All those tantalising trailers for a week before and then the effing
technology lets me down. I'll happily pay for tape & postage. Even a
precis of the episode would be better than nothing.
Please e-mail me with any information, or post it here, if permitted.
Thanks in anticipation (waiting with baited breath!)
--
Peter T McCarlie
We can't all afford to do that AND pay Sky 20 squillion pounds a month to keep
the little black box going :-)
Dave [it's payday on friday :-)]
----------------------
Ho hum
----------------------
> Why don't you go down to your local Our Price and buy a nice new boxed
> copy like everyone else. You also avoid having the sky one logo stuck in
> the corner as well
Too droll for me I'm afraid, in my delicate position of being
(apparently) the only Trekkie in the galaxy who HASN'T seen any of
the "new season". I'd try a Star Trek NG (if there is one) but they
would probably be all the more scathing. Still, my request remains.
But, just in case, I'll start saving up for the "boxed copy"
Thanks anyway Simon
--
TTFN,
Peter T McCarlie <pet...@zetnet.co.uk>
>Too droll for me I'm afraid, in my delicate position of being
>(apparently) the only Trekkie in the galaxy who HASN'T seen any of
>the "new season". I'd try a Star Trek NG (if there is one) but they
>would probably be all the more scathing. Still, my request remains.
>But, just in case, I'll start saving up for the "boxed copy"
Well, IMO the only Trekkie who can be thankful. The episode which had been
built up out of all proportion was absolutely dire. Basically Janeway and
Tuvok, who were on the cube, managed to stop the Borg inserting bits in them to
"allow for better communication." Instead the Borg aquiesced and let them
speak to a representative - 7 of 9. The cube was destroyed defending Voyager
but miraculously managed to beam Janeway, Tuvok and several Borg onto Voyager
(incl 7of9). Janeway had "serious neural damage" and had to be placed in a
comatose state. Just before she slipped into unconciousness, she managed to
tel Chakotay that the alliance with the Borg had to succeed at all costs. 7 of
9 tried to get Voyager to go back 40 light years to the nearest cube and
Chakoptay, who was having none of it, dissolved the alliance intending to place
the Borg on the nearest planet. 7 of 9 managed to gain control of teh main
deflector dish and opened a singularity into "fluidic space" - the domain of
species 8472 ( the rest of the Borg contingent being flushed into space
meantime). Since the Borg knew so much about fluidic space, Chakotay's synapse
finnaly fizzed and he said, "It was you. You started this war." Fortunately
Tuvok had by now manged to modify the torpedoes with the modified nanites and
these easily destroyed the ships that were by this time attacking Voyager
(probably out of boredom - either that or they thought the plot was crap). At
this point Janeway miraculously awoke (my god that doctor's good - must go and
get a check-up with him) and persuaded 7 of 9 to take them back thru the
singularity. Even more 8472 ships came at them and were fought off with one
huge f__k off torpedoe. The rest of 8472 decided they were beaten and made a
hasty exit. 7 of 9 tried to take over the ship and was distracted by Chakotay
while they ran a huge electric current thru her breaking her link with the
collective.
What a miserable end to what promised to be an excellent storyline. I was
sorely disappointed.
Dave (I'm not a ST freak, really I'm not).
----------------------
Ho hum
----------------------
[snip: voluminous plot summary]
>Dave (I'm not a ST freak, really I'm not).
Of *course* you're not... :-D
Tom.
(Remembering Sliders ep. where Rembrandt recounts the Sliding to a
psychiatrist who sees them slide and winds up being stretchered out...)
--
Tom Jordaan (in Brighton, BN2) t...@phlebas.demon.co.uk
"Gloating is overrated - I prefer to live well."
-- Anthony LaPaglia, Murder One #7212
Grrrrrrrr....
Don't mention Sl*d*rs!
H. (who still has a personal grudge)
Against who!? And what for?
Tom.
(Confused.)
--
Tom Jordaan (in Brighton, BN2) t...@phlebas.demon.co.uk
"(Windows NT) version 5.0 will build on a proven system architecture
and incorporate tens of thousands of bug fixes from version 4.0."
-- <http://www.microsoft.com/y2k.asp?A=7&B=5>
Everyone involved in Sl*d*rs.
A friend (who Lyn might possibly know) and I have been working on
scripts for a TV series for many years involving some people switching
between multiple universes. Then Sl*d*rs came out. However, after
watching a few episodes we came to the conclusion that it was so
absurd as to not be worth worrying about. (Of course, if the length of
time we've spent on the scripts so far is anything to go by, the
series will have been long forgotten by the time they're finished.
Indeed, by that time people may well have forgotten what CRT
televisions were :-)).
That said, I still resent Sl*d*rs for being the first series out to
use the concept as a central theme, even if they have abused it so
badly.
H.
? Give us a clue.
--
__
*Lyn David Thomas* \/
Web pages start at
http://www.stuffing.demon.co.uk/lyn
} That said, I still resent Sl*d*rs for being the first series out to
} use the concept as a central theme, even if they have abused it so
} badly.
Time Tunnel.
Matthew
--
"Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto"
mailto:matthew....@guardian.co.uk
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/6630/index.html
http://www.calmeilles.demon.co.uk/index.html
> Anyone remember The Tomorrow People?
I *saw* it on the sci-fi channel this weekend at some ungodly hour
it is CRIMINALLY seventies you know....
--Â
Mark Ynys-Môn
sua cuique deus fit dira cupido
http://www.archdruid.demon.co.uk
opinions are mine not Demon Internet's
I was a great fan of it as a kid, but Blue Peter was always on the other
channel at the same time, causing so much battling between myself and my
brother that neither of us got to watch either of them most of the time.
That sentence reads horribly to me.... but I can't be bothered trying to
put it another way.
