Defend your favourite author.
If it's that cunt Pratchett I suggest you keep schtum.

Mine is of course David Irving.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:24, 114 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

mine is probably Iain (M) Banks
is that ok?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:26, Reply)

My brother rates him. I cannot comment, having read none.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:30, Reply)

you should try a couple
you'll either love it, or you'll think he is trying too hard.

For you, I recommend The Wasp Factory, Espedair Street or Dead Air.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:31, Reply)

Wasp Factory is fantastic.

( girlinthehole, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:32, Reply)

The Wasp Factory was relentlessly shit.
Espedair Street is very good, as is Complicity. Haven't read Dead Air.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

Oi!

( girlinthehole, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:34, Reply)

Haha sorry.

(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:36, Reply)

Dead Air is similar to Complicity
and is very good.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:37, Reply)

He is trying a bit hard
doesn't mean he isn't quite good, just not as good as he thinks he is.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:34, Reply)

I've heard that said before and find it faintly ridiculous
I don't get any sense of what he thinks of himself from his books. His ideas are odd, or quite grand, but they are almost without exception very well executed.

It's a almost a bit of reverse snobbery.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:38, Reply)

I've found his non-M stuff to be great or awful,
Song of Stone and The Wasp Factory were dreadful, everything else I've read I've really liked. The M stuff is all great.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:43, Reply)

I didn't really get on with Canal Dreams
and Song of Stone was indeed a bit shit.

Trying to think if I've disliked any of his M stuff. Feersum Enjin was a bit of a pain and I can't remember what happened.

I have a copy of Inversions in my bookcase and I have no idea if I've read it or not.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:45, Reply)

C

Not what I've heard.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:47, Reply)

Inversions is by far the worst of his M novels but it's still not bad.

(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:47, Reply)

I didn't get what the fuss over the Wasp Factory was.
Crow Road was fairly good. Complicity was probably the best of his I have read. The Business had a cool premise but didn't really go anywhere with it.
(Zoz prayed for twink on, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:28, Reply)

My personal opinion *shrugs*
I liked the Wasp Factory, on your recommendation read a couple more and they just felt a tiny bit forced. Not necessarily a bad thing.

It's why I don't really read modern fiction much anymore.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:44, Reply)

to which you are perfectly entitled
the sci fi stuff is really where his skill lies.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:46, Reply)

Personal opinion? On here? With this bunch of cock-ends?
Come on, Ambs, you know better than that.
( thealternativefact, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:47, Reply)

may I draw your attention to my reply...

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:47, Reply)

No. Fuck off.

( thealternativefact, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:48, Reply)

alright, you great big misery

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:00, Reply)

You're bloody right clendrix
Now listen here Vipros. I am RIGHT and that is all there is to it.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:57, Reply)

SBD Street?
Hahahahahahahahah
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:46, Reply)

Can you tell me how to get...?

(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:53, Reply)

Drink cabbage water, that's a shortcut.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:56, Reply)

rving cke
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:26, Reply)

I wish to salute our Lizard Overlords

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:30, Reply)

I think the Marquis De Sade was just misunderstood and needed a cuddle.

( girlinthehole, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:26, Reply)

Haruki Murakami
but he doesn't really need defending
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:26, Reply)

I love remains of the day.
That was him wasn't it. Those Jap names all sound the same.
( girlinthehole, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:27, Reply)

You're thinking of Kazuo Ishirugo
also a brilliant author
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:28, Reply)

I prefer remains of the children.
NOM NOM NOM.


/Fishlolz
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:29, Reply)

Richard Littlejohn
Because he is not afraid to say what everyone is thinking
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:27, Reply)

Hang on, my sarcasm-ometer just exploded...
What happened?
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:29, Reply)

CALM DOWN EVERYONE
I have restored the internet that NakedApe just broke. Say sorry
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:30, Reply)

It was tough choice between him and Clarkson

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

I've warned you!

