Of Gollum, Frodo and Brandywine

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

Chris Maunder

Do you remember the movie 'Amadeaus' where the King was criticising Mozarts music as having 'too many notes'? Just reminds me of that ;) cheers, Chris Maunder (CodeProject)

Paul Watson

LMAO, now that is a slick insult... hehe I guess you could say the same of Michael Martin's posts and the letter *. Far too many *'s.... hehe Got to say though that that movie was decidely weird. An accurate portrayal it may be but still dead weird. Definitley a watch once, enjoy and then make sure you don't take any of it home with you movie. as usual, so far off topic it's a wonder we are even orbiting the same sun as the original post ;) 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

Lost User

I can't believe I'm even getting drawn into this. C'mon, your Australian and male. Of course the semantics of obscene language will suck you in. If you want to get around them, then you've shown how easy it is to do that. Enjoy. Yeah I know. But I wasn't trying to get around them, I have used the ampersand/hash hack only once in this entire thread. In the others cock has just appeared of it's own volition. This is what has me confused(aside from women that is). Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018 "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

Paul Watson

It is definitley very hard going. I decided though that this time I would make more of an effort in understanding LOTR and also putting together the vast history of Middle-earth and Arda in my mind. Hence I figured that The Silmarrilion was a must read. I have read, gone with the flow and enjoyed LOTR before, but it definitley deserves more than that. So far The Silmarrilion is proving to be a useful guide to how things came to be in LOTR. Saying all of that though there are some real gems in The Silmarrilion. There are many more romantic and sensual stories in it as well, compared to LOTR. All in all a first time reader of LOTR should definitley not read The Silmarrilion beforehand. They should rather enjoy LOTR and then on the third or fourth reading spend some time with The Silmarrilion. 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

Lost User

I guess you could say the same of Michael Martin's posts and the letter *. Far too many *'s.... hehe What are you trying to say? ;P I hardly ever use the * character, Chris just adds them in for me for free. :-D as usual, so far off topic it's a wonder we are even orbiting the same sun as the original post Can you get too far off topic? 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

C'mon, your Australian and male. Of course the semantics of obscene language will suck you in. Damn my weak post-convict beer and vegemite genes. Yeah I know. But I wasn't trying to get around them, I have used the ampersand/hash hack only once in this entire thread. In the others c*** has just appeared of it's own volition. This is what has me confused(aside from women that is). The problem with the word is that it's so damn useful when combined with other words - 'cock-up' being a personal favourite -that it's difficult to filter. In the, oh, 2 secs I spent scanning through for naughty words (now there's a job for you if you are bored) I figured that if the word was used on CodeProject the chances are that it would not be used to describe a male chicken. The proportion of angry young men to the proportion of farmers is fairly high, so I chose to add it to the filter list. Add anything around the word (comma, quotes etc) and the filter thinks 'ah - he's using it as part of another word, thereby rendering it harmless'. As I said - really simple filtering. And so after all this what happens? Someone talks about a male chicken making a noise in the morning. The Gods of the Demented Web Administrators are laughing and pointing at me. cheers, Chris Maunder (CodeProject)

David Wulff

I'm actualy half way through book one as I write this. I read about a chapter each night (as they are big chapters). So far I love it. Of course, I am slightly biased as I loved The Hobbit too.

:cool: -=:suss:=-

David Wulff dwulff@battleaxesoftware.com

Mike Puddephat

Believe me, I've heard that one a few times - so I'm used to it now!! :laugh:

Zyxil

I am currently dragging my ass through the second book of the Wheel of Time. I thought that LOTR had some long stretches.... I took a six month break after reading the first book and wasn't going to pick up the others, but my wife keeps saying it gets better... The first book had its' moments and so far the second seems okay (too soon to tell really). What about you guys? -John

Paul Westcott

Well how many of you have read Lord of the Rings out loud? I started reading it to my little bro (he was 11 years my younger) a number of years ago - managed to get through the first book, and half of the second. Someday when I have my own kids I might try again and see if I can finish the lot! Have fun, Paul Westcott.

Chris Losinger

oh but the difference is that Mozart didn't end every bar with a cymbal crash and a trumpet blast. that's the feeling i get when the kings start talking. i love at 60% of LOTR and all of the Hobbit. i just yawn everytime Men start talking. -c ------------------------------ Smaller Animals Software, Inc. http://www.smalleranimals.com

Paul Watson

Well on that note if you have any youngish kids, 5 to 9 I would say, then The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (from Narnia by CS Lewis) is an excellent book to read to your kids. My dad read it to me and it really instilled a love for books in me. LOTR is also good but only the brighest wonder genius kid would ever really understand it. The Hobbit, while still not a kids book, is a better bet to read to your kids. 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