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1984. Quite appropriate, really.

Haven't they cut out the anti-religious sentiment from the films in order not to jeopardise takings by alienating the US religious right? Bloody corporate maulings...

Robin Hobb really deserves a mention. I would say Tolkien, but one assumes him to be the natural top of the list anyway.

A) Bombadil isn't a bard, he's a Maia. B) I think much of the movie-going public would not 'get' Tom Bombadil, and would see him as an annoying, prancing prat, missing the subtle hints at his true power (the ring having no effect on him, for instance).

One of my friends annoys me so very greatly when it comes to Christmas; every year he makes the comment that "You know it's Christmas when the Coca-Cola ad is on TV," and that obviously stands for everything I hate about the festival (crass commercialism, despiritualisation etc.) I still love...

The Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke is stunning; though I at first thought it a little dry, I would now consider it a masterfully crafted work.

Like writing my English essay, for example. It's a very easy English essay...

I don't like rugby any more...Well, I do, I just don't want to prop. I'm too thin and feeble, I'm not built like a cannonball and blessed with the neck muscles of an ox. I was playing a team with a front row a couple of years older than us today and have thoroughly messed up my neck. Ouch.

What an unusual thread to revive. Ah well.

Have to admit that I've never read a single post by either of you (bar Xmissyo's in this thread, naturellement), but happy birthday anyway. Aren't I nice?

I have Martin's edition in a box set; it's fabulous. I'm in the market for the Silmarillion in similar style too (though I believe it's illustrated by a different artist.) At £30, it's a little pricey, but worth it nonetheless.

I think that Foundation's scope is accentuated by its tendency to follow the short story format, highlighting the pseudo-Marxist, determinist course of the civilisation's development, refracted through the lens of historical accident (as in the case of the mule), the way that characters are not...

Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy is the obvious omission for me.

Just getting my peers to read at all would be a good thing. Earlier this week I was actually being derided because I backed up my arguments with quotations from Thomas More and J.S. Mill... Go figure.

Because that's what philosophers like to do. It allows them to feel superior in the knowledge that they can understand these cryptic titles. Physicists seem to enjoy it as well; Schrodinger's cat, anyone?

I thought it was Occam's razor?

I can't think of anyone who's not already been mentioned. I'm too new to the community. I don't belong in this thread. I don't belong, period. Somebody, pass me the razor blades.

Ultimate Chair's good, as well - like ultimate frisbee, only with a chair. See what boredom in school hours can do to a person?

You are most welcome, rest assured. Or should that be 'no pr0bs, n00b'... If anyone has any l33t/ASCII that needs translating (though I draw the line at txtspk), you know where to find me...

I almost bought the DVD box set; I've read the manga (which is fabulously stylish and features some wonderful character design) and I love the opening theme, but have yet to see the anime. All in good time...