Heartland

Maisey wrote:In a related note, I always thought Pratchett's discworld improving significantly when he started tying backgrounds, people & places together more consistently across his novels. Although some characters and themes remain the same from the start, it's only about a third of the way in that he really starts to solidify the supporting cast and geography.

true, but you have to miss for example carrott or the witches in the last novels....I can understand that it's not necessary to have whole stories revolving around them anymore, but a cameo once in a while would be nice....

I am currently reading three books;
Unseen academicals (terry pratchett, again brilliant)
The idiot (dostjewsky)
and an introduction to marketing. Never had anything to do with that when I was in college, so I wanted to have an idea, and it turns out to be much more interesting than I was expecting...

Big Si wrote:Gu kibum kelkum-ishi, burzum-ishi. Akha-gum-ishi ashi gurum.

Meh. The only attested Black Speech is the ring inscription and a curse from one of the Uruk-hai about Saruman. Post-constructed fanfic doesn't count.

Although I'm guessing a) it's some sort of threat and b) something along the lines of "go stick yourself in the filth in the darkness or I'll cut you in half in one blow"?

randdebiel² wrote:Unseen academicals (terry pratchett, again brilliant)
...

I'm currently reading that as well. I'm in two minds, the Disc has changed so much, and the socio-political scene in Anhk-Morpork is so different, that it isn't really getting me going like an Unseen University book normally would...

timsinister wrote:

randdebiel² wrote:Unseen academicals (terry pratchett, again brilliant)
...

I'm currently reading that as well. I'm in two minds, the Disc has changed so much, and the socio-political scene in Anhk-Morpork is so different, that it isn't really getting me going like an Unseen University book normally would...

I think the main problem is that it all became too "realistic". Maybe the word realistic doesn't exactly fit the bill as it's still discworld, but it is true that in previous times it was all a bit more magical. But I suppose it is a direct consequence of the evolution of Ankh Morpork.

I must say that for me, the benefits of this change in the discworld series prevail on the drawbacks, as it works on many more levels than it used to...

splintered thing wrote:Never could get into Tolkien (I know, you may beat me with a stick if it makes you feel better).

Just finished Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray... hmm not convinced.

Dorian Gray is just all the witty remarks from his plays put in one rather silly book. Mincing Young Pansy gets corrupted by Tiresome Affected Older Pansy, and makes Faustian Pact where he stays pretty, but portrait ages. Repressed Artist Pansy mopes. MYP goes to the bad, veiled gay references abound, causes suicide, then murders RAP. MYP throws a strop at his portrait, and in destroying it destroys himself. The End.

Currently reading Polly Toynbee, believe it or not. "Hard Work". While she's right about the agencies, and you cant argue a mundane but necessary job deserves a living wage, she loses me when she claims that it "shuts a third of the population out from participating in our consumer culture". Our consumer culture is not a good thing, Pol..

I like your "Dorian Gray in 20 seconds"

DeWinter wrote:
Dorian Gray is just all the witty remarks from his plays put in one rather silly book. Mincing Young Pansy gets corrupted by Tiresome Affected Older Pansy, and makes Faustian Pact where he stays pretty, but portrait ages. Repressed Artist Pansy mopes. MYP goes to the bad, veiled gay references abound, causes suicide, then murders RAP. MYP throws a strop at his portrait, and in destroying it destroys himself. The End.

Do you work for 'York Notes'

markfiend wrote:

Big Si wrote:Gu kibum kelkum-ishi, burzum-ishi. Akha-gum-ishi ashi gurum.

Meh. The only attested Black Speech is the ring inscription and a curse from one of the Uruk-hai about Saruman. Post-constructed fanfic doesn't count.

Although I'm guessing a) it's some sort of threat and b) something along the lines of "go stick yourself in the filth in the darkness or I'll cut you in half in one blow"?

A quick bit of googling resulting this translation.

Gu kibum kelkum-ishi, burzum-ishi. Akha-gum-ishi ashi gurum = "No life in coldness, in darkness. Here in void, only death."

