it was on the shelf in the work kitchen.
I've found out about a load of good books from discussions on b3ta, which is why I have attempted to start another one.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:19, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

IN which case may I recommend
The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell (brilliantly and heartrendingly written sci-fi)
The Lies of Locke Lamora (Swashbuckling fun fantasy, but somehow still has characters you care about)
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (aimed at teenagers I found out later and will be out of date in 3 years time, but right now it's relevant and gripping)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:40, Reply)

thanks
I'll add them to my list
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:44, Reply)

Warning:
The Sparrow may break your heart
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:45, Reply)

The Sparrow one looks very interesting.
Now on my list too.
( girlinthehole, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:48, Reply)

There is a sequel, but it's been out of print for ages
which is a crime
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:50, Reply)

Is it not this one?
www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/231384/Children-of-God/Product.html?ptsl=1&ob=Price&fb=0
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:55, Reply)

yes, that one
I think you'll only get it second hand unless they've rereleased it (that was talk of a film)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:57, Reply)

I have to say
online second hand bookshops are amazing. I love rumaging through actual shops but one winter when I was about 8 my dad made me walk what seemed like 10 miles around a massive bookfayre as he was looking for a book that he had been searching for for a year and we didn't find it and he got angry and it was raining and it sucked.

Now you can type it in whilst drinking wine which I approve of
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:00, Reply)

haha! I agree
It's not worth trying to find something in a second hand bookshop. Those are for happy surprises and nerdy second hand photography books.
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:03, Reply)

that is true
I have the same problem in bookshops as in music shops. as soon as I walk through the door and am presented with a shelf full of books/CDs I no longer have any ability to remember what I'm after, or choose something new based on cover or synopsis.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:06, Reply)

There is a 2nd hand book shop in Hay
(well there are many, but this one in particular) which has a room full of old 50s and 60s sci fi. I lose all sense of taste whenever I go in there and buy anything with time travel in the title
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:11, Reply)

I'll bear that in mind
you have reminded me that I haven't finished reading a series of frankly quite shit sci fi. I'm too far in not to want to know what happens though.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:49, Reply)

what is it?

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:50, Reply)

Kevin J Anderson - Saga of Seven Suns
I wouldn't recommend it
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:52, Reply)

oh god!
I won't go near them after what he did to Dune. Bastard, it still hurts
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:53, Reply)

his own stuff isn't much better believe me

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:55, Reply)

Hahahahahahah I read some of that.
Cocking awful, it was. It's very much a charity-shop-only series.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 12:58, Reply)

I can't believe he was allowed near Dune at all
Dune is a complex, intelligent and elaborately textured world. He got a mallet at it and just wrecked the lot. :(
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:00, Reply)

I hope he's on fire right now.
It's the least he deserves.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:04, Reply)

it is
what made anyone think that someone who had written some of the post-film Star Wars books would be any good at tackling Dune.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:05, Reply)

Because any decent author would have said no.
On a related note, anyone read the new HHGTTG?
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:07, Reply)

The one of the film?
I was bought it but never read it for some reason
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:07, Reply)

I can't bring myself to
I may make my dad read it and see how angry he gets
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:07, Reply)

good point
I have not. This may be sacrilegious, but I'm in two minds about Douglas Adams, on one hand he is brilliant, and on the other he is guilty of what cougar-related incident said about sci-fi/fantasy authors. He got to the point of seeming to write weirdness for its own sake.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:11, Reply)

Mostly Harmless?
Which is my least favourite book
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:14, Reply)

Nah, some kids author called Eoin Colfer had a crack at a sequel.
I have the fear.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:23, Reply)

yeah, s/he wrote the Artemis Fowl stuff
my ex used to read them. Pretty guff.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:26, Reply)

I'll get the pitchforks
you guys get the burning torches

WHO'S WITH ME?!
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:07, Reply)

Would you like to borrow my gravel?

( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 28 Jul 2010, 13:07, Reply)