You know how it is, a friend asks if you have read such and such a book, and you fake knowledge, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's okay, and you've never heard of it.

Have you read 'Ash' by . . . by . . . Oh bugger, I forgot who wrote it. It's about . . .

It's by Mary Gentle, and she's good, almost as good as our mutual friend, Manda Scott. I not only enthuse guinely, but am able to recommend a couple of others from the ouevre.

Oh joy.