[snip] ... I thought it was a truly awful film. Badly acted, badly directed, badly written. Boring, boring, boring. Apart from that, it was OK, I suppose.

...I liked the three Star Wars prequels...

I didn't expect much of a plot, but I really liked the visuals and the atmosphere.

Much in the same way that I liked the three Star Wars prequels as a historical and political background to the original three movies, or in the same way that I liked the Silmarillion as a background for the Lord of the Rings.

I completely agree.

John, may I ask how extensive a biographical picture you are looking to paint through your series on Go? Also, I think I saw it mentioned here that there is a fourth volume in this series coming out, is it known how many there are going to be?

Subject, of course, to Slate & Shell's say in the matter, the wartime volume The Survivors is well in hand. There will be one on the games with Sakata, and another on the games with the Rising Stars, and possibly a sixth that catches the bits and pieces left over.

In addition, the third of the Famous Games series will be on the Go-Shusai New Fuseki game and that will be an excuse for a detailed look at New Fuseki in general.

I am also working on a small companion volume called Go Seigen's Josekis.

There are also a couple of books on the way early next year that have nothing to do with Go Seigen.

This is wonderful news! I don't know how you manage to be so prolific.

People who want to see a good film with a go theme should see Mikan no Taikyoku or "The Unfinished Game"

People who want to see a good film with a go theme should see Mikan no Taikyoku or "The Unfinished Game" It is dramatic, romantic, full of action and the game of go is a major character. Unfortunately it's some 25 years old and pretty hard to find. One of the characters in the film is arguably inspired by Go Seigen, too. More info at http://senseis.xmp.net/?MikanNoTaikyoku