Chapter Three

I've always enjoyed the type of humour that takes people's beliefs & perceptions (including my own) of what is 'real' and the, highly dangerous, what life should be and gives them the 'Chaos Theory' flip. The saying, 'many a serious thing is said in jest' also applies to the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Genre. (even Trekkies/Trekkers have been known to take things a little too seriously - No! Yes!! ;-)

I have generally found it difficult to Read 'Humour'. I tend to prefer Watching it or, if possible, Living it. It came as a Pleasant Surprise when I discovered that it was possible to Laugh at, or with, a piece of paper. Previously I had only considered Comics to be Funny.

This is another indication of my preference of Visual Humour. Even as an 'Adult' I limited myself to Viz. Billy Quiz (Your Starter for Ten) & Mr. Logic (that would be using a Decimal Numeric System originally developed by the ...) were my Favourites Characters followed closely by Roger Irrelevant (it'll be curtains for the Clarinet if that Sandwich builds the Trans Atlantic Tunnel) & finally that 'Man on the Telly' - Roger Mellie (B*****ks!).

If you would like to know more about what I find Funny & Humourous then visit my Comedy Pages, where shows from acrross the decades are mentioned & hopefully you will be reminded of some Classics of Comedy, as well as some NEW ones that you may not have discovered yet :-)

Right, now where was I? Oh yes, the Books!

ADF

The Spellsinger Series, by Alan Dean Foster, was an absolute hoot. The music input in particular was the 'hook', the humour the 'line' and the inclusion of Jimi Hendrix the 'sinker'.

There was the Usual Reluctant Hero, Jon - Tom, who, more through Desperation than Judgement saves the (a) World. The best thing about these Stories is the other Characters are Animals that 'Evolved' along with Humans. This allows for some very Entertaining remarks about Humanity.

It also had an Environmental undercurrent, whether intentional or not, that appealed to me. It raises the Question; to an Outside Observer, i.e. another Species, how would we appear? The Answer: If you didn't Laugh then you would have to Cry.

Spellsinger

Spellsinger	Jonathon Merriweather (Jon-Tom) finds himself in a World where All Mammals have Evolved and that what he Sings happens!
Hour of the Gate	Jon-Tom, Mudge the Otter & Friends must go through the Tunnel of Cold Flame, to the Centre of the World, to defeat a Deadly Enemy.
The Day of the Dissonance	Clothahump, the Turtle Wizard, is dying, the only thing that can save him is across the Glittergeist Ocean, an Arcane Medicinal Power.
The Moment of the Magician	A City calls for Clothahump to save it from Evil, Jon-Tom & Mudge set off on another Adventure which has Strange Origins.
Paths of the Perambulator	The very Fabric of the Universe is threatened, only the Spellsinger & his Friends can save it from this Mysterious Power.
Time of the Transference	Domestic Bliss with Talea? Or Earth? On a Quest to find the only Person who can repair his Magical Guitar, Jon-Tom finds a way back.
Son of Spellsinger	Jon-Tom & Talea's son Buncan with Mudge's children, Noctor and Squill, create Wild, Unpredictable Magic through Rap Music.

My brother, Wayne, insists that there are other Alan Dean Foster Books that are equally Funny, if not more so, and that I should Read them. Maybe, when I've Finished this I may, only maybe though. My experiences have Generally been that the Novelty (excuse the pun) can often wear off.

If You have any suggestions of one that may be worth checking out, feel free to use the Email me. Wayne's Tastes & my own are not necessarily that close. Of course it could be another Facet of the Older / Younger Brother Inter- Relationship thingy (I'm the Older)

It was quite some time before I got around to reading the Discworld Books by Terry Pratchett. I initially felt that they would be too much like Douglas Adams (see above) for comfort. Yet, despite some initial feelings of similarity I have found them to be extremely amusing, and hard to put down when started.

Wayne was right about these though (see above). I will say that we still disagree about which bits were Funny (er), what the Best Book was & who's the Best Character. In Books, like Music, each with conjure up different things in each of us and will some parts will appeal more to some than others.

My favourite Character has got to be the Librarian (oook!). Followed very closely by Granny Weatherwax with her peculiar brand of 'Headology', Death (let's not forget Binky), Gaspode the Dog, the Death of Rats ("Squeak?") and last but not least the Luggage (well, we all have some 'baggage' that we carry around - or that's following us, come to think of it).

It's hard to Decide which Stories are my Favourites (there is no Single One that Stands Out from the Rest), so I'll list my Top 5 in Order of Publication;

Mort; Pyramids; Small Gods; Lords and Ladies; Hogfather.

I have Read all except the last Two Discworld Stories, I have just started Jingo. Commander Vimes and The City Watch face another Series of Bizarre happenings in Ankh-Morpork, the City of a Thousand Opportunities; to Die, be Poisoned, Robbed & to get Rich by doing some of these things to Others (as long as you have a Licence & don't go over your Quota!).

I also like the Animated Version of Wyrd Sisters. There is also one of Soul Music, which I haven't seen yet. And just because i Like doing them anyway, I have a Jigsaw Puzzle of the Discworld Map. If anyone can direct to somewhere that sells a 600 x 600 mm. Glass (clip on) Picture Frame, PLEASE, tell me as I have search High & Low for one, thanks.

There is a lot of Pratchett Stuff out there, Plays, Companion Books (including Maps) & Other Stories. So far I have Read The Carpet People, Good Omens (with Neil Gaiman) & The Dark Side of the Sun. I'll not List them all, at the moment, as I'm unable to Comment on their Content.

