Thread: Heaven: The Bible - warning, likely spoilers Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.


To visit this thread, use this URL:
http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000358

---

Posted by Neil (starbelly) (# 25) on :
 
Well, I have read up to the end of the Gospels now, so many twists and turns in the plot!

I love the early chapters about Creation and Moses, felt that some bits after that needed a bit of editing. I guess perhaps God is such a big name now that no one dared edit the text down a bit.

Nice introduction of new characters with the prophets, really seems to be building to something.

This Jesus character that was introduced in the last book is certainly one to watch, odd how he suddenly started to dominate, but guess it was an inevitable consequence of the book before, the death was certainly a shock, and sad to see new characters such as Judas killed off so soon.

So what will happen in the next book? My prediction is that Peter will pair off with Mary Magdelene, Jesus will turn out to be Elijha, and everyone will live happily ever after.

Neil

[ 30. March 2004, 05:20: Message edited by: Coot W*nkMeister Eckhardt ]
 

---

Posted by paigeb (# 2261) on :
 


Neil---I am in an absolutely rotten mood, and that's the first thing I've laughed at all day. Bless you.
 

---

Posted by welsh dragon (# 3249) on :
 
Yes, though re the Gospels isn't it a bit strange having basically the same story told four times over? It doesn't do much for the suspense does it?

Though that last bloke John was a bit strange really in his take on things, do you think he was on something? Certainly had a different perspective to the others...

Not *that* much humour, though it's always difficult with translated texts isn't it? Sometimes you just wonder what that guy Jesus actually said, you have a sense that it was probably really funny at the time...

But some strong female characters, you must admit...

Beats Tolkien into a cocked hat as far as jokes and sex are concerned anyway...

[ 25. July 2003, 18:19: Message edited by: welsh dragon ]
 

---

Posted by Lurker (# 1384) on :
 
Do you think a major enough character died?
 

---

Posted by welsh dragon (# 3249) on :
 
Well, I thought that was very effective lurker, though the actual ending so far leaves you wondering a bit. Having him die and then come back to life again . It's sort of confusing for people...is this a comedy or a tragedy?

Though the way for sequels and prequels and, well, co-quels seems to have been left wide open at the end

quote:

---

Originally written by John:
There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down,63 I suppose the whole world64 would not have room for the books that would be written.65

---

 

---

Posted by footdoc (# 4389) on :
 
ummm this bit where he dies and then comes back to life again .... bit fishy... sounds like Pam Ewings dream in Dallas... cant wait for the sequel.
 

---

Posted by Chapelhead (# 1143) on :
 
I don't want to give too much away, but I can tell you that it has a cracking ending.
 

---

Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :
 
The prequel should be interesting too.
 

---

Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on :
 
Not enough explicit sex but plenty of mystery. On the whole I doubt it will sell. They will end up giving them away.
 

---

Posted by Ms Lilith (# 1767) on :
 
Very funny.

I hate to disapoint you neil but it's pretty much downhill from now on.
 

---

Posted by shareman (# 2871) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by footdoc:
ummm this bit where he dies and then comes back to life again .... bit fishy... sounds like Pam Ewings dream in Dallas... cant wait for the sequel.

---

A bit deus ex machina isn't it?
 

---

Posted by irreverentkit (# 4271) on :
 
Oh but now you get this Paul character. Wish there was more plot about him. Once Acts runs out it's just a sort of endless haranguing.

Hang on, though. The end of the book is a wild, wild ride! I see Jerry Bruckheimer as director of the movie version ...
 

---

Posted by Elizabeth Anne (# 3555) on :
 
Cease and Desist!

I'm from the Purity above Rudeness, Unbelievable behavior, Depsicable characters, and Egregious role-models (P.R.U.D.E.) campaign.

This book entitled "The Bible" is not suitable for good, morally-upright families and children.

Don't believe me? Just look through the pages! Kings taking hundreds of wives, cities getting destroyed, sexual exploits that would make the editors of Playboy blush, people nailing each other to two-by-fours, people coming back from the dead...it goes on, my friends!

Do you want your children being exposed to this, oh reasonable reader? Of course you don't. Then please sign my petition to keep this "Bible" out of school libraries, public libraries, and just about anywhere young minds are in danger of corruption.

P.R.U.D.E. Building a more homogenized tomorrow. For the children.
 

---

Posted by Eanswyth (# 3363) on :
 
nervous whisper
Um, Elizabeth Anne, that was too scary.
 

---

Posted by Belisarius (# 32) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Neil (starbelly):
...felt that some bits after that needed a bit of editing...

---

Especially all those and-so-and-so-begot-so-and-sos. Fercryinoutloud, just put all that in a supplement like the Silmarillion if some people want to get that geeky about it.
 

---

Posted by junior fool (# 4438) on :
 
It seems to be a detective story really, with clues to what is going to happen in the second part hidden in the first. The concordance at the end tells you what all the clues were, except it calls them "prophecies" for some reason. And apparantly some of them haven't been finished yet.

No cheating by looking up the clues in the concordance!!! Not that I read all of the first part first
 

---

Posted by Chapelhead (# 1143) on :
 
All the stuff about Joseph of Arimathea handing over the Holy Grail to he Knights Templar seemed a bit far-fetched.

But it was very subtly woven into the rest of the plot anyway.
 

---

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Didn't researchers find a fifth Gospel? I am not a theologian or even a preacher's kid (just a lector a few times a year) but I think I heard something about it.
 

---

Posted by Abishag (# 4710) on :
 
Did you spot my little role???? I hope I came across well - I mean it's hard doing the surreal thing - never played a hot water bottle before!