>--Â
>Mark Ynys-Môn
>sua cuique deus fit dira cupido
>http://www.archdruid.demon.co.uk
>opinions are mine not Demon Internet's
--
Mike_B
http://www.blackpool.demon.co.uk/
Scene guide - Free Chatroom - Hotels listings - Blackpool Fiesta Info.
} On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 12:38:18 +0100, matthew....@guardian.co.uk
} (Matthew Malthouse) wrote:
}
} > } That said, I still resent Sl*d*rs for being the first series out to
} > } use the concept as a central theme, even if they have abused it so
} > } badly.
} >
} > Time Tunnel.
}
} Not quite the same, though, surely? Sliders is set in the same present
} time but with different histories in each of the dimensions, whereas
} (IIRC) Time Tunnel was about, well, time travel.
}
} Certainly close relatives though.
}
} Anyone remember The Tomorrow People?
Used to be obligatory viewing - almost the only thing we swiched to ITV for
during children's TV. Caught an episode on SF Chanel last week:
excruciating.
Oh, god, yes. I loved that show. Lyn will no doubt post that he always wanted
to break out as well as come out. I know how he feels.
Iain
--
\/ Iain Bowen is alaric(at)harlech.demon.co.uk. Penguin Inside
"April is the cruelest month"
>} Anyone remember The Tomorrow People?
>
>Used to be obligatory viewing - almost the only thing we swiched to ITV for
>during children's TV. Caught an episode on SF Chanel last week:
>excruciating.
>
>Matthew
>
>--
>
Some I loved which I would like to see again and think would still be
good.
A for Andromeda. And Andromeda Breakthrough
Chocky
The Brack Report
Out of this world - Little Lost Robot
Which did other people like?
Vicky
*******
"some days the line I walk, turns out to be straight, other days the line tends
to deviate, I've got no criteria for sex or race, I just want to hear your
voice, I just want to see your face." -Ani Difranco
>On Sun, 26 Apr 1998 13:33:36 GMT, Tom Jordaan wrote:
>>On Sat, 25 Apr 1998 17:49:01 GMT, qui...@bigfoot.com (Harlequin) wrote:
>>>On Thu, 23 Apr 1998 21:41:32 GMT, Tom Jordaan wrote:
>>>>On 21 Apr 1998 20:13:51 GMT, dhugh...@aol.com (DHughes250) wrote:
>>>>[snip: voluminous plot summary]
>>>>>Dave (I'm not a ST freak, really I'm not).
>>>>
>>>>Of *course* you're not... :-D
>>>>Tom.
>>>>(Remembering Sliders ep. where Rembrandt recounts the Sliding to a
>>>>psychiatrist who sees them slide and winds up being stretchered out...)
>>>
>>>Grrrrrrrr....
>>>Don't mention Sl*d*rs!
>>>H. (who still has a personal grudge)
>>
>>Against who!? And what for?
>
>Everyone involved in Sl*d*rs.
>
>A friend (who Lyn might possibly know) and I have been working on
>scripts for a TV series for many years involving some people switching
>between multiple universes. Then Sl*d*rs came out.
Ah... so I'd better finish the Iain M. Banks/Cold Lazarus thing quickly,
then...
Tom.
(Aspiring.)
--
Tom Jordaan (in Brighton, BN2) t...@phlebas.demon.co.uk
"Anything you think can be used in evidence against you."
-- We Can Remember It For You Wholesale
- Reply using the Reply-To: header's address not the From: header -
> In article <memo.1998042...@mcy.demon.net>, Mark Ynys-Mon
> <m...@demon.net> writes
He does? Bloody news propagation delays...
> >> Anyone remember The Tomorrow People?
> >
> >I *saw* it on the sci-fi channel this weekend at some ungodly hour
> >
> >it is CRIMINALLY seventies you know....
Yeah, but that *was* the seventies. We didn't know how uncool it was back
then.
> I was a great fan of it as a kid, but Blue Peter was always on the other
> channel at the same time, causing so much battling between myself and my
> brother that neither of us got to watch either of them most of the
> time.
That reminds me of the way my sister used to decide to practice on the
piano whenever Batman was on...
John
--
John Upstone * jo...@shikasta.demon.co.uk * ju...@cix.co.uk
Dial up, Log in, Chill out * Peace, Love, Unity, Respect
................................................................
"If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of
yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us."
- Herman Hesse
: Used to be obligatory viewing - almost the only thing we swiched to ITV for
: during children's TV. Caught an episode on SF Chanel last week:
: excruciating.
Hurm. [blush]
Anyone else got the novels? :)
D.
--
Dave Williams
da...@demon.net
Yes and I used to fancy both John and Stephen.
I know and I don't care :-) Anyone remember Sky with the
naked youth in the title sequence :-)
Ah, Simon May. He was an LGTG member. His bf for much of that time was
Paul Williams, who I knew in school in Southend, and who's main claim
to fame was slashing some paintings in the National Portrait Gallery.
H.
Well, we've noticed certain similarities with many films and TV series
(including "Time Tunnel"). I'm still pushing for an oblique reference
to a different one in most of the episodes (such as "Oh Boy" playing
on the radio as someone realises that he's in a different place and
body[*]).
However, "Split" would have been the first series to be properly based
on the multiple-worlds concept, with the divergence point tending to
slip back further for each reality. And it would hopefully have a
strong enough scientific base to prevent physicists from laughing at
the wrong bits. (I'm handing the science and mysticism, but if Mik
would like to give the pilot a look over...)
I loved "The Tomorrow People". It's possible to read a strong gay
subtext into it (particularly the concept of "breaking out" and
accepting one's true nature :-).) However, it does seem to have dated
badly, and most of the stories seem to be based on the same theme of
people being manipulated into hated each other.
H.
[*] That's one for "Quantum Leap" fans. Unfortunately, most of my
intended references seem to require copyrighted music which we'd
probably not have the budget for :-(.
Somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind a glimmer of light partially
softens the gloom. I think I do.
I just remember this. Yes I'd like to see it again.
