Thanks for the giveaway, Ragnarblackmane, but I am not in!
At least, I am not in for myself: I may decide to enter for someone else, later.

About your questions...

-My favourite detective is inspector <span class="bold">Zenigata</span>, from Lupin III. That man is really an underappreciated character: he is tactically brilliant, morally inflexible and extremely skilled as an agent.
Despite that, he always passes as the loser because his nemesis, the legendary thief Lupin, is even more clever and fast.
I particualrly like the aura of respect between the two.
Also... I even personally met him, once! :P

-Talking about thieves, my favourite rogue is Garrett: the cynical and sarcastic professional that never misses an hit, always unheard and unseen, master of shadows and clean worker (remember: violence is the mark of the amateur).
Of course, I'm referring to the protagonist of the first three episodes, not the new "Thief" reboot abomination!
If you want a comparison between the real Garrett and the new "goth" whimp, check this video.
I will never forgive Square-Enix for that mess of a game, a real insult to my favourite videogame series ever.

-When talking about vehicles, I cannot avoid to mention the DeLorean! Fast time travel in total comfort! ;)

-My favourite monsters... uhm... I could say Dragons, too, but I'm not sure they would qualify.
Let me think... oh, yes! Elves, of course! With their soft skin, their sweet little voices and their revolting perfectionism! The damn racist think they are superior to everyone!
Moreover, their sense of humor is terrible.

Not in, but I'll stand up for a discussion of the modern Sherlocks. I read Sherlock before I saw him on screen - I don't know if I read them all, and I know I haven't read any of them for decades. It was a childhood thing that extended into my early teen years. I loved them, but - as with most of the H.G. Wells and Jules Verne I read back them - I have only the vaguest recall of what they are actually like. I'm reading some Jules Verne now, and it's solid stuff, though really astoundingly racist; Arthur Conan Doyle is on my let's-go-back-someday list.

What I like best about Sherlock Holmes is how much we love him. He is updated, transplanted, rediscovered, reinterpreted - I don't know if there's any character in the modern era who is as enduring as Holmes. I think my first Sherlock movie was <i>The Seven-Per-Cent Solution</i>, which I'd suddenly love to see again; I think the most beautiful one, despite its lapses into occasional weirdness and excess, is <i>They Might Be Giants</i>, which is quite difficult to see - it's a damaged film, and there may not be any surviving copies of the complete film (most available versions are missing seven minutes from the initial release).

The two modern TV adaptations are both interesting, and I watch them both. Neither is, strictly speaking, the Sherlock of old - but then, like Shakespeare, Sherlock Homes is probably best loved if we accept that all ages are going to need their own Sherlocks, just as they will all need their own Juliets.

The BBC Sherlock is exciting, and full of spectacular actors. I like the playful approach to rewriting the stories, which feels fresh and daring (reckless?), and I like many of the shows. Unfortunately, I think this is yet another brilliant property that has been damaged by Stephen Moffat, who has worked so diligently in recent years to destroy the exquisite legacy of the new Doctor Who. I don't like how Moffat writes (and trivializes) women, and I don't like the way he casually forces all his work to be EPIC (intentional capital letters) - it's cliched, and vacuous. He's a terrific writer when he's working with a strong showrunner, and when he runs his own shows he is repetitive, extreme, lazy, and ultimately both clever and dull.

When Sherlock works, and it often does, it's extraordinary. When it throws away all sense and bullies itself out of corners it should not have boxed itself into in the first place - the dreadful return from the fall-from-the-roof cliffhanger was just inexcusable - it shows arrogance and disrespect of the audience: two trademarks, sadly, of much of Moffat's work.

Elementary is fascinating. I started watching it at a time when I didn't watch much TV - I still don't watch THAT much, though I think overdo it - and my goal was really to scratch it off the list and dismiss it. Surprise - it had a bit of a humdrum start, but the play between Lucy Liu and Jonny Lee Miller quickly became refined, interesting, and full or surprises. Miller's Holmes is a daft, quirky, irritating figure, and I love the way he makes the role physical, with his gawky bone-thin presence and his jaw-forward attack to observation and deduction. Lucy Liu is a joy to watch, and she makes her Watson into someone strong and sharp. I watch it regularly and, as we move into season three, it continues to surprise and entertain.

