God's Debris by Scott Adams Reviewed by Katherine Horrex

God's Debris explores the philosophy of physical science within a fictional story. It was written by Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert and is the number one best-selling E-book on the planet. Adams himself describes it as a 132 page thought experiment. The story focuses on a conversation between two strangers who meet by chance. One is an elderly man named Mr. Avatar and the other is the narrator - a young man who remains nameless and delivers packages for a living.

The pair end up talking for days on end, focussing on topics such as free will, ESP, fighting god, UFO's and many more. This book may not be to everyone's taste and could be found offensive by religious people and scientists. If however you are interested in how the universe began and are eager to find answers to questions, which have yet to be answered, then this book is definitely for you. The theories in God's Debris are very inventive and so convincingly explained that they are almost believable. Adams states that the ideas within the book are not suitable for under 14s because they are too powerful. I was a little sceptical about that view at first but after reading the book I feel that it is probably a good thing that I didn't read it a few years ago (because I probably would have got carried away). I certainly found it intriguing and thought provoking.

Adams has set a task for the readers of God's Debris: Try to figure out what's wrong with the simplest explanations. In other words the reader has to identify which statements within the book are a load of rubbish, and which are proven scientific facts. This task is quite difficult as Mr. Avatar has a habit of declaring some of his seemingly realistic theories to be proven when they are not.

The book often touches upon things that I have often wondered about: Has anyone ever advised you to be yourself? I said I'd heard that a lot. What does it mean to be yourself?" he asked. If it means to do what you think you ought to, then you're doing that already. If it means to act like you're exempt from society's influence, that's the worst advice in the world; you would probably stop bathing and wearing clothes. I think that it would be hard for someone to read this book and not find it thought provoking. I also think everyone who questions what they were taught in school and the stereotypical view of reality should read it.

Reviews, Books - Ice Run by Steve Hamilton Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	This is Steve's sixth action-thriller novel, and it is arguably his most exciting and accomplished so far. Michigan-born Steve sets all his work in such a perpetually snowbound state (or so it would seem from reading his work), Read more...

Reviews, Books - The Shark Net by Robert Drewe Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Ok. So most movies, books or long-running TV-orientated soaps tend to dwell on the sunnier side of living in Austrailia. Am I right? Sure, there are instances of scandal now and again amidst the emotionally challenged sprawl of Ramsey Street, but nothing too shocking or Read more...

Reviews, Books - Lost Horizon by James Hilton Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	This awesome tale of adventure and intrigue was first published in 1933 and still makes for a remarkable read, as four people are kidnapped in the Far-East and then somewhat inexplicably left stranded in a secluded Tibetan valley, an area that they soon come to know as Read more...

Reviews, Books - To the Poles Without a Beard by Catherine Hartley Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	This extraordinary woman was the first British woman to reach first the South Pole and then the North Pole (along with another lady called Fiona), and this is her story... Essentially an exquisite autobiography, this book starts out by chronicling Catherine's life - in brief - Read more...

Reviews, Films - Ae Fond Kiss by Ken Loach Reviewed By Jane Foster
	I've been a Ken Loach fan ever since I saw Kes. I tend to think of that film now as the million-times-better precursor to Billy Elliott ( I couldn't be doing with that schmaltzy effort). Loach is the king of social realism that hits you where it hurts, and yet leaves you with a lingering sense of having Read more...

Reviews, Books - Touching the Void by Joe Simpson Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Autobiographical tales don't come much more nail-biting than this living nightmare, recalled by mountaineer Joe who was left for dead on a snow-riddled peak in Peru back in 1985. After getting into trouble on the 21,000 ft Siula Grande with friend Simon Yates Read more...

Reviews, Books - One Man and his Bog - 20 Years of The Adelphi Reviewed By Michelle Dee
	I have just returned home from a Monday night at the Adelphi club on De Grey Street clutching a prized copy of the unique One Man and his Bog. (The History of the Adelphi) I had new dark Kit Kats to eat but I didn't spare them a thought, until I had read Read more...

Reviews, Theatre - Julius Caesar at Hull Truck Wednesday 10th November 04 By Nicholas Boldock
	Predictably, Hull Truck dispenses with tradition for this pulsating performance of one of Shakespeare's most ambitious plays. The differences between Godber's version and Shakespeare's are glaring - an original cast of 51 is slashed to just 6 actors (although most of them play multiple roles) Read more...

Reviews, Films - Collateral By Steve Rudd
	Starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, this rollercoasting thrill-ride is one of the coolest of action movies to have hit the screen in 2004, as Summer goes out to the dogs and the first pangs of Autumn strike the air. Tom, like his ex-wife Nicole Kidman, never seems to stop working Read more...

Reviews, Books - Sitting Up with the Dead by Pamela Petro Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	In the manic style of Bill Bryson, Pamela Petro gets in her car and heads out around America in search of exciting new people, places and - above else - fantastic stories. Confining her extensive travels to the Eastern side of North America and, in particular, the South-East states of Alabama, Georgia Read more...

Reviews, Books - Mick Ronson: The Spider with the Platinum Hair by Weird and Gilly Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Born and bred in Hull, Mick Ronson indeed did come from extremely humble beginnings to become one of Britain's most respected musicians and producers. Born in 1946, it was in the early seventies that Mick first became well known through his work with David Bowie, with ace guitarist Mick Read more...

Reviews, Theatre - Gaffer! at York Theatre Royal By Nick Quantrill
	Gaffer! is a one-man black-comedy which sees Deka Walmsley deliver a convincing portrayal of a variety of comedy football characters and caricatures. The central character is George, manager of struggling Northbridge Town. George and Northbridge Town are old school. George has strong socialist values Read more...

Reviews, Films - Alien VS Predator By Steve Rudd
	Whoever came up with the bright idea of violently pitting Alien against Predator sure deserves a pat on the back and a raucous round of applause, for this big-budget movie scores on many levels. Whereas the bulk of the Alien franchise has long relied on atmospheric tension rather than all-out action Read more...