>
> Chocky
Ditto.
> The Brack Report
Don't remember this one.
> Out of this world - Little Lost Robot
Part of the BBC's SF programming from the 1960s where they
took short stories and televised them? If so they have
wiped all the tapes :-( I see no reason why they couldn't
do a series of 60-90 minute short SF stories again - after
all there are plenty of them out there. BBC SF output seems
largely confined to radio at the moment.
I resisted the temptation, just :-)
> Gold ... jet ... copper ...
> lead ... diamond ... sapphire ... silver ... and steel. Sapphire and
> Steel have been assigned. What *was* that all about?
drug abuse in a minor fantasy scribbler i *shouldn't* wonder....
> In article: <6i2kk1$egt$1...@harlech.demon.co.uk>
> ala...@harlech.demon.co.uk (Iain Bowen) writes:
> > Oh, god, yes. I loved that show. Lyn will no doubt post that he
> > always wanted to break out as well as come out. I know how he feels.
>
> I resisted the temptation, just :-)
watch the fist Lyn, it's not too late :)
LOL
you seventies fogey!
> In article: <memo.1998042...@mcy.demon.net> m...@demon.net
> (Mark Ynys-Mon) writes:
> >
> > In article <memo.19980427...@shikasta.demon.co.uk>,
> > jo...@shikasta.demon.co.uk (John Upstone) spake thus:
> >
> > > Anyone remember The Tomorrow People?
> >
> > I *saw* it on the sci-fi channel this weekend at some ungodly hour
> >
> > it is CRIMINALLY seventies you know....
>
> I know and I don't care :-) Anyone remember Sky with the
> naked youth in the title sequence :-)
yes - rather over the top wasn't it - all those blue contact lenses and
"strange" views of Glastonbury Tor.
Somewhere, I think they are in the horde at the 'rents. Any one want to
borrow them?
AFAIK, the TV programmes were actually better.
>Anyone remember The Tomorrow People?
>
Aah, anyone remember Timeslip? Now there's one programme that probably
wouldn't stand up to well to the ravages of time.
Dave (OK I am a SF freak - and referring back to a long lost thread 7 of 9's
breasts are absolutely huge - I swear they're getting bigger each episode (and
it's only episode 2))
----------------------
Ho hum
----------------------
Yes but wasn't he cute (I was only about 15 at the time so most
looked cute - particularly if they displayed flesh).
By a strange coincidence, he rang me last night (the first contact for
a month or two) as I was composing the "Split" script post. He says
that he has a similarly faint recollection of you.
H.
John was a stuck-up twerp. Stephen was quite nice, though :-).
H.
I've seen Timeslip quite recently (Simon brings round videos of both
series). If anything, it's dated less than TTP.
And since they've been mentioned, I find the aforementioned mammaries
grabbing much of my attention while watching Voyager. I see that
they've now been given a smoother covering.
H.
I got the impression that Sapphire and Steel were part of some kind of
multi-demensional elemental police force, but it's difficult to be
certain.
UFO had some good storylines, and the tower block I lived in until
recently was used as the home of one of the central characters
(external shots).
H.
Not SF, but Rentaghost was fun. There was also another, surrealistic
series about a kid having to work his way up a building to get out,
encountering different characters and stories on each floor. I've been
trying to get the name of it for years. Anyone got any idea?
H.
> In article: <memo.19980528...@mcy.demon.net> m...@demon.net
> (Mark Ynys-Mon) writes:
> > > I know and I don't care :-) Anyone remember Sky with the
> > > naked youth in the title sequence :-)
> >
> > yes - rather over the top wasn't it - all those blue contact lenses
> > and "strange" views of Glastonbury Tor.
>
> Yes but wasn't he cute (I was only about 15 at the time so most
> looked cute - particularly if they displayed flesh).
too androgynous (not that I could have put it like that at the time).
> Aah, anyone remember Timeslip? Now there's one programme that probably
> wouldn't stand up to well to the ravages of time.
lol
indeed not!
Yes insufferable wasn't he, but I still wanted to "do" things
with him.
But I like androgeny sometimes...
>In article <6ig7bk$43j$1...@basil.clues.com>, Dave Williams
><URL:mailto:da...@clues.com> wrote:
>
>> Now "Into the Labyrinth", on the other hand...
>>
>
>Wow! I'd forgotten that! Ron Moody and Pamela Salem. "I deny you the
>Nidus!". Excellent stuff.
>
Yeah, but the best series was the first... The second one, with the
other character replacing Ron was pure crap.
Who reckons the original Mike in The Tomorrow People was resonably
cute for the time ;) (Getting a bit more on topic ;)
>In article: <354904a...@news.clara.net>
>mr.g...@the.martian.madhouse writes:
>>
>> Yeah, but the best series was the first... The second one, with the
>> other character replacing Ron was pure crap.
>>
>> Who reckons the original Mike in The Tomorrow People was resonably
>> cute for the time ;) (Getting a bit more on topic ;)
>
>Let me see, me 16 year old (or so), him warm with pulse and
>without shirt on occasion = of course I fancied him.....
>
>:-)
That old?! I wouldn't have thought it :)
I was a mere 7 or 8, IIR ...
>In article <354904a...@news.clara.net>,
><URL:mailto:mr.g...@the.martian.madhouse> wrote:
>> On Sun, 3 May 1998 00:52:35 +0100, Rupert Thompson <rj...@cam.ac.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >In article <6ig7bk$43j$1...@basil.clues.com>, Dave Williams
>> ><URL:mailto:da...@clues.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Now "Into the Labyrinth", on the other hand...
>> >>
>> >
>> >Wow! I'd forgotten that! Ron Moody and Pamela Salem. "I deny you the
>> >Nidus!". Excellent stuff.
>> >
>> Yeah, but the best series was the first... The second one, with the
>> other character replacing Ron was pure crap.
