(no subject)

[wellinghall]

[Poll #849310]

Comments

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Biggles - yes, because although twodimensional, the stories and characters have a cartoonish, period charm. Haven't read any for years, but my memory is that the early ones set in WW1 are the best ones: the later ones when he becomes a detective and isn't in daily danger of death are a bit of a let-down.

Swallows and Amazons - of course. Essential reading if you are 7 years old or so and your family are boaty types: not only are they good stories, but so far as I remember, all the technical stuff about knots and giving way and stuff was right as well, very handy!

I read a few Malcolm Saville and Richmal Compton books, but only once and I remember them smelling dusty and being a bit crap. Willard Price I either never read or can't remember.

[gervase-fen.livejournal.com]

I read most of the Willard Price books when I was eight or nine - engrossing, action adventures with recurring characters and lots of scientific facts per chapter. The underwater city setting in "Diving Adventure" is reminiscent of Arthur C Clarke or - another childhood favourite - Hugh Walters.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought before about the connections between Willard Price and Arthur C Clarke, but you're right. I don't think I've ever read any Hugh Walters, though.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

With Biggles, the WWI ones are probably best 'cos WE Johns knew what he was writing about there. I found that the ones up to and including WWII were generally pretty good, because they were fairly time-limited; but he then wrote the air police ones for the next 20+ years.