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A repeat of the 1996 drama adaptation of his 'The Crow Road' is starting tonight at 22.10 on BBC4, with an introductory preamble at 22.00 by lead actor Joe McFadden.
That was a fantastic series.
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December book thread on 11:13 - Dec 14 with 766 views
December book thread on 17:12 - Dec 13 by WeWereZombies
'Tom Paine's Bones' is more or less the unofficial anthem of the FolkEast festival and is always belted out early on in the weekend by Middlesborough's finest:
I can't find the original by Graham Moore (from Somerset) but I few I have heard over the years drop the 'Away with religion and monarchy' line, which may not be faithful to the songwriter but leaving out 'away with religion' is more accurate to Tom Paine's viewpoint (he was brought up a Quaker and always had faith in Christ - he just felt that believing in The Bible was wrong for a true Christian.) 'Away with monarchy' however...
I prefer the Dick Gaughan version because it has a slightly more aggressive/punky approach.
For the same reason, I much prefer his version of Leon Rosselson's "World Turned Upside Down", which is almost identical to the later Billy Bragg version.
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December book thread on 12:03 - Dec 14 with 703 views
Yes, interesting that he used the name Iain Banks for mainstream fiction, and Iain M. Banks for science fiction.
It was essentially a decision taken by his slightly skittish publishers who felt that readers would be confused by the stylistic shifts between sci-fi and non-genre fiction. Although, as his career went on, the boundary between the two would become a lot more blurred - 'The Bridge' could very easily have come in as an 'M' book in my mind. Likewise, 'Transition' could have fitted under either monicker.
I'm one of the people who was blamed for getting Paul Cook sacked. PM for the full post.
December book thread on 12:03 - Dec 14 by BlueBadger
It was essentially a decision taken by his slightly skittish publishers who felt that readers would be confused by the stylistic shifts between sci-fi and non-genre fiction. Although, as his career went on, the boundary between the two would become a lot more blurred - 'The Bridge' could very easily have come in as an 'M' book in my mind. Likewise, 'Transition' could have fitted under either monicker.
Ok in an attempt to squeeze more information that I got from my previous request.
Ok in an attempt to squeeze more information that I got from my previous request.
Is there any order these series need to be read?
Please, I should say.
If you are going down the science fiction M. route then it helps to read the Culture series in order, not because there is a sequence to them but as Banks wrote them he developed the idea of worlds governed by minds with each book (in my opinion), so start with 'Consider Phelbas' (or read T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Waste Land' before that if you are minded, the title is a quote from that work.) The general fiction stands alone but again it is interesting to see how he develops his ideas so I read them all chronologically (although the order in which they were published is not necessarily the order in which they were written...)
Finally an apology for my brain going haywire yesterday, I typed that my favourite was 'Wilt' but that is a Tom Sharpe book. I meant 'Whit' - post now amended.
December book thread on 12:25 - Dec 14 by WeWereZombies
If you are going down the science fiction M. route then it helps to read the Culture series in order, not because there is a sequence to them but as Banks wrote them he developed the idea of worlds governed by minds with each book (in my opinion), so start with 'Consider Phelbas' (or read T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Waste Land' before that if you are minded, the title is a quote from that work.) The general fiction stands alone but again it is interesting to see how he develops his ideas so I read them all chronologically (although the order in which they were published is not necessarily the order in which they were written...)
Finally an apology for my brain going haywire yesterday, I typed that my favourite was 'Wilt' but that is a Tom Sharpe book. I meant 'Whit' - post now amended.
Ah, that makes sense.
There was me at my Whit's end trying to find it.
I shall order a couple of his books for the shelf then thanks.
I like to have options so I can pick one up according to my mood.
Snow and Steel by Peter Caddick-Adams. An incredibly well informed dissection of the Battle of the Bulge. First of his books I've read but won't be the last.
It's 106 miles to Portman Road, we've got a full tank of gas, half a round of Port Salut, it's dark... and we're wearing blue tinted sunglasses.
December book thread on 11:09 - Dec 13 by Dubtractor
I'm reading Terrortome by Garth Marenghi. For those who remember the TV programme Dark Place, you'll know what this is.
Just finished reading Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Sci fi set way in the future, after earth has been destroyed by mega beings called architects. It was excellent, if big sci fi is your bag.
I went to school with Adrian Tchaikovsky. Even though we weren't mates (our younger sisters were), it's always pleasing to see his big shelf of work in Waterstones. I ought to try one one day but sci-fi isn't really my thing.
It's 106 miles to Portman Road, we've got a full tank of gas, half a round of Port Salut, it's dark... and we're wearing blue tinted sunglasses.
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