Of Gollum, Frodo and Brandywine

Paul Watson

I have just finished The Silmarrilion (first time, hard to get through but worth the effort) and am now reading book 1 of the The Lord of The Rings (third time). I was just wondering who else out there is also a fan of the neomyth that is LOTR? What with the first of three movies coming out soon on LOTR, Tolkien mania has really taken hold. Even those who before wouldn't have known Frodo from Bilbo are now sporting "LOTR for Dummies" books and t-shirts. What expectations do you have of the movie? I really hope it stays true to the texts but I know that there will be changes and naturally parts missing. Also on a side note, being a big reader myself, do you notice that programmers in general are more into fantasy and sci-fi than "the others"? What are your literary interests, if any? p.s. I just love the word Brandywine. Can almost taste it as it rolls off the tongue :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible." - Chretien Malesherbes

Tomasz Sowinski

I used to like sci-fi; however, my feelings somewhat evaporated recently. The only SF authors I'm still enthusiastic about are Philip K. Dick and Stanislaw Lem. Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com

Paul Watson

Why did your feelings for sci-fi evaporate? I still dig deep into sci-fi shelves and come away more positive than ever about the genre. Philip K. Dick though is a legend and a must for any sci-fi fan. As for Stanislaw Lem I have only heard the name vaguely, what type of sci-fi does he write? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible." - Chretien Malesherbes

Tomasz Sowinski

Well, I started reading sci-fi when I was 5 (instead of fairytales and such), so after 25 years I'm just looking for something new. Lem writes (or rather used to write, b/c he switched to essays) two types of SF - one is hardcore, deep-space one, and the other is a one based on wordplay. You can find more info about Lem at http://www.lem.pl/english/main.htm Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com

Ray Kinsella

I can remember reading 'The return of the King' for the first time. Gandalf stands in the ruins of the gate facing the dark lord, a Cock crows in the Court and as if in response the Horns of Rohan are heard in the distance, and the hoards of Modor flee before them. I can remember feeling sad after I read this for the first time, because I would never expierence the joy or wonder of that part of the book again. Although, it still makes the skin at the back of my neck tingle. Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"

Lost User

What about Robert A Heinlen, Harry Harrison, Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimov or A E Van Vogt? Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Lost User

Hey!!! What happened to the original response to this post? I had a really witty retort about Cock not being the first 4 letter word starting with C that sprang to mind when I read C***. ;P Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Mike Puddephat

Congratulations on getting through The Silmarrilion. I tried to read it years ago and found it very hard going. In the end, I gave up. I have read the trilogy twice and think it is the best story I have ever read. Maybe I should try The Silmarrilion again. Can't wait for the films.

Mike Puddephat

It was probably moderated ??

Lost User

Damn! Cock (male chicken) is now a banned word. Political correctness gone mad? Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Chris Maunder

Just the same old filters that have been in place for a year. Of course the reason this word was added is now ancient history (can't even remember who used it myself) but if someone had asked me 'Who is most likely to trigger the filters today' I'd be looking squarely at you ;) I also know that this will mean there will be a 20-level deep indepth (so to speak) discussion on the word. cheers, Chris Maunder (CodeProject)

Lost User

... but if someone had asked me 'Who is most likely to trigger the filters today' I'd be looking squarely at you ;) Now what would make you say that? I only work in context myself. Anyway I saw the male chicken word, cock, in the original reply. It wasn't a euphimism for female genitalia that was being referred too. That was my witty reply. :-D Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Chris Maunder

Yeah - read The Lord of the Rings probably 3 or 4 times, the Hobbit half a dozen times, and then every decent fantasy novel I could get my hands on. Brilliant escapism. I read a few of the pre- and post- LOTR books but soon lost interest. Anything by Raymond E. Feist, David Eddings, Michael Moorcock (that guy was on something seriously mind bending) and Guy Gavriel Kay. Stephen Donaldson was great in the Ringbearer series but went totally off the rails with his sci-fi series afterwards. I just hope the movie is better than the last effort that was made. cheers, Chris Maunder (CodeProject)

Lost User

Anyway I saw the male chicken word, cock, in the original reply. Now it appears, your scripts have me confused Chris. When is cock an acceptable word? Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Tomasz Sowinski

Most of them are now dead ;) Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com

Lost User

"I tawt I saw a Puddephat" Sorry, I couldn't resist. :-D Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Lost User

True. Haven't looked in earnest for a while at the newer sci-fi authors. Last time I did they were producing a lot of crap. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Chris Losinger

i just re-read the LOTR and Hobbit a few months ago, for the 3rd or 4th time, probably. This was the only time i made it through the whole thing without skipping much of the middle sections. :) The sections dealing with Men are just too wordy, in my opinion, compared to the rest of it - too much talk, with too many exclamation points :) -c ------------------------------ Smaller Animals Software, Inc. http://www.smalleranimals.com

Chris Maunder

I can't believe I'm even getting drawn into this. OK. The filters are really, really dumb. They don't do anything fancy and they fail in a whole bunch of scenarios. They are merely there to catch the simple cases in order to try and keep the boards at a point where they can be viewed in a workplace that filters all internet content for certain words, or so they can be viewed with your kids present, or whatever. If you want to get around them, then you've shown how easy it is to do that. Enjoy. cheers, Chris Maunder (CodeProject)

Paul Watson

All very good but I did not want this thread turning into a Yellow pages of great sci-fi and fantasy writers :) Clarke and Asimov got me started on the whole sci-fi genre. Foundation, even before I really understood it, blew me away. Glad to see some real writers names coming up. Oft I mention the words fantasy or sci-fi and get back things like "ooooh, have you read the latest Star Trek novel were the Borg, well, assimilate everything, again?", that just makes me cringe. Fine as a TV programme and at the movies but not to read. And no, I am not an elitist, I just find the Star Trek/Star Wars/Battlestar Gallactica/Xena: Warrior Princess side of fantasy and sci-fi to be rather err purile. (Plus I started a sentence with And so I can't be an elitist... ;) ) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible." - Chretien Malesherbes