A confession
When I went on holiday, I wasn't able to fit many books in my case, as a result I could only take 3.

The girl I went with took 8, and so I ended up reading half of them too. They included most of the works of Stephanie Meyer, the author of 'Twilight', the one that's been made into a film (sparkly vampires and all).

Frankly, they're fucking fantastic. Her storytelling is brilliant, and her ability to describe a situation is some of the best I've ever read, the only one better is Oscar Wilde. I got my hands on the last one last night, and ended up reading the entire thing in two sittings, only shifting for beer and toilet breaks.

Before I read the book, I thought the sparkly vampire idea was utterly wank, but now I get it, it's not quite as retarded as before. Fair play to the woman, she's managed to almost completely reinvent the Vampire and werewolf myths. It's full of pretty dark humour to boot.

Also, it's seriously violent in bits. While in most Vampire stories, it's a stake, or silver (which is still werewolves to me), in this the only way to kill them is rip them physically limb from limb, then burn the parts, or they'll reassemble. Superb.

I've still not watched the film, and don't intend on doing so for a long long time. Seriously though, I'm anticipating several of you to laugh at my choice of books, fine, it's up to you. But don't knock it till you've tried it.

In other news, what're your plans for the weekend?

EDIT: And no, I'm not one of those people who feel the need to natter incessantly to others who are reading the book, and say shit like 'OMG it's so good!' They're the reason I avoided the books in the first place.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 8:46, 46 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I downloaded the electronic version of these books
but haven't got round to putting them on my reader yet. In light of your recommendation I may now do so. But not until I've finished reading the new Pratchett.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 8:53, Reply)

I FUCKING LOVE PRATCHETT!
Is that Unseen Academicals?

What did you think of the TV versions, Hogfather and Colour Of Magic? I reckon the casting of Sir Christopher Lee as Death was a master stroke (don't ask me why I made 'Sir' bold, it just feels like the way he would say it)
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 8:57, Reply)

Loved them.
Bring on Mort!
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 8:59, Reply)

.
THEY'RE MAKING MORT INTO A FILM? WOO HOO!

I fucking love that book, first Pratchett I ever read, and still my favourite, by far.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:01, Reply)

Mort in to a film?
Finally! I just hope they keep Sir Christopher Lee as Death!
(stimpy, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:02, Reply)

Nah, I'm just fucking with you.
But it would be so, so awesome. I once started writing a screenplay for Mort, character definitions, costumes, started a storyboard etc. True to form I lost interest after a few days and moved on to the Next Big Thing. It would make such a great screenplay though *dreams*
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:05, Reply)

That's just cruel!
Wikipedia tells me that the next one will be (drumroll please) - Going Postal

I'm pretty happy about this, as it's a superb book! I'm gutted Jeremy Irons won't be back though, boo!
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:11, Reply)

Goining Postal will be excellent. I don't need to see it to know.
We need Vetinari on our screens. Mmm, power... *slavers*
(stimpy, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:16, Reply)

how did I not know about Colour of magic being made into a TV thing?
I didn't get on with the Hogfather adaptation. For one it's one of my least favourite of his books, and I couldn't stand the voice of the bad guy.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:19, Reply)

One of the boys bought CoM on DVD
I've yet to watch it... I think I know what will be happening tonight! I like the hogfather adaption - if anything, for Susan when she transformed in to Death mode.
(stimpy, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:21, Reply)

The Colour of Magic was great.
David Jason as Rincewind and... Was it Corey Haim as Twoflower? One of the Goonies anyway. Great casting and wonderful effects.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:22, Reply)

No
It was Sean Astin, aka Samwise Gamgee.

But that just took me far too long to remember.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:22, Reply)

That's the Goonie!

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 10:19, Reply)

Honestly?
Colour Of Magic was genius, much better than the first one.

Also, it's got Tim Curry as a bad guy, can't go wrong!

EDIT: It's actually Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic mixed into one film.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:22, Reply)

I will download it this very night!!!
here's a question. when you read the books, how old did you picture Rincewind to be? He's shown with a white beard and stuff on the covers, but I kind of put him in his 20s. Would make me sense to me.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:26, Reply)

Sadly
I've still not got round to reading Colour Of Magic.

I'm going to start getting the books soon though, my housemate's Mum has all of the books, and has agreed to lend me them.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:30, Reply)

I agree with this.
I always pictured him as a mid-twenties neophyte.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 10:14, Reply)

that's pretty much what I had in mind
like a cowardly, bumbling, useless slacker uni student
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 10:15, Reply)

OH FUCK YES

( Maladicta, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 17:49, Reply)

which is the new one?
I've been rereading some of the old stuff, colour of magic, light fantastic and moving pictures so far. first two are kind of strange. still great.

moving pictures is still fucking awesome.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:07, Reply)

Unseen Academicals is just out
It's about football apparently.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:34, Reply)

I skipped over where it said that higher up
interesting...I was just remarking the other day that there hadn't been one about the wizards for a while.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:36, Reply)

Hmm
Twilight. It's one of those I've been avoiding beause of the whole sparkly vampire thing, and worries that I might just regress to a teenage fangirl again. (Take That era. Not good... just not good!) Sounds like I might have to stop avoiding, take the plunge and actually give them a chance instead of ignoring them with my highbrow-thingy-ness.
(stimpy, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 8:57, Reply)

I was exactly the same
But they are well worth a go, definitely.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 8:57, Reply)

I've read too many pisstakes on t'internet
I don't think I could seriously read them.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:35, Reply)

I was the same
But I was so bored I figured I'd give it a go, then wouldn't put it down.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:58, Reply)

I'm reading War of the Worlds by H G Wells.
Written in 1898 and never caused an exodus out of New York when it was broadcast, it's still a cracking read and I should be finished within the hour. I'd recommend it if you haven't read it.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 8:58, Reply)

.
I've not read that, no. Shall have to give it a try.

