The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 12: Witches Abroad

When we last left the Witches, all the way back in Wyrd Sisters, things seemed to have settled down a little bit in the mountainous kingdom of Lancre. There was a new king who seemed prepared to give witches the respect they deserved, the coven of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick appeared to … Continue reading The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 12: Witches Abroad →

The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 5: Sourcery

It’s tempting to call Sourcery a return to the “roots” of Discworld after a couple of books away from them but, really, using the rest of the series for some perspective, they hadn’t actually gone too far from them. We get Rincewind and his lethal luggage back, as well as the return of the faculty … Continue reading The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 5: Sourcery →

A Movie Ian Likes: Galaxy Quest

Commander Peter Taggart is the legendary Captain of the NSEA Protector. He and his crew have had many adventures while exploring the galaxy. And now he’s just been contacted by a race of aliens who need his help to save themselves from an evil dictator. There’s just one catch… Peter Taggart is a character played … Continue reading A Movie Ian Likes: Galaxy Quest →

A Memoir Ian Likes: Underfoot In Show Business by Helene Hanff

Despite her intentions being laid out clearly in the opening pages of this book, Helene Hanff (1916 – 1997) never made it as a successful playwright (spoiler alert). However, she was a writer who could meet deadlines and create work quickly and relied almost entirely on her typewriter for a living which means that, by … Continue reading A Memoir Ian Likes: Underfoot In Show Business by Helene Hanff →

A Series Ian Likes: The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison

James Bolivar diGriz is a crook. But he’s really much more than that: he’s a gift to the bureaucracy that plagues his hi-tech society. His actions, he maintains, keep the inept forces of law and a sluggish economy active. He provides entertainment for people jaded by boring news stories. He… well, he’s good at what … Continue reading A Series Ian Likes: The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison →

A Multimedia Phenomenon Ian Likes: Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend

Adrian has problems: his parents are going through a messy separation; the new girl in school won’t look at him; his community service project is a grumpy old man with a vicious dog; his lunch money is being stolen by the school bully; and he hates his Noddy wallpaper. Unfortunately for Adrian – but joyously … Continue reading A Multimedia Phenomenon Ian Likes: Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend →

An Author Ian Likes: in memorium, Sir Terry Pratchett

(This post was originally written on the original stuffianlikes blog the day after Sir Terry passed. I've tidied up some grammatical errors and added a couple of pictures but this is otherwise the way it appeared 4 years-minus-a-day-ago) I usually dwell on these posts for bloody ages but this one needs to be gotten down … Continue reading An Author Ian Likes: in memorium, Sir Terry Pratchett →

A Film Ian Likes: The Tall Guy

We all think we know Richard Curtis, right? Huge British writer/ director who helped make modern British cinema what it is today? Reinventor of the romantic comedy before sinking it under the weight of his own clichés? Co-creator and co-author of Blackadder? Figure most responsible for the rise of Hugh Grant as an actor? Right. Well, this movie is where you … Continue reading A Film Ian Likes: The Tall Guy →

A Film Adaptation Of A Book That Ian Likes: The Princess Bride

A young boy (Fred Savage) lays sick in bed. His grandfather (Peter Falk) arrives to read him a story to make him feel better. The boy is less than impressed with this but acquiesces. He is horrified to discover that this book - despite his grandfather’s claims to the contrary - is a ”kissing book.” … Continue reading A Film Adaptation Of A Book That Ian Likes: The Princess Bride →