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:37, Reply)

I'll lead with a fuck you, I'm a Pratchett fan, but he's not my favourite.
For me, it's either Roald Dahl, Brian Jacques, or James Herbert.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:30, Reply)

Herbert got a bit hitty-missy for me
He has done some cracking books though
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:31, Reply)

have you read '48?
I liked that one.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:32, Reply)

Yeah, that was a good one
Zombie nazi post WW2 London thing
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

Definitely one of his best

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

I am a huge fan of the middle guy.
He was fucking amazing on Superstars.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:32, Reply)

haha!

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

Kevin-Keegan-bike-crash lols.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:34, Reply)

I have watched that clip over 100 times in recent years.
I would (do) LOVE IT.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:40, Reply)

hahaha
You just made a Keegan football quote. You love football. No returns.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:44, Reply)

He's one of the biggest idiots of all time.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:49, Reply)

You've made this joke more than once, it's still going over my head...

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:39, Reply)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Jacks
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:41, Reply)

We had this one recently and I can't be bothered having it all over again.
My favourite comic was The Beano.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:31, Reply)

Yea, The Beano rocked
The Dnandy was for utter benders
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

it was indeed
Then when I got older it was The Mandy or the Judy (which then merged). Suzy was ok, Bunty was ok. Then came the Just Seventeen (which wasn't a comic but it came with my weekly/fortnightly comic delivery from Nana so was labelled thus in our house) and then the More. Then came New Woman, which was shit but made me feel grown up. Then Melody Maker. Then Loaded. Then I stopped getting my comics because I stopped looking forward to their release and the accompanying noms.

EDIT: I forgot to mention the Smash Hits years. Corky O Riley it's Kylie.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:36, Reply)

We got Look & Learn. That was quite good for a bit.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:37, Reply)

Look out for Look In.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:38, Reply)

What age-group was that?

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:38, Reply)

8-12 maybe?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:38, Reply)

hmmm, not ringing a bell
I can remember my first ever Beano though. I'd been for a doctors appointment. My mum said "ooh would you like a comic? How about the Beano?" I must have been three or four and I LOVED it. I loved the colour of Rasher against the green of the grass as well.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:42, Reply)

Rasher?
Gnasher surely.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:45, Reply)

He didn't usually have wings
media.comicvine.com/uploads/7/72373/1336392-rasher_large.jpg
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:46, Reply)

I don't remember Rasher at all.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:50, Reply)

Poor Rasher. Forgotten.

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:50, Reply)

I was a Beano reader as a youth
There was also a lot to be said for Wizzer and Chips.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:36, Reply)

I had a few of their annuals but rarely bought the actual comic

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:37, Reply)

Christmas usually resulted in a Beano annual

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:38, Reply)

Same here. Still occasionally does...

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:39, Reply)

I get my nephew the Beano annual whether he wants it or not : )

( girlinthehole, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:40, Reply)

Are there still the same range of kids comics that were around back in the day?
When i've bought comics for my newphew, they all seem to be associated with kids TV shows, rather than just general comic strips.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:41, Reply)

yeah they're fucking shit
There's no imagination and no trusting kids to have intelligence or imagination either.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:42, Reply)

Dennis the Menace is no longer allowed to be a homophobic bully.
It's fucking rubbish.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:52, Reply)

Walter was a right bummer.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:54, Reply)

Innit.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:07, Reply)

Charlie Stross, at the moment, I think.
Ian M Banks, Alastair Reynolds and Ken MacLeod are all contenders for second place.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:32, Reply)

I like a bit of Alastair Reynolds
good shit. Revelation Space was my favourite.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:39, Reply)

The Prefect is my favourite, I think.

(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:41, Reply)

I haven't read that one
I should seek some more out.

