John Christopher Message Board
Bob Meade posts on 11/13/2006 5:11:31 PM
Hi Sam - I hope the new valve is still grunting away...
Heard of the new the other day, that there is likely to be some poor wheat etc harvests over the next year or so, echos of Death of grass?
Bob
Mark Gardener posts on 11/11/2006 11:39:52 AM
I remember picking up the collected Puffin edition and reading it, and for ages couldn't figure out why I had a suspicion it was different in some way, and it was, of course, those minor abridgments. As the trilogy book became the resident on my bookshelf the individual books took up a new life in my attic, so when it came to get the new hardbacks from S&S, reading those bits that had been cut out was a bit like watching a Directors Cut of a film, they really leapt out at me.
By the way, has anyone seen the 'My Science Fiction Life' website from the BBC? (You can find it from the BBC Four website). There's a timeline of 'classic science fiction' on there where they're asking for people's recollections of classic works (or suggest new ones), and Tripods is one of them. There's even a programme all about The Tripods (the TV series) coming up on BBC Four soon. About time too!
Sam Youd posts on 11/11/2006 7:29:58 AM
I think I have it now. In the 80s, Penguin Puffin printed a single-volume edition of the Tripods trilogy (as they did of the Sword). I think this is what Angela first encountered, and the individual books must have seemed slight when she re-encountered them. In my view this was the best form of publication: the text was the same but there were (minor) bridging changes to achieve the single book. Interestingly, the Germans also published single-volume editions, of both books. They are reissuing at the moment and I've suggested they do so again, but doubt they're listening.
Sam
Alan posts on 11/10/2006 7:23:43 PM
Angela,
Sam is the author! John Christopher is one of his pseudonyms. He should know really. One way to check is to look on ebay and see if you can see the edition you remember there so somebody can check it assuming somebody on here has it. I'd argue it would be a little pointless as Sam has shown precious few signs of forgetfulness regarding his books on here!
Alan
Angela Bond posts on 11/10/2006 12:23:03 PM
Hi Sam, No im serious there was an earlier edition i swear to god. I was 14 (shows my age lol) and got the white mountains in paper back it had a picture of white mountains but no tripods. I have the white mountains that is out now and is very short. There was also pool of fire and emerald city (i think) it was when they showed them on the bbc. Honestly im not joking you im serious. no matter if no one knows about the adult version it went into loads of detail about tripods chasing them it was dead ace and the other two books were the same ie detail. no worries. but there was definitely a more detailed version. wonder if the author knows but i guess cant get hold of him lol
Victoria posts on 11/10/2006 7:48:39 AM
I am confused (easily done) - which copies do I own? I have the versions with the actors of the BBC series on the front. If there Sam says there is another, better version, I must have it!
Robert posts on 11/9/2006 7:57:18 PM
My sympathies, Alan. I also am now determined to get the 2003 edition, but since I always read the copies from my local library before, I won't end up with extra books. Yep, that's the way it is with us fans. I second your suggestion for a collection of all these snippets we have on the books; there's a lot of interesting info here.
Alan posts on 11/9/2006 5:49:37 PM
Sam, I didn't realise that you'd written prefaces to the 2003 editions which now means I want to buy books I already own for a page of preface! Such is the life of a fan I guess. What seeing all these snippets on here about various books and how they came into being makes me realise is that there should be a collection of all this info. And one question you have never answered on here is whether there is anything of your work that remains unpublished? It's remarkable how unashamedly nosey you can be on sites like this!!
Alan
Sam Youd posts on 11/9/2006 6:30:42 AM
Sorry, Angela, but your memory betrays you. The original edition continued unchanged in the US until 2003, when it was replaced by the 1983-revised Puffin edition. There has never been a different "more adult" version. The 1983/2003 version is the better one, I can say with confidence. I got S&S to take it in in return for contributing Prefaces to their 35th Anniversary edition.
Sam Youd
Victoria posts on 11/8/2006 12:02:41 PM
I am even more impressed with The Possessors if it was written quickly. I forgot Sam had already written about his preference for the Sword trilogy. Sorry. I liked it too.
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