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Hooray for Waterstones
Originally uploaded by Graham Binns

So, this news story intrigued me (from the BBC):

Children's author Eoin Colfer has been commissioned to write a sixth instalment of the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series.

Now, my first reaction was: WTF? My second reaction was... Why?

I honestly don't get why another H2G2 book needs to be written. I know that the series didn't end on an upbeat note, but the story had come nicely full circle (for H2G2, which means that the circle had lots of corners in it and quite possible existed in more dimensions than the usual two). I don't really understand why the trilogy needs a sixth part.

I can't judge Eoin Colfer's suitability for the project because I've never read any of his books (though I'll now make a point of it). In fact, Colfer himself said:

"My first reaction was semi-outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper with this incredible series."

Which rather anticipates the reaction that this might well get from a lot of fans. Of course, the truth is that - to paraphrase a quote from Arthur C. Clarke's eulogy for Isaac Asimov - there was only one Douglas Adams; these days there's no Douglas Adams and the world is a poorer place for it.

Still, we can but wait and see. It's due to be published next October, which means that it won't be being written on an Adamsian timescale.

I think, for the moment, I'm looking forward to it. What do you think, dear reader?

American Gods, Neil Gaiman's semi-Americana, semi-mythological novel, is now available for free online.

I have a deep fondness for American Gods. It was the first of Neil Gaiman's works that I read, having been introduced to him through his blog, and it led me on to reading, well, pretty much everything he's written. I'm currently working my way through The Sandman, having never before really taken any interest in graphic novels... but I'm digressing.

American Gods is one of those novels that might take a bit of getting into, but is well worth the effort. My Dad, after reading it, said that he thought that there were in fact two novels in there which could have both quite happily have stood on their own, or at least as partners in a series (along with Anansi Boys.

But whether you end up liking it or not (I can think of at least one person to whom I've recommended it that didn't care for it) I think it's well worth giving it a try if you haven't already.

A good comment on Nathan Bransford's blog today about Harry Potter and why people read it (link ):

It's a simple thing, this Potter love. She lets you think you can actually do magic. She grabs onto you and shows you magic as an ordinary thing in the world. Personally, I was amazed at the details she conjured up to make Quidditch believable.

I liked that the hero wasn't a real hero actually... I actually thought of him as a pansy for most of the series. He's really nothing extraordinary by himself.

Whilst I don't entirely agree, it comes close to my own thoughts on the matter. I'm trying to get round to finishing a full post about it but work, as always, needs doing...