I read this review of Paul's books by some bod called Josephus - liked this bit:

"Paul, a small, bald, hunchbacked man with a large, hooked nose..."


Don't suppose he got many offers, then!
 

---

Posted by dolphy (# 862) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by paigeb:


Neil---I am in an absolutely rotten mood, and that's the first thing I've laughed at all day. Bless you.

---

quote:

---

Do you want your children being exposed to this, oh reasonable reader? Of course you don't. Then please sign my petition to keep this "Bible" out of school libraries, public libraries, and just about anywhere young minds are in danger of corruption.

P.R.U.D.E. Building a more homogenized tomorrow. For the children.

---

Bowdler Was Right.

I think there should only be a "Lamb's" version of the Bible available to the public. It can have all the pretty and edifying parts like Moses Saved from the Bullrushes and the simpler Parables. With colorful pictures.

A few copies of the unexpurgated version can remain in scholarly collections. Someone has to deal with the indelicate parts.

[ 26. July 2003, 15:42: Message edited by: Lyda Rose of Sharon ]
 

---

Posted by Second Mouse (# 2793) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by welsh dragon:
Well, I thought that was very effective lurker, though the actual ending so far leaves you wondering a bit. Having him die and then come back to life again . It's sort of confusing for people...is this a comedy or a tragedy?

---

The author has no originality, this dieing and coming back thing is so obviously lifted straight from Gandalf in LotR.

Claire
 

---

Posted by Lurker (# 1384) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lyda Rose of Sharon:
A few copies of the unexpurgated version can remain in scholarly collections. Someone has to deal with the indelicate parts.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Second Mouse:

quote:

---

Originally posted by welsh dragon:
Well, I thought that was very effective lurker, though the actual ending so far leaves you wondering a bit. Having him die and then come back to life again . It's sort of confusing for people...is this a comedy or a tragedy?

---

The author has no originality, this dieing and coming back thing is so obviously lifted straight from Gandalf in LotR.

Claire

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lurker:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lyda Rose of Sharon:
A few copies of the unexpurgated version can remain in scholarly collections. Someone has to deal with the indelicate parts.

---

Nah, I don't think the indelicate parts should only be read by scholars. I think anyone should be able to read them.

Apart from women and children, obviously.

---

You and Samuel Clemens would have gotten along fine.
 

---

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Overall some great ideas but I have some problems with the title. Our marketing people can surely come up with something better that "the Bible". Ok, so "Bible" is only one syllable, but it lacks easy recognition - you know what I mean?

And this idea of a whole heap of different writers has got to go. Sure, so there's meant to be a guiding mind behind it all but it lacks coherence - dare I say some parts even seem to cotradict others.

I'm not sure what it does for the dignity women either. Imeantersay a hot water bottle? even if it is only a bit part.

My considered opinion is it will never sell in its current form, let alone win any major literary prize.


Huia- literary editor to the stars
 

---

Posted by Lyda Rose of Sharon (# 4544) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Overall some great ideas but I have some problems with the title. Our marketing people can surely come up with something better that "the Bible". Ok, so "Bible" is only one syllable, but it lacks easy recognition - you know what I mean?

---

Bible has only one syllable?

What parts are you from, pardner?

My only concern title-wise is pronunciation. Might not people think it's pronounced bib'-el (short i). I'm afraid it might make some people giggle which is not what you want in a book of over eight hundred pages. It sounds too much like a silly board game.
 

---

Posted by Troy (# 2516) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sir Kevin:
Didn't researchers find a fifth Gospel? I am not a theologian or even a preacher's kid (just a lector a few times a year) but I think I heard something about it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Neil (starbelly):
I am suprised the author sold the merchandise rights so readily, I saw a Bible locket, and cards with Bible verses on the other day! No doubt there will be a film soon...

Neil

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lyda Rose of Sharon:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Huia:
Overall some great ideas but I have some problems with the title. Our marketing people can surely come up with something better that "the Bible". Ok, so "Bible" is only one syllable, but it lacks easy recognition - you know what I mean?

---

Bible has only one syllable?

---

Hey! I'm a literary agent to the stars, I'm don't do spelling, grammer and that kind of stuff. ( )

Huia - going to do pennance somewhere warm -like bed.
 

---

Posted by clare (# 17) on :
 
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the highly bizarre structuring format. Given the diversity of authers, some irregularities in book content is understandable, but one would have hoped that the editor would have had the courage to be a little more 'hands on' in pulling together a more intergrated volume. Were there no guidelines as to book length? It makes for an incredibily unbalenced read to have some books of over 100 chapters, and others that can be read in a minute. Some rationale, some serious pruning, some grouping of minor missives is certainly needed. Certainly, they'll have a problem if they ever want to go down the serialization route.

Another point where editorial weakness is apparent is in the book titles. The default setting appears to be simply the authers name... fair enough, but this gets muddled in with place names, content indicators, historic periods and simply random labling. The name + numbering devise is incredibly clumsey and points to hasty decision making before a deadline. All in all a failed opportunity to give structure, orientation and a more intangablie ethos and resonence to the artistic focus of the book. (For comparison, see 'Unless' by Carol Sheilds).

And don't get me started on the pratice of numbering 'verses'! Tiny super-script numbers poked in any what where? Very distracting. Thank God that hasn't caught on, and that our other great works of fiction aren't similarly plauged.

clare
 

---

Posted by Beenster (# 242) on :
 
I don't like the paper used so skipped through and read the last page first. Far too many words if you ask me.
 

---

© Ship of Fools 2016


UBB.classic^TM 6.5.0