Quote: sootyj @ May 10 2011, 9:07 AM BSTIt was similar but it's ann ancient scifi trope these things have all been done before
Then it's time we did something different. 
Doctor Who... Page 699
A fuss is being made about Neil Gaiman writing the next ep but I've never read any of his stuff. Is he any good?
Quote: john lucas 101 @ May 10 2011, 9:45 AM BSTA fuss is being made about Neil Gaiman writing the next ep but I've never read any of his stuff. Is he any good?
Yeah. He's written some great stuff. I especially liked the TV series Neverwhere that was on BBC2 in the mid-nineties. Cheap as chips, but great. I'm plowing through The Sandman graphic novels at the moment. Oh, and his original kids book, Coraline (That the film was based on) is really great.
Gaiman is excellent.
I loved the Sandman comics and Black Orchid, I loved Neverwhere (both TV prog and book), I loved Good Omens - the book he wrote with Terry Pratchett, I've enjoyed his other novels and short stories.
Definitely looking forward to his Doctor Who episode. His Babylon 5 episode was pretty cool.
If you like Gaiman then try "American Gods" - I think its his masterpiece.
Quote: kate tudor @ May 10 2011, 10:17 AM BSTIf you like Gaiman then try "American Gods" - I think its his masterpiece.
Excellent book.
If you like Gaiman's brand of weird, I recommend Tim Powers.
Tim Powers is good, not read any of his for ages. Did he write The Anubis Gates?
Varied as I recall. But some really good stuff. Pick wisely lol, Start with the Anubis one, if that is him.
Just out of interest does anyone know other countries where Dr Who has a big following?
I saw a few French articles come up on Liz Sladen's death and have a feeling Italy has a soft spot for Brit Sci Fi.
Quote: kate tudor @ May 10 2011, 10:17 AM BSTIf you like Gaiman then try "American Gods" - I think its his masterpiece.
That is an astonishing book, Anansi books is it's equally good sequel.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 10 2011, 9:54 AM BSTYeah. He's written some great stuff. I especially liked the TV series Neverwhere that was on BBC2 in the mid-nineties. Cheap as chips, but great. I'm plowing through The Sandman graphic novels at the moment. Oh, and his original kids book, Coraline (That the film was based on) is really great.
Where you upto with the Sandman?
God I loved those books.
Good Omens is kinda special especially as it was his one and only team up with the Pratchett.
Yes, the Anubis Gates was the first Tim Powers I read, on the recommendation of a friend.
The whole way through I was bouncing back and forth between thinking I knew what was going on and suddenly having no clue when he threw something else in and it was only on practically the last page that it all tied up perfectly. Awesome. I'm actually slightly scared to reread it in case it's not as good as I remember and I was just being thick when I read it.
But yes Griff - well worth a read and I'd agree with starting on The Anubis Gates. I'm not sure who I'd compare him to, perhaps a bit of Neil Gaiman, a bit of China Miéville and a bit of Clive Barker (but with a lot less cocksucking) in his slightly right-angle-to-reality take on how the world works.
After Anubis Gates I'd probably suggest On Stranger Tides (before you accidentally see Disney's almost certain wrecking of it as Pirates of the Caribbean 4) then Declare then Last Call/Expiration Date/Earthquake Weather, then anything else you can get your hands on.
He's got a new one coming out next year which I'm waiting for.
Anyway, back to Doctor Who - I'd love to see an episode written by Tim Powers.
The cock sucking is the best of Clive Barker
and I'm hetro (I think)
But modern fantasy books hmm
Clive Barker, Imajica/Weave world/The Great and secret show
Graham Joyce, The Tooth Fairy/Smoking poppy/everything else
Stephen King, The Talisman
Neil Gaiman, American Gods/Annansi Boys
I found China Mieville a bit impenetrable.
But Weave World seems to be in the top 5 of D&D geeks as well as stoners.
King Rat is on my ebook reader waiting to be read.
I've read Perdido Street Station, The Scar and Iron council, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Scar probably being my favourite of the three. Heard Miéville being interviewed on Radio 4 a while back, sounds like an interesting guy.
Another person who I'd be interested to see write a Who episode.
Quote: sootyj @ May 11 2011, 4:49 PM BSTThe cock sucking is the best of Clive Barker
and I'm hetro (I think)
But modern fantasy books hmm
Clive Barker, Imajica/Weave world/The Great and secret show
Graham Joyce, The Tooth Fairy/Smoking poppy/everything else
Stephen King, The Talisman
Neil Gaiman, American Gods/Annansi Boys
I'm off to dinner - but Fantasy is d ifferent to horror/fantasy - but The Talisman was good but it was co-written I believe?