Recent content by Claude Raines

Most people on this board I just consider acquaintances. He was one of the few that I considered a friend.

The worst one I can remember is Hiro Protagonist from Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. He might as well hit us over the head with a cinder block while he's at it. Otherwise we might not be able to figure out who the good guy is.

In the book The Stone and The Maiden (which everyone should avoid) the evil princess who stole the throne from her nice sister would regularly have kinky sex while bathing in animal blood. Just because that's what evil sister's do.

I'm not sure if this has been reported yet, but I haven't seen it. In Dragon 318, Matthew Sernett confirms that the next Draconomicon type book is going to be Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead, and it will be out in October of this year.

I just finished the Tom Clancy spin-off "Hidden Agendas" from the Net Force series. It was somewhat disappointing. I don't think I'll bother with any of the others in that series. I've just started Modesitt's "The White Order." I'm hoping it will reinvigorate my interest in the Recluce series.

Right now I only have 3 books in the que for when I finish Slammerkin, an 18th century historical drama about a prostitute. Once that's done I'll start Modesitt's The Chaos Balance & The White Order. After that I have Hubbard's Fear.

Thanks! I had been putting off both of those purchases, but at those prices, I can't let them go by.

M*A*S*H is the only one I have.

Fortunately I got several books for Christmas. I just finished "Dead Until Dark" by Charlaine Harris. I'm currently reading "A Short History of Nearly Everything." Then I have Laurell Hamilton's "Carress of Twilight" and a book of Jewish folklore titled "Lilith's Cave."

Actually, the Book of Lost Tales 1 & 2 are the earliest writings of what eventually became the Silmarillion. It's told in a much different light, but the basic genesis of what became middle earth through the first age is there. Although most of the tales are somewhat incomplete, they are much...

Also C.S. Lewis published "The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe" in 1950. I'm not sure on the dates of the rest of the series. Fans should be happy to know that 5 movies based on the series is being planned and will be filmed in New Zealand...

Fritz Lieber was contemporary with Moorcock in the late 60's and early 70's. Jack Vance's Dying Earth was in the mid/late 60s as well. I can't find a publication date for C.L. Moore's Jirel of Jory, but it should be around that time too. Of course we have Howard's Conan stories as contemporary...

It's in the appendicies to RotK. He is the first and only dwarf allowed to pass into the west, due mainly to his friendship with Legolas.

Actually, Luthien was half-divine, the daughter of Thingol and Melian (a Maia who stayed in Middle Earth until the death of Thingol). Thus Dior was 1/2 human, 1/4 elf, and 1/4 divine. Elwing is then 5/8 elf, 1/4 human, and 1/8 divine. Elrond becomes 9/16 elf, 3/8 human and 1/16 divine. Finally...

No, nor do they mention Legolas & Glimli passing over the ocean. We do see a shot of Gandalf wearing the red ring, but I don't remember any shot of Elrond wearing his ring.