>
>That's true. I don't remember much about the second series, but I seem
>to recall it turned into a poor comedy. Was it that the character who
>replaced Rothgo was an incompetent magician, or something?
Yeah... he was a lot younger too... but not a patch on Rothgo in
power.
I dunno... I don't think it was *that* bad for something really aimed
at kids... was quite an interesting story that one. (The one about the
jumpsuits that took over the bodies of the owners, wasnt it?)
>On 3 May 1998 19:00:57 GMT, Dave Williams (da...@clues.com) wrote:
>
>> Yet another HTV/Patrick Dromgoole weird programme - followed later
>> by things like "Robin of Sherwood". :)
>
>I liked RoS. Not so much when Jason Connery was in it (shame he couldn't
>act, really), but in the first series with Michael Praed...
>
>> Dunno. I just start shuddering when I remember how bad it got. Episodes
>> with The Tomorrow People and "Tim" being taken over by large plastic
>> bubbles, that kind of thing.
>
>Did anyone see any of the 90s series of TP?
>
Not so bad. But the original was better :)
Um. Was it something bizarre like "King of the Castle"?
I vaguely remember the programme, but it's getting way back
towards the edge of what I can remember.
Now "Into the Labyrinth", on the other hand...
D.
Let me see, me 16 year old (or so), him warm with pulse and
without shirt on occasion = of course I fancied him.....
:-)
:>Wow! I'd forgotten that! Ron Moody and Pamela Salem. "I deny you the
:>Nidus!". Excellent stuff.
: Yeah, but the best series was the first... The second one, with the
: other character replacing Ron was pure crap.
<geekpedantgibberish>
That was the third series :) - you'd be thinking of "Lazlo" as
opposed to "Rothgo", and the "Scarabaeus" as opposed to the
"Nidus". Contrived or what?
The first two series were Ron Moody, Pamela Salem, and the three
kiddies. The last one was just had Pamela Salem and one of the kiddies
out of the original cast.
Yet another HTV/Patrick Dromgoole weird programme - followed later
by things like "Robin of Sherwood". :)
(Yes, I've got the "Into the Labyrinth" novels somewhere as well :)
</geekpedantgibberish>
: Who reckons the original Mike in The Tomorrow People was resonably
: cute for the time ;) (Getting a bit more on topic ;)
Dunno. I just start shuddering when I remember how bad it got. Episodes
with The Tomorrow People and "Tim" being taken over by large plastic
bubbles, that kind of thing.
D.
Funny, loads of people I know seem to say that. Couldn't be that Michael
Praed was fanciable and Jason Connery wasn't (unlike his dad).
>> Dunno. I just start shuddering when I remember how bad it got. Episodes
>> with The Tomorrow People and "Tim" being taken over by large plastic
>> bubbles, that kind of thing.
>
>Did anyone see any of the 90s series of TP?
No, I think I rationalized it as "it wouldn't be the same".
--
\/ Iain Bowen is alaric(at)harlech.demon.co.uk. Penguin Inside
"I grow old.... I grow old....
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled."
Michael Praed ... *swoon* *drool* .... this isn't doing the keyboard
much good either.
> > Dunno. I just start shuddering when I remember how bad it got.
> > Episodes with The Tomorrow People and "Tim" being taken over by
> > large plastic bubbles, that kind of thing.
Bubble suits, change people into not nice people (just like shell suits
:-) )
>
> Did anyone see any of the 90s series of TP?
Yes, had good moments but not as interesting as the original, they
never really did sort out their range of psionic abilities etc. Still
interesting none the less.
Hmmm... yes. I think that may well have been it. Thanks.
"Into the Labyrinth", though, I can't place at the moment...
H.
--
Public Enemy #12
(According to http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Haven/9715/)
I also got into RoS. I liked the inclusion of the mystical aspects.
The 90s TP was terrible, IMHO. It was turned into another mediocre
adventure show for near-toddlers. The original series seemed to have
something more meaningful at its core.
<big snip>
>
> I also got into RoS. I liked the inclusion of the mystical aspects.
>
<small snip>
If you liked the 'mystical' bits of RoS, may I heartily
recommend Stephen Lawhead? His 'Silver Hand' trilogy
(transport of Oxbridge don to Celtic Britain) has lots
of 'overworld' and 'the Green Man' done properly.
Martin mar...@speedsix.demon.co.uk
------
"I am for those who have never been master'd. For men and
women whose tempers have never been master'd. For those whom
laws, theories, conventions, can never master." - Walt Whitman
Hmmm... thanks. Something else to check out when the library strike is
over.
} qui...@bigfoot.com "Harlequin" writes:
} > I also got into RoS. I liked the inclusion of the mystical aspects.
} If you liked the 'mystical' bits of RoS, may I heartily
} recommend Stephen Lawhead? His 'Silver Hand' trilogy
} (transport of Oxbridge don to Celtic Britain) has lots
} of 'overworld' and 'the Green Man' done properly.
Eeeekkk!!!!
I first read Empyrion which I thought not to bad so I started on his
Arthurian cycle with Taliesin only to find that the writing was dreadful. I
wondered if it was an early work but no, checking the dates it was written
after Empyrion so I came to the conclusion that once he'd sold he either
became lazy or bullied his publishers into dispensing with the services of
a much needed editor.
I don't much care if he got better again, I have no intention of buying
books that put royalties in the pockets of someone who shows such contempt
for his readers. And I'm not too keen on publishers who put out any old
crap because they'll make a mint out of the author's name alone either.
Matthew
--
"Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto"
mailto:matthew....@guardian.co.uk
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/6630/index.html
http://www.calmeilles.demon.co.uk/index.html
> In article <359eb0e1....@news.demon.co.uk>
> qui...@bigfoot.com "Harlequin" writes:
>
> <big snip>
> >
> > I also got into RoS. I liked the inclusion of the mystical aspects.