Obviously I'm not a fundamentalist when it comes to my Sherlock; I'm happy to follow if it's done well, which in the case of Sherlock Holmes means if they do their work properly, I'll accept it. I'm less interested in the gravel-voiced superhero Holmes of the Guy Ritchie films - they are good enough, clever and well-made and full of good characters, but they're action-adventure movies, not really Sherlock Holmes movies. Fun to watch, but there's nothing really there at heart.

I absolutely agree with you on these two statements. I have never been a fan of Stephen Moffat, and I know a few Doctor Who fans who are mad at what he has done to their beloved Doctor.

P.S. Sorry Ragnar for derailing your awesome giveaway with all this Sherlock Holmes talk.

It was actually my least favorite of the three episodes when I first saw it but on repeat viewings it grew on me and it is indeed very well done in terms of adapting a classical horror story in a modern believable context. The performances were indeed all around fantastic in the episode especially Benedict Cumberbatch's monologue depicting Sherlock questioning his own sanity.

That is indeed a very apt assessment of the show and Steven Moffat has contributed a lot of great stuff to the show as well. But, I certainly didn't appreciate the dismissive way the return of the show handled the cliffhanger of the second series. That is why I am also very skeptical of the return of a certain character that was hinted at the end of the third series which could have been avoided if they hadn't been so drastic with the character at the end of the second series.

My apologies as well to Ragnar for starting this tangential Sherlock discussion, but atleast we are keeping this great giveaway thread on the front page. ;)

I actually agree with this; the writing isn't what sells the show for me but the acting. I think Cumberbatch and especially Freeman do fantastic work together. I actually could only watch the series piecemeal because I just didn't care for how some of the stories were retold.


On another note...this GA needs more entries, so stop being selfless and enter please folks!

Ooh, I'm late to the party!

I'm not going to quote anyone above because I'd end up quoting everything, but I love you all for derailing this lovely giveaway with a discussion of what is probably my favorite fictional character of all time. :D

* I like BBC!Sherlock. I think it's overall a fun, modern take on it; I do think Moffat's writing is spectacularly lazy at points, but it hasn't bothered as much as it did with his writing for Doctor Who. (Keep in mind I've so far only seen the first episode of Twelve's run. And I still haven't watched His Last Vow... I may do that today.) I love the way Cumberbatch and Freeman play off of each other, as well as the other actors, especially those for Lestrade and Mycroft.

* I like Ritchie!Holmes. I may be in the minority, but I think it actually captures Holmes' character pretty well. The movies themselves are action-adventures, but I think the character is pretty solid (other than the scruffiness), and it's been very nice to have any Holmes property actually point out things like the fact that he's a helluva fighter. Usually Watson's role as bodyguard/backup/everyman takes over and some of Holmes' physical capabilities are lost. I'm not all that fond of their on Moriarty, and Holmes' humor is very much over the top for the character, but I'm willing to let that go because they're fun.

* Basil of Baker Street! I've missed who first brought him up, but I love you for it. <3 I read all of those books by the time I was 10 - well after I'd read the first half-dozen Holmes stories in one of my grandparents' Reader's Digest anthologies. The Great Mouse Detective is still my favorite Disney movie ever and if I could find actual copies of those books, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. The movie is a terrific adaptation and really kept true to the characters while keeping that sly sense of meta-humor about where they were living and what was going on.

* Conan Doyle: You may have gathered from the above blabbering, but I grew up on Sherlock Holmes. I stumbled over the stories in the afore-mentioned anthology and fell absolutely in love. One of my most beloved books is a hardback Complete Sherlock Holmes with forwards, essays, extensive notes, and every single (official) Holmes story all in one place. It's an oversized book and I just rediscovered it when we were packing to move (I'd been afraid it had been lost), and as soon as we can unpack the books, I plan on hauling it out and happily rereading every single page. (It weighs eight pounds. I actually weighed it when it was given to me, because that Christmas box was HEAVY.)

* Jeremy Brett: This man was my introduction to what Sherlock Holmes looked like, aside from the amazing Sidney Paget illustrations. To this day, this is who I picture when I think of Holmes. The Granada series (aside from "The Sussex Vampire," which we shall not discuss, yes? Yes.) is a brilliantly faithful adaptation of the original stories with some of the best actors I've ever seen in the roles. I remember sitting in front of the tv watching those episodes, reading along in my book with the dialogue.

I even enjoy the Basil Rathbone movies. Yes, even the Nazi one. In short, I love the character and haven't really seen anything that I didn't like in some way.

