Did anyone watch the Terry Pratchett Program?

[d000hg]

I'll probably make myself (more) unpopular now, but I think his books are drivel.

Much the same idea as the late Douglas Adams. It's formulaic: Take one idea/joke/conceit and beat it wafer thin over several million words.

All comes down to personal taste... you see rehashed ideas, I see a series of interesting stories involving the same characters set in the same universe. Certainly wouldn't claim his writing is incredible, or even the plots, but it's nice to read a new book where you already know many of the characters - and the universe he created is kind of cool.

[Pogle]

All comes down to personal taste... you see rehashed ideas, I see a series of interesting stories involving the same characters set in the same universe. Certainly wouldn't claim his writing is incredible, or even the plots, but it's nice to read a new book where you already know many of the characters - and the universe he created is kind of cool.

I concur

[bogeyman]

All comes down to personal taste... you see rehashed ideas, I see a series of interesting stories involving the same characters set in the same universe. Certainly wouldn't claim his writing is incredible, or even the plots, but it's nice to read a new book where you already know many of the characters - and the universe he created is kind of cool.

But the universe we already have is infinitely diverse. Even the world we inhabit has too many stories to tell.

Fantasy writing is ok if that's your thing but surely you realise why it is not considered 'top drawer' literature when real life offers so many stories and challenges to the writer?

[Board Game Geek]

real life offers so many stories and challenges to the writer?

You need to let go of the mundanity and boringness of real life, before it gets a hold on you, bogey. Otherwise you will grow old before your time.

Real life will never contend with ideas of the imagination, given life by a skilled author.

[d000hg]

But the universe we already have is infinitely diverse. Even the world we inhabit has too many stories to tell.

Fantasy writing is ok if that's your thing but surely you realise why it is not considered 'top drawer' literature when real life offers so many stories and challenges to the writer?

Tolkein's pretty well respected... of course some critics dislike any book you care to mention... sure you can say infinitely many stories can be set in the real world but so what? Books are considered great (by me) if the plot is original and interesting, the characters are well-developed and the actual implementation (the way it's written) draws me in and captivates me. Books are entertainment to me, not art.


It's an interesting subject but can we discuss it somewhere else... was hoping we might keep this thread focused either on Alzheimer's itself or the TV program, not TP's books.

[d000hg]

And on the subject of the TV program... how did he get 6 monitors running on what I presume was a Windows PC (he mentioned MSOffice)? I can't decide if I would be able to use a 2nd row of monitors, or if it would make my neck hurt.

[Pogle]

Part 2 is on tomorrow (Wednesday) - I think

[norrahe]

Part 2 is on tomorrow (Wednesday) - I think

Yep.

I found the program quite depressing considering 2 of my relatives have died recently from alzheimers related ilnesses (early onset) and another uncle has just been diagnosed.

[d000hg]

Yep.

I found the program quite depressing considering 2 of my relatives have died recently from alzheimers related ilnesses (early onset) and another uncle has just been diagnosed.

Yikes. Are there any early detection tests they can do... or even statistics to say how at risk you are?

Raises the question... if it were something you could test for when young, would you want to know?

[norrahe]

Yikes. Are there any early detection tests they can do... or even statistics to say how at risk you are?

Raises the question... if it were something you could test for when young, would you want to know?

I'm looking into it as early onset can be hereditary and it aint a pleasant death.