> >
> <small snip>
>
> If you liked the 'mystical' bits of RoS, may I heartily
> recommend Stephen Lawhead? His 'Silver Hand' trilogy
> (transport of Oxbridge don to Celtic Britain) has lots
> of 'overworld' and 'the Green Man' done properly.
Well I will see if your recommendations are good then... I have just
ordered all three (along with the new Pratchett and the Rough Guide to
Tuscany) from www.bookshop.co.uk :)
> In article <894404...@speedsix.demon.co.uk>,
> Mar...@speedsix.demon.co.uk (Martin) wrote:
>
>
> } qui...@bigfoot.com "Harlequin" writes:
>
> } > I also got into RoS. I liked the inclusion of the mystical aspects.
>
> } If you liked the 'mystical' bits of RoS, may I heartily
> } recommend Stephen Lawhead? His 'Silver Hand' trilogy
> } (transport of Oxbridge don to Celtic Britain) has lots
> } of 'overworld' and 'the Green Man' done properly.
>
>
> Eeeekkk!!!!
>
> I first read Empyrion which I thought not to bad so I started on his
> Arthurian cycle with Taliesin only to find that the writing was dreadful. I
> wondered if it was an early work but no, checking the dates it was written
> after Empyrion so I came to the conclusion that once he'd sold he either
> became lazy or bullied his publishers into dispensing with the services of
> a much needed editor.
>
> I don't much care if he got better again, I have no intention of buying
> books that put royalties in the pockets of someone who shows such contempt
> for his readers. And I'm not too keen on publishers who put out any old
> crap because they'll make a mint out of the author's name alone either.
>
Oops. And I know you're a serious SF/Fantasy man from
the bookshelves over your buffet!
I read the Silver Hand stuff first. I liked it lots. I then
read the Arthur stuff, and loved it - enough that I've just
bought Book 5 ("Grail") in hardback at pounds lots. I haven't
yet read Empyrion. I suspect we're miles apart here, but the only
author I feel is better at grown-up fantasy is Stephen Donaldson,
and the first Thomas Covenant trilogy the best work ever.
PS Just for the fantasy fans, place the sig. <g>
--
Martin mar...@speedsix.demon.co.uk
------
"Only in silence, the word; Only in darkness, light
Only in dying, life; Bright the hawk's flight on the empty sky"
Ursula K Le Guin
} Oops. And I know you're a serious SF/Fantasy man from
} the bookshelves over your buffet!
}
} I read the Silver Hand stuff first. I liked it lots. I then
} read the Arthur stuff, and loved it - enough that I've just
} bought Book 5 ("Grail") in hardback at pounds lots. I haven't
} yet read Empyrion. I suspect we're miles apart here, but the only
} author I feel is better at grown-up fantasy is Stephen Donaldson,
} and the first Thomas Covenant trilogy the best work ever.
One day when I've really got nothing to do I'll give Taliesin another try.
But my memory is of clumsy writing - bad enough to jar and stop the flow of
reading - in the face of which it was rather dificult to say if plot and
character were up to scratch.
I'm not going to agree about Donaldson: I loved the Covenant books, first
and second trillogy, but they are the work of obsession rather than
inspiration. Technicaly the short stories in "Daughter of Regals" are
better, The Mordant's Need diptych is better written both in prose and
ploting although its lighter in tone the themes of power and the abnegation
of responsibilty are just as well handled as in Covenant.
But for Donaldson at his supreme the five books of the Gap series - four
long novels and an introductory novella - which I have recently re-read.
Dark and brutal, many dislike them for their violence but the skill with
which they are constructed and the plot that takes five characters and
entirely reverses the role each plays is remarkable.
But to top my list of admired fantasy: Gene Wolfe's four volume Book of the
New Sun ("The Shadow of the Torturer", "The Claw of the Conciliator", "The
Sword of the Lictor" and "The Citadel of the Autarch") which to my mind is
his master work. It's a story in the classic mould of there and back again
with transformations along the way. Both the surface richness of the
writing and the underlying skill with which a vastly complex world is
brought out make it a remarkable work.
>I read the Silver Hand stuff first. I liked it lots. I then
>read the Arthur stuff, and loved it - enough that I've just
>bought Book 5 ("Grail") in hardback at pounds lots. I haven't
>yet read Empyrion. I suspect we're miles apart here, but the only
>author I feel is better at grown-up fantasy is Stephen Donaldson,
>and the first Thomas Covenant trilogy the best work ever.
>
Someone has just lent me The Unlikely Ones by Mary Brown and it is the
perfect fantasy. Dragon, Unicorn, knight in armour, heroine..and I can
see the happy ending almost within reach.
Vicky
*******
Don't tell me I'm burning the
candle at both ends - tell me where to get more wax!
I'll agree with you on the Gap; I'd never recommend them,
because they are so very, very dark. And I enjoyed
Mordant's Need as 'a good yarn'. But I loved Thomas Covenant
because the hero (???) is so real, so broken, so obviously
an outsider. And he comes through to levels of unimaginable
sacrifice for causes he'd have laughed in the face of at
first.
Typical heroes are easy to like. Covenant I cared for, and
loved.
I'm still a great fan of Terry Pratchett myself... although I was put
off a little by the "Burn faggots" bit in Good Omens...
>On Sat, 09 May 1998 21:29:28 GMT, mr.g...@the.martian.madhouse wrote:
>
>>I'm still a great fan of Terry Pratchett myself... although I was put
>>off a little by the "Burn faggots" bit in Good Omens...
>
>Hmm, yes. Mind you, we do have Roderick & Keith...[1]
>
>Tom.
>
>[1] Heraldic hippos in Feet of Clay.
Mind you, that could have been Gaiman that wrote that bit....
I haven't read much fantasy (apart from Pratchett), but I've become
quite a fan of Clive Barker, who I've recently introduced Greg to. I
recommend that people not be put off by his "horror" label. His novels
tend to be adult fantasies involving victimised sub-cultures of weird
and wonderful beings, portals to other realms, and portrayals of the
best and worst aspects of human nature. The gay characters have also
become more prominent in each book to the point where the protagonist
of his last novel was a gay man.