Cheers.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:00, Reply)

Currently Reading Tom Arden's Orokon series
Very long, slow meandering books. The guy knows how to set a scene, and these aren't your typical fantasy books - it's more Victorian then medieval, with muskets, cannon and big fuckoff dragons (in the second book at least). From reading the first two, I suspect the last one will not have a typical happy ending where everything is tied up.
(stimpy, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:04, Reply)

I'm reading the Shadows of the Apt series
by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Interesting fantasy stuff, in a world with giant insects each group of people has an "ancestor art" associated with a particular insect - wasps and dragonflys and others can fly, moths can see in the dark, scorpions have a sting... It's really interesting. Very different.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:41, Reply)

will maybe check out that stuff then
I am a fan of vampire stuff, even shit stuff.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:09, Reply)

Bloody Hell mate!
First it's Harry Potter, then is fuckin 'Dragon Ball Z' and now it bloody Twilight!?!?!?

And you know my plans for the weekend........MICHAEL MOTHERFUCKIN MAWSON!!!!
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:49, Reply)

Oi, cocknose
Don't knock it till you've tried it!

Woo!
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:50, Reply)

also Dragon Ball Z is fucking awesome
when at uni they used to show whole sagas in a day on cartoon network. we'd get up at 8am, get really stoned and stay that way all day watching dragon ball.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:53, Reply)

Nice
My housemate decided on a whim to see how much he could get.

Top torrent DVD was the complete series, every episode of DBZ. I'm up to episode 100, start of the Android Saga.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:55, Reply)

I am reading Lives of the Twelve Caesars by Suetonius
You may think this makes me something of a cunt (and you would doubtless be right) but I love classical literature. Tacitus is a great read too but Virgil is, in my expert opinion, shit.

I tried Pratchett when the Colour of Magic came out and I just didn't like it. In my mind he's lumped in with Dr Who and Star Trek and those other 'IT nerds like them' things I just cannot get into.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:53, Reply)

that's unfortunate
because Pratchett is one of the best writers we've got.

My mum doesn't like his style much though, and she likes classical literature, and thomas hardy and stuff.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:54, Reply)

To me
he comes across as trying too hard to be clever and funny to actually pull it off. I get the feeling his work is popular because he makes the reader feel clever by 'getting' his allusions and little in-jokes - everyone likes to have their egos bolstered I suppose.

I've been told his books improved as he wrote more but I am such a judgemental tosser I haven't given him a second chance.

The best modern books I've read are CJ Sansom's Shardlake books, set in the Tudor period. He's far and away the best 'new' writer I've read in recent years.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 10:03, Reply)

what AA says below is true
and I've found it when rereading the first few books. They are straight up parodies, whereas as his stuff goes on there is much more character development, and the whole thing comes into its own more.

It's worth trying some of his later stuff.

That's the second time recently that someone has said one of my favourite authors tries too hard to be clever. As was the case with Iain M Banks, I think the case is that they are actually very clever, and write accordingly.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 10:06, Reply)

^this^
i've read all of iain banks and iain m banks apart from his most recent 2.
i find the "cleverness" a bit irritating at times but generally once i come back to it i find it less self-conscious.
cos that's what gets us, yeah?
we all hate self-conscious writing?
i do.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sat 10 Oct 2009, 0:20, Reply)

To be fair
The first few are just straight-up fantasy parodies. As they go on they get richer and more subtle.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 10:01, Reply)

I've read the first 3 Twilight books and seen the fillum
Couldn't put the books down, read each one in under 2 days. The film was very close to the book and I want Edward Cullen for Christmas :)
Currently re-reading Colour of Magic, but my fave Pratchett books are Mort & Reaper Man - had no idea any of them had made it to the screen.
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 11:05, Reply)

I think Mort may be the next in my tour of old pratchett books
as it is a very popular one. I tend to prefer the likes of Night Watch, Fifth Elephant and Thud these days
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 11:31, Reply)

I've only read a handful of them, but my mother has every book.
Haven't read any of the 3 you've mentioned. Hence starting again from scratch, my autism says I must read them all in the correct order :)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 11:39, Reply)

fair enough
the ones I mention are right near the end. Night Watch in particular is an incredibly good book. You need to be fairly familiar with a few of the characters to properly appreciate it though, so reading in the correct order will enhance your enjoyment
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 11:46, Reply)

.
Give 'The Host' a try too, it's her only non-Twilight book, bloody good!
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 11:46, Reply)