Well, they didn't actually force me to do anything.
They were just talking about it, and...you ever hear of the Total Perspective Vortex in Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 21:41, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

Ah yes
you're the person who quite liked the new book
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 21:54, Reply)

I'm sensing a lot of judgement in your imaginary internet-tone...
As if the 'only' is silent.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 21:58, Reply)

oh no no
I'm all for people liking what they like. Not my place to judge and all that
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:00, Reply)

Hahaha, oouuch.

(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:07, Reply)

Haha that was laying
it on a bit thick wasn't it?
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:09, Reply)

Heh heh.
Don't worry, you still have nothing on the universe for making me feel small. That was my original point.

So, why the dislike for book 6?
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:13, Reply)

Pure cashing in
Douglas was not a children's writer. His books were accessible to children, and I was probably 9/10 when I came across them, but they were not written for children. Eoin Colfer is fundamentally a children's writer, and that bled through.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:16, Reply)

Hmmm. I did not know that.
I thought he was basically an unknown who was considered worthy to take up the torch.
It is a bit upbeat, and it certainly lacks Adams' bite, but to be honest I missed the old bugger so much I would take anything. I'll have to give it a re-read with that in mind.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:20, Reply)

He wrote the Artemis Fowl books
He's not even coming from the same cultural tradition of Douglas- his books are firmly rooted in Ireland, and the sense of humour is different.

I don't dislike him hugely, but he wasn't a worthy successor to the brilliance of the original. I'd have loved to have seen a book of short stories by various writers if there had to be a sequel
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:24, Reply)

You realise we're portraying two textbook fanboi archetypes here?

(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:27, Reply)

Yes
and last night I had a discussion with cougar on the three laws of robotics. It doesn't get geekier :(
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:49, Reply)

Four Laws.

(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:54, Reply)

that's what the argument was basically about
whether robots went downhill after the Zeroth law was introduced
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:55, Reply)

I have a sneaking suspicion about what side of the argument you were on
based on what I think about it. :P
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:11, Reply)

Well the Zeroth law
was pretty much indefensible. From that moment humanity in Asimov's books is subordinate to robots. But then I'm prejudiced by the shittest of shit endings to the final Foundation and Earth
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:14, Reply)

Yeah, I win my little internal bet right there.
I preferred the film anyway.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:18, Reply)

now you're just trolling :)
it amuses me so much, how much of a guilty pleasure being so seriously geeky is.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:20, Reply)

I gave up it being a 'guilty' pleasure a while ago.
I am Nerd! Hear me roar!

_rooaarr
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:36, Reply)

No-one who knows the existence
of the Zeroth law could prefer the film to the book :)

I'm quietly geeky. Most of my friends don't know it even
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:37, Reply)