BTW, Matthew, I noticed that you don't seem to have that book (the
title of which escapes me for the moment) or the "Books of The
Art"[*]. Have you read them?
H.
[*] "The Great and Secret Show" and "Everville".
>} If you liked the 'mystical' bits of RoS, may I heartily
>} recommend Stephen Lawhead? His 'Silver Hand' trilogy
>} (transport of Oxbridge don to Celtic Britain) has lots
>} of 'overworld' and 'the Green Man' done properly.
>
>Eeeekkk!!!!
I can't even remember what the first Lawhead stuff I read was*, but it
was so dire I've never given him another try.
* was the Amtrak stuff his?
John
--
\O/ John Upstone * ju...@cix.co.uk * jo...@shikasta.demon.co.uk
|_ http://www.shikasta.demon.co.uk/john/ * ICQ: 9709591
(_)\_ Dial up, Log in, Chill out * Peace, Love, Unity, Respect
...................................................................
"Not that I want to be a god or a hero. Just to change into a tree,
grow for ages, not hurt anyone." - Czeslaw Milosz
>>> by things like "Robin of Sherwood". :)
>>
>>I liked RoS. Not so much when Jason Connery was in it (shame he couldn't
>>act, really), but in the first series with Michael Praed...
>
>Funny, loads of people I know seem to say that. Couldn't be that Michael
>Praed was fanciable and Jason Connery wasn't (unlike his dad).
Well, that may have played some part in things, but I think it also
had to do with the fact that the trees had a greater range of
expression than JC. "Wooden" doesn't even begin to describe his
acting.
I also thought the girl who played Marion was pretty gorgeous, too. So
what with her and Praed I was fairly hooked on it.
>>> with The Tomorrow People and "Tim" being taken over by large plastic
>>> bubbles, that kind of thing.
>>
>>Did anyone see any of the 90s series of TP?
>
>No, I think I rationalized it as "it wouldn't be the same".
I saw one episode, and it wasn't. But there are loads of web pages
devoted to it - apparently it was shown in the states, where they
don't know any better.
>But to top my list of admired fantasy: Gene Wolfe's four volume Book of the
>New Sun ("The Shadow of the Torturer", "The Claw of the Conciliator", "The
>Sword of the Lictor" and "The Citadel of the Autarch") which to my mind is
>his master work. It's a story in the classic mould of there and back again
>with transformations along the way. Both the surface richness of the
>writing and the underlying skill with which a vastly complex world is
>brought out make it a remarkable work.
Have you read 'Soldier In The Mist' by GW, the story of a soldier in
ancient Greece who has no memory. It's been ages since I read it, but
I like it almost as much as the New Sun stuff.
} Have you read 'Soldier In The Mist' by GW, the story of a soldier in
} ancient Greece who has no memory. It's been ages since I read it, but
} I like it almost as much as the New Sun stuff.
No, "The Book of Day's", "The Devil in a Forest" and the Long Sun quartet.
I did have 5th head, but mislayed it somehwere.
Most times I see it I think about buying Soldier, but end up finding
somthing that appeals more. I have a far greater appetite for reading than
tha bank manager is prepared to support.
BTW, I only today learned the definite connection between the Long Sun and
the New Sun books. :)
} BTW, Matthew, I noticed that you don't seem to have that book (the
} title of which escapes me for the moment) or the "Books of The
} Art"[*]. Have you read them?
No the only Barker's I've read are "Weaveworld", "Cabal", "Imajica" which I
loved and "The Thief of Always" which I don't think I finished.
> On Wed, 06 May 1998 11:50:58 +0100, matthew....@guardian.co.uk
> (Matthew Malthouse) wrote:
>
> >} If you liked the 'mystical' bits of RoS, may I heartily
> >} recommend Stephen Lawhead? His 'Silver Hand' trilogy
> >} (transport of Oxbridge don to Celtic Britain) has lots
> >} of 'overworld' and 'the Green Man' done properly.
> >
> >Eeeekkk!!!!
>
> I can't even remember what the first Lawhead stuff I read was*, but it
> was so dire I've never given him another try.
>
> * was the Amtrak stuff his?
>
No, thankfully. Amtrack _is_ dire. I don't think I'll ever
share my sf/fantasy tastes here again, but I think I've just
discovered another plus side to being a gay man; I've shared
my tastes with people I like, they don't find them appealing
to them, and I honestly don't mind.
BTW, I hit Books Etc CXR on Sunday (see Edmund White thread)
and filled four carriers with books. A last minute addition
was Ethan Mordden's 'Some Men Are Lookers', more for the cover
model than anything else. It's billed as the New York
Armistead Maupin, but I think it's better.
Please _don't_ buy it on my recommendation (I don't do guilt
well), but if anyone else has read it I'd like to hear their
reactions.
Martin mar...@speedsix.demon.co.uk
------
"Only in silence, the word; Only in darkness, light
Only in dying, life; Bright the hawk's flight on the empty sky"
- Ursula K Le Guin
>> I can't even remember what the first Lawhead stuff I read was*, but it
>> was so dire I've never given him another try.
>>
>> * was the Amtrak stuff his?
>
>No, thankfully. Amtrack _is_ dire. I don't think I'll ever
>share my sf/fantasy tastes here again, but I think I've just
>discovered another plus side to being a gay man; I've shared
>my tastes with people I like, they don't find them appealing
>to them, and I honestly don't mind.
I may be misjudging Lawhead, confusing him with someone else. I'm
trying to remember what of his I can have read.
<later> Having looked through amazon.com, I can't see a single Lawhead
book that I remember reading. I think I must definitely be confusing
him with another writer. I think I've got the first of the Arthur
books here somewhere, maybe I'll try it.
