Of Gollum, Frodo and Brandywine

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

Paul Watson

*yawn* :-D I am really, truthfully sorry, I simply could not resist that invitation... 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 Losinger

yeah, i expected someone to jump for it. :) -c ------------------------------ Smaller Animals Software, Inc. http://www.smalleranimals.com

Ray Kinsella

Don't waste yur time, by the time you get to the eight book its horrendous rubbish and a complete waste of time. i haven't touched it since 'Path of Daggers' came out, i have better things to spend €20 on. Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"

Lost User

I liked WOT quite a bit. It's seriously wordy and not as good as LOTR, but what is? I just get concerned that Jordan will die before he gets done and the series will never finish. I read the 9th book "Winter's Heart" this summer and still only about half the bad guys are dead. Mike Mullikin "Real programmers don't document their code. It was hard to write - it should be hard to read!"

Steven Mitcham

The series will pick up around the middle of the second book. However, be warned, about 1/3 into the fourth book(The Shadow Rising) you will quit reading. I have yet to meet anyone, no matter how avid a fan, that could make it all the way through the fourth book without putting it away once. I will tell you that getting through the middle of that book is totally worth the ending. The series kicks ass, and the latest book (Heart of Winter) is probably the best, with the sixth (Lord of Chaos) coming in on its heels. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for [the one in authority] does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of Wrath to bring punishment to the wrongdoer -- Romans 13:4

Henrik Stuart

C.S. Lewis' Novels about Narnia are indeed very good for kindling an interest in books. Recently, at least for kids anyway, the much disputed Harry Potter novels have become a big hit among kids - to the point of obsession I might observe with my sisters. Another good recommendation is from the more serious parts of fantasy novels released by TSR, but I would recommend that the kids are around 9-14 before you try to read them aloud: The Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman... truly wonderful trilogy.. must have read it at least 5-6 times by now. Their currently in-the-works trilogy: War of Souls seems very good, but I have yet to finish these as the last part won't come out until April 2002 I believe. For the War of Souls I would recommend that you have read both The Dragonlance Chronicles and Dragons of Summer Flame by the same authors to understand all of the plots in the War of Souls trilogy. Lastly, for the bit older audience again - not because it's particularly difficult, but more for the sad ending - The Cleric Quintet by R. A. Salvatore (also a TSR release). Truly wonderful work on his side for those of us who get tired with hearing about Drizzt and the gang who can take on the world blindfolded, hands tied behind their backs and lying in the guillotine meanwhile. :) LOTR is indeed a truly amazing novel and a lot of fantasy novels base on the storytelling techniques used by Tolkien. However, at least Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, avoid truly long and slow-paced passages like Frodo's, Sam's and Gollum's travels together (those 200 pages take a while to get through). -- Kind regards, Henrik Stuart (http://www.unprompted.com/hstuart/)

Christian Graus

Yeah !! The Stainless Steel Rat RULED. How about Piers Anthony ? He was great when he wasn't decending into being a dirty old man. Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.

Christian Graus

I hated LOTR. After reading the Sword of Shannara series by Terry Brooks ( I travelled an hour by train to get to my Computer Operators course ( which I dropped out of because it was a pussy course, I knew more than the teachers, but so did my neighbours cat ), and one day I just stayed on the train and kept reading ), I thought LOTR was too obviously written for children. Did that sentence make sense ? Actually I think that was the Hobbit, and I went on to call myself the Hobbitt, because you had to have a l33t hAx0r name if you used an Apple ][ in those days, but I never actually read it. Anyhow, I don't really have time to read for leisure anymore, I have the latest CUJ/WDJ and a programming book by the bed ( currently ATL Internals ). But I used to love Harry Harrison, Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks, Terry Pratchet, Douglas Adams, Tom Clancy, etc. In later years I read a lot of history ( as in books of fact ) prior to starting up with programming again. Nowadays all I really read that is non-IT is Calvin & Hobbes, and Dilbert, and that not very often. Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.

another

I think you are thinking of the Hobbit, not LOTR. I would agree that The Hobbit is written for children. LOTR is a different beast. Craig Dodge A catchy signature should appear here.

Christian Graus

I can't recall now if I looked at LOTR, or if I was told The Hobbit was a prelude and so tarred both with the same brush. Either way, I doubt I'd have time now. I probably won't see the movie either. Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.