Why go on reading in a world without Douglas Adams?

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Just noticed that a new Iain (M) Banks book is available (Transition). I did notice though, that two different retailers listed it differently (one as Iain Banks, one as Iain M. Banks). Anybody know the true author?

I think it is Ian Banks but it is a science fiction book. So it will be fun to see what happens.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Just noticed that a new Iain (M) Banks book is available (Transition). I did notice though, that two different retailers listed it differently (one as Iain Banks, one as Iain M. Banks). Anybody know the true author?

The blurb I've just read suggests it's not one of his Culture/sci-fi novels, so therefore it's Iain Banks. Amusingly, Iainbanks.net lists both versions of his name as the author

http://www.iain-banks.net/fiction/transition/

It sounds very much worth getting, though!

And it's available as an ebook (£14.09 at Waterstones)

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Couldn't agree more about Iain Banks (as Iain M. Banks I can take or leave him; science fiction's not really my thing). Complicity and The Business are my favourites I think.

Just noticed that a new Iain (M) Banks book is available (Transition). I did notice though, that two different retailers listed it differently (one as Iain Banks, one as Iain M. Banks). Anybody know the true author?

He writes under both forms of his name - one form is for the fantasy & the other for "hard" sci fi if I remember arightly. This can fubar trying to search for his books depending on how the browser/search engine handles the difference of the "M".

From Fantastic Fiction website: "Iain Banks came to widespread and controversial acclaim with the publication of his first novel, THE WASP FACTORY, in 1984. However, it was his 1987 novel CONSIDER PHLEBAS which introduced his remarkable talent to the SF community, and also saw the addition of the 'M' to his name - an addition which remains a distinguishing feature of his SF work."

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

The blurb I've just read suggests it's not one of his Culture/sci-fi novels, so therefore it's Iain Banks. Amusingly, Iainbanks.net lists both versions of his name as the author

http://www.iain-banks.net/fiction/transition/

It sounds very much worth getting, though!

And it's available as an ebook (£14.09 at Waterstones)

Yep, Waterstones is where I had noticed it, just waiting for pay-day!

Waterstones had it as an Iain Banks book, it was an American site that had it as Iain M. Banks (can't recall which one). I wonder if it is badged differently in the UK and the USA.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Yep, Waterstones is where I had noticed it, just waiting for pay-day!

Waterstones had it as an Iain Banks book, it was an American site that had it as Iain M. Banks (can't recall which one). I wonder if it is badged differently in the UK and the USA.

It is, because, according to the writer himself:

"I sell better as a science-fiction writer over there."
(Ref: http://io9.com/5354788/iain-m-banks-...tion-in-the-us )

Cheers,
Marc

[PieOPah]

In no particular order, Robert Rankin, Terry Pratchett and Tom Holt.

Neil Gaiman has already been mentioned in which case I would highly recommend 'Good Omens' by Pratchett & Gaiman (stand alone so no need to have read any Discworld books - based here on Earth!)

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

He writes under both forms of his name - one form is for the fantasy & the other for "hard" sci fi if I remember arightly. This can fubar trying to search for his books depending on how the browser/search engine handles the difference of the "M".

I like Banks' science fiction, but it is no way "hard". The Culture Novels are part Space Opera, part Social Sci-Fi, but they are never particularly concerned with making things plausible according to the rules of science (The hallmark of hard science fiction).

--
Bill

[WT Sharpe]

And Another Thing... (Hitchhiker's Guide Series #6) by Eoin Colfer

Eoin Colfer, a lifelong fan of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker series, says he was dumbfounded when he got the call to write this book. As it turns out, Adams' widow Jane and his daughter Polly had read all his books and felt he was the perfect person to write the sixth book in the trilogy.

Colfer says he did not want to imitate Adam's voice. He wanted it to be in his voice, but keep the same style and rhythm.

From the Publisher:

Arthur has finally made it home to Earth, but that does not mean he has escaped his fate.

Arthur's chances of getting his hands on a decent cuppa have evaporated rapidly along with all the world's oceans. For no sooner has he touched down on the planet Earth than he finds out that it is about to be blown up . . . again.

Will it live up to the legend? Stay tuned!

The book will hit the stands October 12th!

[pilotbob]

Sweet... I was hoping that is was in the Kindle store for pre-order... but no such luck.

BOb

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Sweet... I was hoping that is was in the Kindle store for pre-order... but no such luck.

BOb

Kindle store still doesn't have Mostly Harmless either.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Sweet... I was hoping that is was in the Kindle store for pre-order... but no such luck.

BOb

Yeah, me too.

The hardcover is available for pre-order at Barnes and Nobles, but that's not the same at all, is it?

[stustaff]

As a fan of Pratchett, Tolkien, Mr Adams, Asprin etc I can happily recommend

Seemingly unheard of trilogy by Dan McGirt- Jason Cosmo http://jasoncosmo.pbworks.com/ one of teh funniest! easily on a par with Asprin but he has only done 3 books! 20 years ago!!!

Also Craig Shaw Gardener is pretty good his malady of magiks series.

Alan Dean Foster of course maybe not laugh out loud but definitely good humour in his spellsinger series and Quozl and many of his older non movie based books.

And my final recommendation for a series i loved are the Cineverse cycle, couldn't remember the author but its also Craig Shaw Gardner! these are one of my favourites too very cheesy and very pratchett. about a guy transported to a world where B movie rules are in place

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by stustaff

And my final recommendation for a series i loved are the Cineverse cycle, couldn't remember the author but its also Craig Shaw Gardner! these are one of my favourites too very cheesy and very pratchett. about a guy transported to a world where B movie rules are in place

Thank you! I had completely forgotten about those books - read them when they first came out and loved them, but somehow forgot about them.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Thank you! I had completely forgotten about those books - read them when they first came out and loved them, but somehow forgot about them.

Glad to help, havnt read them myself for a few years.

[Crowl]

Bumping this thread to again recommend Pratchett, his new one is just as great as always.