>BTW, I hit Books Etc CXR on Sunday (see Edmund White thread)
>and filled four carriers with books. A last minute addition
>was Ethan Mordden's 'Some Men Are Lookers', more for the cover
>model than anything else. It's billed as the New York
>Armistead Maupin, but I think it's better.
Sounds interesting.
>Please _don't_ buy it on my recommendation (I don't do guilt
>well), but if anyone else has read it I'd like to hear their
>reactions.
It's alright, I never blame people for recommending books if I end up
not liking them. I normally take the recommendation as reason to look
at the book to see if I think I might like it. The decision to buy it
is always mine. :)
>} Have you read 'Soldier In The Mist' by GW, the story of a soldier in
>} ancient Greece who has no memory. It's been ages since I read it, but
>} I like it almost as much as the New Sun stuff.
>
>No, "The Book of Day's", "The Devil in a Forest" and the Long Sun quartet.
>I did have 5th head, but mislayed it somehwere.
I've got the first two, but what's the Long Sun quartet?
>Most times I see it I think about buying Soldier, but end up finding
>somthing that appeals more. I have a far greater appetite for reading than
>tha bank manager is prepared to support.
I know the feeling, I used to be the same. Now it's more a case of not
having enough time to read as much as I'd like.
>BTW, I only today learned the definite connection between the Long Sun and
>the New Sun books. :)
What are they called?
} BTW, I hit Books Etc CXR on Sunday (see Edmund White thread)
} and filled four carriers with books.
Either you get paid too much or I get too little.
} A last minute addition
} was Ethan Mordden's 'Some Men Are Lookers', more for the cover
} model than anything else. It's billed as the New York
} Armistead Maupin, but I think it's better.
}
} Please _don't_ buy it on my recommendation (I don't do guilt
} well), but if anyone else has read it I'd like to hear their
} reactions.
It's on my 'to read' stack and I've dipped a bit. I think I'm going to
enjoy it.
A while back I recomended Mary Doria Russell's "The Sparrow". It's sequel
"Children of God" is published in a US edition (beautifully produced) and
available in some bookshops. It's quite as good as the first and well worth
recomending.
} >No, "The Book of Day's", "The Devil in a Forest" and the Long Sun
quartet.
} >I did have 5th head, but mislayed it somehwere.
}
} I've got the first two, but what's the Long Sun quartet?
"Nightside of the...", "Calde of the...", "Lake of the..." and "Exodus from
the Long Sun"
Qualitatively different from TBotNS but good. The story is of a community
coming to a crisis point - both nature of the community and the crisis
would be spoilers.
>I'm still a great fan of Terry Pratchett myself... although I was put
>off a little by the "Burn faggots" bit in Good Omens...
Hmm, yes. Mind you, we do have Roderick & Keith...[1]
Tom.
[1] Heraldic hippos in Feet of Clay.
--
Tom Jordaan (in Brighton, BN2) t...@phlebas.demon.co.uk
"The British are subtle, but nasty when provoked."
- Reply using the Reply-To: header's address not the From: header -
> In article <894921...@speedsix.demon.co.uk>,
> Mar...@speedsix.demon.co.uk (Martin) wrote:
>
> } BTW, I hit Books Etc CXR on Sunday (see Edmund White thread)
> } and filled four carriers with books.
>
> Either you get paid too much or I get too little.
>
Almost certainly both. However, I get a big slab of my income
as quarterly bonus (=profit related pay), and a good one is
always a cue to buy every book I want while I have the cash.
<snip serious book comment>
>} I've got the first two, but what's the Long Sun quartet?
>
>"Nightside of the...", "Calde of the...", "Lake of the..." and "Exodus from
>the Long Sun"
>
>Qualitatively different from TBotNS but good. The story is of a community
>coming to a crisis point - both nature of the community and the crisis
>would be spoilers.
Thanks, Matthew. Noted the names and will try and hunt them down.
John
--
\O/ John Upstone * ju...@cix.co.uk * jo...@shikasta.demon.co.uk
|_ http://www.shikasta.demon.co.uk/john/ * ICQ: 9709591
(_)\_ Dial up, Log in, Chill out * Peace, Love, Unity, Respect
....................................................................
"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never
do any harm to the world." - Voltaire
I still haven't managed to find a copy of "Cabal" (I've got to try
ordering it in the library when it reopens). I enjoyed the film
version, "Nightbreed" (which Barker directed), but felt that it
suffered from "Lord of the Rings" syndrome, i.e. trying to stuff too
much plot into too short a film (which also seemed to be a failing of
"Dune" and "Enemy Mine").
The Books of the Art primarily involve an battle between a couple of
enhanced ex-humans, their efforts to involve their children in said
battle, and rifts between our world and another. They also introduce
the character Harry D'Amour, who featured in Barker's film "Lord of
Illusions" (yes, that was pretty poor). The later book ("Sacrament"?)
is a small, non-epic story (with no other worlds) about a gay man
coming to terms with events and characters from his childhood. I would
recommend both (or all three) for different reasons.
H.
} On Mon, 11 May 1998 19:31:55 +0100, Matthew Malthouse wrote:
} >qui...@bigfoot.com (Harlequin) wrote:
} >} BTW, Matthew, I noticed that you don't seem to have that book (the
} >} title of which escapes me for the moment) or the "Books of The
} >} Art"[*]. Have you read them?
} >
} >No the only Barker's I've read are "Weaveworld", "Cabal", "Imajica"
which I
} >loved and "The Thief of Always" which I don't think I finished.
}
} I still haven't managed to find a copy of "Cabal" (I've got to try
} ordering it in the library when it reopens). I enjoyed the film
} version, "Nightbreed" (which Barker directed), but felt that it
} suffered from "Lord of the Rings" syndrome, i.e. trying to stuff too
} much plot into too short a film (which also seemed to be a failing of
} "Dune" and "Enemy Mine").
Dune should have been a series. Unfortunately the economics of it wouldn't,
I think, have been practical.