I'm reading some stuff based on the backstory of Warhammer 40,000 at the moment. Mildly embarrassing, but actually really quite good.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:43, Reply)

I am in no position to judge, given how much time I've been wasting on the Blood Bowl computer game recently.
I am assuming that these are better than the Ian Watson tripe they used to publish?
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:45, Reply)

hahaha
I haven't read any of those. I've read the first couple of these, and they aren't bad. Quite interestingly written, because of the nature of the space marines.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:50, Reply)

I'll have to look for these - they sound good

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:56, Reply)

the Horus Heresy is the series to which I refer
I have only read the first two, but they entertained me.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:00, Reply)

Will get the library on the case once I've finished my current book then!

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:08, Reply)

Can I have a high five for George Orwell?

( girlinthehole, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:32, Reply)

As long as Big Brother has OK-ed it

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:32, Reply)

And the pigs have added a consent stamp

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

*tickles BGB under the armpit*

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:33, Reply)

Please don't tickle me.
It's so embarrasing seeing a middle-aged woman being tickled.
( girlinthehole, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:35, Reply)

God, because he wrote the greatest story ever told

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:32, Reply)

I thought it was written by the disyples?

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:34, Reply)

diplexik disyples?
Nah, you see what he did was shove his arm up their arses and manipulate their hands to write the story as he saw it.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:35, Reply)

Starring Max Von Sydow?

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:35, Reply)

Now I'm no expert
but I am pretty sure 'Mein Kampf' is not by God.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:36, Reply)

It was by your God

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:37, Reply)

I rarely read books
So I'll just name the graphic novels that I can happily read time and time again:
Preacher, Transmetropolitan and The Boys.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:49, Reply)

I only read Preacher and Sandman and I loved 'em.
And I rarely read books now.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:49, Reply)

Sandman is brilliant too
Borrowed the collection off a friend when I was in hospital and read the lot.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:51, Reply)

I liked Slaine (sp?)

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:51, Reply)

Pretty sure that's the right spelling
I know one of the two brothers who owns 2000 AD now, they also own Rebellion computer games studio. Absolutely minted, they are.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:52, Reply)

Oh dear lord, I've just spent £130 at this place.... with particular attention to the sweet desert pear wine.
www.onceuponatree.co.uk
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:53, Reply)

That's a lot of cider, Are you having a tramp party?

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:58, Reply)

It took me many years to appreciate dessert wines.
Brown Brothers do one that tastes like apricot juice. You might enjoy it.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:59, Reply)

Orange Muscat and Flora
its the standard dessert wine here. Absolutely lovely. Bought my dad some last year
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:01, Reply)

Oh man, link me up, I love desesrt wines.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:01, Reply)

Here you go
www.waitrosewine.com/230202049/Product.aspx
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:02, Reply)

Oh fuck, they do Ice Wine too.
I was just at the checkout with a basket of £120 (as you need to buy by the 12), when I stopped myself on account of that being a stupid amount to spend on booze in one year, let alone one day.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:18, Reply)

Yo Gonz you might like
this.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:19, Reply)

Primo Levi is my favourite author.
He wrote with clarity and wit. Just a few words of his can make a grown emotionless man cry. A few more, and hope shines through incredible hardship.

But being an italian jew, Monty will think otherwise.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:56, Reply)

My dad likes him.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:57, Reply)

He didn't push him down the stairs, did he?

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:58, Reply)

Yep.
And Laura Ashley...and Sandy Denny.

He now records as a 'live' drum'n'bass act, 'Stairpusher'.

I'm sorry.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:02, Reply)

No need to apologise.
It was probably suicide anyway.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:04, Reply)

Ah
If that was a book
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:02, Reply)

If this is a man?

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 16:08, Reply)

she posted a video of her singing that Ceelo song on facebook

( Lisette von Falcon, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 15:57, Reply)

I don't think J.G. Ballard or Hemmingway
really need me to stick up for them.

Or Greene for that matter.
( WormuIus, Mon 28 Feb 2011, 20:00, Reply)