all different and it's good that there are so many people that can
>find something in the DW series that they like.
True enough. Though there are some stubborn-hold-outs who seem
determined not to appreciate it as it deserves.
Curiously, my pet stubborn hold-out compared Sir Pterry to Mark Twain
(which is apposite on severallevels, including that of the book's
sometimes running away with its author), before returning my latest
attempt (of several) to convert him to the shelves half-read. Since
he is an admirer of Twain, that comparison would suggest that he
admires Pratchett - but, seemingly, doesn't enjoy reading him.
Baba Yaga
--
External things are no more like the perceptions they give rise to,
than wine is similar to intoxication, or opium to the delirium which
it produces.
- John Playfair