Enemy mine however I'm not so sure about. It was a good-ish effort, but
could have been better. I don't think length / plot cram was really a
problem
}
} The Books of the Art primarily involve an battle between a couple of
} enhanced ex-humans, their efforts to involve their children in said
} battle, and rifts between our world and another. They also introduce
} the character Harry D'Amour, who featured in Barker's film "Lord of
} Illusions" (yes, that was pretty poor). The later book ("Sacrament"?)
} is a small, non-epic story (with no other worlds) about a gay man
} coming to terms with events and characters from his childhood. I would
} recommend both (or all three) for different reasons.
I'll keep an eye out.
Oh, and Martin mentioned Ethan Mordden's "Some Men are Lookers" a week or
so ago. I finished it and can say it's a damn good read.
Episodic like Maupin's Tales it deals with, if possible, a more limited
cast and deeper issues.
In some ways it also reminded me of Larry Kramer's "Faggots" and "Queens"
by Pickles - both of a like kind but set in earlier times and New York and
London respectively.
All recomended.
> "Queens"
> by Pickles
I recall laughing a lot at that.
Mark Y-M
His senses are too gross; and he'll contrive
A sixth, to contradict the other five.
>You're probably right about "Enemy Mine". I just felt that the story
>was rushed once it left the planet. Mind you, unlike the other films
>I've never read the source.
It was a great story... but it was only one short story initially...
so there's only so far it could stick to the source. It did by and
large tho.
<sf snip>
>
> Oh, and Martin mentioned Ethan Mordden's "Some Men are Lookers" a week or
> so ago. I finished it and can say it's a damn good read.
>
> Episodic like Maupin's Tales it deals with, if possible, a more limited
> cast and deeper issues.
>
> In some ways it also reminded me of Larry Kramer's "Faggots" and "Queens"
> by Pickles - both of a like kind but set in earlier times and New York and
> London respectively.
>
> All recomended.
>
Glad to see Matthew approves of some of my literary tastes!
'Some Men Are Lookers' is Mordden's 4th book in the
series, but the first to be published in the UK. Blackwell's
and Books etc. CXR provided the US editions of the first two,
but I haven't found the third ('Buddies') yet. I may have to
resort to trying out Matthew's instructions on book ordering.
--
>On Thu, 21 May 1998 23:45:03 GMT, mr.g...@the.martian.madhouse wrote:
>>On Thu, 21 May 1998 02:27:31 GMT, Harlequin wrote:
>>>You're probably right about "Enemy Mine". I just felt that the story
>>>was rushed once it left the planet. Mind you, unlike the other films
>>>I've never read the source.
>>
>>It was a great story... but it was only one short story initially...
>>so there's only so far it could stick to the source. It did by and
>>large tho.
>
>Hmmm... do you know where I could find the story?
Bugger. I'll look it up later... it's stuck in one of my bookcases...
get back to u tomorrow on it!
>On Mon, 25 May 1998 06:40:46 GMT, qui...@bigfoot.com (Harlequin)
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 21 May 1998 23:45:03 GMT, mr.g...@the.martian.madhouse wrote:
>>>On Thu, 21 May 1998 02:27:31 GMT, Harlequin wrote:
>>>>You're probably right about "Enemy Mine". I just felt that the story
>>>>was rushed once it left the planet. Mind you, unlike the other films
>>>>I've never read the source.
>>>
>>>It was a great story... but it was only one short story initially...
>>>so there's only so far it could stick to the source. It did by and
>>>large tho.
>>
>>Hmmm... do you know where I could find the story?
>
>
>Bugger. I'll look it up later... it's stuck in one of my bookcases...
>get back to u tomorrow on it!
IIR It was something like Manifest Infinity.... But I'll look it up
later.
BTW Anyone going to the Manchester Mardi Gras here?
>>>>
>>>>It was a great story... but it was only one short story initially...
>>>>so there's only so far it could stick to the source. It did by and
>>>>large tho.
>>>
>>>Hmmm... do you know where I could find the story?
>>
>>
>>Bugger. I'll look it up later... it's stuck in one of my bookcases...
>>get back to u tomorrow on it!
>
>IIR It was something like Manifest Infinity.... But I'll look it up
>later.
>
>BTW Anyone going to the Manchester Mardi Gras here?
I found the book! (My partner's had to shove a load in the cupboard
due to lack of space :( Bugger.)
It's actually Manifest Destiny - by Barry B Longyear.
The book charts the future of the human race in their journey into
space... not quite as good as the Foundation stories... but not so
bad.
:)
Hmmm... do you know where I could find the story?
H.
--
} On Thu, 21 May 1998 23:45:03 GMT, mr.g...@the.martian.madhouse wrote:
} >On Thu, 21 May 1998 02:27:31 GMT, Harlequin wrote:
} >>You're probably right about "Enemy Mine". I just felt that the story
} >>was rushed once it left the planet. Mind you, unlike the other films
} >>I've never read the source.
} >
} >It was a great story... but it was only one short story initially...
} >so there's only so far it could stick to the source. It did by and
} >large tho.
}
} Hmmm... do you know where I could find the story?
I thought it was in one of the anthologies I have, but I can't find it
which means either I dreamt it or it's in the only one that's out on loan -
"Science Fiction Hall of Fame" Vol 4, the Nebula winners '65-'69 ed. A.C.
Clarke.
A quick web search should find it, there are plenty of sf archives out
there. Or one could try asking on uk.media.books.sf and uk.people.sf-fans
"Enemy Mine" *was* available in paperback some years ago ( I'm sure I have
a copy of it somewhere) Not sure if it's still in print....but I was a
most enjoyable read. The film wasn't a 'dreadful' attempt ,considering
the transfer from script to screen.
Hugs Kev.
Thanks. And I've heard that the library's reopened :-).
It sounds like the story was part of a larger overall plot, which
might have been what I was sensing in the film.
H.