May the Gods go with You - or not if you wish to keep Your Sanity!

DISCWORLD

The Colour of Magic	This is where we are Introduced to Rincewind the Wizard (?) & the an Orang - Utan Librarian.
The Light Fantastic	The End is Nigh, and, Rincewind, the Only One who can save the World has just Fallen of the Edge of it!
Equal Rites	Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg & Magrat Garlick, the Witches, tackle Discrimination.
Mort	Death takes on an Apprentice, Mort, whilst on his First Job he goes and collects the Wrong Person!
Sourcery	The Eighth Son, of an Eighth Son, of an Eight Son; it could only End in Disaster!
Wyrd Sisters	The Witches get involved in 'Royalty' - a thing best left Alone. Beware the Power of Words!
Pyramids	A 'Beginner's Guide' to the Assassins Guild, and the Responsibilities of Position.
Guards! Guards!	What can the Ankh-Morpork City Watch do to Stop the Dragons from being Woken! Hide?!
Eric (with Josh Kirkby)	Beware what You Wish for - the Chances are You'll be fairly Disappointed!
Moving Pictures	Gaspode the Dog takes on Holy Wood and finds out that 'All that Glitters is not Gold'.
Reaper Man	Death is missing, presumed... Gone! Is it time to Advertise for a Replacement?
Witches Abroad	You thought they were a Handful in there own Country; Tourists Boards Beware!
Small Gods	Belief is a Very Strange thing, it's not much Fun being a God with only One True Worshipper.
Lords and Ladies	The Truth is finally out about those Cute & Cuddly Elves. There's One, GET IT!
Men At Arms	Corporal Carrot and Co. have to Stop Murder & Mayhem on Captain Vimes' last Day in office.
*Soul Music*	'Music With Rocks' - Youth Culture hits home on Discworld, especially with Death's Daughter, Susan.
Interesting Times	'May You Live in ' Them - let's hope not! Further details needed.
Maskerade	A night at the Opera turns into something Dramatically more Sinister for the Witches.
Feet of Clay	Corporal Nobbs, a member of the Aristocracy, this can't be True. What's all this Mud?
Hogfather	Can the Death of Rats and Susan find the Hogfather on the Eve of Hogswatch?
Jingo	Are War & Politics Crimes? If so what's the Charge? (Don't Answer!), and can it be Arrested?
The Last Continent	Rincewind goes Down Under! Down Over? Under Over? Under Across? Over Across??
Carpe Jugulum	Mightily Oats, newly a Priest, gets caught up in a war between Vampires & Witches!
The Fifth Elephant	Four Elephants stand on a Giant Turtle & hold Discworld on their backs - whatever happened to the Fifth One?
The Truth	Ankh-Morpork gets it's first Newspaper providing all you need to know, especially if it concerns interestingly-shaped-vegetables!!
Thief of Time	Meet the Monks of History and the End of the Universe as the Most Accurate Clock Ever Built is near completion - AGAIN!
The Last Hero	Sorry, not read yet
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents	Sorry, not read yet
Night Watch	Sorry, not read yet
The Wee Free Men	Sorry, not read yet

As you may have noticed, or even if you didn't, there are a few Discworld Books that I haven't yet, that's basically because I haven't got around to reading anything for a while - that certainly needs rectifying, and I can't think of anything better to break the drought with than a Pratchett Book. Hopefully I will be able to update this Segment soon, D

Another Writer that is worth checking out is Andrew Harman. Unfortunately all the Books I have Read were from the Library and my Memories are a bit Vague at the moment.

A very Entertaining Series of Books, they are set in a 'Medieval' Era where the Adventures of Various Characters are followed. The Main ones are a group of Children, one a Fledgeling Magician.

The Books are Full of 'Puns' (just check out the Titles) and there are some very Funny Moments. My particular Favourite is probably the Scrying Game. This was about Characters in a City were everyone, except, the Main Character has the Power to Foresee the Future.

Harman Excellently portrays how 'Life' who be in this Environment. The 'Fire Service' bit was a Hoot.

Sorcerer's Appendix Things are not good in the Kingdom of Rhyngill. The People are Hungry. So Firkin & Co decide to go & do something about it. The Solution - find an Assassin to kill the King !?!

Frogs of War The Ultimate Weapon has been Created. Unfortunately they were such a Dangerous 'Deterrent' that they were Locked Away. Someone wants to set them Free!

Tome Tunnel Stuck in the Past, Firkin & Co must decide what to do. Are they the ones that can solve the Problems of the Future, or are they the ones Caused them in the First Place - Guess which one ;-)

One Hundred and One Damnations Something's trying to get out! And it's not some cuddly spotted dogs who want to lick your face in a friendly gesture of affection. These will want to lick your face right off!

Fahrenheit 666 An ambitious Plan to turn the 'Over World' into a Holiday Home for Demons is implemented. A feat on modern engineering, nothing can go wrong & at great cost (sound familiar?) So can anyone stop it?

Scrying Game The World of Quintzi Cohati is about to Crumble. He is about to Receive an Award for Weather Prediction. Unfortunately He has NO Precognition Skills at all. Just Luck, which is about to Run Out.

Deity Dozen One Demon, One Vote... As long as that One Demon is Seirizzim - Undertaker - in - Chief of Mortropolis! Yet there are a few Demons who are not happy with the new efficiency drive!

The other Harman Story I have Read is Midsummer Night's Gene.

It is set on Earth and has Science, Little People and an Obsessive Golf Club Groundsman.

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