It's Black Speech reconstructed from the fragments in the book for use in the movies, or Neo-Black Speech.

timsinister wrote:

randdebiel² wrote:Unseen academicals (terry pratchett, again brilliant)
...

I'm currently reading that as well. I'm in two minds, the Disc has changed so much, and the socio-political scene in Anhk-Morpork is so different, that it isn't really getting me going like an Unseen University book normally would...

I really really enjoyed UA. I laughed all the way through. I'm also enjoying his new angle of using Anhk Morpork as an analogue for modern western civilisation. Since the rise of Vimes and the new Watch he's basically put the place through a cultural revolution. It has been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the century of the fruitbat.

Give UA a chance - it really grow on me.

Maisey wrote:It's Black Speech reconstructed from the fragments in the book for use in the movies, or Neo-Black Speech.

There you go then. Not Tolkien then.

Maisey wrote:It's Black Speech reconstructed

like "scouse"?

http://is.gd/8vvyN

can someone gimme a shout when this thread gets its heid outta aerie faerie nonsense

DeWinter wrote:
Dorian Gray is just all the witty remarks from his plays put in one rather silly book. Mincing Young Pansy gets corrupted by Tiresome Affected Older Pansy, and makes Faustian Pact where he stays pretty, but portrait ages. Repressed Artist Pansy mopes. MYP goes to the bad, veiled gay references abound, causes suicide, then murders RAP. MYP throws a strop at his portrait, and in destroying it destroys himself. The End.

Yes - exactly! I tried to explain it to my other half and he said it sounded like a gay version of bad soap. Not far wrong. The recent film was actually more tolerable than the novel. Glad he only wrote the one novel!

markfiend wrote:

Big Si wrote:Gu kibum kelkum-ishi, burzum-ishi. Akha-gum-ishi ashi gurum.

Meh. The only attested Black Speech is the ring inscription and a curse from one of the Uruk-hai about Saruman.

Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai! - "Uglúk to the dung-pit with stinking Saruman-filth, pig-guts, gah!"

markfiend wrote:Post-constructed fanfic doesn't count.

Mmm, you were posting a lot of elvish a few year back, I thought you were one of them scholars that Tolkien himself commented upon

markfiend wrote:Although I'm guessing a) it's some sort of threat and b) something along the lines of "go stick yourself in the filth in the darkness or I'll cut you in half in one blow"?

"No life in coldness, in darkness. Here in void, only death." Apparently it was used in the films, i've no idea where though

Ah well.

Back to the topic: I'm currently reading V for Vendetta

Big Si wrote:

On hold, it's too bloody big to take to work.

So -

finished that Boyd book... hmmmm it's no 'Any Human Heart' in fact I don't think I'll bother with another of his books, 'Brazzaville Beach' was so arse I gave up a third of the way in

now onto:



with thanks to my librarian - Big Eat thi Breid!

James Blast wrote:with thanks to my librarian - Big Eat thi Breid!

Interesting! My thanks go out to the same side of Glasgow

that's guid, that wiz a joy tae read, and the fillum is a classic

James Blast wrote:that's guid, that wiz a joy tae read, and the fillum is a classic

One of my favourites, actually

I feel sad a lot of the time that Mr. Wilson is no longer alive, he was a genius maverick, the world needs more like him

James Blast wrote:that's guid, that wiz a joy tae read, and the fillum is a classic

I'll give ye Maconie's latest next friday, it's almost as good as "Pies....", and still an enjoyable read

James Blast wrote:I feel sad a lot of the time that Mr. Wilson is no longer alive, he was a genius maverick, the world needs more like him

Most people think he was a 'kant!'

But aye we do need more like him.

Big Si wrote:

James Blast wrote:I feel sad a lot of the time that Mr. Wilson is no longer alive, he was a genius maverick, the world needs more like him

Most people think he was a 'kant!'

But aye we do need more like him.

He was both a genius maverick and (at times) a terrible khunt. Which is part of the appeal of the guy.

And the world does indeed need more like him.