So. Um. *clears throat* Giveaway? Right.

Back on topic:

I'll be in for Full Mojo Rampage. My favorite fictional rogue... that's tough, honestly. I can think of characters like Han Solo, Setzer (FFVI), and so on... but one of my real favorites is actually Silk, from David Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean. Silk is incredibly smart, funny, sly, cynical, bitter, and damaged... and one hell of a spy/assassin, and a great character.

Now I might have to go dig out my Eddings books. I started rereading them after he passed away and never did get all the way back to the Mallorean.

+1 for the giveaway, and thank you for the generosity!

The BBC still has the standard state-media company duty to maintain the status quo and really can only be as left-wing as the powers that be will allow it, like all media funded by the state. Just had to toss that in there.

The ending episodes were very nice. Suchet was superb as always, he really has the character portrayed perfectly.

Your answers are very interesting, but I must say, the Millennium Falcon!? "What a piece of junk!?" (leaves Ragnar open for the now famous comeback. "She'll make point....") :-)

You are quite wrong with that my fine Dwarven friend. Unlike the US, political parties are not supposed to have any influence or power (within reason) over our television channels, and especially not the BBC. It is one of the things laid down in the Royal Charter that established the BBC. The BBC regularly pushes left winged propaganda, while at the same time demeaning right wing politics. Never directly of course, but through its shows, especially comedy shows.

The government vary rarely interferes with the BBC, for example: during the 80's, we had Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative party in power for much of the time. All throughout this time, the BBC constantly insulted the party and the Prime Minister, especially in comedy shows. Never anything too insulting, but constant comments in the guise of the "characters" comments in the show. This bias towards its politics is actually a breach of the Royal Charter, and something that if the general masses catch wind off, could see it loose its rights to collect a nation wide fee for a tv licence (which funds the BBC), something that is becoming talked about more and more.

The BBC is supposed to be impartial, but it's not, the Royal Charter says it should be, but thats corruption for you. It seems they (the BBC staff) allow their own political views to be expressed in their shows, when they are duty bound to be impartial.

Fair enough, I did not mean to imply it was 100% politically bias, but for me at least (and many others), here in the UK it definitely favours left wing views, especially with its EU propaganda. It does of course supports both/all views - it has to, if it didn't then it has to kiss the Royal Charter and the licence fee goodbye.

I would be in and second Deckard as my favorite detective. Cause his gun was badass http://features.cgsociety.org/newgallerycrits/g49/403449/403449_1299249240_large.jpg

and the scene where he is telling the computer to zoom in and pan left influenced me to be interested in computers, cameras, surveillance...lots of stuff.


Also in for Ultima set . I played Ultima II back in the day when it came out for C64. I always loved RPGs and those first couple of Ultima games were classics. [url=http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100910011738/u5lazarus/images/a/a6/Lord_British_(U4).png]http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100910011738/u5lazarus/images/a/a6/Lord_British_(U4).png[/url]

Thank you for your generosity.

Not in, but +1 and thanks for a nice giveaway.

Q: Tell me who your favourite fictional detective is?
A: That is a tie between and [url=http://theinvisibleagent.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/detectivepoirot2.jpg]Hercule Poirot.

Q: Tell me who/what your favourite fictional monster is, provide a picture if able.
A: Hmm... think that would be the Illithid aka the Mind Flayer from D&amp;D/Forgotten Realms.

Q: Tell of your first time playing the Ultima games, any of them. If you want to win and haven't played them, then explain why you want to try them out.
A: Never played Ultima so couldn't say.

Q: Tell me who your favorite fictional rogue is, provide a picture if able.
A: The loveable and charming Autolycus, the king of thieves. :)

Not in, but thanks for the giveaway Ragnarblackmane! +1

NOT IN Ragnar but thanks for the awesome GA!! +1

Favourite detective you asked? Ohh my, Inspector Gadget FTW!! :D

A bump and a question for fellow Utlima fans. Does anyone remember the infamous incident in 1997 when Lord British, aka Richard Garriot's alter ego, was assassinated during a speech in the ULTIMA ONLINE beta? I can tell you I remember reading about that and being shocked at such an action while simultaneously excited to play in an online game where such a thing was possible.

If you were playing games back then and remember, please share your own thoughts on what it meant to you. If you happened to be in that beta or played UO afterwards, then perhaps I will award the chance to win ANOTHER game for the best story.