I'm Busy Reading....

[MBH]

OK - replace 'Fantasy' sotries with 'Fairy tales'. Wicked witches (magic users), dwarven miners, gnomes, I'm sure there's the odd Elf around in some stories. Add in 'Folk Tales' - a number of us visited the Giant's Causeway, and that's without drifting into Panto with Jack & The Beanstalk.

Thinking of the monsers you find, there is a very good chance of getting eaten by a plant - so the John Wyndam won't come in wrong


I don't think I know the Time Traveller's Wife - but have read and enjoyed many time paradox stories.

[giraffe]

The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger

Review
It's the story of Henry and Claire, who meet when Claire is aged six and Henry in his 30s. They were married when Claire was 20 and Henry 28, which is possible because Henry can time travel. It is not science fiction, but a love story with a difference - a wonderful, strange and original novel which is both moving and funny - you must get a copy and read it. I can't praise it too highly. Film rights bought by New Line Cinema in association with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.

From amazon site

[Scurra]

I've not seen any of the Star Wars films,and avoid Dr Who like the plague.

Oh dear. (says the chap with the puzzle setter's hat on... )

MBH - it sounds as though you found Discworld fairly early on, when the jokes were indeed the main purpose. It stopped being like that quite some time ago - arguably as early as Mort (#4). Not that the jokes aren't still fine, but they are much better for arising from the narrative (or the characters) rather than being imposed upon them. Try one of the more recent books (I generally recommend The Truth - #25) to see why the series is now regarded far more as social satire (like Jane Austen) than merely parody or puns (like Piers Anthony...)
oh, and

DMs are usually arrogant, egotistical characters with a GOD complex

Yup. I think you can guess what I usually am

[MBH]

DM --> Players / Puzzle Setter ---> Puzzlers

This is a very direct comparision...

I'm pretty sure you fall into my category of a GOOD DM


No!!! Not crawling... just saying it as I see it

[Bunnylump]

Yes you are crawling, right up Scurra's wall!!

Suddenly it all makes sense. That's why he feels the need to boss us about too. Look, Scurra, what you've got to realise is that Zoe and I don't have beards. Yet. Therefore we are completely exempt from your DM powers. (Sorry Eirian, I didn't want to imply that you do have one. You are clearly a very fine exception. But I expect you're quite capable of beating your own brother up).

[eirian]

sorry to mention this Bunny, but since a lot of beards on roleplayers are more like fluff, and a bunny is nothing but fluff, I would debate your claim not to have a beard.

[MBH]

If I'm wall-crawling at Scurra's it's probably looking for clues for Issue 3

In my descripton of D&D I didn't mention LARP societies who take the 'extra' step. Live Action Role Playing.

These guys and girls actually get dressed up as fighters, wizards, elves, and monsters - then head off into the woods, country parks, etc, and act out their stories. I've met a few at places like the annual Chopwell Woods Festival - and they are an interesting crowd.

The term has now been adopted as an INSULT by the members of the Martial Arts forum who train 'sport/ring' based arts (such as Kickboxing or Brazilian JuJitsu) aimed against those of us who learn 'traditional' martial arts but don't intend to use them in a real situation Something on the lines of "You're not real fighters, you're just LARPing about"

[Scurra]

...which is why "we" now call it free-forming. Some of us enjoy the live-action role-playing, although the group I tend to play with don't go in for the fantasy genre, thus removing the need for rubber swords... In another place I confessed to having been WG Grace for the weekend.

[Laura]

My brother-in-law is into all that LARPing stuff. Only problem is that my poor sister has got stuck with making him costumes!

[Bunnylump]

Well, OK then. You do have a point. But I still think that purple fluff is sufficiently different so that the "evil DM" (as he may now be called) has no jurisdiction!!

[LAT]

I've not seen any of the Star Wars films,and avoid Dr Who like the plague.

Oh dear. (says the chap with the puzzle setter's hat on... )

Oh dear too. I did see the original star wars film when it first came out. And Doctor Who when the Doctor was William Hartnell. It seems I might have some catching up to do.

[kathlyn]

issue 3 sound like one for the boys

[giraffe]

F will enjoy helping me. He has probably seen the star wars films. I seem to remember him disappearing into one screen with his dad while i TOOK THE GIRLS TO SOMETHING ELSE.

(eVERYTIME i GO FOR THE SHIFT KEY i GET THE SHIFT LOCK)

[Looby]

The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger

It's a real weepy - so don't read it on the beach unless you enjoy crying in public!

[LAT]

Yes, good book. Very interesting concept too.

[giraffe]

I like weepys. The first book I cried at was Charlotte's web, when I was about 7. I cry really easily at books and films.

[Looby]

So do I !!
I think I started crying in Love Story when the title's were running!

[giraffe]

I was crying in Kramer v Kramer in that bit they put on before they run the titles. That was a long time ago...... I went with a school friend and she was so embarrassed that I sobbed all the way through.

[LAT]

I went to see Love Story with a group of school friends. I made the mistake of glancing across at them just when it got really weepy and then caught the eye of another girl. They all looked so daft that the two of us ended up in fits of giggles which was difficult to explain to the others. Otherwise I'd have been blubbing with the rest of them.

[strep98]

Love story made me cry one Boxing day and I used all the new hankies I had for Christmas and had to dry them over the electic fire (I was about 12).

Just read Dear Fatty, that made me cry in places