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It came out in the UK quite a while ago (but we're still waiting for Hellboy - so I guess we're owed something). I really enjoyed it, it was very cleverly put together. It's good film to go to with a group of friends. It'll end up a cult classic. What really made my day was that the cinema I...

How on earth did he manage to write out Moonglum? He's an absolutely vital part of many of the stories! For those of you who have called me out on the Author/Reader contract. Yes, I concede the point. I do think there is something about the author destroying reader expectations, or runing a...

I've never been able to get into the Covenant books. Too be honest it isn't so much the rape (not that that helps), but the hoaky "pulled from your mundane life into another world" cliche. That and the heaping up of misfortunes on the hero. It just seems trite. For all I know the middle and end...

This is inspired by a post made by takyris elsewhere. When you start reading a book, the author and the reader have a sort of contract. The author has to work within certain limits, which are set by the readers expectations. So the main character can't wake up to find everything's a dream, and...

I have no knowledge of the law on such things. I do remember there was a big battle between William Randolph Hearst and Orson Welles over Citizen Kane (which was claimed to be "fictional" slander). Though I can't remember the result. I'm sure there are some books that come pretty close to what...

The first chapter is here: http://www.nytimes.com/images/promos/magazine/1stchap-JSMN.pdf If you want to read more Advance Reading Copies are going on ebay for $100.

I really don't want to pull this thread into areas that Morrus et al. won't be happy about and get the thread closed down. So I'm just going to clarify my view and leave it at that. I may have misinterpreted your posts. I felt ragboy's post was implying that the situations were equivalent...

I want to give everyone the heads-up on this, which is published in the US on the 8th of September and in the UK on the 30th September. It's apparently due for a huge marketing campaign in the run up to Christmas, as part of an attempt by Bloomsbury to recreate Rowling and Pullman's success...

I don't think what Brown is in any way comparable with (fictional) holocaust denial or advocacy of slavery. I also don't think referencing a false history about the Priory for backstory is like using the Protocols to try and stir up anti-Semitism. I really think you're both overstating your...

They're also working on MirrorMask: a Labyrinth-sort-of-sequel being made by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean (two of the people behind Sandman), which I'm really looking forward to. http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0366780/ Does anyone know anything about the four novels they've got the film rights to?

The incident happens in one of Sansa's Point-of-View chapters. So we can - by definition - be sure that she saw it. If she hadn't, we wouldn't know about it either.

I'd like to put myself forward to make the next selection and lead the next discussion. I've a couple of ideas for interesting choices that complement what's already been chosen. Of course, the choice is entirely yours.

You are right. I am wrong. I missed the claim that about the founding of the Priory. He does say that this was in the 11th century, and that is a load of nonsense. I wouldn't go this far. I do think it's perfectly okay for authors to lie to readers. There's a long and distinguished tradition...

I'm not sure that Dan Brown actively planned the whole thing; I think if he was that clever the book would be a whole lot better than it is. I think, like most people, he has strange and not very well thought out views on religion, but he was trying to write a thriller, not actively trying to...

takyris; that was absolutely hilarious. I get what you're saying, I do think there are problems with the analogy though. For a start you'd have to include a "All the characters and events in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely...

I don't think these are fair criticisms. Brown's claims of fact are fairly minimalist. They're limited to the existence of all the architecture, art works, and secret organisations in the real world. Your Priory of Sion example doesn't work. You first say "according to Brown's "fact" page, the...

I'm really shocked by this. The paperback is out in the UK, in spite of the book being released in the US first. They are obviously milking it for everything it is worth (which is probably quite a lot). You're absolutely right. The writing and the dialogue is terrible. The characters are...

Clemency Burton-Hill She must have, tragically, missed out on the part in Arcadia... http://opinion.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/06/26/do2603.xml

What are everyone's thoughts on this? It's a terribly written bit of pulp fiction; but I'm finding it absolutely enthralling. The short chapters with cliff hangers, and the gradually revealed nature of the puzzles and back story have hooked me in and dragged me along in spite of myself. I know...

Clive Owen is head and shoulders above the rest on the list, and would be my prefered choice. For non-listees, Christian Bale has the potential to do a good job, and I honestly think - if he drops the floppy fringe and stutter - Hugh Grant could make a very dark, Dalton-esque Bond (yes, I know...