Hi Alex

Thats the point though, as you phrased it pretty well (what with you being an acknowledged fan of poorly written novels )

With HBHG it was only the loonies who took it seriously. I must admit I read it a long time ago and was quite intruiged for a while. But before I even got to the end of it I was convinced it was deeply suspicious. And thats saying something considering I went on to people about FOTG for ages after I'd read it!.

Like you say most people who have little understanding of these things and a love of shallow novels (something I'm kind of partial to sometimes) consider it a "rattling good yarn". But you are suggesting that people "who read this book will soon lose interest". Thats not the point. If that where the case both me and the RC church would just smile at the people temporarily confused. IIRC you joined this web site around the time this book was being discussed. As such you are at least informed that most academics consider its contents to be spurious and why. The majority of people I've spoken to who haven't had the benefit of this enlightenment firmly believe the novel gave them an insight into history.

To be honest this whole episode has made me more a fan of the intentions of Maat than ever, despite the fact its essentially somewhere where my views by their very nature are off topic in a way they are not for other people who have equally strong views that happen not to be religious.

Lies propogated amongst the credulous niave need to be adressed, now more than ever.

Simon