Between blotch and blok

(a) Thaw plus Oxford (for all that I studied at and live in the other place) is almost unbeatable: Lawrence Fox has the edge, maybe.

(b) (i) Masochism?
(ii) Completism?
(iii) Curiosity as to whether I would like later ones better than the first few
(iv) Curiosity as to whether the TV impressions would wear off and I'd appreciate the novels for themselves
(v) As an experiment in testing my reactions as a particular reader of mainly sf/fantasy to writing in another genre
(vi) Because they were there.

I'm going to have to sit down and write this up properly, aren't I? Even if it means re-reading bits. (Did I mention masochism?)